Partners

Bullying and sexual harassment ‘are rife in the legal profession,’ global survey finds

One in three female lawyers have been sexually harassed in a work context, while one in two women have experienced bullying in the workplace, according to a recently released global survey of nearly 7,000 lawyers in 135 countries. The numbers were somewhat lower for male lawyers. One in 14 men…

May 16, 2019 7:00 AM CDT

How to shift from bad to good stress and protect innovation in law practice

The threat of attorney burnout is real. And yet, we often forget about some of the other, subtler effects of chronic stress in the legal profession, including one of the most essential legal capacities: innovation.

May 16, 2019 6:00 AM CDT

Prosecutors drop case against BigLaw partner accused of leaving scene of boat crash

Prosecutors in Texas have dropped the case against Vinson & Elkins partner Douglas E. McWilliams, who was accused of disappearing after crashing a boat that carried five of his partners. Prosecutors in Travis County dropped the case Tuesday, report the Austin American-Statesman and the Wall Street Journal. The Texas Parks…

May 10, 2019 10:10 AM CDT

For law firms, the ampersand is a character worth saving

For more than two centuries, the ampersand flourished in its preferred environment: BigLaw titles. No one can dispute that the ampersand served BigLaw well, adorning the titles of virtually all the most prestigious members, says lawyer Norm Tabler.

May 9, 2019 6:00 AM CDT

Percentage of equity partners continues to shrink while BigLaw profits increase

The percentage of equity partners in the nation’s top 100 law firms continued to decline last year, even as average revenue per lawyer increased. The percentage of equity partners was 56% of total partners in 2018, down from 78% in 2000, Law.com reports. The percentage “has been steadily contracting for…

May 7, 2019 6:30 AM CDT

Lawyer who secretly changed origination credits to his benefit should be suspended, ethics panel says

An Illinois lawyer who inadvertently discovered he was able to alter origination credits on his office computer should be suspended for making changes that added more than $200,000 to his book of business, according to an ethics hearing board. Michael Joseph Shifrin should be suspended for one year for making…

May 6, 2019 7:00 AM CDT

BigLaw global chairman’s death after leave for health issues highlights stress of law practice

Baker McKenzie global chairman Paul Rawlinson died April 12, six months after he decided to take a temporary leave to deal with health issues caused by exhaustion. Rawlinson was 56, report the Financial Times, Bloomberg Big Law Business and the American Lawyer in articles here and here. The cause of…

Apr 16, 2019 10:54 AM CDT

Judge claims lawyer threatened to release her intimate photos for case leverage; he alleges extortion

Two Florida lawsuits filed last Thursday trade allegations of a threat to release a judge’s “intimate” photos and a $10 million “extortionate” demand for prelawsuit settlement. The suits involve two South Florida law firms that have previously “butted heads,” the Daily Business Review reports. The suit filed on behalf of…

Apr 16, 2019 7:00 AM CDT

15 lawyers have left this law firm, whose head count is shrinking

Fifteen real estate lawyers have left Kasowitz Benson Torres to join the New York office of Vinson & Elkins.

Apr 11, 2019 7:30 AM CDT

Jones Day says gender bias lawsuit painted ‘distorted picture’

Jones Day is responding to a gender bias lawsuit with a statement that cites an “inclusive culture” and a partnership that includes 240 women. A $200 million lawsuit filed April 3 had alleged that the firm has a “fraternity culture” in which female lawyers have to participate if they hope…

Apr 10, 2019 9:01 AM CDT

Former Willkie co-chair plans to plead guilty in college cheating scandal

Gordon Caplan, the former co-chairman of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, says he will plead guilty in the college admissions scandal.

Apr 5, 2019 1:30 PM CDT

Former federal prosecutor makes history as Chicago’s first black female and openly gay mayor

A former federal prosecutor who was an equity partner at Mayer Brown has been elected the new mayor of Chicago in a landslide victory against her runoff opponent. A “kickass trial lawyer,” in the words of former Illinois Attorney General Ty Fahner, Lori Lightfoot, a lesbian, is the first openly…

Apr 3, 2019 3:07 PM CDT

BigLaw firm criticized for lack of diversity is now No. 1 for black lawyers, new report says

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison took a hit on social media in December when a partnership promotion photo appeared to show just one woman and 11 white men. Now, the firm is finding vindication in a recent report by the nonprofit Lawyers of Color.

Apr 2, 2019 1:14 PM CDT

Former managing partner involved in Bush v. Gore charged with resisting arrest

A former managing partner who represented Florida’s secretary of state in Bush v. Gore was arrested at his home last week after he was accused of refusing to open a bedroom door to police officers investigating a report of gunfire. Police charged South Florida lawyer Joseph Klock Jr., 70, with…

Apr 1, 2019 10:57 AM CDT

Are law firms invoking obscure contractual clauses to delay lateral moves? Or does it just seem that way?

In recent years, there have been reports of BigLaw firms that invoked various contractual clauses to delay lateral partners from moving to new firms. Such headlines may create an impression that it’s a growing trend for law firms to enforce their notice provisions. However, three experts told the ABA Journal that holds are not new.

Apr 1, 2019 1:05 AM CDT