Practice Management

Real Estate Firm Cuts Lawyer Pay by 12 Percent

A South Florida law firm hit hard by the real estate downturn has cut its lawyers’ pay by 12 percent. If its financial situation improves, Becker & Poliakoff will make up for the salary cuts with retroactive pay for lawyers who stick with the firm, the Daily Business Review reports.…

May 20, 2008 11:20 AM CDT

Accountant Tells What He’s Learned About Managing a Law Firm

A United Kingdom accountant wound up working for a law firm by accident. Since then, however, Paul Stothard, who is now the elected chief executive officer at Shoosmiths, has learned quite a bit. Among the words of wisdom he offers to others: Lawyers can be a challenge to work with,…

May 19, 2008 4:44 PM CDT

Akerman to Merge With WolfBlock?

Two well-known law firms based in Florida and Philadelphia are reportedly getting serious about a proposal to combine forces to create a national platform and join the BigLaw ranks. Akerman Senterfitt and WolfBlock are in advanced merger discussions, according to unnamed sources. And the talks have already resolved the issue…

May 16, 2008 6:17 PM CDT

Skadden Exec to Step Down; 1st Top Management Change Since 1994

Updated: After nearly 15 years at the helm of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, Robert Sheehan has announced that he plans to step down as executive partner of the merger and acquisitions goliath when he completes his term in April 2009. He will be replaced by Eric Friedman, 43,…

May 16, 2008 4:51 PM CDT

New Law Dean at UC Davis is First Latino in the Position

Kevin Johnson was confirmed today as the new law school dean at the University of California at Davis by the school’s board of regents. He is the first Latino to be appointed dean of any of the law schools in the UC system, according to a press release. Johnson, 49,…

May 16, 2008 12:30 AM CDT

Capital Murder Trial Chronicled Via Twitter

Updated: Trial junkies following the high-profile prosecution of a Wichita man accused in the contract killing of a pregnant 14-year-old girl can get continual, brief updates at Twitter.com from a reporter covering the trial. Reporter Ron Sylvester is covering the trial of defendant Theodore Burnett for the Wichita Eagle, but…

May 15, 2008 5:49 PM CDT

Major Canadian Law Firm Grows in NYC

As other Canadian law firms grow—or even shrink—their international offices by merging, one “stealth mode” competitor has established a full-fledged New York City office entirely through individual lateral hiring. Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt’s office there has grown from a few Canadian lawyers handling Canadian legal matters to some 30 lawyers,…

May 15, 2008 4:19 PM CDT

Why BigLaw Mergers Do—and Don’t—Work

Major law firms merge hoping that two plus two will equal five. But it can also equal four or even three—or higher numbers on the wrong side of the balance sheet, reports the American Lawyer in an article reprinted by New York Lawyer (reg. req.). The U.S. offices of Bingham…

May 14, 2008 5:38 PM CDT

Dreier Forms Sports Marketing Affiliate

Dreier is launching a sports marketing and consulting affiliate, in conjunction with the law firm’s sports practice. Dreier Sports Opportunities Group will be headed by attorney Don Gibson, a former major league baseball executive, the firm reports in a press release. The Santa Monica, Calif.-based affiliate “will assist athletes and…

May 14, 2008 3:30 PM CDT

Lack of Work for Summer Associates?

Summer associate programs at BigLaw firms are famously a time for potential legal eagles to play as well as work. But work may occupy even less of their time this year because of a slowdown at a number of corporate law firm departments. Some firms are cutting the duration of…

May 13, 2008 6:01 PM CDT

Shearman Left Out of ‘Sweet Sixteen’

Sixteen law firms are part of an elite international group that has been highly successful both in New York and in London. But not among the “Sweet Sixteen” honored by the Lawyer is Shearman & Sterling, because of a series of missteps that have canceled out the benefit of the…

May 13, 2008 3:35 PM CDT

Lawyer Makes Ethics Entertaining

A lawyer with a love of theater has combined his appreciation for entertainment with his interest in ethics. Jack Marshall tells the Washington Post he thinks ethics can be entertaining. He runs a business, ProEthics, that offers legal and ethics training courses using professional actors and musicians to help deliver…

May 12, 2008 5:20 PM CDT

Indian Lawyers Handling Outsourced Work Do More Than Document Review

The market for outsourced legal work is booming in India. While lawyers there are doing a lot of routine work, they are also handling some interesting legal matters, including work for the makers of movies and television shows. The legal outsourcing industry has grown by about 60 percent a year…

May 12, 2008 12:03 PM CDT

Lawyers ‘in the Middle’ at Most at Risk of Firings

At big law firms, midlevel lawyers are at the greatest risk of being laid off in the economic downturn. Dan Weiner, co-chair of the personnel committee at Hughes Hubbard, told the Wall Street Journal Law Blog that junior associates may be safer than their more senior counterparts because their abilities…

May 12, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Some PR Advice to Law Firms Facing Bad Press: Be Honest, Tell a Positive Story

A well-publicized mass e-mail by a fired associate at Paul Hastings is raising questions about the proper way for law firms to handle news of lawyer dismissals and other negative press. The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) is raising the issue after a mass e-mail to colleagues by Shinyung Oh…

May 12, 2008 10:48 AM CDT