Legal News

Study: Minority Law Student Numbers Dip as Law School Capacity Rises

Posted on January 06, 2010
The percentage of African American and Mexican American students enrolled in law school dipped between 1993 and 2008, even as overall law school capacity rose across the country, according to a study released Tuesday by Columbia Law School's Lawyering in the Digital Age Clinic.

Antitrust Mania: Kraft is Up and Ticketmaster is Down?

Posted on January 06, 2010
And Comcast-NBC Universal is just starting.

The Agent Zero Chronicles: A Gun-Toting, Punch-Throwing Look at Sports in the Law

Posted on January 06, 2010
We do not envy the O'Melveny lawyer representing Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas.

UBS Whistle-blower's Lawyers Seek DOJ Probe of Prosecutors

Posted on January 06, 2010
With his televised pleas ignored and a judge ordering him to report to prison by Friday, UBS whistle-blower Bradley Birkenfeld is taking a page out of former U.S. senator Ted Stevens's book by raising the specter of prosecutorial misconduct.

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Report: Scott Rothstein to Enter Guilty Plea

Posted on January 06, 2010
Sibling publication the Daily Business Review reports that Scott Rothstein, the Fort Lauderdale lawyer accused of running a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme at his former firm, is negotiating a plea with federal prosecutors.

China Sued for Copyright Infringement Over Allegedly Stolen Software

Posted on January 06, 2010
A 15-lawyer Los Angeles boutique is representing a family-owned California company in what the firm calls "an important test case" against the Chinese government.

Table-Tossing on the Law Firm M&A Front

Posted on January 05, 2010
The start of a new year isn't just a time for soon-to-be-shattered resolutions, college bowl games, and playoff football. It's also a time to look at those year-end M&A league tables that Am Law 200 lawyers hold so dear. The rankings for legal advisers produced by Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters are hot off the presses and Skadden Arps is waving its blood-red banner atop the worldwide tables.

The Churn: Lateral Moves and Promotions in The Am Law 200

Posted on January 05, 2010
Nixon Peabody gets a housing leader, Cozen O?Connor takes three from Baker Hostetler, Dickstein Shapiro loses big to Kasowitz Benson. Plus: moves to Baker & Daniels, Blank Rome, Choate, Hall & Stewart, DLA Piper, Duane Morris, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, O?Melveny & Myers, Pillsbury, Reed Smith, Schiff Hardin,  Sheppard Mullin, and Thompson Coburn...

Latest Securities Study Shows Drop in Class Actions as Credit Crisis Dwindles

Posted on January 05, 2010
A report released Tuesday by Stanford Law School's Class Action Clearinghouse and Cornerstone Research found that securities class action suits fell 24 percent in 2009 as litigation related to the credit crunch and the subprime crisis began to slow...

Former Sonnenschein Partner Gets Second Shot at Fee Dispute

Posted on January 05, 2010
An appellate court decision gives former Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal partner Douglas Rosenthal another shot at litigating damages in a compensation battle against his old firm.

Cravath on Both Sides of This Week's Nestlé Deals

Posted on January 05, 2010
Latham advised Nestlé on its $3.7 billion purchase of Kraft's pizza brands.

TPM Shines Spotlight on Allen Stanford's Lawyers

Posted on January 05, 2010
Allen Stanford's principal in-house and outside lawyers are once again in the news.

Dechert Matches Bonuses, Announces Pay Raise

Posted on January 05, 2010
Good news for Dechert associates: the firm is matching the market for bonuses and raising associates' pay in most offices in 2010.

It's Official: Thirteen Dickstein Lawyers Bolt to Kasowitz

Posted on January 05, 2010
But they don't have to move far.

S&C, Alcon Board Not Lying Down in $40 Billion Novartis Takeover

Posted on January 05, 2010
The Alcon board is ready to fight on behalf of minority shareholders who may oppose the mammoth takeover offer from Novartis.

Litigation Department of the Year Product Liability Winner: Reed Smith

Posted on January 05, 2010
The firm was a finalist in two previous Litigation Department of the Year product liability competitions. This time around it's bigger, it scored important victories across the board, and, in keeping with the times, it has embraced alternative fees...

Lawyer With Madoff Ties Wades into SAC Capital Fray

Posted on January 04, 2010
Gaytri Kachroo is getting accustomed to tangling with hedge fund honchos. The former McCarter & English international practice chair had an eventful 2009 filing suits on behalf of investors burned by Bernard Madoff. Now Kachroo is the new lawyer representing an ex-wife of hedge fund heavy Steven Cohen in a civil racketeering suit against the SAC Capital founder.

Gibson Dunn Adds to Litigation Spoils

Posted on January 04, 2010
On the heels of nabbing The American Lawyer's Litigation Department of the Year award, the firm has added to its litigation exploits by scoring a $1 million assignment to advise the City of Burbank on litigation and policy issues connected to its police department...

Despite TV Appeal, UBS Whistle-blower Still Prison-Bound

Posted on January 04, 2010
Former banker Bradley Birkenfeld has kept legions of lawyers busy for the past two years after exposing offshore banking practices at UBS. Birkenfeld spoke with 60 Minutes Sunday about why his prison sentence should be reduced and how he should be paid for stepping forward...

Wachtell, Cravath, S&C and A&O Lead on Mammoth Novartis Deal

Posted on January 04, 2010
The $28 billion acquisition of a majority stake in the eye-care company Alcon from Nestlé is really the second stage in what could end up being a $50 billion acquisition.

A Litigation Boutique Grows in Manhattan

Posted on January 04, 2010
Sibling publication New York Law Journal profiles five former Clifford Chance litigation partners who have set up their own shop to handle international arbitration, reinsurance, and commercial litigation.

Stepping into Rodge Cohen's Role

Posted on January 04, 2010
Today is the first business day of Joseph Shenker's new life as Sullivan & Cromwell's chairman.

New Year, Two New Cochairs at Willkie Farr

Posted on January 04, 2010
After 23 years at the helm of the firm, Jack Nusbaum has handed over the reins to corporate partners Thomas Cerabino and Steven Gartner.

The Future of Summer Associate Recruiting

Posted on January 04, 2010
The NALP commission on recruiting is set to release a preliminary report this month.

Litigation Department of the Year: Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

Posted on January 04, 2010
When other firms and conventional strategies come up short, clients in deep trouble turn to Gibson Dunn for fresh, aggressive thinking and innovative rescues.

Happy Holidays from The Am Law Daily

Posted on December 24, 2009
We're taking a break for the holidays, recharging our batteries, and looking forward to 2010. Daily publishing will resume on Monday, January 4. Season's greetings and best wishes for the New Year.

Not the Smoothest Lateral Move

Posted on December 23, 2009
A star IP partner left Sonnenschein for McDermott. Then there was some screaming. Now it's unclear where he works.

Deferred Associate Diaries

Posted on December 23, 2009
 A deferred Orrick first-year writes about life at a nonprofit.

The Future of Summer Associate Recruiting

Posted on December 23, 2009
The NALP commission on recruiting is set to release a preliminary report in January.

The George Kokinis Chronicles: A Disgruntled Look at Sports and the Law

Posted on December 23, 2009
A former football general manager looks to Dewey & LeBoeuf for recompense, the SEC targets a Heisman Trophy cosponsor, Michael Jordan returns to Schiff Hardin, and Delaware gambles once again.

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