Corporate Law

Law Firm Not Liable for Purchasing Competitor’s Name as Keyword to Drive Traffic to Own Website

Once upon a time, when bus benches and the yellow pages offered some of the only ways to promote a personal injury firm effectively, competitors tried to crowd each other out or dominate the space with the biggest ad. It wasn’t unheard-of to put a billboard up right next to…

Jun 9, 2011 3:07 AM CDT

Del. Gov Nominates Leo Strine as New Chief Judge for State Chancery Court

The governor of Delaware has nominated a sitting Court of Chancery judge to replace retiring Chancellor William B. Chandler III as the top judge on what many consider the top business court in the country. Leo Strine Jr. was tapped for the judicial leadership job by Gov. Jack Markell, but…

Jun 8, 2011 6:53 PM CDT

EU Regulators Cast Wary Eye on New Facebook ‘Tag Suggestions’ Photo Facial Recognition Feature

A new Facebook feature that automatically offers “Tag Suggestions” about identifying individuals in photos is being scrutinized by European Union data-protection regulators concerned that it could violate privacy rules, reports Bloomberg. “Tags of people on pictures should only happen based on people’s prior consent and it can’t be activated by…

Jun 8, 2011 4:30 PM CDT

Former Tax Lawyer at Gucci Claims Racism and Cites Rihanna Incident as an Example

A former tax lawyer at Gucci America Inc. claims she was fired after complaining about racist and sexual harassment at the company, and cites an alleged incident involving pop star Rihanna as an example of the problems. The plaintiff is Josephine Robinson, a West Indian woman who formerly worked at…

Jun 8, 2011 3:25 PM CDT

SEC Enforcement Chief Hits Defense Lawyer Toe-Tapping, Scapegoating in Internal Probes

White-collar defense lawyers beware: The enforcement chief of the Securities and Exchange Commission is aware of your tactics. Speaking last week to the criminal law group of the UJA-Federation of New York, Robert Khuzami said he’s sure that no audience members are engaging in conduct that frustrates his agency’s investigations.…

Jun 8, 2011 11:37 AM CDT

Business Goes Back to Paper Checks After Losing $345K and Liability Ruling by Federal Magistrate

It’s less convenient. But a business in Maine that lost $345,000 in 2009 when cyber crooks tried to siphon well over half a million from its online account has now gone back to paper checks to try to keep its funds secure. Deciding cross-motions for summary judgment last week, a…

Jun 7, 2011 11:08 PM CDT

Court Gives Green Light to Stephen Baldwin Suit Against Kevin Costner Over Oil Spill Cleanup Machine

In happier days, actor Kevin Costner was winning acclaim for his reported efforts, with the help of a trial attorney, to develop a vaccum-cleaner-like machine to clean up oil spills threatening to do serious environmental damage. But news that BP was putting over $50 million into the project after the…

Jun 7, 2011 8:34 PM CDT

Tort Reform Advocate Makes Stock Bet on Wal-Mart Win in Supreme Court

Tort-reform advocate Ted Frank is so confident that the U.S. Supreme Court will scuttle a huge employee class action against Wal-Mart that he has put his own money on the line. Writing at PointofLaw.com, Frank says he has invested 10 percent of his net worth in call contracts that bet…

Jun 6, 2011 1:00 PM CDT

BigLaw Partner Scores Win in Retirement Fight; He’s an Employee, for Discrimination Law Purposes

A Vancouver partner in one of Canada’s biggest law firms has scored another victory in his fight to avoid retiring at age 65. In an opinion released today, the British Columbia Supreme Court upheld a ruling last year by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal that Mitch McCormick, 66, would be…

Jun 2, 2011 10:57 PM CDT

Foley & Lardner Taps Firm Attorneys to Create $4M Venture Capital Fund

Foley & Lardner has reportedly turned to attorneys at the law firm to invest in a new venture capital fund intended to demonstrate to clients that it will go the extra mile to help them pursue business opportunities. Although two Boston partners are overseeing Foley Ventures, the fund will look…

Jun 1, 2011 11:41 PM CDT

7th Circuit Scolds Hogan Lovells for ‘Misleadingly’ Describing Case in Appellate Brief

In an opinion filed yesterday in redistricting dispute involving the Girl Scouts of the United States, the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals court took a well-known law firm to task for its characterization of a case cited as authority for its client’s position. Hogan Lovells “misleadingly” described a…

Jun 1, 2011 9:55 PM CDT

Former Clark Thomas & Winters Partner Convicted in Bill-Padding Case, Gets 500 Days, Must Pay $222K

A former partner of Clark Thomas & Winters was convicted yesterday by a Texas jury in a case that revolved around the alleged padding of legal bills to obtain money to make secret payments to relatives of board members of a client utility company. Convicted of theft, money laundering and…

Jun 1, 2011 9:01 PM CDT

Back at Ya: Employee Retaliation Claims Play Big Before the High Court

Employers, beware! if you or your supervisors retaliate against employees, don’t expect relief from the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court continues to be a favorable forum for employees who allege retaliation from their employers. It’s a trend that belies the court’s reputation as favoring business, and it contrasts with…

Jun 1, 2011 7:00 AM CDT

Ex-BigLaw Attorneys at MoloLamken Add Patent Appellate Win to String of Supreme Court Victories

Not quite two years after leaving BigLaw to form their own boutique, two former partners are celebrating a string of noteworthy victories. Helped by referrals from their former firms, as well as other major partnerships, Steven Molo and Jeffrey Lamken have a book of business that gives them at least…

May 31, 2011 9:43 PM CDT

Obama Taps ‘Green’ Exec and Yale Law Grad John Bryson as Next Commerce Secretary

A 67-year-old Yale Law School graduate with extensive experience as corporate executive in energy companies has been tapped by President Barack Obama to be the next U.S. Commerce Secretary. John Bryson formerly served as chief executive officer of Edison International for 17 years and is currently chairman of BrightSource Energy…

May 31, 2011 8:53 PM CDT