In-house Counsel

Former legal chief at Farmers Insurance awarded $150M in punitive damages in firing suit

The former legal chief for Farmers Insurance was awarded $150 million in punitive damages Thursday in a wrongful termination lawsuit claiming that he was wrongly blamed for a sex-bias suit filed by female attorneys.

Dec 20, 2021 8:58 AM CST

20% of surveyed corporate lawyers were highly exhausted, and most in that group wanted to switch jobs

Among the highly exhausted group, 41% showed signs of psychological distress; 68% were looking to leave their organization; and 61% frequently delayed, scoped down or killed projects in which they were involved.

Oct 11, 2021 9:10 AM CDT

Why an online legal marketplace has added tech companies and other alternative providers

“We are creating a much more connected ecosystem, so that in-house teams can find the right solution in one place,” says Basha Rubin, CEO and co-founder at Priori, who was also a 2018 ABA Journal Legal Rebel.

Sep 15, 2021 8:58 AM CDT

Litigator calls ‘trickery’ allegations ‘ludicrous’ in spat with NFL team’s ex-general counsel

The litigator who led a National Football League investigation into sexual harassment at the Washington Football Team is denying a claim by the team’s general counsel that she used “trickery” to learn the details of a 2009 confidential settlement, according to redacted legal filings unsealed Wednesday.

Sep 9, 2021 12:32 PM CDT

Software company CEO discusses challenges, benefits and evolution of sourcing outside counsel

Ari Kaplan recently spoke with Jim Delkousis, the founder and CEO of Persuit, a software platform that facilitates a competitive process for sourcing outside counsel.

Jul 23, 2021 9:54 AM CDT

Lawyer finds two words that doom billion-dollar case

A lawyer with a BigLaw firm was able to thwart a billion-dollar qui tam case against the Lennar Corp. when she found a California real estate developer’s name on a change-of-counsel form.

Jul 20, 2021 12:28 PM CDT

Law firms ‘cannot long endure a remote work model,’ says Morgan Stanley chief legal officer

Morgan Stanley’s chief legal officer, Eric Grossman, has reportedly warned the investment bank's outside law firms that their lawyers should return to the office to avoid a decline in client service.

Jul 19, 2021 12:00 PM CDT

US lawyer in Hong Kong is convicted for trying to stop beating by man who turned out to be cop

An American corporate lawyer in Hong Kong is planning to appeal after his assault conviction last week for intervening when a man attacked a commuter.

Jun 28, 2021 9:22 AM CDT

New AI-powered legal writing tool aims to help lawyers craft winning briefs

A gratifying legal victory sparked Jacqueline Schafer’s desire to create a legal technology product that would help other lawyers efficiently craft case-winning briefs full of compelling evidence. Clearbrief is an AI-powered legal writing tool.

May 19, 2021 9:00 AM CDT

Afternoon briefs: Search of Giuliani’s home is ‘legal thuggery,’ says his lawyer; top legal officer earns $50.9M

Search of Giuliani’s home is ‘legal thuggery,’ his lawyer says Federal agents searched lawyer Rudy Giuliani’s New York City apartment and office early Wednesday. Giuliani’s lawyer, Robert Costello, told the New York Times the searches were “legal thuggery” and unnecessary. Costello said his client had offered to answer prosecutors’ questions,…

Apr 28, 2021 4:25 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: DOJ will probe Louisville, Kentucky, police; Coca-Cola reviews outside counsel diversity policy

DOJ will investigate Louisville, Kentucky, police practices U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Monday that the Department of Justice is investigating whether the Louisville, Kentucky, Metro Police Department uses unreasonable force or engages in discriminatory policing as part of an unconstitutional pattern or practice. Department officers fatally shot Breonna Taylor…

Apr 26, 2021 4:36 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Coca-Cola GC leaves after 8 months; wrongly jailed man challenges $4K bill for confinement

Coca-Cola GC who backed diversity initiative leaves job Bradley Gayton has resigned from his post as general counsel at Coca-Cola to become a “strategic consultant” to the company. Gayton had told outside law firms in January that at least 30% of their associate and partner time on new matters should…

Apr 22, 2021 2:50 PM CDT

How one firm is trying to convince technology clients to embrace subscription pricing

When two women discussed starting their own law firm two years ago, the experienced in-house lawyers agreed that they should take a subscription-pricing approach with clients.

Apr 14, 2021 9:03 AM CDT

Leaders of 62 BigLaw firms denounce voting restrictions; coalition is formed to challenge legislation

Law firms are getting involved in the controversy over voting restrictions, already passed in Georgia and under consideration in Texas.

Apr 13, 2021 12:06 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Christian baker faces trial in new bias case; city approves housing reparations

Christian baker faces new bias case A Christian baker is facing a new bias claim after persuading the U.S. Supreme Court that a Colorado agency showed impermissible hostility to his religious reasons for refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding. The baker, Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop, is…

Mar 23, 2021 4:19 PM CDT