International Law

After Hack Attacks and Death Threats, Lawyer Tells Court, He’s Dropping File-Share Suits

Citing “immense hassle to me and my family,” a lawyer pursuing controversial file-sharing claims has told a British court that he is dropping the litigation due to hack attacks, bomb threats and death threats. Solicitor Andrew Crossley of ACS:Law now says he has dropped all such work, in a statement…

Jan 25, 2011 10:17 PM CST

Successful ‘Two Lads and a Laptop’ Law Firm Credits Back-to-Basics, Plain Language Focus

When John Hogan and Larry Fenelon founded Leman Solicitors in 2007, the economy wasn’t exactly robust. But the tiny law firm’s three guiding principles—clear communication, plain language and understandable itemized bills—obviously struck a chord with clients, reports the Irish Times. Ironically, the difficult economy proved to be a plus, as…

Jan 24, 2011 5:37 PM CST

Hogan Lovells Raids Willkie Farr, Lures 10-Lawyer Capital Markets Team to Frankfurt Office

In another sign that the corporate legal market is gaining steam this year, megafirm Hogan Lovells has raided the Frankfurt, Germany, office of Willkie Farr & Gallagher for a 10-lawyer capital markets team. The group is led by Michael Schlitt, who will head the practice group at his new law…

Jan 21, 2011 9:21 PM CST

UK Judge OKs Extradition of Terrorism Suspect Wanted for Alleged NY Subway Bomb Plot

A terrorism suspect who argued he could face torture or mistreatment if he is sent to the United States for trial has lost a bid to avoid extradition. A British court today approved the extradition of Pakistani national Abid Naseer, who is wanted here for his alleged role in a…

Jan 21, 2011 3:54 PM CST

Quarles & Brady Opens First Foreign Office, in Shanghai

In operation in Milwaukee for almost 120 years, Quarles & Brady has been a rapidly expanding presence in Arizona and Chicago in recent years. Now the 450-attorney firm is planting its flag on foreign soil for the first time. After establishing a China practice group in 2007, it is opening…

Jan 20, 2011 9:11 PM CST

Wife’s Alleged Affair with Top Cop Puts BigLaw Partner on Witness Seat in High-Profile Arson Case

Oct. 21, 2009 clearly was not a good day for Ian Gray. Arriving home from a business trip, the Eversheds litigation head was told by his wife that she was having an affair, and that her lover had been receiving threatening e-mails from an “iangray666,” according to the Daily Mail…

Jan 20, 2011 1:51 AM CST

New Dewey San Francisco Office is 2nd Announced in 1 Day to Be Headed by Howrey IP Defector

Two years after closing the San Francisco office of Dewey & LeBoeuf, the law firm is reopening it in order to provide a home for three intellectual property lawyers defecting from Howrey. They are Henry Bunsow, who will co-chair the entire firm’s IP litigation practice, Denise De Mory and Brian…

Jan 19, 2011 11:41 PM CST

Newly Merged Kilpatrick Townsend Opens in Taiwan, Its 2nd Asian Office

After merging Jan. 1, Kilpatrick Stockton and Townsend and Townsend and Crew are already in an expansion mode. Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton has opened a new office in Taipei, Taiwan, its second in Asia, reports the Winston-Salem Journal. The 650-attorney firm already had an office in Tokyo, which the Townsend…

Jan 19, 2011 6:11 PM CST

Book Argues Ideas Hatched in Law Schools Are ‘Catastrophically Bad for America’

Elite law schools are “churning out ideas that are catastrophically bad for America,” according to a new book by blogger and Cato Institute senior fellow Walter Olson. That description is from the book jacket, and it’s posted on Olson’s Overlawyered blog. “Rights to sue anyone over anything in class actions?…

Jan 19, 2011 3:27 PM CST

Doc Film That Cut A/C Privilege in $113B Enviro Case Also Pierced Filmmaker’s Shield, 2nd Cir. Says

Last year, a decision to cooperate with a filmmaker making a documentary about a $113 billion Ecuadorean environmental case cost plaintiffs’ counsel their attorney-client privilege. Now in the latest adverse ruling to the plaintiffs as a result of the Crude documentary, a federal appeals court has held that the film…

Jan 14, 2011 5:39 PM CST

‘Free’ Office Mgr Allegedly Helped Husband Steal Over $2M from Law Firm

A ‘free’ office manager helped her husband steal over $2 million from a British law firm that funded the couple’s lavish lifestyle, reports the BBC News. A Leeds Crown Court jury found Simon Morgan, 50, guilty of six theft counts. His wife, Ann, 55, wasn’t fit to stand trial for…

Jan 13, 2011 1:12 AM CST

ABA Prez Condemns ‘Unfair’ Trial of Iranian Civil Rights Lawyer Sentenced to 11 Years

Sentenced to 11 years in prison and barred from practicing law or leaving the country for 20 years, an Iranian civil rights attorney known for her representation of women and children is being punished for expressing her views to the media, some supporters say. Convicted of “activities against national security”…

Jan 13, 2011 12:28 AM CST

‘Big Six’ Australian Law Firms Evacuate as Flooding Worsens in Brisbane

At least two of Australia’s ‘Big Six’ law firms are among the legal partnerships evacuating their offices in Brisbane this week after weeks of rain caused widespread flooding that reportedly is the worst in 50 years. Up to 60 feet of water are expected to cover parts of the city…

Jan 12, 2011 7:02 PM CST

Given Choice of ‘Silver or Lead,’ Lawyer Serving as Mayor of Mexican City, Like Many Others, Is Dead

A successful, idealistic Mexican lawyer who was elected to serve as mayor of Santiago in November 2009 didn’t last a year in office before he was kidnapped and killed, allegedly with the help of the town’s police force. Like many other politicians caught in the country’s violent drug war, Edelmiro…

Jan 10, 2011 11:58 PM CST

Amidst Reported Surge in Urge to Merge, Reed Smith and Thompson & Knight Disengage

Although law firm mergers were down significantly in 2010, compared to 2009 and 2008, an upswing at the end of the year suggests that the urge to merge may surge in 2011, an Altman Weil survey says. Only 39 law firm engagements were announced in 2010, down from 53 in…

Jan 7, 2011 1:45 AM CST