Large Firm

Jones Day sued for alleged malpractice by pro bono clients who say eviction deal left them homeless

Two former mobile home owners have filed a malpractice suit against Jones Day that claims that the law firm’s work on their eviction case was a “fiasco.” Zona Bernier and Gary Hill of Orange County, California, allege that Jones Day pressured them to accept a “burdensome settlement” without asserting legitimate…

Aug 1, 2019 2:09 PM CDT

2 bright spots in law-grad hiring: more BigLaw jobs, higher rate of JD-required employment

The job picture improved for law school graduates in the class of 2018, with increases in both the overall rate of employment and the percentage of graduates who secured full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar passage, according to the National Association for Law Placement.

Jul 31, 2019 10:06 AM CDT

Judge kicks himself off felon voting-rights case after defendant’s ‘deeply troubling’ legal maneuver

A federal judge in Florida won’t be hearing a challenge to a restrictive Florida voting law because of a litigant’s choice of counsel. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker of Tallahassee disqualified himself in a order this week, but he didn’t appear happy about it, report the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and…

Jul 18, 2019 2:01 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: R. Kelly accused of sexual racketeering; in vitro fertilization mix-up leads to lawsuits

• Federal indictments in New York and Chicago accuse R&B singer R. Kelly of racketeering, producing child pornography and obstructing justice in connection with sexual exploitation of young girls and women. The New York indictment says Kelly had strict rules of behavior for his sexual recruits, including that they call…

Jul 12, 2019 4:34 PM CDT

Sidley Austin is among defendants settling investor class action for $220M

Sidley Austin and Deloitte are among five professional firms agreeing to pay $220 million to settle claims for aiding securities sales by a now-defunct investment firm accused of operating as a Ponzi scheme. None of the defendants were charged with any wrongdoing, according to the proposed settlement filed in Oregon…

Jul 11, 2019 1:22 PM CDT

BigLaw partner leaves firm after reprimand for DWI and alleged nose punch

A partner at Husch Blackwell in Madison, Wisconsin, has left the law firm after receiving a reprimand for allegedly punching a bar manager and driving while intoxicated. Lawyer Jeffrey McIntyre, 58, was reprimanded by the state supreme court June 26, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. McIntyre’s employee profile was on…

Jul 9, 2019 3:03 PM CDT

State supreme court calls out BigLaw lawyer for failing to stanch evasive client’s ‘deposition fiasco’

A Sullivan & Cromwell partner has been called out by the Delaware Supreme Court for failing to put an end to his client’s misbehavior that resulted in a “deposition fiasco.” The court referred to the partner, Brian Frawley, by name and said he apparently made no attempt to stop his…

Jul 1, 2019 11:17 AM CDT

Facebook recognizes diversity efforts of outside counsel with award to Kilpatrick Townsend

Facebook has tapped Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton for its first Law Firm Diversity Champion Award.

Jun 25, 2019 3:12 PM CDT

Judge sanctions BigLaw firm for missing deadline to turn over discovery materials in Baylor litigation

Pepper Hamilton will have to pay reasonable expenses and attorney fees incurred by its opponent in a discovery dispute as a sanction for a missed deadline to turn over materials and other discovery foot-dragging. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman imposed the sanction in a suit filed by 15 plaintiffs who…

Jun 25, 2019 11:57 AM CDT

Former Jones Day partner drops suit claiming ‘enforced code of silence’ led to pay bias

A former Jones Day partner in California has dropped her pay bias suit against the law firm in exchange for return of capital that she contributed to the firm. Lawyer Wendy Moore has dismissed all her claims, according to a statement by the law firm emailed to the ABA Journal.…

Jun 18, 2019 3:28 PM CDT

BigLaw firm threatened with sanctions for alleged discovery foot-dragging in Baylor litigation

The law firm that conducted a private investigation into Baylor University’s handling of sex assault allegations will tell a Texas federal judge next Monday why it shouldn’t be sanctioned for dragging its feet in discovery disputes. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman scheduled a June 17 show-cause hearing for the law…

Jun 12, 2019 11:15 AM CDT

Willkie Farr and Sidley lawyers evacuated after helicopter crashes atop their building

Lawyers and other workers at Sidley Austin and Willkie Farr & Gallagher in Manhattan were among the people evacuated Monday afternoon when a helicopter crashed on top of their Midtown building. Both law firms instituted emergency protocols, report Bloomberg Law and the New York Law Journal. The helicopter pilot died…

Jun 11, 2019 9:08 AM CDT

A curmudgeon’s tips for making it in BigLaw

For law grads and associates going into the world of BigLaw, the stakes have never been higher—and neither have the expectations. The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Practicing Law explains how to succeed with a bit of snark and a whole lot of laughs.

Jun 5, 2019 6:30 AM CDT

DLA Piper lawyers in the UK are targeted in email scam

Scammers posed as DLA Piper lawyers in the United Kingdom to trick an entity into making a payment to a fraudulent bank account. The Solicitors Regulation Authority said in a recent press release that the scammers sent emails purporting to be from Alan Cunningham, a partner who leads the law…

Jun 4, 2019 7:30 AM CDT

Kirkland & Ellis hires director of well-being and plans apps to help increase resilience

A lawyer who is also a licensed clinical professional counselor is the new firmwide director of well-being at Kirkland & Ellis. The new hire is Robin Belleau, the former executive director of the Lawyers’ Assistance Program in Illinois, according to a press release and stories by the American Lawyer and…

May 31, 2019 7:00 AM CDT