Large Firm

Dentons employee’s suit says she was treated like a sexual object, complaints went unheeded

A business development specialist at Dentons claims in a lawsuit that her direct supervisor propositioned her using vulgar language, tried to draw her into sexual conversations when he called her at late hours, and touched her legs and buttocks without her consent. Plaintiff Krunali Parekh says in the suit that…

Jun 12, 2018 10:40 AM CDT

Some BigLaw firms abstain from alcohol-centered events for summer associates

Some major law firms are opting for healthier and cultural-based events for their summer associates.

Two law firms making the switch are Goodwin Procter and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, the American Lawyer reports.

Jun 6, 2018 7:00 AM CDT

Several lawyers reportedly rejected potential candidacy for No. 3 post at Justice Department

Several lawyers approached about the possibility of an appointment to the No. 3 post at the U.S. Justice Department reportedly rejected the potential candidacy.

Jun 5, 2018 12:35 PM CDT

Milbank boosts associates’ starting pay to $190K

New associates at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy will be paid $190,000, the law firm announced on Monday.

Jun 4, 2018 3:11 PM CDT

Wait for partnership at Weil is reduced by 2 years in bid to retain more associates

Weil, Gotshal & Manges hopes to improve associate retention by cutting the wait for partnership by two years.

Jun 1, 2018 1:27 PM CDT

Why 3 BigLaw firms ended use of mandatory arbitration clauses

In some situations, confidentiality of arbitration can be a problem, as it makes corroborating claims more difficult. The Me Too movement has prompted some law firms to review human resources policies.

Jun 1, 2018 12:15 AM CDT

Abbe Lowell among 15 lawyers leaving Norton Rose Fulbright

Abbe Lowell, the lawyer representing Jared Kushner in the Russia probe, is leaving Norton Rose Fulbright for Winston & Strawn. Lowell is among 15 lawyers leaving the firm; the others are jumping to Reed Smith, the New York Law Journal has stories here and here. Reed Smith and Winston &…

May 24, 2018 7:10 AM CDT

Federal judge finds King & Spalding’s reasons for firing associate ‘incredibly hard’ to believe

A federal judge told King & Spalding on Tuesday that she finds its stated reasons for firing an associate “incredibly hard” to believe and she was planning to deny its motion for summary judgment. U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni said she planned to hold off on ruling to allow the…

May 23, 2018 3:37 PM CDT

Federal judge scolds slow-moving BigLaw lawyers, enforces oral agreement to settle class action

A federal judge in New Jersey is requiring Samsung Electronics America to abide by an oral agreement to settle two would-be class actions involving drain pumps in washing machines.

May 23, 2018 7:00 AM CDT

Reed Smith expands ‘Innovation Hours’ program

Reed Smith is expanding its Innovation Hours program, which allows fee earners to bill up to 50 hours on select projects.

May 21, 2018 7:54 AM CDT

Some corporate clients are making ‘unpalatable’ demands in outside counsel guidelines, partner says

Corporate clients are increasingly making broad demands in outside counsel guidelines that restrict the type of work law firms can do for other clients, observers say.

May 18, 2018 7:00 AM CDT

Did Reed Smith partner hang up on prosecutor for special counsel? Tensions erupt at hearing

A Reed Smith partner representing a Russian company in special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe took offense in a court hearing on Wednesday when a prosecutor said he hung up about nine minutes into what was supposed to be an hour-long meet-and-confer phone call. Partner Eric Dubelier said the claim by…

May 17, 2018 7:05 AM CDT

Nixon Peabody seeks to benefit the poor with its solar panels

Nixon Peabody lawyers Jeff Lesk and Herb Stevens are taking the lead on a project that sends energy credits from solar panels on the firm’s Washington, D.C., office to lower-income city residents. The program involves the energy company Pepco, the Washington Post reports. “We just produce the energy here,” Stevens…

May 11, 2018 2:16 PM CDT

Michael Cohen brought top client to BigLaw firm; other consulting clients have regrets

Michael Cohen reportedly referred five possible clients to Squire Patton Boggs during his strategic alliance with the firm, including one that appears to be a top lobbying client. But some of the companies that separately hired Cohen, including a telecom heavyweight and a European-based drugmaker, aren’t as satisfied with their…

May 11, 2018 9:59 AM CDT

Former managing clerk at Simpson Thacher gets sentence reduced in insider trading scheme

A former managing clerk at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett had nine months shaved off his sentence for insider trading. The former clerk, 44-year-old Steven Metro, was resentenced Wednesday to 37 months in prison for stealing information from his law firm’s computers and passing it to a former law school classmate,…

May 10, 2018 1:44 PM CDT