Law Firms

Cravath in 1952: No Billables Pressure, No Fancy Offices and No Women

An associate who went to work at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in 1952 experienced a more genteel law firm, with no pressure to bill and plenty of mentoring. He was expected to wear a Brooks Brothers suit and a hat. His office was stark, with no expensive furniture. There was…

Dec 17, 2007 12:47 PM CST

Suit Against PI Lawyer Disputes Fen-Phen Expenses

A class action lawsuit by former clients of Houston personal injury lawyer George Fleming and his law firm alleges the lawyers overcharged for expenses in a $29 million fen-phen settlement. The suit says Fleming & Associates improperly charged the fen-phen settlement plaintiffs for echocardiograms performed on clients that turned out…

Dec 17, 2007 11:34 AM CST

No Signs for Big Mich. Law Firm

A well-known law firm in Grand Rapids, Mich., would like to put up street-level signs to help clients find their five-floor downtown offices. But that’s not possible, because the bank from which Warner Norcross & Judd rents its office space has already taken up all the available ground-floor sign space,…

Dec 14, 2007 10:11 PM CST

Secretary to Axed Partner Plans Whistle-Blower Suit

A legal secretary who warned a major Maine law firm that the senior partner for whom she worked was apparently mishandling funds now plans to file a whistle-blower suit, contending that she was wrongfully fired as a result. Ellie Rommel’s attorney also expects to file a claim with the Maine…

Dec 14, 2007 9:32 PM CST

Top French Attorneys Need US or U.K. Legal Degree

To get a top job at a law firm in France, a law degree from a well-regarded American or British law school is virtually required. That’s because France has no law school viewed as first-rank, so BigLaw firms looking for French lawyers view the foreign law degree as a virtual…

Dec 14, 2007 4:32 PM CST

International Law Firms Like Riyadh, But Lawyers Don’t

The American Lawyer reports that U.K. law firm Norton Rose has established a presence in Riyadh, explaining the reason this way: “With one-fifth of the world’s oil reserves under Saudi Arabia’s desert sands, it might seem unnecessary to ask what exactly attracts international law firms to the kingdom–a bit like…

Dec 14, 2007 1:59 PM CST

Boies’ Jamaican Surprise: $168K Starting Pay

A “knowledgeable source” tells the blog Above the Law that Boies, Schiller & Flexner is raising starting pay for associates to $168,000. The pay hike was announced at a firm meeting last weekend in Jamaica, according to the blog. Second-year associates will be paid $180,000, with the amount then increasing…

Dec 14, 2007 12:21 PM CST

Latham & Watkins Increases Parental Leave

In a move that may prompt changes at other law firms, Latham & Watkins has increased paid parental leave for associates. The law firm has increased paid leave for birth mothers who are primary caregivers to 18 weeks from 12 weeks, for adoptive parents who are primary caregivers to 18…

Dec 14, 2007 12:05 PM CST

NALP: 75% of Part-Timers Female

Although law firms today routinely offer part-time schedules to attorneys of both sexes, part-time law practice remains an unusual career choice and a largely female enclave. About 75 percent of part-timers are female, according to a recent study by NALP (formerly known as the National Association for Law Placement). And…

Dec 13, 2007 9:50 PM CST

Paul Hastings Acquires German Firm

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker is launching a German office with the acquisition of a 27-lawyer German law firm. The acquisition of Frankfurt law firm Smeets Haas Wolff is the culmination of a longtime drive to launch a German office by Paul Hastings, Legal Week reports. The German firm focuses…

Dec 13, 2007 4:03 PM CST

Duane Morris Makes Foray into Securities Plaintiffs Work

A “surprising” addition to the securities class-action bar is Duane Morris, a firm known more for its strong insurance practice than plaintiffs litigation, American Lawyer reports. Duane Morris has teamed up with Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins to bring two shareholder derivative suits, the legal magazine says. One suit…

Dec 13, 2007 1:49 PM CST

Bar Chief’s Glass Ceiling Theory: Assumptions and Slights

Lorelie Masters has her theory about why so many women leave law firms or fail to advance into partnership positions. She attributes the problem to “the soft bigotry of low expectations,” or, in the words of Legal Times, the theory of assumptions and slights. Masters, president of the Women’s Bar…

Dec 13, 2007 1:36 PM CST

Maine Law Firm Axes Former Chair, Alleges Theft

A major law firm in Maine has reportedly sent a 29-year attorney packing and mailed a letter to 1,000 clients alleging that he misappropriated funds. Verrill Dana “severed its relationship” with longtime partner John Duncan, a former chairman of the law firm’s executive board, after he “misappropriated” firm funds and…

Dec 12, 2007 9:29 PM CST

Santa Baby, Maybe: Favored Clients Get Better BigLaw Swag

‘Tis the season for major law firms to send gifts to clients in an annual ritual that separates the big bill-payers from the perennially behind and can pose pitfalls for uninitiated lawyers. Favored clients in the $1 million-plus annual billings range have graduated from gift baskets, and can expect their…

Dec 12, 2007 7:35 PM CST

Dewey Holiday Party Memo: No Spouses, No Rides Home

Dewey & LeBoeuf has sent an e-mail to its personnel advising them that they cannot bring spouses or dates to this year’s holiday party and they must find their own transportation home, the blog Above the Law reports. The blog says banning spouses is “par for the course” at big…

Dec 12, 2007 1:31 PM CST