Practice Management

Judge Perry to Win ABA Marshall Award

A revered South Carolina civil rights lawyer whose career included numerous “firsts” is to be presented by the American Bar Association later this month with its prestigious Thurgood Marshall Award. To be honored by the ABA at its annual meeting for his “substantial and long-term contributions to the furtherance of…

Aug 6, 2007 5:40 PM CDT

New Bankruptcy Dept for Cravath

Signaling a sea change in the way that one of New York City’s most prestigious, upper-echelon law firms runs its practice, Richard Levin has now been working as a partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore for a month. Levin not only represents a very rare exception to Cravath’s ordinary policy…

Aug 2, 2007 9:35 PM CDT

Unlicensed Gen’l Counsels are Unusual

Does a general counsel of a corporation have to be a licensed lawyer? To many, the answer to that question would seem to be a no-brainer: Yes. But a small number of general counsels have chosen not to maintain active law licenses, and are now fielding questions in the wake…

Aug 2, 2007 6:41 PM CDT

1st African-American State’s Atty in CT

The first African-American to serve as a state’s attorney in Connecticut was sworn in today in Hartford. Gail P. Hardy, 44, took her oath of office and begins overseeing prosecutions in the Hartford Judicial District today, reports the Hartford Courant. She was previously a senior assistant state’s attorney for the…

Aug 1, 2007 11:32 PM CDT

House Ethics Bill Passes in 411-8 Vote

Legislation hailed as the most sweeping Congressional ethics reform since the Watergate era of the 1970s passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming 411-8 majority yesterday and appears poised for approval in the Senate. Drafted, ironically, behind closed doors, the ethics bill for the first time requires lawmakers to…

Aug 1, 2007 9:55 PM CDT

Subprime Woes Good News for Lawyers

As the nation’s subprime mortgage market continues to implode, a booming practice area is being created for lawyers in various related areas of practice. In fact, subprime mortgage issues—which apparently are likely to include a heavy focus on white-collar crime—will be virtually a full-employment act for attorneys, in much the…

Aug 1, 2007 9:26 PM CDT

New Standard Lets Weil Sue Mayer

A private equity firm’s selection of New York City bankruptcy powerhouse Weil Gotshal & Manges to handle a $245 million claim against Chicago-based Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw probably wouldn’t have been possible in the not-so-distant past. That’s because Weil likely would have been conflicted out of representing Thomas H.…

Aug 1, 2007 4:53 PM CDT

The Ultimate Question

A courthouse conversation brings a lawyer’s purpose into sharper focus

Aug 1, 2007 12:50 PM CDT

Green Is Good

During construction of Nixon Peabody’s new office space in San Francisco’s Embarcadero Center, corner office placement was the least of the firm’s concerns.

Aug 1, 2007 12:49 PM CDT

Who’s Using Legal OnRamp?

A partial list of law firms participating in LegalOnRamp. Firms are based in the United States unless otherwise noted.

Aug 1, 2007 9:36 AM CDT

Punching the Clock

Firms crack down on start times, but is it a “generational” thing?

Aug 1, 2007 8:48 AM CDT

Discovery Is the Trial

Use depositions as if they’re the only chance you’ll have to try the case

Aug 1, 2007 8:27 AM CDT

Virtual Offices in Real Space

Many solos opt for companies that offer all the trimmings

Aug 1, 2007 8:22 AM CDT

Attorney Pay Slays Inflation

The last decade has been a very good one for the average U.S. lawyer’s wallet. Median attorney pay has outpaced inflation by 17 percent, compared to just a 5 percent rise in the prior decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Aug 1, 2007 7:39 AM CDT

Court: Big Firm Goofed, No Arb Clause

When lawyers from megafirm Sidley Austin agreed to write an opinion letter on the lawfulness of a tax shelter for a corporate executive who was a client of a Big Four accounting firm, they presumably weren’t expecting problems. But after Staples Inc. Vice Chairman Joseph Vassalluzzo had to pay $7…

Jul 31, 2007 9:31 PM CDT