Legal Book

Obama Picks Arnold & Porter Partner To Lead DOJ Antitrust Division

Master — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:16:53 +0000

Arnold & Porter partner William Baer is President Barack Obama’s pick to lead the Justice Department’s antitrust division.

What Causes Lawyers to Over-Preserve?

Master — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:22:54 +0000

Irrational fear of sanctions and spotty tech familiarity have conditioned lawyers to over-preserve, says e-discovery special master Craig Ball, but there are options to “right size” the approach.Visit Law Technology News

Defense wins $1.1M in suit over contract

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:22:53 +0000

A breach of contract battle between copier products companies that began three years ago with a Chinese conglomerate suing a family-owned Atlanta company for more than $4 million has concluded with the defendant winning $1.1 million for counterclaims.

Cain sued over book cover photo

Master — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:22:52 +0000

An ad agency is suing former presidential candidate Herman Cain and the publisher of his biography, claiming that its copyright of the book’s cover photo has been infringed.

State Justices Overturn Another Death Sentence

Master — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:22:51 +0000

For the fourth time in a little more than two months, the California Supreme Court has overturned a death sentence. Because the jury couldn’t reach a verdict on a second special circumstances charge of torture, the high court said it was forced to reverse the sentence.

Ninth Circuit Rejects Fair Housing Act Discrimination Claims Against Roommates.com

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:22:50 +0000

Roommates.com has scored a big victory with a 9th Circuit ruling that it can collect personal information from users and match potential roommates according to traits like gender and sexual preference. The panel held that roommate selection is covered by a constitutional right to association.

FINRA and Schwab Lock Horns Over Arbitration Agreements with Brokerage Customers

Master — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:22:49 +0000

In the wake of a complaint by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Charles Schwab has lawyered up and gone to court to seek an unprecedented declaratory judgment, asking a federal district court to block the agency’s action and to rule that its class-action waiver agreements are enforceable.

The Am Law 100, the Early Numbers: Weil’s Profits Jump 8 Percent

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:22:49 +0000

Weil, Gotshal & Manges is on the rebound.

The Am Law 100, the Early Numbers: Bryan Cave Comes Into Latest Tie-Up with Revenue on the Rise

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:22:48 +0000

Bryan Cave is coming into its latest big merger from a position of strength. The firm, which absorbed Holme Roberts & Owen on Jan. 1, saw steady growth across financial categories last year and nearly achieved a double-digit bump in profits per equity partner for a second straight year, according to The American Lawyer.

O’Melveny Beats Back Sucessor Liability Claim Against BofA in Countrywide MBS Suit

Master — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:22:47 +0000

In the face of the most comprehensive effort yet to keep Bank of America on the hook for alleged fraud in a Countrywide mortgage-backed securities case, a California federal district court judge has rejected Allstate’s successor liability claim against BofA.

Legal Sector Added 1,000 Jobs in January

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:22:46 +0000

The legal sector kicked off 2012 on an upbeat note by adding 1,000 jobs in January, according to the preliminary employment report released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Herbert Smith Confirms Merger Discussions with Freehills

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:22:43 +0000

U.K. firm Herbert Smith has confirmed that it is in merger talks with Australian firm Freehills. A tie-up between the two firms would create an international giant with nearly 2,000 lawyers and give Freehills an opening into Asian markets.

Tracing the Effects of Oil and Gas Industry Political Donations

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:22:41 +0000

As millions of dollars flow from corporations and individuals into presidential campaigns, money also continues to influence members of Congress. In a recent two-year time frame, contributions to current House members from individuals and PACs connected to the oil and gas industry totaled nearly $12 million.

Weathering the Storm

Master — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:22:41 +0000

A rising tide may lift all boats, but not all law firms rose with the swells in 2011’s choppy waters. A few California-centric firms saw large gains in revenues or profits in 2011, while at the other end, firms like Orrick and Pillsbury spent the year mostly treading water.

A.G. Sues Banks Over Their Use of MERS Electronic ‘End-Around’

Master — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:22:39 +0000

In his latest broadside against the banking industry, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is alleging that the nation’s largest banks use the Mortgage Electronic Registration System to evade public filings, shortchange localities of $2 billion in fees and compromise homeowners’ interests. A complaint filed on Friday describes MERS, a Virginia-based digital mortgage tracking service, as “a shell company” established as a stealth mortgagee for banks, particularly JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo.

CNN Doesn’t Get Far in Fight Against Closed Captioning

Master — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:01:19 +0000

In a hearing Thursday, a federal magistrate judge seemed to agree with disability advocates that forcing CNN to provide closed captioning on its Internet videos doesn’t violate the First Amendment, since closed captioning doesn’t require the news organization to summarize, distill or change its content.

Panel Affirms Sanctions Against Attorneys in 9/11 Conspiracy Claim

Master — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:01:19 +0000

Sanctions against two attorneys who insist that former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld caused the Sept.

Was Penn State’s GC Counsel for University Officials?

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:01:17 +0000

In-house lawyers understand that they’re hired to represent the entity that issues their paychecks, not the executives and staff. But as evidenced by the testimony of two Penn State University officials, a company’s lawyers and constituents can understand the relationship differently.

U.K. Moves ‘No Win, No Fee’ Litigation Reforms to 2013

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:40:47 +0000

The U.K.’s implementation of “no win, no fee” conditional fee arrangements has been pushed back, from October of this year to April 2013. The U.K. Ministry of Justice said the civil litigation reforms were postponed for six months to allow law firms and legal businesses more time to prepare.Visit International News

Firm Alleges Defendants Misappropriated Trade Secrets, Privileged Info

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:40:46 +0000

Shrader & Associates has filed a petition in Texas state court alleging a former office manager, who was indicted for allegedly taking more than $200,000 from the firm, provided “confidential, proprietary, and privileged information” from the firm’s computer server to a Houston lawyer and firm.

The Am Law 100, the Early Numbers: SNR Denton Joins Comeback List as Revenue, Profits Grow

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:40:45 +0000

In what is quickly becoming a recurring theme for Am Law 100 firms, SNR Denton’s U.S. arm bounced back in 2011 after two years of financial decline

Wolf Block Asks Justices to Review Ex-Partner’s Lawsuit

Master — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:40:45 +0000

Wolf Block has asked the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to decide if a case by a former partner seeking severance payments can be removed to confidential arbitration. An appellate panel found ex-partner Michael Budin never signed a partnership agreement mandating arbitration and can therefore have his day in court.

Amex Again Loses Bid to Enforce Waiver

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:40:44 +0000

In a case that has returned twice in three years because of fresh case law from the U.S. Supreme Court, the 2nd Circuit keeps coming up with the same answer: A class action waiver provision in American Express contracts with merchants is unenforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act.

Abu Dhabi Fund Can’t Keep Suit over $7.5 Billion Citi Arbitration Under Wraps, Judge Rules

Master — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:40:43 +0000

A federal district court judge in Manhattan has ordered Abu Dhabi Investment Authority to file public versions of court filings in the sovereign wealth fund’s challenge to a confidential arbitration award in a multibillion-dollar dispute with Citigroup.

9th Circuit countermands order to unseal Prop. 8 trial video

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:40:42 +0000

A federal appellate panel ruled on Thursday that a San Francisco judge abused his discretion by ordering the release of a video recording of the trial over California’s Proposition 8, saying that he ignored a promise upon which supporters of the ban on gay marriage relied.