Legal Book » country

New ‘U.S. News’ Law Firm Rankings: News You Can’t Use?

admin — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 03:24:10 +0000

Courtesy of U.S. News & World Report’s upcoming rankings for the country’s best law firms, large firms stand on the threshold of even more metrics. Steven Harper, an adjunct professor at Northwestern University, discusses whether the new rankings will be useful to firms and students.

Bianca Jagger Ordered to Pay Back Rent, Attorney Fees

Master — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:53:00 +0000

A referee has ordered the ex-wife of Rolling Stones icon Mick Jagger to pay more than $700,000 in back rent and attorney fees to her former landlords after she lost a bitter five-year battle to keep her $4,600-a-month, rent-stabilized Park Avenue apartment. The ruling followed a 2008 decision by the New York Court of Appeals holding that Bianca Jagger and other foreign nationals in the country on tourist visas were not eligible for rent-stabilized units.

The Cautionary Tale of an E-Mail Scammer

Master — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 06:11:29 +0000

Someone faraway — maybe Nigeria — claims you’ve inherited millions of dollars. To get it, all you need to do is send a few thousand dollars so the e-mail writer can get the money out of the country

Will Court Ruling Bring Tax Woes for International Firms in India?

Master — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:43:41 +0000

Tax troubles are rearing their heads again for international law firms in India, following a Mumbai tax tribunal’s ruling that British legal giant Linklaters owes taxes on fees earned on work that was referred from India but was not necessarily performed in the country. Indian tax authorities claim Linklaters owes taxes at rates of up to 40 percent on some $5.06 million. The ruling raises the prospect that international law firms and other professional service providers will face higher costs in servicing Indian clients.

Justices Expand Second Amendment Gun Rights to States

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 07:55:21 +0000

The Supreme Court on Monday expanded the Second Amendment’s reach to the states, opening the door to challenges of local handgun laws across the country. In McDonald v

Federal Judge Finds Investor’s $15 Million Claim Against Socialite ‘Meritless’

Master — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 07:10:49 +0000

After being swindled in the $194 million KL Group Ponzi scheme, Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen unsuccessfully sued socialite Jerome Fisher, who allegedly attracted Melgen to KL. Now, Melgen may also end up having to pay Fisher’s attorney fees.

Swiss Parliament Clears Way for U.S. Tax Deal

Master — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:18:30 +0000

Swiss lawmakers on Thursday gave final approval to a treaty with the United States that will hand Washington thousands of files on suspected tax cheats. The Swiss Parliament’s upper and lower houses agreed to head off a voter referendum on the deal, which will see the country’s biggest bank, UBS AG, divulge to U.S

Swiss Parties Edge Closer to Ratifying U.S. Tax Deal

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 05:51:59 +0000

Swiss lawmakers have signaled their willingness to compromise in a long-running dispute over whether to give the United States files on thousands of suspected American tax cheats. The votes of the left-wing Social Democratic Party and nationalist Swiss People’s Party were enough last week to block approval of a deal that the Swiss government had hoped would end the threat of prosecution looming over Swiss bank UBS AG if the country refuses to honor its agreement to hand over the names of 4,450 U.S. clients.

Law Firms Catch World Cup Fever

Master — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 06:49:09 +0000

As the 2010 World Cup kicked off Friday in South Africa, local law firms and large firms with offices in the country were taking part by hosting events, catering to clients and even providing the occasional legal service.

Class Action Seeks to Unite Angry BP Investors Around the World

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:11:54 +0000

Another shareholder lawsuit has been filed against BP PLC over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, this one potentially involving plaintiffs from all around the world. The suit, filed in the Eastern District of Louisiana, seeks to represent not just American investors but also those who bought shares in London-based BP in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. “Our numbers show that 39 percent of BP equity holders reside in the U.S.

Former Students’ Sex Abuse Claims Against Prestigious School Proceed to Discovery

admin — Fri, 28 May 2010 08:16:26 +0000

Nine former students who claim that Brooklyn’s Poly Prep Country Day School engaged in a decades-long cover-up of a sexually abusive football coach have scored a significant victory in their lawsuit against the 156-year-old school. On Tuesday, a New York judge granted a discovery motion that allows the plaintiffs to depose the school’s current and former headmasters and requires the school to turn over personnel files and investigative records regarding alleged sexual misconduct by the now-deceased coach.

Supreme Court to Review Texas Death Row Case

Master — Tue, 25 May 2010 08:03:49 +0000

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to decide whether a Texas death row inmate should have access to evidence for DNA testing he says could clear him of three murders. The justices said they will use the case of Hank Skinner, who was as little as an hour away from being executed earlier this year, to decide whether prisoners may use a federal civil rights law to get DNA testing that was not performed before their conviction

Law School Grads Urged to Consider Alternative Paths

admin — Sat, 22 May 2010 03:36:49 +0000

It’s that time of year when law school graduates will soon be walking across stages during ceremonies around the country, but they need to be prepared for alternative paths if their next steps don’t carry them into a large law firm, say career development directors at several law schools.

Citing Manatt Contacts, Top Jamaican Official Quits Government Posts

admin — Sat, 22 May 2010 03:36:18 +0000

Dr. Ronald Robinson — a senator in the Jamaican parliament, junior minister in the country’s foreign affairs ministry and member of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party — resigned his government positions Thursday, in part over his dealings with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in connection with the controversial extradition dispute involving alleged drug baron Christopher “Dudus” Coke. Local news sources report that Robinson sent a letter to Prime Minister Bruce Golding announcing his intention to step down immediately.

Shaping of Judiciary Key Part of Specter’s Legacy

admin — Thu, 20 May 2010 06:52:31 +0000

Sen.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Expresses ‘Profound Regret’ for Extradition Fight, Manatt Hiring

admin — Wed, 19 May 2010 08:51:36 +0000

In a speech to his country Monday, Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding said he would turn an alleged international drug lord over to U.S. authorities and offered his “deepest apologies” for dragging out the extradition dispute and hiring Manatt, Phelps & Phillips to lobby in connection with it

Australian Bank Fees Targeted in Massive Class Action

admin — Sat, 15 May 2010 05:04:35 +0000

In what could mushroom into Australia’s biggest class action ever, some 40,000 people have signed on to litigation that challenges overdraft and late fees charged by a dozen of the country’s largest banks, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The litigation — actually a series of claims brought by Australian plaintiffs firm Maurice Blackburn — could eventually attract up to 100,000 people and businesses on the plaintiffs’ side.

Calif. Cities Sued Over Medical Marijuana Ordinances

Master — Wed, 12 May 2010 06:43:31 +0000

Medical marijuana dispensaries have filed lawsuits against California cities challenging ordinances that effectively threaten the existence of their businesses. Besides the dispensaries, the plaintiffs include medical marijuana users and organizations that promote the use of medical marijuana, including the largest such organization in the country

Announcing High Court Nomination, Obama Cites Kagan’s Temperament, Intellect

Master — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:01:12 +0000

Announcing his decision to nominate Elena Kagan, the first female solicitor general of the United States, to the U.S. Supreme Court, President Barack Obama this morning described Kagan as “one of the foremost legal minds” in the country and someone who approaches issues and problems by “understanding before disagreeing.” If confirmed, Kagan, 50, would be the third woman and the only non-judge on the current Court

DOJ Challenges Sex Offender’s Effort to Renounce Citizenship

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 05:29:08 +0000

James Kaufman, a registered sex offender who is locked up in state prison in Wisconsin, has been trying for six years to renounce his citizenship, arguing that he is entitled to do so inside the United States during a state of war. But the Justice Department has fought Kaufman’s effort to shed his citizenship while still in the country. And now that fight has gone to the D.C

Wachtell and Paul Weiss Advise on New Bid for Bankrupt General Growth Properties

Master — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:39:22 +0000

Simon Property Group, the largest owner of shopping malls in the U.S., has teamed up with hedge fund Paulson & Co.

Iceland Report on Financial Crisis Lashes Out at Government, Banks

Master — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:52:08 +0000

A mammoth 2,300-page report compiled by a Special Investigation Commission for the Icelandic parliament heavily criticizes some of Iceland’s leading political figures and banking officials over the crisis that brought the country to the brink of insolvency. The report, the result of a 15-month investigation, exposes failings in the financial system for the island nation.

Minn. Businessman Petters Gets 50 Years for $3.7 Billion Ponzi Scheme

Master — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 06:21:53 +0000

A federal judge sentenced fallen Minnesota tycoon Tom Petters to 50 years in prison on Thursday for orchestrating a $3.7 billion Ponzi scheme that counted hedge funds, pastors, missionaries and retirees among its victims. The judge said he didn’t believe Petters, one-time owner of Polaroid and Sun Country Airlines, was unaware of the fraud within his operations at Petters Group Worldwide. Since his conviction, Petters has been cooperating with the court-appointed attorney attempting to recover losses in the scheme.

Two Firms Sue Libya for $4.9 Million in Legal Fees

Master — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 05:41:41 +0000

Two law firms filed suit against the government of Libya on Tuesday, seeking more than $4.9 million in unpaid legal fees and costs related to defense work in a slew of terrorism-related cases. Paris-based Cabinet Sefrioui and Washington, D.C.’s Law Offices of Arman Dabiri & Associates claim Libya failed to make good on a 2008 settlement agreement in which it promised to pay about $4.9 million to law firms that handled lawsuits accusing the country of supporting terrorist attacks.

Breyer and Scalia Take Their Road Show Inside

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:41:18 +0000

Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Stephen Breyer have nearly perfected the stylized debate they have from time to time in front of audiences around the country. With a mix of bluster and bravado, the two present their conflicting views of statutory and constitutional interpretation and the role of judges, to the amusement of those listening