When The Dunham Law Firm learned someone allegedly had “transferred” the office’s phone number to a new phone provider without its permission, the firm sued a woman, alleging she “misappropriated” the number and directed attorney-client privileged calls to a voicemail box she controlled.

The Arizona U.S. Attorney’s Office felt the 9th Circuit’s wrath again on Tuesday in a case that has a line prosecutor in hot water.

DLA Piper is bolstering its securities, litigation and IP groups with a team of five partners poached from Reed Smith’s Silicon Valley office. Richard Scudellari, who helped open the office for Reed Smith in 2008, cited the lure of DLA’s international platform.

Baker & McKenzie’s San Diego office, which has been shrinking for several years, is set to lose two IP partners. Industry sources say the firm’s business model, which ties partner pay to the financial fortunes of the office where that attorney works, has been fueling departures, along with speculation the office may close.

An opinion published by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel in late December has opened the way for state lotteries to sell tickets via the Internet. And now people are wondering if poker, casinos and other online gaming enterprises can be far behind.