A survey of more than 60,000 people shows that 54 percent of respondents expressed no preference between having a male or female boss. The study also notes that employee attitudes regarding female bosses have steadily improved over the years. On the other hand, 33 percent of people in the recent survey said they prefer male bosses.Visit The Careerist

The Am Law Daily began hearing rumors of it last week, and now sources at both firms confirm it: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe have begun merger talks.

The judge who blocked the Obama administration’s moratorium on deep-water oil drilling has an image as a stern jurist, but he has sparked little controversy over the years. With a reversal record since 2000 that is the second-lowest among judges of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Martin Feldman has navigated his position without much drama — until now.

Despite opposition from the business community, the Senate appears ready to eliminate the federal tax deduction for companies that pay punitive damages awards. The Senate on Wednesday approved an amendment to the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010 that ends the deduction in order to pay for an extension of the First Time Home Buyer Credit program.

Over the years, attorneys have become more isolated from their peers, says attorney Frederic S.