Legal Book » the-firm

The Am Law 100, the Early Numbers: Revenue Inches Up at Patterson Belknap, Profits and RPL Dip

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:16:20 +0000

Though slight, Patterson Belknap’s top-line growth was good enough to push its 2011 gross revenue figure above what the firm collected in a record-setting 2010. Adding 11 lawyers to keep up with an increasing workload helps explain why revenue per lawyer and profits per partner were down from prior highs.

The Am Law 100, the Early Numbers: Paul, Weiss Reaches Firm Highs in Revenue, Profits

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:16:18 +0000

Though rising only modestly, Paul Weiss’ gross revenue and profits per partner hit record levels last year, according to The American Lawyer’s reporting.

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: Revenue Up, Profits Down Slightly at Cadwalader

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:49:45 +0000

Cadwalader enjoyed a modest uptick in revenue in 2011, the firm’s first burst of top-line growth since 2007, according to The American Lawyer’s reporting, which showed the firm’s gross revenue increased 4.4 percent, to $448.5 million, and revenue per lawyer was up nearly 8 percent, to $965,000.

Dallas Firm Sues Doe Defendant Over Online Review

Master — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:02:25 +0000

A Dallas firm has sued an anonymous “Ben Doe” who allegedly wrote a negative Google review about the firm, in a case that highlights the difficulties lawyers face in addressing online comments.

Former Fulbright Partner Pleads Guilty to False Accounting and Fraud Charges

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:39:14 +0000

Former Fulbright & Jaworski partner Richard Simkin has pleaded guilty to charges of false accounting and fraud. Simkin, who resigned from the firm’s London office in 2008, and his wife Zakia Sharif, who was dismissed as an office manager by the firm, have admitted to stealing as much as £100,000 from the firm in false expenses claims.Visit International News

Canadian Firm’s Ties to Milberg Figure in Fight for Sino-Forest Lead Counsel Role

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:26:18 +0000

In a decision appointing firms to lead a shareholder class action against Sino-Forest Corp., a judge in Ontario explored whether the Toronto firm Kim Orr should be disqualified from the bidding because of the firm’s prominent ties with Milberg.

More Losses for Baker & McKenzie’s San Diego Office

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:26:14 +0000

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.

In Rare Move, Cravath Partner Leaves Firm For Crowell

Master — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:26:08 +0000

Jeffrey Smith, the former head of Cravath, Swaine & Moore’s environmental practice, has left the firm to join the New York office of Crowell & Moring. Having lateraled both into and out of Cravath, Smith has accomplished two rare feats. Movement in either direction is not something that happens with any frequency at the firm.

In Rare Move, Cravath Partner Leaves Firm For Crowell

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:26:08 +0000

Circuit Rejects Investors’ Claims of Deceptive Conduct by Refco

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:03:34 +0000

Customers of the defunct Refco Capital Markets Ltd.

Circuit Rejects Investors’ Claims of Deceptive Conduct by Refco

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:03:34 +0000

Customers of the defunct Refco Capital Markets Ltd. who claimed that principals at the firm violated securities laws by abusing customer securities pledged for margin trading through the firm’s own trading have lost their bid to recover monetary damages.

Circuit Rejects Investors’ Claims of Deceptive Conduct by Refco

Master — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:03:34 +0000

Panel Rules Illness Does Not Shield Lawyer’s Misconduct

Master — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:19:48 +0000

A New York appellate court has overturned a decision that ordered a Manhattan law firm to pay more than $500,000 to a former contract partner who blamed his bipolar condition for his misuse of a company credit card and attempt to pass expenses on to the firm’s clients.

With $8.5 Billion BofA Settlement Still Up in the Air, Gibbs & Bruns Sets Sights on JPMorgan

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:53:16 +0000

Few took notice last year when Gibbs & Bruns began laying the groundwork for what eventually became an $8.5 billion settlement with Bank of America over hundreds of billions of dollars in mortgage-backed securities. Now the firm has picked JPMorgan as its second target, and this time everybody is paying attention.

Why Howard Rice Changed Its Mind on Merging

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:07:03 +0000

This year, Howard Rice finally acknowledged that going it alone wouldn’t lead to the plum deals and cases it still wanted to handle. Its decision to join Washington, D.C.-based Arnold & Porter represents a major departure for Howard Rice, but addresses many of the firm’s most pressing problems.

Judge Rejects BofA’s Bid to Disqualify Quinn Emanuel from $10.5 Billion AIG Mortgage-Backed Securities Suit

Master — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 07:38:12 +0000

Quinn Emanuel won’t have to step aside as counsel to AIG in its $10.5 billion lawsuit against Bank of America, thanks to a federal judge’s ruling Tuesday. But for the London partner that Quinn exiled from the firm when the conflict dispute flared up, the damage may already be done.

Fees Issue Voids Legal Mal Suit Against Duane Morris

Master — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 04:06:12 +0000

Business owners who sued Duane Morris for malpractice over the representation of the sale of their business could not recover any damages because they were limited to recovery of attorney fees and had never paid the firm its fees, a Philadelphia judge said.

Foreclosure Law Firm to Close

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:07:31 +0000

New York’s largest foreclosure firm, Steven J. Baum P.C., has announced “mass layoffs,” signaling that the firm is closing its doors. The move followed recent decisions by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to stop referring new cases to the embattled firm.

Foreclosure Law Firm to Close

Master — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:07:30 +0000

New York’s largest foreclosure firm, Steven J.

Bumpy ride ends in legal fees settlement between O’Melveny, MGA

Master — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:57:39 +0000

The on-again, off-again settlement between O’Melveny & Myers and MGA Entertainment of a $10.2 million billing dispute is on again. On Wednesday, an O’Melveny spokeswoman issued a statement on behalf of the firm saying O’Melveny had agreed to “accept a compromise sum” from MGA.

At Last, Proskauer Rose Opens Its Doors in Beijing

admin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:23:37 +0000

Three years after declaring its intention to launch an office in Beijing, Proskauer Rose has finally moved in.

At Last, Proskauer Rose Opens Its Doors in Beijing

Master — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:23:37 +0000

Three years after declaring its intention to launch an office in Beijing, Proskauer Rose has finally moved in. Initially, about five attorneys from the firm’s Hong Kong office will relocate to Beijing; together, the two offices will focus on private equity, M&A and capital markets matters.Visit International News

Judge denies Weiss’ bid for end to supervised release

Master — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:23:23 +0000

A federal judge has denied Melvyn Weiss’ request to cut short his three-year supervised release following his conviction for paying kickbacks to lead plaintiffs in shareholder cases. The founding partner of the firm now called Milberg LLP cited his support for charitable groups as partial basis for his request.

Judge denies Weiss’ bid for end to supervised release

Master — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:23:22 +0000