JD Journal » District of Columbia

Obama Helps D.C. Firms

jim — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 02:28:32 +0000

President Obama has made decent changes that are benefiting lawyers and law firms in the Washington, D.C. area. As promised, more work has been made for the government, which has created more work for lawyers and law firms in the area. The firms in D.C. are doing better than most firms around the country.

During the summer, the request at these firms has dramatically increased. While even the largest firms have about a 1.5 percent demand, firms in D.C. have a demand percentage of 3.5 percent. One of the partners at SNR Denton, Mike McNamara, has said, “The administration’s approach has been good for business.” He also says, “One of the drivers of [Washington] law firm growth has been the regulatory state.”

Because of the major changes and recent reforms, law firms in the area are busier than ever before. Most of the people who work for the government will rely on lawyers and law firms scattered around the area. Meanwhile, the law firms look forward to working with and representing these clients.

The CEO of Hogan Lovells, Warren Gorrell, spoke about the Affordable Care Act recently passed through Congress and says, “Pharma, device companies, insurers… all of those companies are affected by the Affordable Care Act and other regulatory and enforcement activities of the Obama administration.” After passing a healthcare reform bill, the President chose to sign the Dodd-Frank reform. This reform protects the consumers. With this reforms intact, attorneys in the D.C. area are busy providing guidance for the consumers and defending those who need it.

Statistics show that law firms in D.C. can earn over $300 million dollars each year because of all the work they will be doing. Attorneys will not only represent consumers who are in need of a defense team, they will also represent companies, businesses, and government members. All of this work will keep the firms in the area busy but it will pay off because they are earning way more than the average law firm. McNamara, the partner at SNR Denton, say, “Government has become a far greater force in business planning.”

More work is also being made for lawyers in the area due to the crack down from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The federal agents have been working on the investigation of a number of different companies.

The head of McDermott’s regulatory and governmental affairs business unit, Raymond Jacobsen Jr., says, “The Obama administration is bringing more cases, cases with higher penalties, and going after deals that have been closed.” He also says, “It is a good time to be an antitrust lawyer.”

During the downward spiral of the economy, law firms all over the United States suffered. This meant that many firms had to merge, some firms closed, and tons of attorneys were left unemployed. With the recent changes and the demand for attorneys in Washington, D.C., the firms are finally growing which enables more attorneys to find employment and decreases the overall unemployment rate in the city.

Jones Walker Re-Elects William H. Hines as Managing Partner

joshua — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:48:25 +0000

The partnership of Jones Walker has re-elected William H. Hines as managing partner of the firm. Hines will serve a second consecutive five-year term as managing partner, effective Jan. 1 and ending December 31, 2015.

Under Hines’ leadership, Jones Walker has grown from approximately 200 attorneys and 6 offices in 2006 to 300 attorneys in 11 offices in 5 states and the District of Columbia today, the firm said in a press release. Hines led the expansion largely through several mergers, which included with Alabama’s Miller, Hamilton, Snider & Odom in 2008, Louisiana’s Longman Russo in 2009 and Alabama’s Walston Wells & Birchall earlier this year.

“It is truly an honor to be re-elected Managing Partner of Jones Walker,” said Mr. Hines. “The past five years have been remarkable for our firm, and, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our attorneys and staff, we fully expect our growth and success to continue.”

In addition, Jones Walker said that Hines, who was at the forefront of New Orleans’ reconstruction following Hurricane Katrina, was named by New Orleans CityBusiness as one of the city’s 30 most influential people involved in economic development.

D.C. Bar Reports That, Despite Economy, Good Being Done

eric — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:46:09 +0000

The Washington Business Journal: Major DC firms are still doing work pro bono despite downsizing and the current economic lag. The report was just released by the District of Columbia Bar Association.

Good for them. In fact, according to the report, pro bono work increased by 2.5 percent in 2009 among the 29 firms that responded to the bar association’s questionnaire. Those firms provided a total of 707,653 hours of time to those less fortunate. Those hours rose significantly from 2008.

Equally admirable, among the 29 firms who responded to the survey, there was a total of 345 lawyers dropped in the last year. Traditionally, many younger associates handle the laboring oar when it comes to pro bono work. With the recent round of layoffs, deferment and plain old down sizing, there are less lawyers to handle more service-oriented work in the community. A positive trend that points to more senior level attorneys getting back in the trenches of work for the common good.

DC AG Limits FH; AFGE Is MAD

Erik Even — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:07:59 +0000

District of Columbia Attorney General Peter Nickles is amending a flexible hours plan for attorneys, and the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1403 is challenging the move.

Since it was put into place in 2005 by DC’s then-Attorney General Robert J. Spagnoletti, lawyers can take one day off a week if they make up the hours at other times.

Nickels has altered the plan, limiting which days of the week can be taken off, and limiting days off to 20% of lawyers at one time.

The union says that by making unilateral changes to the flexible hours plan, Nickles has violated a collective bargaining agreement. The union says three quarters of the lawyers in the AG’s office take advantage of the plan; and the office uses the plan as a carrot for recruitment.

Roetzel & Andress “Regretfully Releases” 13 Associates

Erik Even — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:00:33 +0000

Roetzel & Andress has “regretfully released” 13 associates and 18 non-lawyers, firm President Jeffrey Casto has announced.

Three of the lawyers were at its headquarters in Akron, Ohio, and three were in Cleveland.

The layoffs leave Roetzel & Andress with 223 attorneys at 10 offices in Ohio, Florida and the District of Columbia.

Clifford Chance Launches Fellowship for 1Ls

Erik Even — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:04:22 +0000

Clifford Chance announced today a joint effort with the Georgetown University Law Center to establish the Clifford Chance International Public Interest Summer Fellowship Program.

The Clifford Chance Fellowships will provide 15 first-year Georgetown Law students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds with the opportunity to intern with international non-governmental and governmental organizations in the District of Columbia.

The fellows will be selected from a highly competitive applicant pool by an advisory committee, comprised of two representatives from Clifford Chance, as well as Georgetown University faculty and Georgetown Law Center administrators.

Clifford Chance’s previous projects include the AnBryce Program at the New York University School of Law, and an annual faculty research and lecture series at Columbia University Law School on the topic of diversity within the legal community.

Arnold & Porter “Best” DC Law Firm for Employees

Erik Even — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:47:05 +0000

Fortune Magazine says DC law firm Arnold & Porter is not only the best DC law firm for which to work; it is the 21st best company to work for in the United States.

Fortune cited features like Arnold & Porter’s generous paid maternity leave and on-site child care options. It also offers a sliding scale for health insurance premia, based on income.

Founded in 1946, Arnold & Porter LLP is an international law firm based in Washington, which is well known for its trial, corporate, and antitrust work; and for its pro bono commitments and support for liberal causes.

O’Melveny & Myers Announces Associate Bonuses

Erik Even — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:41:10 +0000

“Multiple tipsters” tell Above the Law that O’Melveny & Myers associates in California and DC received voicemails today, confirming that first year associate bonuses would be $27,500.

The bonus scale for OMM, in CA and DC, is believed to look like this:

2007 – $27,500
2006 – $30,000
2005 – $32,500
2004 – $35,000
2003 – $37,500
2002 – $40,000
2001 and 2000 – $45,000

A tipster adds, “Everyone is also eligible for additional bonus amounts on top of that based on hours and performance.”

Bonuses will be paid on December 31st, with an official memo following in January. Class appropriate pay raises will proceed as planned. The California and DC bonus levels are subject to a minimum hours requirement of 1950.

OMM’s California and DC offices are paying bonuses to associates that are higher than OMM in New York.

Via Above the Law.