JD Journal » Irell & Manella

Morning Roundup

sara — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:53:12 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, March 3, and here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s news…

Revenue is down at Winston & Strawn…

DLA Piper forms an alliance with a Brazilian law firm…

Former Arnold & Porter chairman Michael Sohn joins Davis Polk…

A former secretary sues Drinker Biddle over a pay dispute…

Ex Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo hires prominent D.C. lawyer Brendan Sullivan…

New research finds that U.S. News and World Report Law School rankings have an adverse impact on diversity efforts…

Irell & Manella wins an unanimous decision on behalf of Novellus Systems…

Fulbright & Jaworski names James K. Dixon their new executive director…

Wilkinson Barker Knauer scoops up Morrison & Foerster’s communication law group…

Patton Boggs partner Rodney E. Slater will advise Toyota on quality and safety issues…

Irell & Manella Wins Unanimous Verdict

joshua — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:39:55 +0000

Irell & Manella, a 220-attorney firm based in Los Angeles, earned a unanimous decision on behalf of Novellus Systems in Santa Clara County Superior Court. The lawsuit was originally filed against Novellus in 2002 by Linear Technology Corp, which was seeking $200 million in damages from Novellus and co-defendant Tokyo Electron Corp.

The suit began in March 2002 when Linear filed a complaint against Novellus and other semiconductor equipment suppliers seeking damages for breach of contract, violation of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraud, unfair competition and breach of warranty.

Irell won a dismissal of Linear’s claims of fraud and unfair competition in October 2004 and in June 2007, the Court of Appeal for the Sixth Appellate District affirmed the dismissals in a published decision.

The recently-concluded jury trial, which began Jan. 19, was limited to Linear’s remaining claims for breach of warranty and a violation of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The jury came back with the unanimous decision after just a few hours of deliberation.

“For nearly a decade Linear has been alleging that Novellus had acted improperly toward them, and Novellus has been denying those allegations,” said Jonathan Kagan, an Irell lawyer who represented Novellus at trial. “Now that we have had our day in court, we can say with certainty that these allegations are – and always have been – completely false.”

Other Irell attorneys working on the case included Morgan Chu, Jonathan Kagan, Lisa Glasser, and David McPhie. Allen Ruby of the Law Offices of Allen Ruby represented Linear.

Irell Manella was founded in 1941 and has 220 attorneys with offices in Los Angeles and Newport Beach.

Morning Roundup

sara — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:19:23 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, February 17, and here’s a look back at yesterday’s stories…

Lincoln Fabrics will pay $4 million dollars to settle a lawsuit with the U.S. government…

A couple wins a lawsuit against their former stockbroker…

Profits are up and revenues are down at Shearman & Sterling…

Profits and revenues are up at Irell & Manella…

Elaine Johnston leaves White & Case for Allen & Overy…

Civil rights activists will challenge a California affirmative action ban in college admissions…

A student suspended for writing critical statements on Facebook may proceed with her lawsuit against her former school…

Jury pools have been hit by the recession…

Profits and Revenues Up at Irell & Manella

sara — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:05:04 +0000

Irell & Manella reported that in the fiscal year 2009 overall revenue increased approximately 10% to $253 million. Profits per partner increased almost 27% t $2.49 million. Revenues per lawyer increased by 10% to $1.273 million. The partnership contracted in 2009 from 74 to 65.

The firm was busy in almost every practice area including complex commercial litigation, intellectual property, wage and hour, white-collar and securities litigation. Last year the firm represented Lifetime Television Network in its acquisition of A&E Television Networks. The firm is also representing TiVo Inc. in patent infringement lawsuits with AT&T Inc. and Microsoft Corp.

Irell & Manella was founded in 1941 and has 220 attorneys. The firm has offices in Century City and Newport Beach, California.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:30:14 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Thursday, January 7. Here’s a look back at yesterday’s news.

Rose Walker has two new attorneys…

The prop 8 trial in California will be broadcast via youtube….

Gibson Dunn received an award for best litigation firm…

Archer & Greiner picked up a former D.A.…

More law firm mergers are expected this year after a slow 2009….

The 9th Circuit has overturned a felon disenfranchisement law in Washington…

Rogers & Hardin promoted a new partner…

and Irell & Manella associates are receiving above market bonuses…

Irell & Manella Doubles Market Rate on Bonuses

joshua — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:28:23 +0000

Los Angeles based Irell & Manella gave its associates the good news last week. The firm is paying double the Sullivan & Cromwell scale, which is the Cravath scale with a little boost at the top. There are no performance reviews or subjective criteria, just a minimum number of billed hours. All associates who billed 1900 hours last year got the bonus.

Irell & Manella LLP was founded in 1941 by lawyers Lawrence E. Irell and Arthur Manella, and has grown to 220 lawyers. It has offices in Century City and Newport Beach.

Drinker Biddle Jump Starts Los Angeles Office

joshua — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:40:19 +0000

Drinker Biddle first opened its doors in Los Angeles back in 2001 but the office never picked up steam and had dwindled down to one partner, two associates, and one of counsel. Now the firm is jump starting their LA presence with six new laterals, including four partners. George Caplan, Henry Shields, Kristopher Davis and Paul Gelb have moved from Epstein Becker & Green. Caplan, Shields and Davis have joined as partners, and Gelb comes aboard of counsel. Also moving to Drinker Biddle are Kate Gold, who joins as partner after being of counsel for Kaye Scholer, and Pamela Graham, an associate who is moving from Irell & Manella.

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP was founded in Philadelphia in 1849. The firm has more than 650 attorneys in 12 offices in the US. Its largest offices are in Philadelphia, Chicago, Florham Park, New Jersey, and Washington, DC.

Greenberg Traurig Hires Three for L.A.

Erik Even — Mon, 11 May 2009 22:29:55 +0000

Greenberg Traurig LLP has added three new hires to its Los Angeles office.

Allan J. Abshez joins as shareholder in the Environmental and Land Development Practice groups, where he will continue to work with Elizabeth Camacho, who joins as of counsel. Both come from Irell & Manella LLP.

Cedric T. Chou joins as a shareholder in the Corporate and Securities Practice. Chou was previously a principal and general counsel with NewCap Partners. in the investment banking firm’s Shanghai office.

Greenberg Traurig LLP is an international, full-service law firm with more than 1,800 attorneys and governmental affairs professionals in the US, Europe and Asia. The firm was selected as the 2007 USA Law Firm of the Year by Chambers & Partners.

Irell & Manella Partners to Found New Firm

Erik Even — Mon, 04 May 2009 20:59:48 +0000

A tipster informs us that three top partners are leaving Southern California’s Irell & Manella, an intellectual property litigation and general business litigation firm, to hang out their own shingle.

The new firm, Kendall Brill & Klieger, consists of Richard B. Kendall, Laura W. Brill, and Robert N. Klieger.

The partners intend to maintain a “strong relationship” with their former firm.

Richard Kendall has been honored by the Century City Bar Association as its “Litigator of the Year.”

Laura Brill, a former law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is a recipient of People for the American Way Foundation’s Defenders of Democracy award.

Robert Klieger has been named by Los Angeles Magazine to its Southern California “Super Lawyers” list for five consecutive years.

Irell & Manella Announces Salary Increases

Erik Even — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:33:53 +0000

Southern California’s Irell & Manella, an intellectual property litigation and general business litigation firm, has announced pay raises for its associates.

As many of you know, in recent days, a number of traditional California based firms have announced increases to the base salaries paid to their associates… So, we are pleased today to announce an increase in the base salaries we will pay to each of our associate classes, effective June 1, as follows (these figures are at an annualized level):

First Year (Class of 2006) — $160,000
Second Year (2005) — $170,000
Third Year (2004) — $185,000
Fourth Year (2003) — $210,000
Fifth Year (2002) — $230,000
Sixth Year (2001) — $250,000
Seventh Year (2000) — $265,000
Eighth Year (1999) — $280,000

The partners of the firm appreciate your hard-work and many contributions to the firm’s continuing success.

Irell & Manella LLP was founded in 1941 by lawyers Lawrence E. Irell and Arthur Manella, and has grown to 220 lawyers. It has offices in Century City and Newport Beach.