JD Journal » Proskauer Rose LLP

Proskauer Rose GC Steven Krane Dies of Heart Attack

joshua — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:38:27 +0000

Proskauer Rose general counsel and former New York State Bar president Steven C. Krane died Tuesday of a heart attack in New York City. He was 53.

According to a story from the New York Law Journal, Krane collapsed following a business lunch near Proskauer Rose’s New York office and was pronounced dead shortly after 2 p.m.

Krane was the youngest attorney to ever hold the top position at the New York State Bar when he was named its 104^th president in 2001. During his tenure, Krane led the State Bar’s efforts to assist victims of the September 11^th terrorist attacks and created the Special Committee on Student Loan Assistance for the Public Interest (SLAPI) that provides grants to defray loans for lawyers working in the public sector.

“Today is an extremely sad day for member of the New York State Bar Association and throughout the entire legal profession,” said State Bar President Stephen P. Younger (Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler). “Steve was a true lawyer’s lawyer and one of the nation’s foremost and widely recognized leaders in the field of legal ethics and professional responsibility.

Krane was a partner at Proskauer Rose, where he concentrated his practice on representing lawyers and law firms in legal ethics and professional liability matters. He co-chaired the firm’s Law Firm Practice Group and served as general counsel for the 700-lawyer firm.

Two Partners Leave Mayer Brown Following Layoffs

joshua — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:56:41 +0000

Mayer Brown, which last week let go of 28 associates and 47 staffers, saw its ranks continue to thin this week with the loss of two partners.

The first is Peter V. Darrow, who was a partner at Mayer Brown for 25 years and most recently served as co-chair of its Latin America practice. He has joined the New York office of DLA Piper, where he will serve in its corporate finance practice. The other is Ron D. Franklin, who has left Mayer Brown to join the Boston office of Proskauer Rose.

Darrow represents issuers, underwriters and placement agents in cross-border securities offerings. Roger Meltzer, global chair of DLA Piper’s corporate and finance practice, said the addition “is the latest step in DLA Piper’s strategic expansion of the New York corporate and finance practice, as well as our cross-border practice in emerging markets.”

Proskauer Rose brought on Franklin as it looks to expand the senior debt component of its finance practices. He told the New York Law Journal that his departure was not related to any financial difficulties at the firm.

Mayer Brown reported a 14 percent decrease in revenue in 2009 and its headcount fell by 144 to 1,657.

MoFo Hires Joe Calve as CMO

joshua — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:37:07 +0000

Morrison & Foerster, whose new web pageembraces the acronym “MoFo”, has hired Joe Calve as Chief Marketing Officer. Calve waspreviously the CMO for Proskauer Rose. During his tenure with Proskauer Rose, the firm was ranked #1 by Marketing the Law Firm Magazine three years running. Calve has also served as Director of Business Development at White & Case.

Morrison & Foerster LLP has more than 1,000 lawyers in 19 offices. The firm was founded in San Francisco in 1883.

New Partners at Proskauer Rose

joshua — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:18:12 +0000

Proskauer Rose has elected four new partners. The four new partners are Sarah Cherry, a corporate lawyer in Boston, Baldassare Vinti and James Gregory in New York and Amy Covert in Newark. Lisa Herrnson and Lisa Stern have been named senior counself for the firm.

Founded in 1875, Proskauer Rose, formerly known as Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn, is one of the United States’ largest law firms, with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Boston, Boca Raton, Chicago, Newark, New Orleans, São Paulo, London, Hong Kong, and Paris.

The Week in Law Firm Layoffs

Erik Even — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:58:43 +0000

Here’s the rundown for law firm layoffs this week:

K&L Gates: 36 associates and 79 staff

Burges Salmon: 18 lawyers

Morgan Lewis: 55 attorneys and 161 staff

White & Case: 200 associates and 200 staff

Venable: 16 attorneys, 48 staff

Chadbourne & Parke: 25 lawyers

Pepe & Hazard: 5 attorneys and 7 staff

Proskauer Rose: 23 attorneys

Pircher, Nichols & Meeks: 8 attorneys

Dundas & Wilson: 25 attorneys, 25 staff

Blank Rome: 27 associates and 52 staff

Sidley Austin: 89 associates and 140 staff

Husch Blackwell Sanders: 17 lawyers and 45 staff

Baker & McKenzie: 30 lawyers and 55 staff

Gardere Wynne Sewell: undisclosed attorneys and staff

Baker Botts: undisclosed attorneys

TOTAL: 574 lawyers, 812 staff

Proskauer Rose Lays Off 23 Attorneys

Erik Even — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:34:57 +0000

New York’s Proskauer Rose today laid off 23 attorneys. Staff seem to have emerged unscathed.

In December, Proskauer laid off 35 associates and 25 staffers; and a few weeks ago the firm reported a drop in profits. In February, the firm poached a bankruptcy group from Winston & Strawn.

If you have any information about these layoffs, send us a confidential tip!

Founded in 1875, Proskauer Rose, formerly known as Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn, is one of the United States’ largest law firms, with offices in (deep breath!) New York City, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Boston, Boca Raton, Chicago, Newark, New Orleans, São Paulo, London, Hong Kong, and Paris.

Economic Meltdown Means Fewer New Partners in ’09

Erik Even — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:29:03 +0000

From Law.com: new partner candidates may have a tough time next year.

New partner announcements are starting to come in, and things aren’t looking so good. Thirteen Am Law 200 firms in California have announced new partners so far, and eight of those firmwide classes are smaller than last year.

“I anticipate a smaller class this year than last, and it’s a direct response to the decreased demand for legal services in the world,” said Keith Wetmore, chairman of Morrison & Foerster, which hasn’t yet announced its new partner class.

Chicago’s Mayer Brown and McDermott, Will & Emery named 43 and 42 new partners last year, respectively, but both named only 27 this year. Classes are also smaller at Cooley Godward Kronish; Fenwick & West; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; Proskauer Rose; Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati; and Weil, Gotshal & Manges.

Year-End Associate Dumping

admin — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:37:10 +0000

Maybe Big Law firms really wanted their associates to enjoy Thanksgiving, but not Christmas! Why would we say that? Because since we have returned from Thanksgiving, there has been a rash of layoffs.

Earlier today, we received a phone call from an associate at Proskauer Rose to report that associates were being laid off at that moment. Ugh! Proskauer laid off a reported 35 associates, across a number of practices. Proskauer also gave pink slips to some of their support staff. No word on the severance offered to either group.

We’ve received unconfirmed reports that Dewey LeBoeuf has also let some associates go from their structured finance practice. (Honestly, any associate still in a structured finance practice should absolutely expect the hatchet soon. It’s a miracle that you still have a Big law position!)

Reed Smith shared their headcount reduction with the world yesterday. Reed Smith told both associates and support staff that their services were no longer necessary.

Hey, I guess there is no need to attend the holiday party any longer! But Merry Christmas from the firm just the same.