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Holland & Knight Nixes Billable Hours Tracking in Public Policy & Regulation Group

rebneely — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:54:52 +0000

International law firm Holland & Knight announced in recent days that the firm’s Public Policy & Regulation Group will eliminate the tracking of billable hours for fixed fee clients, effective January 1, 2012.

The move makes the firm the largest national practice group to do so, and follows the group being recognized by The National Law Journal and Legal Times as the winner in the “Law Firm Government Affairs/Lobbying” category in the first annual “The Best of Legal Times” readership survey.

Rich Gold, the head of the practice group was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Helping our clients reach their advocacy goals has always been our top priority. This new approach allows us to totally focus on certain efforts and outcomes that our clients expect. Our primary goal is to please our clients, and our team should not be distracted by administrative tasks like keeping time in an effort to achieve this goal.”

It is common knowledge that nearly every law firm follows a “billable hour” approach to charging for its services. However, the practice of logging time poses several drawbacks, including time spent on administrative tasks, like keeping time, which might otherwise go toward creative solutions for client problems.

Gold was also quoted as saying: “All law firms bill time; it is simply a practice engrained in the profession. While that has been changing somewhat over the last years, we hope to accelerate the pace. To maintain a competitive edge in the marketplace, we are constantly looking for ways to improve upon our daily operations and strengthen our known team approach to servicing clients, which is our calling card in the industry. Recruiting top talent is highly competitive. Billing your time can be a hard sell to someone who hasn’t done it before. I am delighted that we will be eliminating that obstacle starting in 2012, which will allow future hires to immediately begin servicing clients without having to be distracted with keeping time.”

Holland & Knight was also ranked third among 30 top-performing law firms for its superior client service. In a survey of nearly 250 corporate counsel and client representatives conducted by The BTI Consulting Group, Inc., the firm ranked third in overall client service and received the top honor – “Best of the Best” – in the area of “Value for the Dollar.” The firm has also been ranked among BTI’s Top 30 for nine of the past ten years. The survey notes that, “Holland & Knight’s staying power is fueled by the firm’s consistently strong performances” in key areas year after year.

Founded in 1968 by the merger of two law firms, international law firm Holland & Knight today has over 1,000 lawyers in 17 U.S. offices. The firm also has offices in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Beijing, China, and Mexico City, Mexico. The full service law firm represents clients in a wide range of industries, including aviation, Indian law, energy, education, corporate services, intellectual property, land use, public finance, real estate and syndication, among others.

Another Partner Leaves the Howrey Firm

marvins — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 01:12:06 +0000

Howrey LLP, a global law firm, is set to lose another partner in its Washington, DC office soon. The Blog of Legal Times, an affiliate of sibling publication The National Law Journal, revealed that Michael Cowie, an antitrust partner, will be leaving the firm and will join the growing number of lawyers who retreated and abandoned the firm. The recent defection of the firm’s partners has been attributed to poor performance of the firm this year, which has seen declining productivity, dissatisfaction over the firm’s handling of conflicts and various management issues of client billing arrangements. As of today, the firm has lost at least 67 partners since last winter.

Cowie was an antitrust partner of the firm. He served as a team leader for an antitrust counsel helping Medco Health Solutions on its $730 million acquisition of medical research company United BioSource in August. Before he joined the firm, he was the former director of Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition where he supervised about 25 lawyers who were responsible for probing prospective mergers in the health care, retail, and food and beverage industries. He also worked as the senior litigation counsel of the FTC’s antitrust litigation area.

Howrey LLP has more than 700 attorneys in 17 locations worldwide. The firm’s areas of practices are antitrust, global litigation and intellectual property law.

Discussions on Opening up India’s Legal Market Dropped from President Obama’s Agenda During Trip to India

joshua — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 14:04:36 +0000

During President Barack Obama’s highly publicized trip to India this week that was to focus on boosting trade and security ties between both countries, discussions about opening up the legal market in India were removed from the agenda.

According to the article at amlawdaily.com, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge corporate partner Shahana Basu Kanodia, chair of the firm’s South Asia practice, told Legally India’s Kian Ganz that opening up India’s legal market to foreign firms was a relatively low priority and had been sidelined in favor of discussions on job creation and democracy.

Ganz noted that when British Prime Minister David Cameron visited India this summer, he was accompanied by Clifford Chance outgoing senior partner Stuart Popham, who felt confident India would lift restrictions on foreign lawyers by 2012.

However, Edwards Angell’s Kanodia was more pessimistic about the future of foreign lawyers in India. She told Legally India’s Ganz, that the country’s legal market would likely remain closed until 2015, primarily because Indian businesses didn’t see the benefit in allowing foreign firms to practice locally.

The National Law Journal, a sibling publication, reports that last week, American Bar Association president Stephen Zack sent a letter to the President asking him to push the Indian government to drop its ban on foreign lawyers practicing or maintaining offices in the country.

Zack, a litigation partner at Boies, Schiller & Flexner in Miami, wrote that U.S. lawyers and their firms were being unfairly treated in India and that further restrictions of foreign lawyers would undermine goal of increasing trade between the two countries, The NLJ reports. Zack said he does not expect a response from Obama until the president returns to the country next week.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:32:21 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Monday, October 11th. Here’s a quick look back at Friday’s stories.

Bernstein Liebhard was named to the National Law Journal’s Plaintiffs’ Hot List for the eighth consecutive year…

Greenberg Traurig’s Galli will lead the Urban Land Institute Panel in Washington, D.C., on October 13-15…

Duane Morris is set to announce its joint venture with a leading Singapore firm Arfat Selvam Alliance…

Lemon law firm Kimmel & Silverman began offering services in four additional states…

Morning Roundup

joshua — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 10:48:28 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Friday, October 8th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

SNR Denton added a 13-year veteran of the U.S. Attorney’s Office as a partner to its white collar & government Investigations practice…

Thompson Hine appointed partner James B. Aronoff to the newly-created management role of administrative partner at the firm’s Cleveland office…

The National Law Journal will present the 2010 “Law Firm Leadership and Economic Forum” Oct. 13-14 at the Harvard Club in New York City…

Morning Roundup

joshua — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 10:54:47 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Thursday, September 22nd. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

King & Spalding opened an office in Singapore…

The Best Lawyers in America gave Jones & Walker high rankings for the fourth year in a row…

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe added two attorneys to its London office…

The American Lawyer, The Nationnew al Law Journal and Corporate Counsel will present the second annual “The Litigation Summit: The Business of Litigation” October 5-6, 2010…

O’Melveny & Myers formed a new integrated legal strategies practice…

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:06:41 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, August 11th. Here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s stories.

Venable added corporate attorneys from DLA Piper as partners in its New York office…

Megafirm DLA Piper promoted two partners to the office of chair…

Thompson Hine’s Michael Zimmer was named ABA Committee Co-Chair…

The National Law Journal Survey of Law Firm Economics revealed a tough economic climate…

Employees laid off in Louisiana are suing over their job loss…

A National Law Journal study showed that law firms cut costs by cutting lawyers and law firm staff…

Joel M. Schoenfeld, music industry executive and lawyer joined Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp as a partner…

LeClairRyan selected a new CEO…

How Were Small And Mid-Sized Firms Hit By The Recession?

todd — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:34:34 +0000

An upcoming study of small and mid-sized law firms will demonstrate how the recession has affected their response to the ever-present recession. The study, coming from the National Law Journal, shows that law firms have cut costs by cutting lawyers and law firm staff.

David Brown, editor and chief of The National Law Journal, said, “This year’s Survey of Law Firm Economics shows just how deeply the recession has affected smaller and midsized law firms around the country. For the first time ever, we’re seeing year-over-year declines in revenue per lawyer, expenses per lawyer, and compensation for senior partners.”

The actual numbers show that the revenue per lawyer in 2009 fell .2 percent; the averaged billable hours for senior partners fell 1.7 percent as did the median total compensation for senior partners.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:25:27 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Thursday, July 15th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Corporate law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore is considering adding a four-person marketing team…

The American Association for Justice named Alabama-based attorney C. Gibson Vance its new president…

McKool Smith earned its 2nd consecutive selection to National Law Journal’s Midsize Hot List…

Bracewell & Giuliani opened an office in Seattle…

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips added a new team of lawyers and advisers to its New York City government practice…

McKool Smith Earns 2nd Consecutive Selection to National Law Journal’s Midsize Hot List

joshua — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:15:19 +0000

According to today’s press release at PR Newswire, the law firm of McKool Smith has earned its second consecutive selection to the Midsize Hot List, a compilation of the top law firms in the U.S. with 50-150 attorneys.

The National Law Journal publishes the exclusive list annually, including only 20 firms from across the nation. McKool Smith is one of only two firms to be selected for the second year in a row.

Firm co-founder Mike McKool was quoted as saying: “There are many, many law firms eligible for this honor, which is why we’re so pleased McKool Smith is included again this year. We’ve had several significant courtroom wins over the past couple years, and we’ve also worked hard to grow the firm in areas that are important to our clients.”

Among the accomplishments described in the publication are the firm’s rapid expansion in bankruptcy cases and related litigation based on the firm’s ability to avoid conflicts with major banks. In addition, the firm has won eight of the country’s Top 100 Verdicts during the past two years – more than any other law firm in the nation.

With more than 125 attorneys in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Marshall, New York, and Washington DC, McKool Smith handles complex commercial litigation, intellectual property claims, bankruptcy matters, and white collar litigation for companies and individuals across the globe. The firm is recognized as one of the premier trial law firms in the United States based on significant courtroom victories and substantial settlements for domestic and international clients.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:10:17 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Tuesday, July 13th. Here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s stories.

Thompson Hine added to its Executive Committee…

International firm Howrey is set to open a new office in Duesseldorf, Germany…

Despite law firm cuts, report showed an increase in law school applications…

Seyfarth Shaw LLP added patent attorney Alan M. Lenkin to its practice…

Snell & Wilmer added former Holland & Hart partner Daniel R. Frost to its construction practice…

Greenberg Traurig President Matthew B. Gorson was elected to serve on the Executive Committee of United Way…

Switzerland declined the United States’ request for extradition of Roman Polanski…

The National Law Journal released its 2010 “Hot List” of midsize law firms in the U.S….

Disney wiill pay “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” creator Celador nearly $270 mMillion in damages…

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:36:04 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Tuesday, June 8th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Prominent Minneapolis health care lawyers Konrad “Kit” Friedemann and Mary Foarde announced the launch of FriedemannFoarde…

An AP report found that 37 of 64 active or senior judges sitting in the Gulf Coast districts where most of the cases relating to the BP oil spill are pending have financial ties to the oil and gas industry, posing potential conflicts of interest…

D.C. lawyers were honored with Legal Times Awards…

Sidley Austin continued its expansion into Palo Alto…

Littler Mendelson opened an office in Anchorage, Alaska…

King & Spalding will open an office in Geneva…

The Philadelphia Business Journal reported that more women made partner this year…

Sotomayor Emerges as the Court’s Most Prolific Questioner

joshua — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:53:48 +0000

Nobody expected her to be a wallflower, but Justice Sotomayor has exceeded expectations when it comes to questioning lawyers during oral arguments. In a report issued by the National Law Journal, Sotomayor came out on top in the number of questions asked so far this term with 146. Chief Justice Roberts followed with 110 questions.

According to the NLJ, the Court as a whole has become more talkative in recent years, with the number of questions and interruptions steadily increasing – for all except Justice Thomas, who hasn’t asked a question since 2006.

Breaking: Day Pitney Fires 66 Staff

Erik Even — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:45:25 +0000

Without announcement, Day Pitney is laying off 66 staff members across it offices today.

No associates are expected to be affected. Meetings to discuss the situation may be held later today or tomorrow.

If you have any additional details, please let us know!

Headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut and Florham Park, New Jersey, Day Pitney employs 382 attorneys spread across nine offices in four states and the District of Columbia. In 2007, Day Pitney ranked 113th on the National Law Journal’s list of the 250 largest American law firms.

Was Black Thursday Just the Beginning?

Erik Even — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:09:44 +0000

The National Law Journal wonders if last week, during which 1,100 lawyers lost their jobs, is just a sample of what’s ahead:

Even in the darkest days of the dot-com bust earlier this decade or in the recession of the early 1990s, there was never a day like Thursday in the world of law firms.

In the space of a few hours, some 300 lawyers — the equivalent of a midsize firm — were handed pink slips around the country. And by the close of business on Friday the 13th, more than 1,100 lawyers and staff had either been fired or asked to consider buyouts…

Unfortunately, more surprises may be on the way. The layoffs last week are “going to accelerate the decision by other law firms to lay people off,” says Jerry Kowalski, a New York-based legal consultant.

Via NLJ.

Texas Firms Made Fewer Lateral Hires in 2008

Erik Even — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 17:51:11 +0000

The National Law Journal reports that lateral movements were down in Texas last year.

Nineteen of the state’s 25 largest firms, listed on Texas Lawyer’s “The Texas 100″ poster published in 2008, participated in this year’s lateral hiring survey. They report hiring a total of 270 laterals in 2008, down 47.2 percent when compared to the 511 lawyers hired by the same firms in 2007. Fourteen of the firms report hiring fewer laterals in 2008, while four firms increased their lateral hiring and one firm hired the same number…

Three Texas recruiters say lateral hiring was almost non-existent during the second half of 2008, particularly for associates, as firms assessed the crumbling economy. The recruiters predict that lateral hiring will continue to be slow, especially for associates, at least until the fourth quarter of 2009.

Via NLJ.

Law Schools Begin Furloughing Employees

Erik Even — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:46:36 +0000

The National Law Journal reports that public universities and law schools are making their faculty and staff take unpaid time off to save money.

Public universities have begun furloughing employees in an effort to reduce costs, and law schools aren’t exempt from the unpaid leave policies. For example, Arizona State University has implemented a university-wide furlough program that applies to the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. The move is expected to save the university about $24 million at a time when the Arizona lawmakers are looking at significant cuts to state university funding…

“It’s had absolutely no impact on students,” said Karen Rothenberg, dean of the University of Maryland School of Law. “Faculty aren’t in the classroom eight hours a day, five days a week. The furlough is flexible, and staff and faculty can take the time when it works…”

“Employees have been very supportive,” Rothenberg said. “It’s been incredibly gratifying that the academic community has been so positive about the plan.”

Via NLJ

McCain Campaign Counsel Returns to WilmerHale

Erik Even — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:14:57 +0000

Todd R. Steggerda, former chief counsel to the John McCain 2008 presidential campaign, is returning to WilmerHale as a partner in the firm’s defense and national security practice group and the regulatory and government affairs department.

Steggerda, who will practice in the firm’s Washington office, will focus on investigations, civil litigation, government enforcement actions and other matters relating to national security and doing business with the US government.

Steggerda serves as vice chairman of the DC Metro Chapter of Operation Homefront, a nationally recognized charitable organization serving military families in need.

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP has twelve offices across the USA, Europe and Asia. It was created in 2004 through the merger of the Boston’s Hale and Dorr and the Washington-based firm of Wilmer Cutler & Pickering, and employs more than 1,100 attorneys worldwide. As of 2008, it was the 23rd largest law firm in the world in terms of revenue. In 2007, the National Law Journal ranked the firm as the 22nd largest in the United States by number of attorneys.

Law Firms Save $250,000 for Each Lawyer Laid Off

Erik Even — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:42:17 +0000

How much do law firms save by laying off lawyers and staff? The National Law Journal asked around the find out.

Law firm leaders and industry consultants say a firm cuts costs by an average of $250,000 for each attorney let go. For each legal assistant or other staffer laid off, a law firm saves about $100,000…

For most big law firms, about 85% of their budget goes to rent and personnel costs, say firm leaders, which means that the money saved by scaling back on copies, car services, partner retreats and marketing comes from a small percentage of their revenue.

The story says many firms hope to decrease headcount by attrition, but this is often not enough.

…it is cheaper to have attorneys leave on their own accord than to lay them off. Severance packages that firms are giving to pink-slipped lawyers vary, but the firm chairman said that, in general, every $10 million saved in compensation is offset by $7 million paid in severance.

Via The NLJ via ABA Journal.

Publisher of AmLaw, NLJ Lays Off 42 Workers

Erik Even — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:57:31 +0000

Incisive Media, publishers of various business-to-business magazines such as IT Week, Personal Computer World, and as relates to the legal profession, The American Lawyer and The National Law Journal, has announced layoffs.

From a press release:

As has been reported in trade outlets, Incisive Media eliminated 42 positions last week. These layoffs were distributed across positions in both business and news departments in the entire company’s North American units, which includes 31 legal and real estate publications, as well as our events group.

As you know, these are extremely difficult economic times for all media organizations and we deeply regret the loss of many valuable employees who have contributed much to Incisive. Unfortunately, every media company is facing issues similar to ours, as digital publishing rewrites the rules and economics of our business.

Via ATL.

Law Schools Hunt for New Deans

Erik Even — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:37:11 +0000

According to the National Law Journal, numerous law schools are hunting for new deans, even in the economic downturn. But qualified professionals may not want the job.

Even in this economy, there seems to still be a demand for one high-paying job — law school dean. At least 27 law schools throughout the country are searching for new deans — and many are having a tough time filling the position.

Law schools from Harvard to the University of Arizona to Case Western to the University of Miami have all embarked on dean searches, and some are finding somewhat slim pickings, with the same applicants recycled for many of the jobs.

That’s because law school deanships, once highly sought after, are now high-stress jobs, thanks in part to the economy.

Via NLJ.

Judges Begrudgingly Accept Pay Freezes

Erik Even — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:16:16 +0000

The National Law Journal writes that judges, who have been pushing for years for pay raises, are now backing off, and begrudgingly accepting pay freezes in the shadow of the global economic meltdown.

After years of aggressively lobbying for raises in their salaries, chief justices and court administrators in five states are backing off as unprecedented budget cuts have forced judges to accept pay freezes.

Chief justices and court administrators in Connecticut, Florida, Minnesota, Ohio and Rhode Island, most of whom had sought jumps in salaries for state judges in the past, have accepted pay freezes in recent weeks as worsening economic problems unfold in their states.

In some cases, judges have spoken out against lobbying for pay increases during a major financial crisis. Judges in other states, such as Hawaii, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, have resisted proposed freezes, although in varying degrees…

But many fear that freezing judicial pay, on top of dwindling raises, could reduce the competitiveness of the bench and negatively affect the quality of those who are retained or recruited to serve as judges.

Read the full story.

Dreier Stein Lawyers to Found New Snell & Wilmer Office

Erik Even — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:18:42 +0000

At least eight lawyers from Dreier, Stein, Kahan, Browne, Woods, George are joining Phoenix, Arizona’s Snell & Wilmer, to open the latter firm’s first Los Angeles office.

The group consists of partners Marshall Horowitz, Susan Grueneberg, Jason S. Kim and Henry S. David, so far. Four associates from Dreier Stein will also join the new office on February 1st.

The Los Angeles office is looking for new business lawyers, litigators and intellectual property attorneys.

The move is the latest involving Dreier Stein, the Santa Monica-based affiliate of Dreier LLP, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month after its founder, Marc Dreier, was charged with investment fraud.

Last week, a group of entertainment litigators joined Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi’s Los Angeles office; while name partner Larry Stein, along with a few other partners and associates, jumped to what is now Liner Grode Stein Yankelevitz Sunshine Regenstreif & Taylor.

Another name partner, Bob Kahan, left with up to eight lawyers for what is now Eisner, Frank & Kahan.

Snell & Wilmer was founded in 1938 by Frank Snell Jr. and Mark Wilmer. The firm is the largest in the state of Arizona and the 99th largest in the US by number of lawyers, according to the National Law Journal’s 2007 statistics.

Arent Fox Latest to Freeze Salaries

Erik Even — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:00:05 +0000

Washington DC law firm and lobbying group Arent Fox will freeze associate base compensation at the current 2008 rates for 2009.

The firm will also place a 150-hour cap on non-billable creditable hours, that can be increased only in limited circumstances.

Eligible associates who record more than 2050 billable hours, 2150 billable hours, 2250 billable hours, or more than 2350 billable hours will be eligible to receive productivity bonuses.

The National Law Journal ranked the firm as the 137th largest in the US based on number of attorneys. In 2008, the firm was ranked 84th on the Vault 100 survey of the most prestigious firms in the US.

Blagojevich’s Troubles Deepen [Update]

Erik Even — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:54:28 +0000

Today in Rod Blagojevich news:

The Washington Post reports that the mysterious “senate candidate” that Blagojevich is recorded on tape saying offered $500,000 in campaign funds to the governor in exchange for Barack Obama’s senate seat, may be none other than Illinois representative Jesse Jackson Jr.

In a press conference late today, Jackson said, “I reject and denounce pay-to-play politics and have no involvement whatsoever in any wrongdoing. … I did not initiate or authorize anyone at any time to promise anything to Governor Blagojevich on my behalf. I never sent a message or an emissary.”

The National Law Journal says that over the course of the five-year probe that led to Blagojevich’s arrest this past Sunday, the governor was defended by a high-powered criminal defense attorney from Chicago’s Winston & Strawn.

But when Blagojevich showed up in court this week, he was represented by an old friend from a little-known Chicago criminal defense firm. Attorney Sheldon Sorosky of Kaplan & Sorosky represented Blagojevich during the federal court bond hearing.

Sorosky was probably a stand-in to give the governor more time to choose counsel with more resources, other attorneys said. Better-known Chicago defense attorneys Michael Monico and Terry Gillespie were both mentioned as possibilities. The governor’s chief of staff, John Harris, was also charged in the complaint. He has hired Terry Ekl, a prominent suburban litigator with Lisle, Ill.-based Ekl Williams.

UPDATE:

Douglas E. Schoen at Forbes.com suggests what some have already been saying — that Blagojevich didn’t do anything that doesn’t go on all the time, political “horse trading.”

Yes, the wiretaps reveal clear and unambiguous evidence that Blagojevich hoped to get something in exchange for the appointment. But this kind of horse trading, in my experience, goes on all the time. It usually isn’t articulated as bluntly as it apparently was here, though–and there usually aren’t as many wiretaps marshaled as evidence.

Dennis McCauley at GamePolitics points out the “delicious irony.” Blagejovich was a vocal critic of the video game series Grand Theft Auto, which features criminal acts and profanity. He tried to pass a state law banning sales of “violent” video games to minors.

…in a yummy twist of fate, U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kennelly, who ruled in 2005 that Blagojevich’s video game law was unconstitutional, was one of two federal judges who authorized recent FBI wiretaps that led to Blagojevich’s downfall.

Now that Blagejovich has been exposed as a key proponent of criminal acts and profanity, we can ask him who’s more responsible for scholl shootings — video game creators or corrupt politicians.

Keep watching this space for further developments.