JD Journal » Video

Clark Hill Acquires Phoenix Law Firm [Video]

Erik Even — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:39:39 +0000

Detroit-based Clark Hill PLC has acquired the Phoenix law firm of Norling, Kolsrud, Sifferman & Davis.
Clark Hill CEO John Hern said Norling Kolsrud has effectively become the Phoenix office of Clark Hill.

Norling Kolsrud’s four founding members acquired a stake in Clark Hill, and its six other attorneys become Clark Hill associates.

Hern said absorbing Norling Kolsrud is part of a strategy to expand into cities where its clients have a presence, and to acquire new clients.

Clark Hill, which now has about 145 attorneys, opened offices in Grand Rapids in late 2006, Chicago in January 2007, and Washington, DC, last June.

– Jillian Manning

Ward & Smith Welcomes New Attorney [Video]

Erik Even — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:38:49 +0000

From LawCrossing:

North Carolina firm Ward & Smith has added litigation attorney Joseph A. Schouten to its group of attorneys.

Schouten represents clients in all phases of litigation, including trial. According to a firm press release, he also counsels clients in cases involving claims of patent infringement, tortious interference with contract, telecommunications, trade secret misappropriation, and breach of contract.

Schouten earned his law degree from the College of William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he was Notes Editor of the William & Mary Law Review.

– Jillian Manning

IP Firm Oblon Spivak Seeks Patent Attorneys [Video]

Erik Even — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:26:45 +0000

From LawCrossing:

Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, a prominent intellectual property law firm in Alexandria, Virginia, is currently looking to hire qualified patent attorneys for its electrical/mechanical patent prosecution practice.

To be considered for the positions, the firm requires a law degree, a degree in electrical/computer engineering or physics, and a license to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Candidates are also required to have stellar academic credentials and strong writing and communication skills.

Founded in 1968, Oblon Spivak is one of the largest firms in the nation specializing exclusively in intellectual property law.

– Misty Kingma

Littler Mendelson Adds Five Attorneys [Video]

Erik Even — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:12:30 +0000

From LawCrossing.com:

Littler Mendelson PC has announced the addition of five respected and accomplished attorneys to its San Francisco office.

Littler is the nation’s largest employment & labor law firm that represents management, and has more than 750 attorneys in 46 offices.

The new additions are shareholders Maureen McClain and Matthew Vandall; Stacey Pratt, of counsel; and associates Rossana Eltanal and Bethany Vasquez, who join Littler from the labor & employment law firm Kauff, McClain & McGuire LLP.

– Misty Kingma.

Seyfarth Shaw Significantly Expands Its Business Immigration Practice [Video]

Erik Even — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:33:21 +0000

From LawCrossing.com:

A leading full-service law firm in America, Seyfarth Shaw has announced it is expanding its business immigration practice.

The expansion comes from the addition of eight business immigration lawyers and nine additional team members, including para-professionals and staff, according to a firm press release.

The additions all come from Paparelli & Partners LLP, an immigration specialty law firm with offices in Southern California and New York. The firm has both national and international clients.

US Attorney for Colorado Leaves to Join Private Practice [Video]

Erik Even — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:01:25 +0000

From LawCrossing:

United States Attorney for Colorado Troy A. Eid has announced his plan to resign and return to private law practice. The move is effective midnight on Monday, January 19th.

Eid, an environmental attorney and Adjunct Professor in American Indian Law at the University of Colorado School of Law, will be a litigation partner in the national law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP.

Previously he worked at the firm as a litigation partner from 2003 through 2006.

In the Colorado U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eid’s has quadrupled statewide federal prosecutions of child pornographers and sexual predators, and earned the U.S. Department of Justice’s highest awards in each of the last two years.

– Jillian Manning

Eckert Seamans to Merge with Hendrickson & Long [Video]

Erik Even — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:21:02 +0000

From LawCrossing.com:

The law firms of Eckert, Seamans, Cherin & Mellott, LLC and Hendrickson & Long, PLLC announced they will combine their practices at the beginning of 2009.

All 12 attorneys from Charleston, South Carolina-based Hendrickson & Long will join Eckert Seamans, giving the firm a significant expansion in West Virginia and an important Charleston presence.

Hendrickson & Long feels the move will build upon what the firm has already started in Charleston and will help better serve their West Virginia clients.

Via LawCrossing.com.

Law Firms Race to Collect Year End Billings [Video]

Erik Even — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:51:34 +0000

Via LawCrossing.com:

At year’s end, white-shoe law firms race to collect the bulk of the year’s client fees by the end of December.

This year is different though, with a number of law firm managing partners worried that the current recession will make the job of collection even tougher.

Most law firms bill every three months, or even every six months, which is why the payments take so long to come through. Law firms typically use traditional methods of collection, such as calling clients and reminding them to pay with the partner involved often making the phone calls.

Many merger and acquisition deals fell through in Wall Street’s downfall, which makes it likely that some clients will balk at high fees for deals that never got done.

– Martine Beerman

When Companies Go Under, Law Firms Become Employment Casualties [Video]

Erik Even — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:41:22 +0000

From LawCrossing.com:

In recent months, when companies have been forced to succumb to mergers or bankruptcy in the wake of the economic crisis, lawyers who work for these businesses or their outside law firms may account for a number of the employment casualties, according to a NJBiz.com interview.

Stewart Michaels, chairman of Livingston-based Topaz Attorney Search, told NJBiz.com that while bankruptcy lawyers are in demand, attorneys who focus on areas like financing or mergers and acquisitions are suffering.

Michaels also said that small law firms may be well-positioned to ride out the poor economy because as companies consolidate and expand internationally, they want to work with outside law firms that have a presence in their local operating areas.

–Martine Beerman

Gunderson Dettmer Fires Half of First-Year Class [Video]

Erik Even — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:51:22 +0000

From LawCrossing.com:

Legal blog Above the Law is reporting that Gunderson Dettmer has laid off a number of junior associates.

While the firm has yet to respond to requests for comments, sources say that half the first-year class has been shown the door, as well as a number of more senior attorneys.

An Above the Law tipster says they were sold on the firm as being smaller, and more caring, and now find it hard to believe they are already looking for new jobs having only been at the firm for a couple of months.

Gunderson Dettmer was founded over 10 years ago and, according to their website, “has become the nation’s leading business law firm for entrepreneurs, emerging growth companies and venture capitalists.”

The firm did employ over 100 lawyers in four offices– Silicon Valley, Boston, New York, and San Diego.

–JIllian Manning

New Managing Partner at Bernick Lifson [Video]

Erik Even — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:06:46 +0000

From LawCrossing.com:

Bernick, Lifson, Greenstein, Greene & Liszt has announced Jessica Roe as the firm’s new managing partner.

Roe is the first woman in the firm’s 25 year history to hold this position. Roe is a partner in the firm’s employment law and litigation practice.

With over fourteen years of employment law and litigation practice, Roe has extensive experience in employment-related issues with a focus on preventing legal claims through advice, training and policy planning. Should litigation be necessary, Jessica has extensive experience navigating clients through the process to a cost effective, successful resolution.

Roe is a frequent author and speaker on topics related to employment law. She is currently a member of the Minnesota Bar Association, Hennepin County Bar Association and American Bar Association.

Visit LawCrossing.com.

Jones Walker Earns Honors; Will Increase Work [Video]

Erik Even — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:59:42 +0000

From LawCrossing.com:

Jones Walker has issued a press release announcing that Corporate Counsel magazine has named the firm a “Go-To Law Firm for the Top 500 Companies” as well as a “Go-To Law Firm for Leading Financial Services Companies.”

Based on a national survey of general counsel of Fortune 500 companies and financial services companies, as well as findings from analysis and research, firms were selected as “Go-To Law Firms”.

According to Incisive Media and Corporate Counsel, Jones Walker was selected as a “Go-To Law Firm” because three of the firm’s clients that participated in the survey commended Jones Walker’s Labor & Employment, Securities, Corporate Transactions, and Litigation representation.

These honors may increase work and revenue for the firm.

The US firm provides a wide range of legal services to both national and international corporate clients through offices in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.

Visit LawCrossing.com.

Dreier Accused of Fabricating Scam [Video]

Erik Even — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:50:16 +0000

From LawCrossing.com:

Mark Dreier, in hot water since last week, has allegedly tried to obtain millions of dollars for his firm illegally.

In a federal indictment released today, Dreier is accused of fabricating a $100 million dollar scam that began in October. The allegations hold that Drier falsely told two hedge funds that a real estate company in New York was offering discount priced promissory notes.

To grow the hedge funds interest and ultimately get them to purchase, Dreier allegedly fabricated the promissory notes themselves, had someone impersonate the CEO of the real estate company, and forged documents from an accounting firm.

It is now reported that Dreier was caught on tape confessing to the crime in conversations with a government informant.

Marc Dreier is also facing a charge of criminal impersonation by Canadian authorities involving a multi-million dollar deal between the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and Fortress Credit Opportunities.

Visit LawCrossing.com.

Attorneys Allege Retribution by Public Defender & State Attorney [Video]

admin — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:10:53 +0000

Attorneys fired en masse by a newly elected public defender and state attorney in Jacksonville, Florida, are considering legal action. The incident is igniting a debate about whether employees of these offices should be civil service employees, and whether the position of public defender and state attorney should be appointed rather than elected.

The Fourth Circuit in Florida elected a new state attorney and a new public defender in recent months. Public Defender Matt Shirk and State Attorney Angela Corey, both Republicans, defeated longtime employees of their respective offices.

Shirk fired 10 public defenders on November 21st, and several allege they were fired in retribution for cases where they successfully defended clients.

Corey fired her entire staff, but hired back 80% of attorneys and staffers.

It is common for public defenders, district attorneys and state attorneys to perform a house cleaning when taking office. But there have been several prominent cases in which bias was alleged in the firings.