Morning News Roundup for Thursday

This morning’s stories:

Chicago’s 75-attorney Levenfeld Pearlstein dismissed two associates and one partner this month, citing difficult economic conditions, but hired four new lawyers in other practice areas…

A seven-attorney trademark group from the Washington office of Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll has defected to Steptoe & Johnson, joining the latter’s IP practice…

Thomas Barnett, former head of the Justice Department’s antitrust division, will return to DC’s Covington & Burlington next week to head its global anti-trust and competition practice…

Frisco’s Morrison & Foerster has terminated 53 attorneys and 148 staff…

Former Republican Missouri US Representative Kenny Hulshof is joining the law firm that will emerge from the pending merger of (“breath”) Polsinelli Shalton Flanigan Suelthaus and Shughart Thomson & Kilroy.