Melissa Mahler, one of the worst (as in most-inept) insider traders in history, and a former Nixon Peabody lawyer, just settled charges the SEC brought against her.
Details after the jump, including her big-firm lawyer.
Continued…
Congratulations, Melissa!
– March 19, 2010
Three Firms Fighting for Fees
We don’t actually get around to writing a tenth of the things we wish we could (send us a note if you want to help!)
Chief among those are the numerous articles about firms’ fights for fees.
After the jump, we’re rounding up a trifecta of such matters that have all bubbled up recently.
Continued…
Posted in Business of Law, Suits.
– March 19, 2010
Taking One for the Team? Or Faking Enthusiasm
I have a friend who works at a firm.
She tells me that in one evaluation, there was a notation that she didn’t really seem “connected” or “invested” in the firm or her department.
My friend says she really isn’t interested in attending various meetings and in seeming very “rah rah” regarding the firm. She can bill time, but she just wants to do that and leave.
Continued…
Posted in Columns, Hiring Partner.
– March 19, 2010
BigLaw Vet Explains Why She’s Been Traveling the World for Two Years
[Ed: updated to add/correct biographical information]
Two years ago, Jodi Ettenberg (pictured, with one of the few birds that didn’t crap on her) set off on an around-the-world journey – funded by five two years at Paul Weiss then three years at Davis & Gilbert.
Now, as the second anniversary of her trip approaches, she finally explains why she left BigLaw.
Most make the natural assumption that, weighted down by a contract-filled existence, I got burned out and finally left to travel. While that would make for a great story, it’s actually the opposite of what happened:
The reasons after the jump.
Continued…
Posted in Lawyers.
– March 18, 2010
Strike 2 for Weil/Microsoft
Same client, same court, same counsel for plaintiff, same result.
Weil Gotshal IP litigation partner Matt Powers (Northwestern BA ’79, Harvard JD ’82) has lost another Microsoft infringement case in Texas.
It was a city mouse v. country mouse matchup, and not surprisingly, the country mouse won in the country.
Details after the jump.
Continued…
Posted in Suits.
– March 18, 2010
Former Apple GC Rejoins Bingham
Former Apple GC Daniel Cooperman is heading back to Bingham. [HT: ABA Daily Journal]
That job has been a merry-go-round. So it’s not really much of a surprise that the guy who said he was “retiring” after less than a year on the job, and left millions on the table, wants to go back to work.
At the time of Mr. Cooperman’s departure from Apple, the company said in a release that he was retiring. In the Tuesday interview with this blog, Mr. Cooperman admitted that he needed a break from the intensity of the general counsel job, which he has held for a total of 13 years.
“It’s an extreme amount of responsibility and accountability and you need to be available fully 24 hours a day. After all that time, I really wanted a bit of sabbatical,” he said.
At Bingham, Mr. Cooperman said he will likely represent both small private companies as well as multinational corporations in M&A deals. He said his experience as both an executive and general counsel for multinational companies will help the law firm better anticipate its clients needs.
Cooperman is bucking another recent trend by returning to his former firm. Prior to private practice, he was at McCutchen Doyle, which merged with Bingham in 2002.
When Thomas Russo left Lehman, he went to Patton Boggs, instead of his alma mater, Cadwalader. And the woman he succeeded as GC at AIG, Stasia Kelly, went to DLA Piper, instead of Wilmer Hale, where she started.
Posted in Lawyers.
– March 17, 2010
Legal Analysis of Breaking Bad
If you’re like us, or are otherwise a fan of quality television, you’re no doubt getting excited for the Season 3 premiere of AMC’s Breaking Bad on Sunday.
If you’re either of the former AND obsessed with contracts, you sublimate your excitement into an analysis of the legal ramifications of the partnership structure of the two meth peddlers on the show. (No real spoilers, but there are some teasers, so avoid if you’re determined to watch the show completely tabula rasa)
The two main characters, Walt, played by Bryan Cranston — pictured left– and Jesse, played by Aaron Paul, who is fast becoming one of my favorite actors, frequently refer to themselves as “partners” and speak of their meth production and distribution operation as a “partnership.” And sure enough, they are indeed two or more persons operating as co-owners a business for profit, so I think they’ve got that right. The two never seem to have formalized their agreement in a writing, which is not advisable, except that their business is illegal and therefore any agreement would likely be unenforceable in any case and any writing evidencing the nature of their business could land them in jail.
The pair’s lawyer, the amazing (“Better Call”) Saul Goodwin (pictured) doesn’t tout contract or partnership law on his website, so Walt and Jesse would be well served to read.
Posted in Off Topic.
– March 15, 2010
Blawg Review #255
A certain seer warned Caesar to be on his guard against a great peril on the day of the month of March which the Romans call the Ides; and when the day had come and Caesar was on his way to the senate-house, he greeted the seer with a jest and said: “Well, the Ides of March are come,” and the seer said to him softly: “Ay, they are come, but they are not gone.”
- Plutarch, The Parallel Lives – Life of Julius Caesar, Loeb Classical Library Edition
March has been an unkind month to lawyers.
On the first anniversary of the worst month for law-firm layoffs in history, Law Shucks, the blog about “Life in, and after, BigLaw” takes up Blawg Review #255.
Last week, Niki Black hosted Blawg Review #254, celebrating International Women’s Day.
In at least one respect, we’ve come a long way, baby.
Posted in Business of Law.
– March 14, 2010
This Week in Layoffs – 3/12/10
Pic: U. Chicago
National jobless news seems to be business as usual. First-time jobless claims fell by 6,000 last week to 462,000.
That contributed to a net gain of 37,000 to 4.56 million people included in the “continuing claims” total. Above those receiving regular benefits, there are also 5.69 million people receiving extended benefits, an increase of about 175,000 for the week.
That becomes particularly relevant, because the Senate voted 62-36 to extend benefits (both unemployment insurance and health-insurance premium subsidies) through the end of the year. Traditionally, benefits lasted up to 26 weeks; under the new law, some people will receive up to 99 weeks’ benefits. Republicans made noise about adding $140 billion to the $12.5 trillion deficit, but were pretty much powerless to stop it.
Layoff news in the law-firm sector was not nearly so good this week. Details after the jump.
Posted in Business of Law.
– March 14, 2010
The “Me” File
Everyone should keep a “me” file.
What is a “me” file?
Well it is a place — either electronic or hard copy or both — where you keep things like articles and client alerts you have published, special training you’ve done, and importantly, notes of praise from clients, colleagues, and other third parties.
After the jump, HP goes into detail on what and why.
Continued…
Posted in Columns, Hiring Partner.
– March 12, 2010
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