January 2007

Biglaw

Skaddenfreude: Dewey Ballantine and Fried Frank, Confirmed

Consider the rumors about Dewey Ballantine and Fried Frank joining in the associate pay raise fun to be confirmed. We’ve been in touch with multiple sources at both shops. We’re working on getting a copy of the DB memo. Here is the text of the Fried Frank announcement (which reportedly went out by email at […]

Biglaw

Skaddenfreude: The Quinn Emanuel Memo

Capitalization in the original. All lowercase is very appropriate for the youthful, fun, California-based Quinn Emanuel firm. —–Original Message—– From: John Quinn Sent: Wed 1/24/2007 12:14 PM To: Associates Cc: Subject: Attachments: beginning february 1 the firm will match the recently announced increases in base salaries for years 2001 through 2006. incomes of more senior […]

Civil Rights

Hail To Your Chief: Shanetta Y. Cutlar!

We’ve been DYING for a photograph of Shanetta Cutlar, the Bitch Goddess Chief of the Justice Department’s Special Litigation Section, whom we have written about extensively in these pages. So we were absolutely delighted to receive the photograph at right, which one of you dug up for us on an archived DOJ web page. As […]

Biglaw

Skaddenfreude: And Here’s Willkie

Yes, the rumors are true: Willkie Farr & Gallagher has raised base salaries for its associates. Here’s the memo: —–Original Message—– From: The Executive Committee Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 11:52 AM To: ASSOCIATES – DC; ASSOCIATES – NY Cc: PARTNERS – DC + OF COUNSEL; PARTNERS – NY + OF COUNSEL; Danaher, John; Salvatore, […]

Biglaw

Skaddenfreude: The Shearman Memo

We’re having major computer troubles once again. Please bear with us. If we could post normally, we’d have already written about LeGal bitchslapping John Scheich, the juicy Wall Street Journal article on Sullivan & Cromwell’s troubles (aside from Charney v. Sullivan & Cromwell), and the latest round of associate pay raise announcements. One of them […]

Movies

Fun Fact of the Day: Justice Ginsburg’s Surprising Past

When President Bush delivered the State of the Union last night, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was not one of the four Supreme Court justices in attendance. Oddly enough, however, Justice Ginsburg and President Bush aren’t as far apart as one might think. They share something in common: Both Justice Ginsburg and President Bush were cheerleaders!!! […]

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 01.24.07

* State Farm reaches Katrina settlement. [Jurist] * What would you buy if you embezzled $6.9 million? [CNN] * Bush told us what condition our condition is in. [Jurist] * I guess if you’re a DT for the Bears, the Super Bowl counts as work; judge allows Tank Johnson to play in XLI, but tells […]

Biglaw

Skaddenfreude: Evening Open Comment Thread

We’re signing off for the night. It’s almost time for the State of the Union (9PM Eastern time). We won’t be back online until tomorrow morning. Feel free to offer your thoughts on Biglaw compensation matters in the comments to this post. For ease of reference, here are the associate pay raise announcements that we’ve […]

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 01.23.07

* Whatever the state of the current voting systems for Oscar nominations, at least Ryan Gosling was nominated for Half Nelson. Bleeding-heart inner-city teachers-slash-junkies are hot. Perhaps also a little paternalistic. But still really hot. [Concurring Opinions] * Joe Francis, scapegoat. No, a martyr even. [AP via Yahoo! News] * Blogs are like PBS: they […]

Biglaw

Skaddenfreude: The Cleary Memo

As the WSJ Law Blog previously reported, Cleary Gottlieb has joined the club of law firms raising salaries for their associates. One correspondent of ours at Cleary was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the announcement arrived: I’m amazed that Cleary has been so quick to react to the change. Cleary is typically more lagging in […]

Biglaw

Skaddenfreude: The Milbank Memo

Apologies for the delay — server problems. Trust us, they’re frustrating us ten times more than they’re frustrating you. With thanks to the various tipsters who sent it to us (including “Goose”), here’s the memo from Milbank Tweed announcing pay raises for their associates: MILBANK TWEED HADLEY & McCLOY LLP From: Wagner, Christine Sent: Tuesday, […]

Biglaw

Charney v. Sullivan & Cromwell: “Charney Who?”, Indeed

From an source at Sullivan & Cromwell: I thought you and your readers would find it interesting to know that H. Rodgin Cohen gave a speech to the Firm yesterday regarding Charney v. Sullivan & Cromwell. In his speech, Rodge denied every single allegation that “Andrew” made. That’s right, Andrew. Apparently S&C investigation’s has been […]

Biglaw

Skaddenfreude: S&C Says, “Charney Who?”

Sullivan & Cromwell has followed suit. It has tried to distract everyone from the train wreck called Charney v. S&C just announced raises in base salaries for its associates. And its 2007 summer associates will share in the loot, too. Here’s the memo, from firm chairman H. Rodgin Cohen, which was just sent out by […]

Biglaw

Skaddenfreude: Here’s the Cadwalader Memo

Thanks to everyone who sent this to us — and sorry for the delay in posting it. Here’s the CWT memorandum announcing pay raises for its associates. CADWALADER, WICKERSHAM & TAFT From: Link, Robert Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 3:26 PM To: MAIL-NY_ASSOCIATES; MAIL-DC_ASSOCIATES Cc: MAIL-NY_PARTNERS; MAIL-NY_COUNSEL; MAIL-DC_PARTNERS; MAIL-DC_COUNSEL; Freeman, Claudia; Ellis, Patricia; Wallsh, Mitch; […]