Archive for June 2010

It’s Official: Bill Clinton Joins Team Kagan

By David Lat

Before President Obama announced his nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, we parsed some statements from former President Bill Clinton that sounded an awful like an endorsement of Kagan. At the time of Clinton’s statements, Kagan was still trying to edge out several other candidates — e.g., Judges Merrick Garland, Sidney Thomas, and Diane Wood — for the SCOTUS slot. Clinton urged Obama to appoint someone who was (1) in her late 40s or early 50s and (2) not already a judge. Of the leading candidates at the time, only Kagan fit the bill.

Judges Garland, Thomas and Wood were all appointed to their positions by President Clinton, so you’d expect him to have warm feelings towards them. But perhaps he had the strongest relationship with Kagan, who worked closely with him in the White House (and sent him lovely, handwritten notes).

Over the weekend, Clinton gave an enthusiastic endorsement for his former White House staffer….

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Hewlett-Packard Picks New In-House Lawyers Fresh Out of Law School

By Elie Mystal

In the movie The Untouchables, Sean Connery counsels Kevin Costner: “If you don’t want to get a rotten apple, pick one fresh off the tree.” Apparently, Hewlett-Packard is taking the same advice; instead of hiring in-house attorneys seasoned in Biglaw firms, HP is getting its next crop of legal help directly from the nation’s top law schools. The Recorder reports (gavel bang: ABA Journal):

This fall, Hewlett-Packard is going where few corporate law departments have gone before: hiring fresh graduates for full-time in-house positions.

Four first-year associates will join HP in Palo Alto, Calif., in September — one from Harvard, two from Northwestern and one from UC-Berkeley. The associates will earn $115,000 per year plus a $15,000 signing bonus and undergo a training program similar to the type installed recently at firms like Howrey and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.

We just did a report about how the lawyer training programs offered by firms like Howrey weren’t catching on. But perhaps HP can offer the renowned better lifestyle of in-house attorneys to buttress their below Biglaw market salary?

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The Asia Chronicles: KINNEY’S RECENT HK / CHINA US ASSOCIATE PLACEMENTS / LATERAL MARKET REPORT

By Kinney Recruiting


[Ed. note: This post is authored by Evan Jowers and Robert Kinney of Kinney Recruiting, sponsor of the Asia Chronicles. Kinney has made more placements of U.S. associates and partners in Asia than any other firm in the past two years. You can reach them by email: asia at kinneyrecruiting dot com.]

Evan here, writing from Hong Kong. Robert and I are just finishing up another busy trip to visit clients and candidates in Hong Kong. During the course of ten days we had over 50 meetings (mostly with firms regarding US associate hiring) and potential candidates (at associate and partner level).

We have Alexis on the ground permanently in HK, but it is always good for Robert and me to continue to visit HK about once every two months, to stay informed and meet our clients in person. I will be heading to Beijing later this month and Robert and I will be back in HK in August. Although Dubai is not exactly a hot lateral market this year, I will be also in Dubai in August (unfortunately at the time of year when it is literally too hot to walk down the street very far).

Firms where we have very recently made placements of US associates in HK / China, in the past several months: (* – multiple placements)

· Simpson Thacher *
· Milbank *
· Paul Hastings *
· Allen & Overy *
· Latham*
· Cleary
· Skadden
· Sidley Austin
· Ropes & Gray
· Kirkland & Ellis
· Jones Day
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Morning Docket: 06.21.10

By Elie Mystal

Joran Van Der Sloot* California firm, McDonough Holland & Allen, to close down. [ABA Journal]

* Pillsbury continues to raid Nixon Peabody. [New York Law Journal]

* Mortgage foreclosures are hitting minorities hardest. [CNNMoney]

* Louisiana is going to bat against the ban on deep-water oil drilling. [Courthouse News Service]

* More on McDermott Will & Emery’s new caste system for incoming lawyers. [The Careerist]

* This Joran Van Der Sloot really sounds like a total wacko. [Huffington Post]

This Week in Biglaw: 06.20.10

By Law Shucks

Ed. note: Law Shucks focuses on life in, and after, BigLaw, including by tracking layoffs, bonuses, and laterals. Above the Law is pleased to bring you this weekly column, which analyzes news at the world’s top law firms.

This is supposed to be the quiet time of year for BigLaw, but it seems firms and lawyers are taking that as an opportunity to re-assess their situations. Merger talks and lateral moves have been on the upswing lately.

The Hogan Lovells merger is old news by now, and it’s been just over a week since Sonnenschein and Dentons partners voted to approve the merger of those firms to create SNR Denton, which will become effective September 1. The Ho-Love tie-up led to more than a dozen partners’ departures, and we won’t be surprised to see similar movement in the coming months as the SNR Denton closing approaches.

We may be seeing a handful of other firm combinations, particularly continuing in that Anglo-American variety.

Chicago’s Mayer Brown, which has already integrated one UK firm (Rowe & Maw back in 2002), has been in on-again/off-again (currently on) talks with London’s Simmons & Simmons. Proskauer and SJ Berwin have also been rumored to be talking merger, although that has been quiet for the past month. Bruce MacEwen at Adam Smith, Esq. has his thoughts on what makes these mid-ranking London firms attractive targets to a certain type of US firm.

Reed Smith, K&L Gates, and Bryan Cave are other US firms that would "actively consider" UK acquisitions. Reed Smith has already walked down this path twice: with Richards Butler in 2007 and Warner Cranston in 2001.

Freshfields is taking a much-more casual approach. Rather than committing to anyone, the firm is "creating a framework for ad hoc referrals" rather than a "Lovells-style ‘Mexican Wave’" arrangement (we had to look that one up – the ‘Mexican Wave’ is just ‘the wave’ thing done by crowds at sporting events – and we’re still not sure how it applies to law firms).

After the jump, we recap the week’s news on summer programs, lots of law-firm litigation, and, unfortunately, another addition to the Layoff Tracker.

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Citizens United v. FEC: The Decision, Its Implications, and the Road Ahead

By David Lat

A liveblog of a panel about Citizens United at the ACS National Convention, after the jump.

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Caption Contest: Firm Chairs

By Kashmir Hill

An Above the Law reader snapped this photo at her law firm, and we think it’s ripe for a caption:

Same rules as always: Submit possible captions for this photo in the comments. We’ll choose our favorites — with preference given to those with a legal bent — and then let you vote for the best one.

Please submit your entries by MONDAY, JUNE 21, at 11:59 PM. Thanks!

Non-Sequiturs: 06.18.10

By Elie Mystal

* Hillary Clinton spills the beans about a DOJ suit against Arizona over its immigration law. This kind of news doesn’t usually break from Ecuador, but here you go. [CBS News]

* In fairness, Arizona is full of all kinds of crazy ideas. [Going Concern]

* Cash bonuses aren’t very good at inspiring lawyer greatness. [Legal Blog Watch]

* Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff tweets about firing squad execution. I could make a snarky comment at Shurtleff’s expense, but instead I’ll go with Kash’s initial reaction: “DANG.” [ABA Journal]

* The ABA is trying to get the Supreme Court to raise judicial pay. [WSJ Law Blog]

* Instead of a switch that could shut down the internet, how about we just invent a switch that could shut down Joe Lieberman’s mouth? Does anybody (right or left) like this guy anymore? He’d be the most embarrassing failed VP nominee ever if not for… Admiral Stockdale (haha, you thought I was going to say somebody else). [Huffington Post]

Mayer Brown Looks Into the Transatlantic Merger Thing

By Elie Mystal

First Hogan & Hartson merged with Lovells. Then Sonnenschein merged with Denton Wilde. Now comes news that Mayer Brown is looking for a transatlantic partner — again. (Mayer previously merged with London-based Rowe & Maw.)

The Lawyer reports:

Mayer Brown and Simmons & Simmons have resumed merger talks, with both firms’ management set to brief their respective partnerships next week on the merits of a potential union.

Will this go merger go through? You know what they say: one is an accident, two is a trend, three is a problem…

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At the ACS National Convention: Marriage Equality – An Update and Preview

By David Lat

We’re attending a panel at the national convention of the American Constitution Society. The subject is marriage equality / same-sex marriage, and the line-up is as follows:

A liveblog, after the jump.

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Lawyer of the Day: Deferred Associates Claim Brooklyn ADA is a Meanie

By Elie Mystal

Ama Dwimoh looks composed here, but is it an act?

Deferred associates spending a year in the Brooklyn district attorney’s office claim that Brooklyn ADA Ama Dwimoh is an abusive boss.

At first blush, one assumes that kids who have been coddled at the best schools and top firms simply weren’t prepared for the rough and tumble world of actual lawyering.

But the Brooklyn D.A., Charles Hynes, is seriously looking into the allegations and has suspended Dwimoh. Can she really be that bad?

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At the ACS National Convention: Secretary Janet Napolitano

By David Lat

We’re at the Friday luncheon at the American Constitution Society’s national convention. The lunchtime speaker is Janet Napolitano — the current Secretary for Homeland Security, the former governor and U.S. attorney for Arizona, and possible future Supreme Court nominee.

A liveblog of her remarks, plus photos (of the low-quality Blackberry variety), after the jump.

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  • 18 Jun 2010 at 1:33 PM

Update: The Fastest Biglaw Lawyer in New York

By David Lat

Lawyers like going the extra mile — and we’re not just talking about meticulousness in contract drafting. For whatever reason, many lawyers like to run. Some go long distances, like the marathon (an event where lawyers excel, especially at young ages). Others are in for the shorter haul — e.g., last night’s Lawyers Have Heart 5K, in Boston. (Congratulations to all the finishers — and to Bingham, whose team raised the most money for the American Heart Association.)

Yesterday we did a quick item on lawyers and law firms participating in the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in New York. We solicited your tips about interesting attorney participants in the race. Several readers wrote in to identify the finisher they believe to be the fastest runner from a large law firm.

Who is he, and where does he work?

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Pls Hndle Thx: The Most Insane Question You’ve Ever Read, Guaranteed

By Marin

Ed. note: Have a question for next week? Send it in to advice@abovethelaw.com

Ed. note II: Holy s**t.

Dear ATL,

I was a summer associate at a mid-sized AmLaw 100 firm in ’07, where I was assigned a mentor (hereinafter “Mentor”) who was a junior associate that summer.  I am now a junior-ish associate at the firm, and Mentor is a mid-level in my department. Mentor continues to be a good friend, and we often hang out outside of work.  At work, Mentor is responsible for channeling a lot of work my way and is my go-to person for questions and review.  Partners and other associates widely regard Mentor as the rising star in our department….

UPDATE: What follows contains adult content. There are no images, but there is description of sexual activity. We’ve placed the rest of the discussion after the jump; if you think you might be offended, stop reading here.

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Job of the Week: In-House Inside the Beltway

By Above the Law

This week’s job is an in-house position at a tech company in the D.C. area. As always the Job of the Week is brought to you by Lateral Link. Lateral Link is pleased to introduce Amy Savage as its newest Director in the Washington D.C. office. Amy earned her J.D. from Georgetown and practiced at an AmLaw 100 firm before becoming a recruiter. Amy brings to Lateral Link several years of recruiting experience and a wealth of law firm and in-house relationships (including this JOW).

Position: Licensing Attorney

Location: Washington, DC

Description: The company is seeking an attorney with experience licensing software to private and/or government users. The ideal candidate will have 3 to 7 years of relevant experience, plus strong academics. This is a great opportunity for an attorney who wants to work with business teams, as the new counsel will work closely with the federal sales group.

For more details, please see Position #6451 on the Lateral Link website or you may contact Amy Savage at asavage@laterallink.com. If you are not a member, you can sign up for free at laterallink.com.

At the ACS National Convention: Access to the Federal Courts

By David Lat

We’re attending a panel at the American Constitution Society’s national convention, focused on access to the federal courts after Iqbal and Twombly. The panelists:

We’re going to liveblog the panel — after the jump.

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Quote of the Day: And the same goes for state judges, too….

By David Lat

Ignorance has never stopped a federal judge from expressing an opinion.

– Chief Judge Alex Kozinski of the Ninth Circuit, after professing limited knowledge of antitrust law during a humorous speech about (you guessed it) antitrust law, at the annual dinner of the Competitive Enterprise Institute last night.

Happy Friday to Our Friends at Bryan Cave: They’re Getting a Raise Today

By Elie Mystal

Things haven’t been easy for Bryan Cave and its associates during this recession. But today is a good day. There is no need for an A.K.

Last night, we received word from tipsters that BC associates across most of the firm’s offices will be told that they are getting a raise:

Bryan Cave announced to associates that associates will be getting a pay raise effective august 1 and another at the “normal” pay raise date of January 1.

Our sources tell us that associates in all U.S. offices, and London, will receive a raise.

However, the salary bump will not affect first years. The BC starting salary will remain at $145K in Chicago.

The amount of the raise will obviously vary by office, but we’ve got some information for the Chicago people…

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Morning Docket: 06.18.10

By Elie Mystal

U.S. Rep. Joe Barton* Joe Barton apologizes for apologizing to BP. It’s just another day in the GO(B)P. [Washington Post]

* Faisal Shahzad, indicted on 10 terror-related charges. [Bloomberg Businessweek]

* William Mitchell College of Law professor, Peter Erlinder, has been released from a Rwandan prison on bail. He should be back in the U.S.A. today. Welcome home. [Minneapolis Star-Tribune]

* A defense motion to acquit in the Robert Wone trial was only moderately successful. [Who Murdered Robert Wone]

* Blaming the parents for their drunken kids. [New York Times]

* It’s the end of the Swiss bank account as we know it. [Wall Street Journal]

Can In-House Counsel Serena Palumbo Be The Next Food Network Star?

By Kashmir Hill

Most New York lawyer types have given up on the idea of cooking for themselves; they’re far more likely to get their dinner from Seamless Web than from their own fridge and stovetop. But not Serena Palumbo. She’s now in-house counsel for an Italian bank, and has persevered in making nightly home-made dinners, despite prior stints at Schulte Roth and Shearman & Sterling.

And her perseverance has led to a possible career opportunity: TV celebrity chef. She’s one of the competitors in The Next Food Network Star, a Bobby Flay and Giada de Laurentiis-hosted reality competition, which is exactly what it sounds like.

Palumbo looks great in photos, but a former colleague who caught the premiere told us she struggled a bit in the first episode:

Wolfgang Puck told Giada that the Food Network might have to make room for a new Italian princess.

She did a good job with the food but struggled in front of the camera; she came across a bit forced so she’s not a front-runner but can probably turn things around.

Curses. Corporate lawyers don’t get to spend time in a courtroom, practicing their TV face in front of a jury.

We caught up with Serena by phone this week and asked her how she got onto the show, and more importantly, how she finds time to cook dinner every night at home in Manhattan…

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