Latham & Watkins

What could have caused this terrible accident?

Why don't more Biglaw firms have student-debt initiatives like this?

Do the firm's bonuses reflect how well it's doing? Opinions differ....

* Remember Andrew and Alecia Schmuhl, the husband-and-wife lawyers who allegedly tortured and almost killed a law firm partner? Now Andrew may claim involuntary intoxication as one of his defenses. Damn you, NyQuil! Damn you, Benadryl! [NBC Washington]

* You may not agree with Ted Cruz’s politics, and you may not like Canada for some reason, but that doesn’t mean he’s ineligible to run for president just because he was born there. Like it or not, it appears constitutional law scholars more or less tend to agree on this point. [ABC News]

* Dentons isn’t finished collecting lawyers yet. The megafirm is kicking off 2016 with yet another acquisition, but this time it’s a lateral raid from British firm Matthew Arnold & Baldwin. Dentons will welcome a 45-lawyer banking and finance team. [Am Law Daily]

* That was quick! Jonathan Lippman recently turned in his robes after retiring from his post as chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals, and he’s already found a new job. He’ll join Latham & Watkins, where he’ll work in an of counsel role. [WSJ Law Blog]

* New York just launched its new medical marijuana law, which is likely the strictest of all such laws in the country. People aren’t fans: “[I]t seemed like the priority was to make it as limited as possible, instead of focusing on what is best for patients.” [Al Jazeera]

* Robert Lewis Dear, the man accused in the Colorado Planned Parenthood shooting, had this outburst during a hearing yesterday: “I am guilty, there will be no trial. I am a warrior for the babies. You’ll never know the amount of blood I saw in that place.” [CBS Denver]

* The American Bar Association has approved the merger between William Mitchell Law and Hamline Law to form Mitchell|Hamline Law. Since law school mergers now seem to be a viable option, struggling schools may be able to find a way to survive instead of closing. [Pioneer Press]

* In yesterday’s affirmative action duel at the Supreme Court, Bert Rein of Wiley Rein and Gregory Garre of Latham & Watkins faced off for the second time in Fisher v. University of Texas: The Reckoning. Will SCOTUS kill AA this time? [WSJ Law Blog]

* According to the Rhode Island Commission on Judicial Tenure and Discipline, Judge Rafael A. Ovalles brought his office into disrepute after sexually harassing a female court clerk and sitting in chambers with his hand in his underwear. [Providence Journal]

* A settlement in the “Happy Birthday to You” copyright case has thrust the song into the public domain where it belongs. Now employees at chain restaurants across the country won’t have to sing cheesy soundalike songs to birthday diners anymore. [Reuters]

Law firms are lining up behind Hillary, according to the latest FEC data.

Which law firm is trying to reduce headcount this time?

* It was First Amendment Day at SCOTUS this morning! Here’s a recap. [PrawfsBlawg]

* Exclusive report on the new CSOL president’s meeting with students. He explained how Infilaw had a terrible track record and offered nothing to the school. Just kidding! But he did suggest introducing “a Boy Scout-inspired ‘merit badge system’” to the school. So there’s that. [SC Lawyers Weekly]

* Facebook made this legislator vote the wrong way on a bill. #banBoomers. [Lowering the Bar]

* Texas became the first state to ban fracking bans. Looks like they understand hierarchical government in some situations. [Breaking Energy]

* Allegations of political influence peddling in Orange County pot industry. I didn’t make it to the big ATL Business of Bud conference the other day, but this sounds scandalous. On the other hand, “drug trade influence peddling” used to involve fewer gavels and more Glocks, so this is a positive development. [OC Weekly]

* Do you have strong feelings about FRCP 56(d)? You should. An excellent practice tip. [What About Clients?]

* Tonight is the Family Violence Appellate Project’s annual Battle of the Lawyer Bands. If you want to see bands from Google, O’Melveny, Latham, Jones Day, Lieff Cabraser, and Kirkland & Ellis — and help a good cause — then you’d best be in San Francisco and head over to 1015 Folsom. Buy tickets at the link. [Family Violence Appellate Project]

* You know who aren’t “Beliebers”? The Fourth Circuit. They swatted down Bieber and musical enabler Usher defending themselves against another artist’s copyright claim. Read the full opinion on the next page. [Fourth Circuit]

Which firm is banning personal email at work? Hint: it's a bit of a trick question.

What role should firm culture play in your lateral move?

Who's the new top firm by gross revenue, and what obscene new high did Wachtell Lipton profits hit last year?

Opportunities abound in Texas.

Last year was a very good year for Latham. How good are we talking?

In general, Lathamites seem quite pleased by their bonuses, which take Davis Polk as a baseline and go up from there.

Throughout 2014, along with our friends at Good2BSocial, ATL once again researched the social media practices of law firms. Today we publish the first component of our findings: our second annual Social Law Firm Index, where we identify which specific firms are making the most effective use of social media.

Congratulations to the partners at Latham and Littler for finding a new way to pad their pockets, and condolences to the support staff who are being forced to choose between their locations and their livelihoods.

* ADA complaint filed by former TV anchor fired for drunkenness. On behalf of the ATL staff, we’re watching this one closely. [Chicagoland Radio and Media]

* Some of these made their way into the pages of Above the Law before, but this is an excellent compilation of “12 Unbelievable Courtroom Moments Caught on Tape.” [Robert Reeves Law]

* Rhinos, sharks, and the Secretary of Commerce walk into an Elie post… [Redline]

* A look back at FedSoc’s 2014 National Lawyers Convention. It sounds like it ended with Bailey’s and hot chocolate with Justice Don Willett, so that can’t be bad. [Wonkette]

* Butthurt police detective suing defense lawyer for criticizing the investigation. [Washington Post]

* BP argues that fining them more than they’re willing to pay for poisoning the Gulf of Mexico would be “legal chaos.” As opposed to that regular chaos of dumping millions of barrels of oil into the water and getting a slap on the wrist for it. [Breaking Energy]

* Banker with ties to Linklaters, Skadden, and Latham & Watkins awaiting trial for murdering two prostitutes in Hong Kong. Just go ahead and put whatever American Psycho joke you think of here. [Roll on Friday]

* Should litigation financing be disclosed? [Litigation Funding Central]

* A collection of stories about the diversity issues at Harvard Law School. Sounds like a delightful place if you’re white, male, and heterosexual. [Socratic Shortcomings]

* The makeup of the Supreme Court is the most important issue in the 2016 election. Well, the most “important” issue will be if Hillary is a crone who murdered everyone in Benghazi with Obamacare, but the Supreme Court should be the most important issue. [Slate]

* We’ve wondered why the Supreme Court isn’t more accountable before. Fix the Court wants to do something about it. [USA Today]

* In-house counsel are optimistic. Too bad they aren’t optimistic about sending work to firms. [Business of Law Blog / LexisNexis]

* The Italians just overturned the manslaughter convictions of a bunch of scientists for failing to accurately predict an earthquake. But, sure, let’s send Amanda Knox back over there. [Reuters]

* Latham snags a gaggle of high-profile O’Melveny entertainment lawyers and O’Melveny names three new co-heads of its Entertainment, Sports and Media Practice. [Deadline Hollywood]

* An infographic of firm trends. Technological upgrades are the name of the game. [Think Tank / Aderant]

* While we treat high school athletes as adults in so many aspects of their lives, America just won’t let go of labeling them juveniles unable to grasp sexual assault. [The Legal Blitz]

* Horrific tale of systematic sexual abuse in the ranks of USA Swimming, which turns to Bryan Cave for what a lawyer profiled in the article calls “plaintiff-draining legal tactics.” [Outside Online]

* R.I.P. John Michael Doar, former chief of the DOJ civil rights division in the 60s, who died at age 92 yesterday. [What About Clients?]

According to the ATL Insider Survey, these practice groups deserve more (or less) acclaim.

Latham still has an opportunity to defend itself, but the language of the opinion is not encouraging.