Law Firm Merger Mania

* Roy Moore’s lawyer — you know, Richard Jaffe, the Jewish one — is a “passionate supporter” of Senator-elect Doug Jones, and raised and donated money for his Senate campaign before voting for him in the Alabama special election. [Washington Examiner]

* Eversheds Sutherland celebrated the new year by announcing a merger with a Dutch affiliate firm, composed of eight partners and 32 lawyers across two offices. It’ll be known as Eversheds Sutherland Netherlands once the acquisition is complete. [American Lawyer]

* Speaking of mergers, Ballard Spahr celebrated the new year by completing its combination with Lindquist & Vennum. Ballard Spahr will retain its name, and the new firm will have 650 lawyers across 15 offices in the U.S. [Big Law Business]

* The former head of alumni relations for Chicago’s John Marshall Law claims in a new lawsuit that he was fired due to the school’s bias against older male employees. He alleges that Dean Darby Dickerson is trying to “eliminate the employment of men, and particularly older men.” [Law360 (sub. req.)]

* “If you’re too busy to follow this advice, you should follow this advice.” Try this New Year’s resolution on for size: take better care of yourself with these stress management tips. [Law.com]

* Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer spent Monday with special counsel Robert Mueller’s team, chatting about all sorts of things related to the Russia probe. They presumably spoke about more than Trump’s choice of Russian dressing. [POLITICO]

* During a meeting held at Debevoise & Plimpton’s New York office, the members of the Weinstein Company’s board ratified their decision to fire Harvey Weinstein from his own company. Every employment lawyer’s worst nightmare later resigned from the board. [DealBook / New York Times]

* “Democratic attorneys general are getting national injunctions to stop the Trump administration. In just two short years, the national injunction went from rare to routine.” The Trump presidency has ushered in the era of nationwide injunctions, and not everyone seems to be a fan of this type of one-size-fits-all jurisprudence. [CNN]

* In case you missed it, come 2019, there will be three legal genders in California: male, female, and non-binary. Under the Gender Recognition Act, citizens of the Golden State may select non-binary as an option on state-issued IDs, driver’s licenses, and birth certificates. Congratulations on this landmark legislation. [Esquire]

* The number of this year’s law firm mergers is set to break records, but you better get ready for MOAR MERGERS. Per Janet Stanton of Adam Smith Esq., deals are happening behind the scenes, and partner defections may serve as an indication of merger talks. Can you think of a firm that’s been losing partners? [Am Law Daily]

* “[W]e will do whatever we have to do to properly protect his rights vis a vis the company.” Film producer and accused rapist Harvey Weinstein has hired Hollywood power lawyer Patricia Glaser to represent him in his fight against his own company. [Hollywood Reporter]

* Hogan Lovells has been in the legal press a lot lately for its decision to shut things down, like careers. Now, the firm has decided to shut down an office in a far away land called Ulaanbaatar that you’ve likely never heard of before. [Legal Week]

* What’s the easiest way to get a new practice group running? By acquiring a boutique firm that’s got an “innovative approach.” That’s what LeClairRyan did when it swallowed up Pizzo & Haman, a workers’ compensation firm which is unique in that… its attorneys charge more than others in the same practice area. [Am Law Daily]

* Enrollment has gone up in a major way at the Appalachian School of Law. The school’s new 1L class is about 86 percent larger than last year’s entering class, and its overall enrollment has increased by almost 40 percent. Considering that the school has been struggling in recent years, this must be nice for everyone in Grundy. [WCYB]

* “What Could Equifax CLO John Kelley Have Done Differently?” Literally, anything. [Corporate Counsel]

* Two-time presidential candidate and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton will travel to Wales next weekend to receive an honorary doctorate degree from Swansea University, but that’s not the only honor she’ll receive while there. Swansea’s law school is being renamed, and will soon be known as the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law. Congratulations! [Wales Online]

* Special counsel Robert Mueller has added an appellate lawyer from the Justice Department’s criminal division to his team. Per a spokesperson, Scott Meisler, who had not been previously identified as being involved, joined the effort in mid-June. Meisler is a 2005 graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center. [Reuters]

* Winston & Strawn may have more than 900 lawyers, but according to the firm’s managing partner, that’s still not good enough. You can soon expect the firm’s corporate transactions practice in New York to expand, its D.C. office to grow in size, and its West Coast presence to double or triple. [Big Law Business]

* According to Altman Weil’s MergerLine, law firm mergers are now on pace to break a 2015 record. Thus far in 2017, 76 tie-ups have been announced, which may lead the industry to surpass its previous high of 91 mergers. The number of law firm combinations could even exceed 100 this year. Exciting times… [Am Law Daily]

* Retired U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson Jr. will be retiring as founding dean of the University of North Texas Dallas College of Law as of June 30, 2018. Why is Furgeson planning to retire with only five years as dean under his belt? He’s almost 76, and “plan[s] to do a lot of things when [he’s] 80 — but not this job.” [Law.com]