Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison
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Biglaw, Lateral Moves, Partner Issues
Musical Chairs: Leading Litigator David Bernick Leaves Dechert To Join Paul, Weiss
Another high-profile hire by Paul, Weiss, just a few weeks after it snagged Scott Barshay from Cravath. -
Biglaw, Headhunters / Recruiters, Lateral Moves, Partner Issues
Anatomy Of A Deal: The Backstory Behind Scott Barshay's Move From Cravath To Paul Weiss
How much might the responsible recruiter have earned for making this placement? - Sponsored
Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
The rise of remote work has dramatically reshaped the relationship between Lawyers and Law Firms, see how Scale LLP has taken the steps to get… -
Biglaw, Lateral Moves, Partner Issues
A Deeper Dive Into Scott Barshay's Move From Cravath To Paul Weiss
How major a move is this, and how much might he make at his new firm?
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Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 04.04.16
* “Say you’ll remember me, standing in a black robe, waiting for a hearing, babe. Begging the SJC, say you will confirm me, even if it’s just in my wildest dreams, ah-ha ohh.” SCOTUS nominee Judge Merrick Garland has something in common with an overwhelming number of teenage girls: he loves Taylor Swift sing-alongs. That’s cute! [People]
* “A judge does not check his First Amendment rights at the courthouse door.” Judge Olu Stevens has filed suit against the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission on free-speech grounds in an attempt to stave off an ethics sanction for publicly commenting on Facebook about all-white juries and their “disproportionate and disparate impact on black defendants.” [Courier-Journal]
* Hardly any partners leave Cravath, but a very important one just did, and his exit is making people talk. Scott Barshay, once a top M&A partner at the firm that tends to set the associate bonus scale, has defected to Paul Weiss, where he’ll become its global head of M&A. Which clients will he take to the “dream team”? [DealBook / New York Times]
* This plaintiff’s antitrust allegations against Uber’s CEO may be “wildly implausible” and representative of an “impossibly unwieldy conspiracy,” but in Judge Jed Rakoff’s eyes, they were enough to overcome a motion to dismiss that was filed by Boies Schiller. Something tells us Uber’s legal bills are going to see some surge-pricing. [WSJ Law Blog]
* Per a study by Ravel Law, in a new index that tracks federal judges by their rulings and subsequent citations to those rulings, Michigan produces the most influential judges on the federal bench, followed by Chicago, Harvard, and Yale. Harvard has finally gotten one over on Yale — but for a measly bronze trophy. [Crain’s Detroit Business]
* According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the legal sector gained 1,200 jobs in March. On top of that positive news, February’s numbers were revised from a loss of 1,500 jobs to a gain of 100 jobs. In any case, what with the huge discrepancy, we’re happy to see Dewey’s bookkeepers found new work. [Big Law Business / Bloomberg]
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Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 03.30.16
* An odd order? Perhaps in an attempt to avoid yet another 4-4 split in a controversial case, SCOTUS justices have ordered parties on both sides of the contraceptive coverage battle in Zubik to file briefs describing how such coverage could be provided without religious groups having to put forth much effort to formally object. [Associated Press]
* “It’s mind bogglingly obvious, but often gets lost in the mix. Apart from checking there aren’t any conflicts, clients are rarely put at the heart of these mergers.” Go figure, but according to a new report by professional services consultancy Gulland Padfield, law firm mergers usually don’t benefit clients in any way, shape, or form. [Am Law Daily]
* It seems that Russian cybercriminal “Oleras” has hired hackers to break into the computer systems of 48 Biglaw firms so he can collect confidential client data and then trade on the stolen insider information. Thus far, he’s been unsuccessful. Has your law firm been targeted? If you’d like to know, check the list here. [Crain’s Chicago Business]
* The NFL is so pissed that the New York Times recently published a story linking the league to the tobacco industry that it not only wrote a two-part rebuttal that was more than 3000 words long, but it also sicced Paul Weiss attorneys on the paper of record in search of a retraction, claiming that the story was defamatory in nature. [Yahoo! Sports]
* “I will not go down. I want Bill Cosby in court.” A Los Angeles judge has ruled that model Janice Dickinson’s defamation case against Bill Cosby can move forward so that a jury can decide whether her allegations of rape are truthful, and further, whether a “liar” comment made by the comedian’s ex-lawyer, Marty Singer, was defamatory. [Telegram]
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Education / Schools, Quote of the Day, Sex
Good News For Columbia In A Controversial Case
And congrats to the prominent Columbia Law alum who handled the matter. -
Biglaw, Bonuses, Money
Associate Bonus Watch: A Second Firm Falls In Line
It's a top Biglaw firm in terms of profits and prestige, but it's a follower when it comes to comp. -
Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 11.19.15
* Earlier this week, Justice Elena Kagan went back to the law school she used to call her home to discuss statutory interpretation. It seems the former Harvard Law School dean fancies herself a “textualist” these days, just like her hunting buddy. Gee, thanks for that, Justice Scalia. [Harvard Crimson]
* A recent graduate of Appalachian School of Law with an affinity for criminal law has been accused of murder after shooting his uncle’s girlfriend in the chest and killing her. He waived his preliminary hearing, and the charges he’s facing will now go straight to a grand jury. [WV MetroNews]
* As Election 2016 inches closer, Biglaw firms are beginning to show their political stripes. Paul Weiss is holding a big old fundraiser for Hillary Clinton tonight. Look out, big spenders, because tickets for this event cost $2,700 each. [Washington Free Beacon]
* After nearly three decades as chairman, Gary LeClair of LeClairRyan is stepping down and letting someone else take over — three someone elses, to be precise. The firm’s leadership structure is changing completely. [Big Law Business / Bloomberg BNA]
* A senior analyst at BrownGreer was the recent victim of a carjacking. He was forced by his assailant to lead police on a chase, and was later shot in the head. He was last listed as being in critical, but stable condition. We wish him well. [Richmond Times-Dispatch]
- Sponsored
Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
If 2023 introduced legal professionals to generative AI, then 2024 will be when law firms start adapting to utilize it. Things are moving fast, so… -
Gay Marriage, Quote of the Day
How One Woman And Her Lawyer Changed U.S. History
Where would the marriage equality movement be without Edie Windsor? -
Biglaw, Minority Issues, Rankings
The Best Law Firms For Diversity (2016)
Which firms fared well in three big surveys of diversity within Biglaw? -
Biglaw, Lateral Moves, Partner Issues
Musical Chairs: Differing Views On A Prominent Partner's Move
Is this a big blow to Kirkland & Ellis, or is K&E glad to see her go? -
Biglaw, Bonuses, Money
Associate Bonus Watch: Paul Weiss Pays Up
You'll never guess what Paul Weiss just did.... -
Biglaw, Bonuses, Money
Associate Bonus Watch: A Major Firm Matches Simpson
Simpson Thacher's generous bonus scale gets followed by another top law firm.
Sponsored
Early Adopters Of Legal AI Gaining Competitive Edge In Marketplace
Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
Navigating Financial Success by Avoiding Common Pitfalls and Maximizing Firm Performance
Sponsored
Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
The Business Case For AI At Your Law Firm
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Bonuses, Books, Clerkships, Fabulosity, Federal Judges, Feeder Judges, Kellogg Huber, SCOTUS, Shameless Plugs, Supreme Court, Supreme Court Clerks
Supreme Court Clerk Hiring Watch: Into 2016 We Go -- Plus SCOTUS Clerk Bonus News
Who are the latest Supreme Court clerks, and how high are signing bonuses going for outgoing SCOTUS clerks? -
2nd Circuit, 9/11, Bankruptcy, Basketball, Biglaw, Deaths, Gay Marriage, Howrey LLP, Lateral Moves, Law Professors, Marijuana, Money, Morning Docket, Religion, Weddings
Morning Docket: 07.29.14
* The Second Circuit ruled that the World Trade Center Cross may remain on display in the September 11 Memorial and Museum. Apologies, atheists, but it’s a “genuine historical artifact.” [New York Daily News]
* Howrey going to get money back when judges keep tossing unfinished business claims like they’re yesterday’s trash? We’ll see if such claims will be laid to rest after a hearing later today. [Am Law Daily]
* Paul Weiss had a good get this week, with Citigroup’s deputy general counsel leaving the bank to join the firm — which coincidentally has served as the bank’s outside counsel for two decades. [WSJ Law Blog]
* North Carolina, a state that adopted a ban on same-sex marriage in 2012, said it will no longer defend its law in the wake of the Fourth Circuit’s ruling as to a similar ban in Virginia. Hooray! [Los Angeles Times]
* If you missed it, a judge issued a preliminary ruling against Donald Sterling, meaning that the sale of the L.A. Clippers may proceed. Don’t worry, his attorney says this is just “one stage of a long war.” [CNN]
* It seems that “weed-infused weddings” are a hot commodity in states where the drug has been legalized. Sorry, it may be better than an open bar, but it doesn’t seem like a very classy thing to do. [Boston.com]
* Cheryl Hanna, Vermont Law School professor and praised legal analyst, RIP. [Burlington Free Press]
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Biglaw, Fabulosity, Lawyerly Lairs, Litigators, Partner Issues, Real Estate
Lawyerly Lairs: A Powerful Paul Weiss Partner's Penthouse -- On Sale For $15 Million
Which legendary lawyer once called this mansion in the sky his home? -
Barack Obama, Biglaw, Celebrities, Department of Justice, Elena Kagan, Eric Holder, Fabulosity, Federal Government, Federal Judges, Joe Biden, Parties, Partner Issues, Politics, Samantha Power, SCOTUS, Senate Judiciary Committee, Supreme Court, Supreme Court Clerks, White House Counsel
18 Legal Celebrities At The White House State Dinner
Who were some of the famous lawyers at Tuesday night's White House State Dinner? -
Biglaw, Football, Quote of the Day, Social Media, Sports, Twittering
Wherein Richie Incognito Thinks It's A Great Idea To Bully A Biglaw Firm
You're under investigation for bullying, stupid. Now is not the time to get smart with a law firm. -
Admin, Announcements, Christopher Christie, David Boies, Gay, Gay Marriage, Litigators, Litigatrix, New Jersey, Partner Issues, Politics, Reader Polls, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, SCOTUS, Small Law Firms, Supreme Court, Ted Olson
Above the Law's 2013 Lawyer of the Year Competition: The Winner!
Congratulations to our 2013 Lawyer of the Year! -
9th Circuit, Biglaw, Blogging, CIA, Federal Judges, George Bush, Lateral Moves, Law School Deans, Law Schools, Non-Sequiturs, Partner Issues, Tax Law
Non-Sequiturs: 01.02.14
* Man tried to rob a convenience store so he could go back to prison. And he almost screwed that up… [KMOV] * The CIA’s former lawyer explains how torture came to be a go-to national policy. According to John Rizzo, author of the forthcoming Company Man (affiliate link), George W. Bush basically had no conception of what was going on, which makes a lot of sense anyway. [The New Yorker] * Brooklyn Law’s Dean Nick Allard makes predictions for law schools in 2014. “[P]eople will look back at 2014 and say it marked the start of the new world of law: a renaissance where the respect and reputation of lawyers and law schools began to rise by measurable benchmarks.” Go ahead and laugh, I’ll wait. [TaxProf Blog] * Paul, Weiss picks up tax partner Scott Sontag from Weil Gotshal. (Congrats to both firms, by the way, on tying for the #9 spot in our list of top-ranked law firms for 2013.) [Paul, Weiss] * Nooooooooooooo! Judge Richard Kopf is ending his blog. [Hercules and the Umpire] * And the hits keep on coming. Professor Kyle Graham is also leaving the blogosphere. [Non Curat Lex] * The Ninth Circuit will start streaming all of its oral arguments next week. If you want to help them out, tune in. No promises that the panel will excoriate any prosecutors this time. [Ninth Circuit]