While a partner at Fox Rothschild, Lincoln Bandlow has become a bit of a sensation at Above the Law. He represents the extremely litigious porn studio, Strike 3 Holdings, and has filed hundreds of copyright infringement cases on behalf of that client.
The cases, largely filed against John Doe downloaders as part of what’s been described as a file-and-settle strategy, have come under fire from judges. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth of the District of Columbia said Strike 3 “treats this court not as a citadel of justice, but as an ATM.” In California, another judge sanctioned Bandlow $750 for missing deadlines in numerous copyright cases calling his actions “willful disobedience” of the court.
Despite the somewhat unsavory nature of Strike 3’s business and their litigation strategy — one judge called the company a “copyright troll” — Bandlow has defended the representation, in an interview with ALM, saying, “It’s good content, and a quality company that pays its employees well.”
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Now, as reported by Law.com, Bandlow and the Am Law 100 firm have parted ways. Bandlow is taking the porn studio with him as a client, and he’s opened his own firm, The Law Offices of Lincoln Bandlow, and that is currently listed as the firm of record on 40 Strike 3 cases. Other Fox Rothschild attorneys who worked with Bandlow on Strike 3 cases have filed motions to withdraw as counsel.
Neither the Biglaw firm nor Bandlow have commented on the move, or whether the notorious representation precipitated it.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).