Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Select Coverage from Above the Law

Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 03.08.18

* While Michigan State zeroes in on another NCAA Tournament run, the Board of Trustees zero in on saving their hides in the fallout of the Larry Nassar revelations. The Board announced bringing on Akin Gump as the scandal grows. [Detroit News]

* Speaking of Akin, former Akin partner Jeffrey Wertkin’s criminal trial ends with a 30-month prison sentence. [Reuters]

* When Wesleyan’s commencement speaker Daniel Handler suffered a series of unfortunate sexual harassment allegations, the school reached out to Anita Hill in possibly the most clutch last-minute rescheduling ever. [Chronicle of Higher Education]

* Donald Trump apparently keeps asking witnesses in the Mueller probe about their testimony. So it’s safe to say he’s not even trying to heed the advice of counsel. [NY Times]

* Meaning Trump may soon be asking Erik Prince about his testimony, because that guy appears to be in hot water with Mueller now. [Vox]

* Another look at the Lewis & Clark Law protest that kicked off this week. [Big Law Business]

* Rhode Island considers banning free porn in an effort to ensure that the only opiate of the masses remains crippling opioid addiction.. [NPR]

* Pepperdine Law had faculty dunk tanks yesterday. Just California’s friendly reminder to the East Coast that we’re living wrong. [TaxProf Blog]

By Joe Patrice
Biglaw
Which Biglaw Firms Joined The Billion-Dollar Revenue Club In 2017?

Did your firm make the cut?

By Kathryn Rubino
Biglaw
Biglaw Firm Succumbs To Pressure, Gives First-Year Associates A Bonus

Sometimes complaining pays off.

By Kathryn Rubino
Biglaw
He Wanted To Be 'More Successful' In Biglaw -- Why A Former Partner Tried To Sell Whistleblower Complaints

Why did someone with such a successful legal career throw it all away?

By Kathryn Rubino
Biglaw
No Bonuses For First-Year Associates At This Biglaw Firm

Ouch! That's got to sting.

By Staci Zaretsky
Biglaw
Biglaw Partner Pleads Guilty Over Plot To Sell Whistleblower Lawsuits

Now we come to the (legal) conclusion of his tale.

By Kathryn Rubino
Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 11.30.17

* “On the surface it looks like you covered this up,” is never the most encouraging message to hear from the federal judge on your case. [The Recorder]

* Jeffrey Wertkin, the former Akin Gump partner who sold whistleblower complaints to targeted companies, pleaded guilty. [Reuters]

* Juror dismissed from FIFA corruption trial for falling asleep, proving a trial about soccer is just as thrilling as a game of soccer. [Law360]

* The highest paid GCs in America. [Corporate Counsel]

* Jones Day continues its drive to scoop up SCOTUS clerks by the bushel. [American Lawyer]

* Neal Katyal has passed Thurgood Marshall as the minority lawyer with the most Supreme Court arguments. [Litigation Daily]

* It looks like justices from both ends of the philosophical spectrum will come together to rule that the DOJ still needs to get warrants. Glad we can all come together to agree on this very, very low bar. [National Law Journal]

By Joe Patrice
Biglaw
NFL Lock Of The Week: Players Will Lose Their Disciplinary Appeals

Take Paul Clement minus anything.

By Joe Patrice
Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 11.03.17

* 41 Cat Pictures That Prove Beyond All Doubt That Being BuzzFeed’s GC Is Freaking Awesome. [Big Law Business]

* Jeffrey Wertkin, the ex-Akin Gump partner accused of trying to sell whistleblower complaints while in disguise, plans to plead guilty later this month. As he said upon arrest, maybe his life really is over… [The Recorder]

* Professor Stephanos Bibas of Penn Law was confirmed to the Third Circuit by the Senate in a 53-43 vote. According to the law school’s dean, Bibas “possesses all the skills to excel on the federal bench.” Congratulations! [Philadelphia Inquirer]

* Justice Joan Larsen of the Michigan Supreme Court was confirmed to the Sixth Circuit by the Senate in a 60-38 vote. If you recall, Larsen was on the original version of President Trump’s Supreme Court shortlist, and was one of his top five finalists for Justice Neil Gorsuch’s position. Congratulations! [Detroit Free Press]

* Cozen O’Connor’s lobbying affiliate, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, poached a five-lawyer team of lobbyists from Manatt, and now Manatt no longer has a lobbying practice. [New York Law Journal]

By Staci Zaretsky
White-Collar Crime
The Problem With Compelling Lawyers To Give 'Direct Evidence' Against Their Clients

Will this decision have a chilling effect on the practice?

By Justin Dillon