Bruce MacEwen

* Walter Dellinger and Marty Lederman offer their analysis of the Office of Legal Counsel memo, written by Assistant Attorney General Steve Engel, on the appointment of Matthew Whitaker as Acting Attorney General. [Just Security]

* WWRMD: What Would Robert Mueller Do, in the event that he’s fired by Matt Whitaker? His options would be limited, according to Joel Cohen and Jennifer Rodgers. [The Hill]

* As for who will become the next Senate-confirmed Attorney General, here are some possibilities — including Glenn Reynolds’s picks. [Instapundit]

* Victoria Baranetsky, general counsel at the Center for Investigative Reporting, argues that the Jim Acosta case is about protecting press rights as well as due process. [Take Care]

* Facebook friends aren’t “real” friends — at least according to this interesting new opinion from the Florida Supreme Court, highlighted by Eugene Volokh. [Reason / Volokh Conspiracy]

* Managing partners don’t get no respect at law firms — and Bruce MacEwen thinks that’s a problem. [Adam Smith Esq.]

* Even though it has been out for just a few months, Westlaw Edge already has 1,500 subscribers — and if you’re thinking about getting it, tune in to this (sponsored) webinar to learn more. [Dewey B Strategic]

* Yesterday I spoke at the Federalist Society National Lawyers Convention on a panel about technology, social media, and legal ethics, featuring Judge Don Willett (5th Cir.), Chief Judge Stephen Dillard (Ga. Ct. App.), Josh Blackman, and John Browning. Check it out!

Why does Cravath remain Cravath?

* President Trump ordered White House Counsel Don McGahn to stop Attorney General Jeff Sessions from recusing in the Russia probe — and Sessions, after not recusing and incurring Trump’s wrath, later submitted his signed resignation letter (which the mercurial Trump, who had told Sessions to resign, then declined to accept). [New York Times]

* Brazilian oil company Petrobras just announced a $2.95 billion class action settlement, which will be the largest settlement of a class action U.S. securities fraud suit this decade if approved (by Judge Jed Rakoff, so it’s not a foregone conclusion). [Corporate Counsel]

* Congratulations to litigation finance firm Lake Whillans, which just concluded a $125 million round of funding. [American Lawyer]

* Leigh Corfman, one of several Alabama women who accused unsuccessful U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexual misconduct, is now suing Moore for defamation. [Washington Post]

* Speaking of defamation claims, the Trump tax bill contains some very bad news for plaintiffs in such cases (and tort cases more generally, it seems). [Slate]

* Tallahassee prosecutor Georgia Cappleman has thrown her hat into the ring for a judicial vacancy; what does this mean for the Dan Markel case, which she’s currently handling? [Tallahassee Democrat]

* The Motel 6/ICE mess has triggered a lawsuit against the company by Washington State’s attorney general. [ABA Journal]

* Journalist Roy Strom surveys the year ahead for Biglaw — and highlights Bruce MacEwen and Janet Stanton’s noteworthy prediction of a prominent U.S. law firm forming a joint venture with a “New Law” entity. [Law.com]

Reports of Biglaw's death are greatly exaggerated.

Among the possible impending disruptors analyzed by Bruce MacEwen's Tomorrowland include the Big Four accounting firms grabbing market share from Biglaw.

Should Biglaw firms become more like corporations, or should they return to their roots as partnerships?

Any comparison to the dark days of 2008-09 can be a scary one for associates.

$180K or not, law firm associates are still losing ground.

If you have a law degree, do you believe attending law school was worth it? If you are currently in law school, are you happy with your decision?

Is there a looming demographic crisis in Biglaw?

Have you ever wondered how Am Law gets all of its data?

* Judge uses hearing to take out lost luggage irritation on airline appearing before him. [Legal Cheek]

* Law schools should teach entrepreneurship, because students should be learning something they can apply when the job market turns up empty. [Tax Prof Blog]

* Meet Dylann Roof’s defense counsel, David Bruck. [The Marshall Project]

* Lawyer quits law and opens a brewery. Good idea. [Click on Detroit]

* Making “patently offensive racial, ethnic, homophobic, sexist, and other derogatory remarks to attorneys” nets a three-month suspension in New York. [Legal Profession Blog]

* A new white paper on law enforcement and electronic communications, co-authored by Viet Dinh, the keynote speaker at our recent Technology & Law event. [Bancroft PLLC]

* After Bruce MacEwen expressed doubts over the usefulness of the Am Law 200 as “a conceptual category,” Kimberly Kleman, editor-in-chief of The American Lawyer, responds to the criticism. [Big Law Business / Bloomberg BNA]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=24&v=5_S9y8bHMlY

Is this the year that some Biglaw firms will admit they can't keep up with the rest? Thoughts from in-house columnist Mark Herrmann.

Biglaw is changing rapidly, and this is how one firm bet big to prevent itself from becoming obsolete.

Whoa, talk about an eye-popping salary! Which law firm does he work for?

If you're doing any of these things, you're doing it wrong.

The fate of the billable hour, how small firms can compete with large ones, the evil of profits per partner, and more.

Is there something fishy about the reported salaries of first-year associates in Biglaw?

Please join us in Chicago on November 20!

A comparison of the recent financial performance of the top U.K. and New York law firms.