Jeffrey Wertkin

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 04.17.19

* Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg’s nonpartisan plan to pack the Supreme Court almost seems too good to be true — and that’s likely because it might be unconstitutional. [Slate] * The Trump Organization wants Michael Cohen’s lawsuit seeking legal fees for his defense to be tossed out, claiming Trump’s former fixer created “fictitious ‘contract’” to ensure they’d be bound to him. (But even if it existed, they probably wouldn’t want to pay up anyway.) [Big Law Business] * In case you missed it, Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, has tapped Chicago finance partner Mary Wilson, “an enthusiastic, exceptionally passionate lawyer and leader,” as the first woman to serve as its U.S. managing partner. Congratulations! [American Lawyer] * After years tied up in patent and antitrust litigation, Apple and Qualcomm settles in the middle of opening statements at trial yesterday afternoon. Now the feuding companies will have to behave, at least for the next six years. [The Recorder] * Remember Jeffrey Wertkin, the Akin Gump partner who disguised himself in a wig to try to sell a copy of a whistleblower complaint to Fortinet? The network security company just settled that False Claims Act case for $575K. [Law.com]

By Staci Zaretsky
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
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
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
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.28.17

* The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has extended a deadline to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request asking who the director of the agency is. That's all they want. And the PTO asked for more time to respond! The absurdity of this reminds me of Apocalypse Now. [IP Watchdog] * You've heard about Justice Ginsburg's workout regimen. Well, Politico sent a reporter to do it and... it nearly broke him. [Politico] * Divorce judge sued for allegedly spitting on a former Mintz Levin attorney. The New York legal community keeping it classy. [Law360] * In totally unsurprising move, guy who thought the KKK was cool until he found out they smoked pot withdraws the government's objection to Texas efforts to suppress minority voting. [NY Times] * More law firms are changing their partner compensation models to create an even more competitive environment. There's no way this can backfire and create a woefully dysfunctional partnership. Nope. [Law.com] * The Jeffrey Wertkin case puts a spotlight on the whole whistle-blower unit. [Bloomberg] * Winston & Strawn are going after laterals pretty hard. [Am Law Daily] * Now might be a good time to make a donation to legal aid. [Litigation Daily]

By Joe Patrice