McKool Smith

Everything is bigger in Texas, including the year-end bonuses. Congrats!

For now, he has to play it 'kool' when it comes to the client he left the firm for.

* Neil Gorsuch brands COVID-19 health edicts possibly “the greatest intrusions on civil liberties in the peacetime history of this country.” While some might remind him about slavery and segregation, I’m not sure we should be giving him any ideas. [USA Today]

* Mike McKool leaves McKool Smith. Remember Garfield Minus Garfield? It’s like that. [Reuters]

* Judge rejects candy company’s motion to dismiss in case of man trapped inside hardened chocolate for hours. Willy Wonka declined comment. [Legal Intelligencer]

* Nancy Abudu confirmed to the Eleventh Circuit and all it took was a staggering 495 days or so. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

* Justice Stevens working papers released. One gem involves Scalia chiding dissenters for worrying about damaging the Court’s legitimacy. That tracks. [ABA Journal]

* As part of broader efforts to diversify the ranks of special masters, some argue for rethinking the language of “master” itself. [Law.com]

* Kari Lake’s election challenge going about as well as her election did. [Courthouse News Service]

Happy weekend.

Some things are worth the wait -- like money!

Maybe now they can afford to buy avocado toast AND a new home.   

Not 'cool.'

Associates have a pretty nice payday coming their way!

Everything's bigger in Texas, including the bonuses.

Associate raises are still happening!

Check out the update to the story for more details on the firm's plans.

* Uber and Waymo settled, so now we can have flying cars. Or something. [Corporate Counsel]

* New charges in the Dan Markel murder case. [U.S. News]

* Trump can pretty much get away with anything, so why not talk to prosecutors and just take the Fifth? [The Hill]

* A look at the difficult work of navigating a romance at work. [Law and More]

* A week in the life of a mom working as a solo practitioner. [CorporetteMoms]

* An excellent new podcast for aspiring trial lawyers, from McKool Smith and Benchmark Litigation, kicks off by interviewing legendary litigator Evan Chesler of Cravath. [McKool Smith]

Yeehaw! This Texas-based firm is lassoing more cash for its associates.

Things are going very well at Kasowitz Benson, thank you very much, and the firm's success was reflected in strong bonuses.

Will partner departures be followed by associate layoffs at the firm?

* Sorry, Berners, but you’ll have to start the revolution somewhere else: Students at Georgetown Law have been barred from campaigning for Bernie Sanders on campus because administrators say it would threaten the law school’s tax-exempt status. [Hit & Run / Reason]

* A group from Kasowitz Benson’s lucrative insurance recovery practice, including its leader, Robin Cohen, is leaving for McKool Smith, but name partner Marc Kasowitz doesn’t seem to mind one bit. He says it’ll help the firm out in the long run. [Big Law Business / Bloomberg BNA]

* Obama is expected to nominate Judge Lucy Koh of the Northern District of California, she of the Apple v. Samsung patent feud, to the Ninth Circuit. It’s too bad the likelihood of her getting through the Senate right now is “close to zero.” [San Jose Mercury News]

* Hole singer Courtney Love’s “Twibel” (Twitter plus libel) victory against her ex-lawyer in the first case to ever go to trial over a defamatory tweet was recently upheld by a California appellate court. Retweet and Like. [THR, ESQ. / Hollywood Reporter]

* Mmm, cheese-product sticks! Fast-food conglomerate McDonald’s is facing a class-action suit over its sometimes cheeseless mozzarella sticks, with allegations that they’re not made with “100 percent real cheese” and “real mozzarella” as advertised. [Eater]

One issue with working at a focused firm: your financial fortunes will fluctuate.

Have you ever seen law firm holiday party invitations that are this fabulous and fun?

Which law firms pay starting salaries that exceed $160,000? Let's make a list.

LEWW is back, plus one more adorable kid and minus a lot of sleep. Prime wedding season is nearly upon us, but today our task is to get you caught up on some of the nuptial fabulosity that occurred in our absence. (And by the way, if you missed the NYT’s December feature on the […]