The Weinstein Company

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.28.18

* "With respect, I dissent." Thanks to this Supreme Court opinion, asylum seekers and other immigrant aliens can now be held indefinitely without bond hearings. Justice Breyer was so pissed off that he read part of his 33-page dissent from the bench. [National Law Journal] * Was Trump compromised? In the latest phase of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, members of his legal team have been asking about Donald Trump's business activities in Russia prior to his campaign, when he was still considering running for president. [CNN] * Partner billing rates at the biggest of Biglaw firms (750 or more lawyers) continue to climb, and they're now 45 percent higher than those of slightly smaller Biglaw firms (501 to 750 lawyers). In fact, the gap between the two types of firm grew by 11 percent over 2016. We wonder what the highest hourly rate of all is. [American Lawyer] * The 2019 edition of the U.S. News law school rankings will be released on March 20, 2018. We repeat, the 2019 edition of the U.S. News law school rankings will be released on March 20, 2018. Prepare yourselves for the annual running of the deans after law schools drop in rank. [Morse Code/ U.S. News & World Report] * Karma is great: The Weinstein Company will be filing for bankruptcy following a failed deal with investors to sell the tainted film and television studio in the wake of Harvey Weinstein's sexual misconduct scandal. [DealBook / New York Times]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 10.18.17

* Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer spent Monday with special counsel Robert Mueller's team, chatting about all sorts of things related to the Russia probe. They presumably spoke about more than Trump's choice of Russian dressing. [POLITICO] * During a meeting held at Debevoise & Plimpton's New York office, the members of the Weinstein Company's board ratified their decision to fire Harvey Weinstein from his own company. Every employment lawyer's worst nightmare later resigned from the board. [DealBook / New York Times] * "Democratic attorneys general are getting national injunctions to stop the Trump administration. In just two short years, the national injunction went from rare to routine." The Trump presidency has ushered in the era of nationwide injunctions, and not everyone seems to be a fan of this type of one-size-fits-all jurisprudence. [CNN] * In case you missed it, come 2019, there will be three legal genders in California: male, female, and non-binary. Under the Gender Recognition Act, citizens of the Golden State may select non-binary as an option on state-issued IDs, driver’s licenses, and birth certificates. Congratulations on this landmark legislation. [Esquire] * The number of this year's law firm mergers is set to break records, but you better get ready for MOAR MERGERS. Per Janet Stanton of Adam Smith Esq., deals are happening behind the scenes, and partner defections may serve as an indication of merger talks. Can you think of a firm that's been losing partners? [Am Law Daily]

By Staci Zaretsky