When hiring in-house counsel, determining whether candidates should have prior in-house experience or if Big Law backgrounds suffice is nuanced. Often, the most qualified candidates have a combination of both. The rigorous training programs at big law firms instill values of client service, attention to detail, and strong drafting skills, which are invaluable for in-house…
Stockholder litigation is increasingly becoming a focal point in the legal sphere, with federal securities actions seeing a marked rise in 2023. Noteworthy victories, such as Tornetta v. Musk and West Palm Beach Firefighters v. Moelis, underscore the importance of adopting a broad-minded approach akin to that of trial lawyers. A hallmark of successful securities…
Transitioning from Biglaw to an in-house counsel position can often necessitate a recalibration of skills, yet the robust foundation built within the high-stakes environment of a major law firm remains invaluable. Meyling “Mey” Ly Ortiz’s reflections on the essential skills honed during her tenure in Biglaw shed light on how these competencies translate seamlessly into…
“`html Above the Law is once again reaching out to in-house attorneys to contribute to its annual compensation report. The 2024 edition of this report promises to offer a detailed benchmarking tool, allowing professionals to compare pay across various dimensions including geographic region, industry, type of organization, size of department, practice area, position, gender, and…
The legal world remains abuzz this morning with a variety of intriguing developments across a spectrum of issues. Notably, the Columbia Law Review’s board recently claimed that it “nuked” its website to allow for better “editing,” though its critics argue this move was meant to create an opportunity to rescind a previously offered publication. More…
Base salaries for in-house counsel in Canada have seen a significant increase of nearly 9% over the past year, as detailed in a new report by The Counsel Network and the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (CCCA). The average national base salary has risen to CA$196,000, up from CA$180,000 in 2022. Despite this upward trend, the…
In a keynote address at the Legal Innovators conference in San Francisco on Wednesday, industry expert Zach Abramowitz highlighted how in-house legal teams are uniquely positioned to drive innovation and change the dynamics between corporations and their external legal advisors. Abramowitz emphasized that the growing reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics presents in-house…
Transitioning from a law firm to an in-house counsel role involves navigating new terrains and adjusting to different expectations. Here are 10 quick tips to help you hit the ground running: Embrace Meetings: In-house counsel roles often require active participation in meetings. Unlike law firms where non-billable meetings might feel unproductive, these interactions are critical…
Law firm content and perfectionism often go hand in hand, reflecting the impeccably high standards that characterize the legal profession. Nevertheless, studies have demonstrated that this quest for excellence can sometimes be a double-edged sword, particularly when crafting captivating promotional material. Balancing quality with timeliness in law firms’ content creation process is essential, as treating…
Welcome to Bloomberg Law’s Wake Up Call, a daily rundown of the top news for lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel. Latham & Watkins, Perkins Coie, Orrick, and Sidley Austin have each closed their Shanghai offices, or said they will close them, as “a dearth of financial activity and depressed business sentiment” forces the firms…
Until recently, Wilson Elser represented American Airlines in a lawsuit brought by the family of a 9-year-old girl who was lured into an airplane bathroom where a flight attendant had rigged his phone to record children. This relationship has ended abruptly after Wilson Elser argued that the child “knew or should have known [the bathroom]…
For several years, Latham & Watkins has been on an aggressive hiring spree in London, targeting so-called elite firms in the city. The recent recruitment of a capital markets lawyer from Freshfields demonstrates their continued ascendance within the competitive legal market. According to the Financial Times, Latham has added at least 15 partners from its…
Article Transitioning from private practice to corporate counsel is a well-trodden path for many legal professionals. However, the journey from private practitioner to in-house counsel and then to poker world champion is a rarer feat. This is precisely the route Greg Raymer navigated two decades ago, marking a significant turn in his multifaceted career. Raymer,…
Welcome to Bloomberg Law’s Wake Up Call, a daily rundown of the top news for lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel. Carmen Rossi, the Chicago lawyer, bar owner, and registered lobbyist, is poised to benefit from $38.5 million in taxpayer-funded city deals accumulated over the past five months, which includes arrangements for himself, his business…
Corporations eager to avoid Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) penalties for legal missteps should aim to surpass legal obligations rather than merely meet them, according to Gurbir Grewal, director of the Division of Enforcement at the SEC. Speaking at a recent assembly of defense attorneys and in-house counsels in Palo Alto, California, Grewal regularly fields…
France’s Parliament has recently passed legislation that would provide a degree of ‘legal privilege’ for internal consultations among in-house lawyers. This marks a significant move in the country’s legal practice, given that such privilege is a provision long sought after by practitioners in this field. In-house counsel in France has dealt with notable confidentiality constraints…
Increasing workloads, understaffed teams, and challenging company cultures are contributing to a rise in anxiety, fatigue, and stress experienced by in-house lawyers, according to a 2024 Mental Health Survey conducted by Law.com and ALM Intelligence. The survey, which garnered 79 responses from in-house counsel, a considerable increase from the previous year’s mere two dozen responders,…
The salaries of general counsel and other senior in-house attorneys have experienced an uptick, according to a recent in-house compensation report published by executive search firm BarkerGilmore. Within the legal workforce, in-house counsel saw a rise of 4.4% in their median compensation in 2024 compared with the previous year. Among the different roles, managing counsel…
The recent survey conducted by Bloomberg Law highlights a distinct disparity between in-house and outside lawyers’ views on the potential effects of the US Supreme Court overruling or modifying Chevron. Specifically, in-house counsel appears to anticipate a considerable transformation to their practices compared to law firm attorneys. Essentially, those working heavily in regulatory fields are…
In a 2022 survey conducted by Axiom, it was found that approximately 78% of in-house lawyers felt stressed or burned out within their roles. Our current times demand an increased focus on mental health, but legal professionals especially need self-reflecting strategies to manage their workload and well-being. Various tactics have been suggested for managing stress,…
Welcome to the daily rundown of top news for legal professionals. Within this digest, we relay versatile and impactful developments for lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel across the globe. Today, we spotlight the city of St. Louis’s intense tax scrutiny of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. The city of St. Louis stated in January that…
Welcome to today’s legal news roundup, focusing on news that affects lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel. We will be looking at the crusading FTC chair, the financial woes of the California State Bar, and the evolving landscape of law firms in Hong Kong. Leading the headlines is the Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan….
The legal industry’s notable struggle with mental health issues has started to gain attention from high-ranking in-house leaders, whose influence can significantly impact the sector. Standout figures like Eric Greenberg, General Counsel of Cox Media Group, have joined the fight to address these critical issues plaguing legal firms. Through a process Greenberg calls “a leap…
Quinn Emanuel now offers its United Kingdom-based junior lawyers an annual pay of £180,000. This decision exemplifies a trend in top-tier law firms prioritizing compensation, signaling a potential shift in the broader legal landscape. These pay bumps may cause other firms to evaluate their compensation practices and make necessary changes to attract and retain top…
In the legal world, an apparent increase has been noted in the number of lawyers and clients who wish to enhance their knowledge about sustainable development practices. This trend not only showcases increased consciousness towards the environment but also reflects the shift in priorities among the legal fraternity and their clientele. Sustainable development refers to…