Bridget Mary McCormack, former chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, became president and CEO of the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the world’s largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services, last year. McCormack, a vocal advocate for system innovation to broaden access to justice while on the court, has reportedly boosted the AAA’s…
Welcome to the daily rundown of the top news for lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel. In a noteworthy development, Steve Bannon’s refusal to pay his attorneys could lead to complications in a separate criminal case involving allegations of defrauding donors to a privately funded US-Mexico border wall. Bannon’s attorney, Harlan Protass, noted in a…
Rajan Singh has recently returned to the corporate and securities practice at Womble Bond Dickinson, based out of Tysons, Virginia. The firm made the announcement public last Friday. Singh’s area of expertise encompasses mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, along with domestic and international transactions in a variety of sectors such as government contracting, technology, and financial…
Reflecting on the evolution of legal service billing, in-house counsel members will recall the days of block billing, where a firm would consolidate all services rendered into a bill sent to the client at the end of the month. The total, often unnerving, along with the lack of breakdown of times spent on specific tasks,…
Quarles & Brady announced the recent addition of Mary Kate Hogan as a partner in the business law practice group in their St. Louis, Missouri office; a positive development for the firm’s expanding practice group. This news reflects the ongoing efforts of law firms across the globe to strengthen their teams with experienced legal professionals…
The ongoing internal company dispute concerning the dismissal of Jennifer Whitney, a high-ranking in-house counsel for food and beverage major, J.M. Smucker Co., took a significant turn on Tuesday. Whitney approached the Ninth District Court of Appeals in Ohio, requesting her lawsuit filed in 2020 over the conditions of her termination to be reinstated. Whitney’s…
On an annual basis, a well-regarded list is assembled featuring the top law firms across the nation, with data collection for the latest 2024 edition underway. Key to the most accurate and comprehensive findings are the feedback and insights provided by one crucial demographic: the very clients these law firms serve. Thus, an invitation has…
Class action litigation has long been a complex and challenging legal realm to navigate. It typically entails substantial financial stakes and involves large groups of individuals, necessitating rigorous strategy and decision-making. Amidst these complexities, one modern tool is surging to the forefront of the class action practice: litigation analytics. Increasingly perceived as indispensable in this…
According to a recent study carried out by professors that examined patterns among the top 250 law firms, law firms that have successfully recruited more women into senior management positions appear to be less engaged with implementing internal diversity practices. The researchers found a tendency: firms with a higher percentage of women partners were less…
Political scientist Ian Bremmer, noted for his yearly top 10 global risks list, has reportedly identified the growing divergence between “red” and “blue” states in the United States as a significant escalatory risk. Bremmer’s projections offer valuable insights for in-house counsel and corporate law professionals worldwide who are keen to anticipate and navigate potential geopolitical…
Lateral Link recently announced several significant promotions for 2024. These individuals exemplify remarkable expertise in legal recruiting, leadership skills, and have greatly contributed to the collaborative culture of the firm. Jon Kahn has become a Managing Principal in the NY office. With over 25 years of industry experience, Jon has contributed to building the firm’s…
As tools deriving from Artificial Intelligence (AI) increasingly permeate the legal industry, it’s essential for professionals to grasp both the opportunities and the risks these technologies pose. Particularly concerning is the impact of AI on data privacy, a critical issue for any business in today’s data-driven world. In a recent webinar presented by Axiom, experts…
In the legal realm, maintaining transparency and accountability within in-house counsel can be a convoluted task. Since we primarily use numbers to comfortably dwell in the business environment, it is necessary to design an interface that speaks the language of the business world. A legal score card, if carefully curated, can be a practical tool…
Mikaela Whitman has recently become a part of the insurance recovery team at the renowned firm, McGuireWoods. Operating out of Century City, California, and New York, she carries the role of a partner at the firm. This news was disclosed by the firm itself on a recent Monday. Whitman is known for assisting policyholders in…
With a new year underway, legal professionals worldwide continue to navigate the complexities and challenges presented by a rapidly escalating global legal landscape. If you’ve been too wrapped up in your own legal endeavors to stay informed, catch up on last week’s buzzworthy firms, stories, and analyses as featured on Law360. The online legal news…
Each year, an extensive compilation of the country’s top law firms is made, a process that entails assessing myriads of factors, not-least the perspectives of the clients that these firms serve. The purpose of this annual compilation is now set to continue, with data for 2024 already being compiled. Indeed, the opinions and sentiments of…
The D.C. Circuit has solicited the opinion of the District of Columbia’s highest court in a unique case concerning personal liability and negligence standards. This move comes amidst an ongoing legal tussle attempting to hold D.C.’s transit agency responsible for the death of a lawyer in 2013. The lawyer, reportedly under the influence, fell off…
Stephenson Harwood, a UK-based law firm renowned for its diversified legal offerings, recently reported the addition of new partners to its team in Hong Kong. The key hires were Dorothy Siron, formerly a partner at the Beijing-based Zhong Lun Law Firm, and Danny Kan, most recently an in-house counsel from Chinese financial services conglomerate, Ping…
Stephenson Harwood, a law firm based in the United Kingdom, continues to expand its reach in Greater China by adding new partners to its Hong Kong firm. The latest hires are Dorothy Siron, former partner at Beijing-based Zhong Lun Law Firm, and Danny Kan, in-house counsel from Chinese financial services group Ping An. Details here….
Just over a year since generative AI became a common practice, in-house counsel are still trying to adapt to its use within their companies. Simultaneously, they are gearing up for a surge in regulations and requirements directed at the technology. In the final month of last year, the European Union set the pace when it…
Nationally recognized law firm Polsinelli is expanding their real estate practice group with recent addition of a new shareholder, Cassandra Foster, based in their Denver office. More details about this recent expansion can be found on the firm’s official announcement. Foster’s credentials extend beyond her recent appointment at Polsinelli. She has extensive experience both in…
As the year draws to a close, law firms often take extra measures to ensure smooth year-end collections, which can sometimes stir controversy or dissatisfaction among General Counsels (GCs). Elliot Mark, the former General Counsel at crisis-management software firm Everbridge, emphasizes the importance of having a shared understanding between firms and their clients. “You need…
In a recent move, demonstrating a pattern noticed throughout numerous Big Law firms, Proskauer Rose ‘silently’ laid off 22 business professionals in August, a tri-monthly prelude to the firm’s announcement to increase associates’ salaries and bonuses. The recent spate of staff cuts signifies a restructuring move by these firms which has included associate layoffs, thereby…
As year-end tasks dominate legal departments worldwide, the importance of both reflecting on and preparing for future challenges cannot be overstated. Several trends will notably keep in-house lawyers busy this coming year. The politically charged climate of election years has a profound impact, penetrating the various layers of society, including businesses. Debate on social issues…
Welcome to today’s legal news digest. Here, we cover essential updates catering to lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel across the globe. In a significant development that has caught attention across the legal profession, plaintiffs’ firm Edelson PC has decided to forgo future Harvard Law School recruiting events. The move is a response to a…