North America/US - Page 150
Uber updates driver contracts to force arbitration
Rideshare firm Uber has released a new contract to all of its drivers in the US that purports to solve problems a judge said made arbitration requirements in the previous agreement unenforceable.
Skadden comes top on associate bonus with extra $10k for high-flyers
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is to give its highest performing associates a bonus of $110,000, beating the $100,000 announced by Cravath Swaine and other leading firms which have made their 2015 announcements.
US law firms suffer from bad branding, suggests PR research
US law firms have branded themselves so poorly that a study carried out on 50 global business managers found that they were more likely to be drawn by fake advertising created for non-existent firms with names including Andersson & Cooper.
CIA lawyer warned colleagues of criminal liability over torture
An associate lawyer at the CIA wrote to colleagues warning them that criminal sanctions could follow the use of torture on detainees.
Allstate GC laments challenges of explaining law firm fees to business
Susie Lees, head of the legal team at US insurer Allstate Corporation, has expressed her frustration over explaining the regular increases in law firm fees to business people outside the legal area.
Law firm inundated with phone calls in apparent scam
A Florida law firm has has been inundated with telephone inquiries after an apparent scammer used a caller ID number that routes phone calls to the firm.
GE throws out sale to Electrolux amid pending federal court trial
In an eleventh hour twist, General Electric Co. has opted to scrap the planned $3.3 billion sale of its appliance business to Swedish appliance maker Electrolux AB, bringing a protracted legal battle to an unexpected close.
Diversity draws legal talent in-house, says GC
Bristol-Myers Squibb general counsel Sandra Leung believes that stronger diversity practices are drawing top legal talent away from firms and into in-house legal departments.
Dewey ex-chair spared new trial as prosecutors pressure other bosses
Former Dewey & LeBoeuf chair Steven Davis is negotiating a deferred-prosecution agreement, while the other two ex-managers of the failed law firm who stood trial with him this year face the choice of a retrial or taking a plea deal.
Cravath kicks off Christmas bonus season with $15k bottom rung deal
Within hours of the news about the Cravath Swaine bonuses, the firm had been matched in its offerings, which go up to $100,000, by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and Milbank Tweed.
Lawyer facing murder trial over wife's shooting dies of drug overdose
Mark Madrigali, 60, was due to face a murder trial after admitting to shooting his 51-year old wife, Trivia, in summer 2013 - but he has always maintained that the incident was an accident.
Senate Intelligence Committee to revive counter-terror social media bill
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D.California) of the Senate Intelligence Committee is now pushing for a renewed raft of legislation that would tighten scrutiny of social media platforms to alert law enforcement to online extremist activity.
Father of class actions held at gunpoint in attack on home
Stanley Chesley, who at the height of his career was one of America's top tort lawyers, was attacked along with his wife, judge Susan Dlott, in a robbery at their home over the weekend.
Bakers decide to beef up team in domestic back yard
Baker & McKenzie is putting into effect a growth plan for its North American presence, recognising that only 8 of its 77 offices are located in the US.
Prosecutors plan Dewey II trial after jury dismissal
An assistant district attorney has disclosed that plans are afoot to retry a case against Dewey & LeBoeuf's ex-chair Steven Davis and one two senior ex-colleagues, after a partial victory by the three in court and the dismissal of a deadlocked jury.
Mayer Brown hires Baker & McKenzie partners with eye on Dubai
Mayer Brown has announced that two prominent partners from Baker & McKenzie in Washington, DC — Charles Salem Hallab and Tahan Thraya — have joined the firm as corporate and securities partners.
Lawyers suing VW compete for roles and venues
Lawyers from across the US yesterday descended on a courthouse in New Orleans to vie for a potentially lucrative assignment: a role in the huge consumer-fraud litigation facing Volkswagen AG over it emissions scandal.
Dow Jones GC to leave
Mark Jackson, EVP and GC for Dow Jones and SVP and deputy GC for its parent company News Corp, has decided to leave the company. He will stay on in both roles until the end of the month.
US justices cast doubt on Vermont healthcare data law
The US Supreme Court on Wednesday indicated that Vermont and 17 other states could be prevented from collecting healthcare details from certain employee health plan administrators.
Law enforcement digs in against email subpoena legislation
Law enforcement officials and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) remain concerned about an email privacy bill intended to update a 30-year old security law.