North America/US - Page 155
VW to be sued by West Virginia
West Virginia looks set to become the first US state to sue Volkswagen AG for deceiving car buyers, after the company installed software to hide that its diesel engines exceeded pollution standards.
Pace of US law firm mergers hits decade-long high
The high level of activity is being interpreted as the result of poaching expeditions, flights to safety in challenging markets and the strategic view that 'big is best' in the current climate.
DLA sets target to double size of Philadelphia team
DLA Piper is planning to reach around 100 lawyers within the next few years, with particular focus on expanding the litigation and intellectual property groups.
US law firms spend millions on business development
Some 42 per cent of firms are spending between $5m and $10m on staff, resources and technology in the business development area, according to a report from LAC Group, a library outsourcer.
Law firms suffer as extent of litigation work declines
The number of billable hours commissioned from litigation teams in US law firms is showing a persistent decline, according to Citi Private Bank's Law Firm Group.
Kramer Levin gets $135k fine over court behaviour
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel has been ordered to pay US$135,000 by a Delaware judge, after one of its lawyers instructed a witness to refuse to answer 75 questions in court.
Minority of law firms appear to have cyber insurance
Only 11 per cent of lawyers taking part in a technology survey believe that their firms have cyber liability cover, despite the fact that 42 per cent say that the IT run from their workplaces has been infected with a virus, spyware or malware.
Lawyers drawn into row over Hillary Clinton's emails
Hillary Clinton, Democratic contender for the presidential candidacy, has pointed the finger at her lawyers at the State Department in the controversy over her reading of emails through a personal server.
Locke Lord loses 10 Boston partners as earnings fall
Thirty-one lawyers acquired in a January merger with Edwards Wildman Palmer have been lost from Locke Lord's Boston office since the end of April.
Duane Morris partner praised by judge who accused her of smugness
A Duane Morris partner has been released from a sanctions order by the judge who imposed it and praised as an 'admirable person in the community', after she took more ethics classed than he had prescribed and engaged with local groups.
Morris Manning starts drone department
The AmLaw 200 firm is setting up a multi-disciplinary team to advise on issues including compliance, insurance, intellectual property, privacy, litigation and finance.
Large US firms see rise in number of data breaches
Nearly one quarter (23 per cent) of US law firms with over 500 lawyers were subject to data breaches last year, up from 17 per cent the year before, according to the 2015 Legal Technology Survey of the American Bar Association.
NY state considers fly-in, fly-out rights for foreign lawyers
New York State judges are considering responding to globalisation by letting foreigners advise on transactions or on short-term matters of litigation under so-called 'fly-in, fly-out' measures.
Questions over dumbing down of profession as Bar results fall again
The results for the US's July bar exams are the lowest in 25 years, igniting the debate once again of whether the profession is losing some of its brighter candidates and dumbing down.
Insurance teams keep costs down by early case assessment
US legal teams working in the property and casualty (P&C) area are turning to early case assessment as the main technique in keeping costs down, followed by electronic billing and staff controls and plans.
Boutique firms take on larger cases says Shapiro Arato
Boutique firms are now capable of taking on high-profile and larger cases, according to the lawyers who founded litigation boutique Shapiro Arato in New York six years ago.
Zaretsky's impact on your subrogated rights
The name Zaretsky could soon become well-known among subrogated insurers. Peter Rossi of Clyde & Co in New York looks at the issues.
Apple wins appeals court victory over Samsung
An appeals court has granted Apple an injunction that means Samsung may have to make changes to the software running on its smartphones in order to continue to sell them in the US.
Reward offered as former Jones Day lawyer dies after shooting
A US$12,500 reward is being offered for information leading to an indictment in relation to the shooting of Carey Gabay, who died on Wednesday after being caught in crossfire from an apparent gang shootout.
GM moves to settle ignition switch death and injury claims
General Motors has paid US$900m to end a US criminal investigation into its handling of the ignition switch issue. It has settled some 1,385 civil lawsuits relating to deaths and injuries caused by some of the 2.6m vehicles affected.