North America/US - Page 163
Move starts in US public sector to hire more law firms
Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania is behind an initiative which saw one of the state's biggest employers take on three firms of lawyers, rather than one, to advise on finance.
BigLaw wrests IP work away from boutiques
The top 50 law firms in the US took 61% of specialist patent, copyright, trademark and trade secrets disputes in 2014 - up from 36% in 2011, according to research from LexisNexis/CounselLink.
BakerHostetler point finger at employees over data security
The majority of security breach cases are caused by employee negligence (36%) or insider theft (16%), according to an analysis of the matters it advised on in 2014, according to BakerHostetler.
Law firm sponsors marijuana professorship
A law firm based in Colorado is funding a chair in marijuana law at the University of Denver - a sponsorship which is believed to mark a first in the sector.
New York lawyers fight move to make it easier to sue foreign firms
The New York City Bar is among the opponents of a bill which would mean that foreign businesses operating in New York could be sued in the jurisdiction for acts that are carried out elsewhere.
US firms pay $2.7m in settlement over Ponzi schemes
The two Louisiana firms have not admitted liability but have agreed to pay at least $1m each to settle claims that their conduct helped jailed former billionaire Allen Stanford operate a gigantic Ponzi scheme.
BakerHostetler nabs 25 McKenna healthcare lawyers
With McKenna Long & Aldridge preparing for its merger with Dentons, its healthcare team is on the move.
Locke Lord re-positions its tax department
The firm has restructured its tax department, making it one of the firm's top offerings.
Apple electric car battery case looks likely to settle
The company denied the claims which were made last year over the company's alleged efforts to recruit engineers from a battery company.
Bar head says law associations need to use social media
Lawyers need to be switched on to social media, and that includes bar associations, the new head of the Cincinaati bar says.
Lowest paid lawyers score highest in happiness
Lawyers in lower paid jobs are happier than their better paid peers and feel more competent.
US Justice for black defendants undermined by lawyers
Black defendants are dealt with by mainly white lawyers, undermining the justice system, says the ABA.
Cravath IP partner defends US patent system
Criticism of the US patent system is unjustified, says a former director of the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Professors provide legal framework for companies to share patents
Companies could share information and agree not to initiate patent litigation under the agreement.
Legal sector in expansion mode
There is good news for the legal marketplace after figures released by the US Bureau of Labor revealed legal employment was on the up.
New York urged to end non-working law firm roles for politicians
Following controversy over the relationships between legislators who have earnt millions from law firms without clocking up hours for clients, the state is being asked 'to close the no-show job loophole'.
Cozen O'Connor takes 8-lawyer team to found state attorney generals group
The controversial practice area of challenging the methods and decisions of state attorney generals is spreading to new firms as Cozen recruits ten specialist professionals - including the 8 lawyers - from Dickstein Shapiro.
Wall St loses out to firms who compete on profit share for rising stars
The traditional big payers in the US market - the Wall St firms - are starting to be left behind by Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins and other practices which will pay vastly more to lawyers they identify as rising stars.
DLA spreads discount offer to start-ups across the US
DLA Piper is offering discounts of between 35 and 50 per cent to start-ups through a programme called NEST which it started in Texas, has expanded to Arizona and intends to unveil in California.
Pillsbury to strengthen New York office as chair announces fourth term
James Rishwain has been elected chair for a fourth term in which he plans to build up the New York office - but he will retire in late 2016 and will hope to recapture some lost momentum at the firm before that date.