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Dewey advisers rack up $15m bill
In the realm of understatement, the suggestion that 2012 was a troublesome year for former US law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf is king.
Energy ruling resurrects GC scandal
Power giant Duke Energy's bid to pass on repair costs to customers has been rejected by a state appeal court in a case that has embroiled the business's former general counsel in more than two years of controversy.
Compliance queries trigger bust-up with lawyer
An eastern seaboard US property business has split with its general counsel amid concerns over financial reporting and compliance regimes, the company announced within the last few days.
SpongeBob drowned in privacy fears
A game featuring cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants has been removed from Apple's app store amid complaints that it violated children's privacy rights.
US Supreme Court tightens budget belt
As the US teetered on the edge of a fiscal cliff, the country's top judge proudly claimed in the last few days that the judiciary has dutifully tightened its belt in tough economic times.
Lawyers guilty of asbestos claim frauds
Two Pennsylvania lawyers were found guilty of fraud last Friday over bogus asbestos claims brought on behalf of railway worker clients.
Reality star stung for divorce costs
A US reality television star has finished 2012 by having to cough up about $100,000 more to her divorce lawyers than she fancied, after a court ruled her bid to slash a bill was unjustified.
Fiscal cliff sparks tax brief bonanza for US firms
Jumping off the so-called fiscal cliff may sound ominous to ordinary US citizens, but the rapidly approaching New Year deadline is keeping a phalanx of law firms churning out fee notes as they advise clients on dramatic tax implications.
Law school launches religious clinic
A top California law school is to launch an innovative legal clinic to advise on religious freedom under the US constitution in what organisers maintain is the first development of its kind.
Lawyer sues over ghost blog
A partner at a law firm in Panama is suing the Huffington Post newspaper after claiming he did not write a blog published under his name and photo.
Court challenge in Instagram rights ruckus
A controversial move by on-line photo-sharing web site Instagram to allow advertisers access to user pictures is to be challenged in a California court, claimant lawyers have announced.
Toyota forks out £1bn settlement over fault claims
Japanese motorcar manufacture Toyota is to stump up more than $1 billion to settle an action over claims that millions of its vehicles suffered from dangerous acceleration faults.
Appeal court forces Cleary to repay fee award
Nothing warms the heart more at the end of the year than a David-and-Goliath battle that sees the small chap coming out on top -- and a US appeal court has duly obliged with one in the eye to global giant Cleary Gottlieb over costs.
Detroit firm in 'culture of fear' claim
A row involving a US footballer-turned-lawyer is threatening to destabilise one of the American midwest's oldest and largest law firms.
Pharma giant settles bribery charges
Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Co yesterday agreed to fork out almost $30 million to settle charges that it violated American fraud-busting legislation.
School dodges 'misleading' job figures charge
New York Law School has successfully dismissed a class action law suit claiming the institution misled potential students about graduates' success in finding legal jobs.
Lawyers easy, says con artist
Frank Abagnale -- the infamous conman who inspired a Hollywood blockbuster -- has claimed that impersonating a lawyer was the easiest scam he ever pulled.
Lawyers gather as HP execs gear up for Autonomy battle
A raft of lawyers is licking their lips at the prospect of representing those senior executives at technology giant Hewlett-Packard who played key roles in the bungled purchase of British software firm Autonomy.
Money-laundering lawyer dodges prison
A former partner at Chicago-based law firm Winston & Strawn who used his position to launder more than $18m for convicted Ponzi schemer Kenneth Starr will not serve any prison time, a judge ruled yesterday.
In-house morale plummets at HP
Battered in-house lawyers at technology company Hewlett-Packard have been searching for the exit after a series of scandals -- the most recent being a massive $8.8 billion write down of Autonomy last month -- former employees claim.