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Big bills meet tough client scrutiny
Companies are running an ever-keener eye over long legal bills as corporate clients are less willing to bankroll overhead costs and extras such as car services, meals and photocopies, a report on US business attitudes indicates.
Gunslinger gets shredded
Law student and aspiring gun maker Cody Wilson has had his printable 'Wiki Weapons' scheme blocked after the maker of a 3D printer he leased seized the machine.
Dechert caught in 'macho' discrimination claim
Philadelphia-headquartered Dechert is being countersued by a former associate who claims the law firm's 'macho culture' cost him his job.
Republicans exhaust marriage act defence fund
Republican law makers are running out of money in their bid to defend controversial legislation that defines marriage as a heterosexual union, with the specialist law firm instructed nearing its billing cap.
Judge dismisses Walmart gender bias class-action
A federal court in Texas has dismissed a class-action from former female employees of Walmart that claimed the world's largest retailer discriminated on the grounds of gender - but individual actions are likely to proceed.
Appeal court backs same-sex marriage
Legislation defining marriage as being between a man and a woman violates US equality laws and is unconstitutional, an appeal court ruled yesterday in what could be a landmark decision for other common law jurisdictions.
Lecturer sues university over 'liberal bias'
A University of Iowa staff member is suing her employer for alleged discrimination on the grounds of her politically conservative views, in a case that is likely to attract national attention in the run-up to next month's US presidential election.
Law firm demands slice of whistleblower reward
Washington law firm Schertler & Onorato claims it is owed $13 million after assisting a banker expose his employers for evading American taxes six years ago, despite the lawyers having been sacked by the whistleblower.
Lateral hiring spree continues despite business concerns
The lateral hiring boom at US law firms is showing no signs of ending, even though the business plans of many of the top firms are not faring well, research released yesterday maintains.
Federal government hits back at in-house 'targeting' claims
US justice authorities have denied they are unfairly targeting in-house lawyers over their private practice counterparts in cracking down on breaches of federal law, claiming they will pursue the legal profession across the board.
Morgan Stanley sued over 'discriminatory' loans
A leading civil liberties group is suing Morgan Stanley for allegedly targeting black and Hispanic Americans for sub-prime mortgage loans.
Law firms caught in China politics rumblings
American law firms in China are feeling the squeeze as US politicians take an increasingly tough stance towards Chinese companies.
Senate campaigner apologises for lawyer son's Obama gaffe
A Republican candidate for the US Senate and former governor of Wisconsin, Tommy Thompson, was forced to apologise for a racially tinged comment made by his lawyer son last Sunday.
Supreme Court backs $18bn Chevron judgment
The US Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal by Californian energy giant Chevron to block an $18 billion judgment in an Ecuadorian court.
Covington falls foul of client conflict duty
Washington DC-based law firm Covington & Burling has been disqualified from representing the state of Minnesota in a longstanding environmental dispute against manufacturing company 3M.
Bank of America requests credit from outside law firms
Bank of America Corporation has asked a number of its outside law firms to give the bank credit on its annual legal fees.
Armstrong report a 'hatchet job', claims lawyer
The lawyer of Lance Armstrong has slammed a report by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) accusing the seven-time Tour de France winner of using and distributing performance enhancing drugs.
Judge approves Dewey partner contribution plan
A US bankruptcy judge has approved a $71.5 million settlement plan for former partners of defunct New York law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf.
Client training
Routine matters that do not necessarily require the input of legal departments could be handled more efficiently by business clients through training, a panel of in-house lawyers has suggested.
Corporate counsel leaders 'concerned' with targeting of in-house lawyers
The Association of Corporate Counsel has launched a project to document the frequency with which in-house lawyers are targeted by prosecutors and regulators when their employers are in trouble.