Survey: Firm Leaders Admit Downturn's Permanent Impact

Most law firm leaders admit that recession-driven responses to their pricing practices and their clients' expectations that work be done efficiently are likely here to stay, according to a survey released Tuesday of 238 firms. At the same time, most respondents to the Altman Weil survey acknowledge that they have been slow to alter their long-term strategies to address those changes.

Aereo Makes Peace With FilmOn Amid Network Challenges

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Litigation magnet Aereo reached a settlement on Monday with billionaire Alki David, the founder of rival TV streaming company FilmOn. The deal brings an end to David's quixotic fight with Aereo and its top financial backer, Barry Diller, leaving the companies to face their real adversary: network television.

Lawsuit Names Missing Fla. Attorney for Alleged Fraud

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A lawsuit for theft and fraud has been filed against a fugitive Florida real estate attorney whose license was suspended after he disappeared with about $4 million from his law firm's accounts. He left behind an apologetic email confession to his partner and staff, which said in part, "I have done things unknown to any of you that have been financially devastating."

Appeal Filed by Lawyers Sanctioned Over Porn Lawsuits

Lawyers under sanction for fraudulently filing dozens of copyright infringement suits against people accused of downloading pornographic films have filed an appeal, as the attorneys who represented them before the sanctioning judge have disappeared from the case. Prenda Law argues that the judge, who "dropped an anvil on Prenda Law's interests across the country," exceeded his authority and deprived the firm of its due process rights.

No Injunctive Relief for Chipmaker in Patent Feud

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Expanding the backlash against companies that aggressively assert standards-essential patents against their rivals, a federal judge in San Francisco has barred the chip designer LSI Corp. from pursuing injunctive relief against RealTek Semiconductor at the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Judge: Fla. Location False but Not Defamatory

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A British ad mogul did not defame a Manhattan firm by, among other things, erroneously telling a journalist the firm was based in Florida, not New York, a judge has determined. "There is nothing defamatory about the statement that a law firm is located in Florida as many respected law firms are located in Florida and the statement does not reflect poorly on plaintiffs' character or abilities as lawyers and a law firm," the judge said.

Your Company's Been Hacked -- What Comes Next?

As cyberattacks against U.S. companies continue to rise, the government is asking private industry to share information about incursions. So what can and should companies expect when they ring up the government and report a problem?

ILTA Study to Gauge New Technologies' Impact on Law Practice

ILTA launches Legal Technology Future Horizons, a yearlong project led by Fast Future's Rohit Talwar to analyze tech disruption, change, and adaption.

Amid Spy Scandal, Russia Boots Baker & McKenzie Lawyer

As the U.S. and Russian governments trade accusations over espionage activities and human rights abuses, Baker & McKenzie of counsel Thomas Firestone, a former Justice Department official and liaison to the U.S. embassy in Moscow, has been expelled from the country.

Senators Grill Apple Executives About Tax Strategy

A day after a congressional panel claimed that Apple Inc. uses offshore entities to avoid U.S. taxes, senators on Tuesday grilled the company's chief executive officer and two colleagues about their tax strategy.

Defense Building Mitigation Case in Boston Bombing

Lawyers for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev have persuaded a federal judge to grant them access to prison documents and photos of their client, apparently to help them build a case mitigating against the death penalty.

Talks Resume for Striking N.Y. Legal Services Workers

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No new offer was made during the talks, which lasted about three hours, said Ian Davie, a Legal Services NYC senior staff attorney. Negotiations are scheduled to resume on Friday, he said, adding that the strike still remains in effect.

Ninth Circuit Strikes Ariz. Abortion Law

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While the panel was unanimous in finding that the ban on abortions after the 20th week of gestation was unconstitutional, Judge Andrew Kleinfeld wrote separately to say the current state of the law compelled him to concur.

Another Judge Prods Plaintiffs Lawyers on Diversity

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N.Y. High Court to Weigh GPS Warrants in Civil Context

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Four years after issuing a landmark decision requiring law enforcement authorities to obtain a warrant before attaching a GPS device to a criminal suspect's car, the state Court of Appeals is poised to revisit the issue in a civil context with profound implications for personal privacy.

D.C. Circuit: Bin Laden Death Images Can Remain Secret