Samsung and its lawyers at Baker Botts refused to settle with Spanish antenna company Fractus even after nine other defendants bailed out of the case. The strategy failed for Samsung, but it worked out just fine for Fractus and its lawyers at Susman Godfrey.

Microtune gave regulators and auditors the report on Andrews Kurth's internal investigation of its options backdating practices. So executives for a pair of former executives charged by the SEC said they should get to see it as well. And despite Microtune's claims of privilege, a Texas judge agreed.

Tampa plaintiffs lawyer C. Steven Yerrid, who represented Florida in its $11 billion settlement with the tobacco industry, is working pro bono to advise Gov. Charlie Crist on legal issues related to the spill. Other trial lawyers are lining up to offer their assistance, too, he said. "The other side is already lawyered up with the best talent that unlimited money can buy."

Executives connected with Cohmad Securities, a brokerage co-owned by Bernie Madoff, have lawyered up. And one of them is refusing to testify about his relationship with Madoff.