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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

NO. 1  – The nation's top-grossing federal lobbying practice for the second quarter of 2019 is Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, which edged out Akin Gump for the spot. Ryan Lovelace reports that Brownstein said it raked in $10,070,000 in second quarter lobbying revenue, while Akin Gump reported $10,060,000.

CLIMBING RANKS – California AG Xavier Becerra has tapped Michael Mongan, a supervising deputy solicitor general in Becerra's office for the last five years, as the state's solicitor general. Cheryl Miller reports that Mongan, who clerked for David Souter on the Supreme Court, fills the role held by Edward DuMont, the former Wilmer partner who said in January he was leaving the attorney general's office after nearly six years in the post.

NOT SO FAST – In anticipation of a post-Brexit world, London law firms have been adding lawyers who are qualified to practice Irish law. But, as Rowan Bennett and Paul Hodkinson report, a dispute has quietly arisen, with England and Wales and one side and Ireland on the other, as to whether lawyers can practice Irish law from afar. The answer could have big implications for U.K. firms wanting to practice in the EU. Last year, some 2,011 lawyers were admitted to the Irish roll to secure their ability to continue practicing EU law and stand in front of the European Court of Justice post-Brexit.

EDITOR'S PICKS

CNN Can't Shake Discrimination Lawsuit With Anti-SLAPP Move, Calif. High Court Rules

Another Chief Compliance Officer Arrested for Drug Company's Control Failures

9th Circuit Asks Calif. Supreme Court to Weigh in on Whether 'Dynamex' Applies Retroactively

Amazon Seeks En Banc Review of Third-Party Liability Decision

Depression, Anxiety Prevalent at Small, Medium Australian Firms

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

MOVER – Jeanette Chan, the former managing partner of Paul Weiss's China practice, is leaving the law firm after three decades to join Airwallex Pty. Ltd., a Hong Kong-based fintech company where she will serve as chief legal and compliance officer. John Kang reports that Chan headed the U.S.-based law firm's China practice for more than two years until December, when she was succeeded by Hong Kong corporate partner Betty Yap. Chan also led the Asia communications and technology practice at Paul Weiss.

WHAT YOU SAID

“He was a voice for reason. He was a voice for democracy. And he was a great patriot.”