The New York Court of Appeals has ruled that law firm Fish & Neave acted properly when it voted to defer compensation due to partners leaving the firm, including former managing partner W. Edward Bailey.

Its 6-0 decision in Bailey v. Fish & Neave, 61, was one of two the court issued Tuesday concerning lawyers and the profession. In another decision, the court ruled that a lawyer suing a company can properly conduct an ex parte interview with a former executive of that company.