Admit it: We're all amused, in a schadenfreude sort of way, at watching Cravath struggle to downplay the sophistication of its nine years of work for its former client Airgas. But GCs and outside counsel can learn from Cravath's decision to represent Air Products in its hostile bid for Airgas. Business isn't like dating. There's no reason not to put your relationship in writing.

GARY S. JACOBSON (Christopher Lovell, Imtiaz A. Siddiqui, of counsel), Lovell Stewart Halebian LLP, New York, NY; John Stoia and Bonny Sweeney, of counsel, Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbin

It took Calhoon and his partners at Baker Botts nearly a decade to get claims that Vivendi breached the terms of a multibillion deal with their client in front of a jury. But it paid off on Monday, when Calhoon won a $956 million verdict for Liberty Media Corp.

Two-and-a-half years ago a jury returned an estimated $9.3 billion verdict for shareholders of Vivendi Universal SA. That verdict was slashed in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Morrison v. NAB. But it may have made all the difference in a suit accusing Vivendi of misleading Liberty Global Corp during negotiations over a 2001 deal.

The multifront, multinational Telenor-Alfa litigation saga offers a primer in how to use arbitration and Western courts to defend against the abuse of courts in emerging markets.