News

Mayer Brown Adds Berry Appleman Lawyer for Bay Area Growth

Xiumei Dong | July 17, 2018

Berry Appleman & Leiden, which recently finalized a landmark partnership with global accounting giant Deloitte, has watched a lawyer leave its ranks for the Am Law 100 firm.

News

Meet the California Lawyer Who Has a Plan to Pay College Athletes

Roy Strom | July 17, 2018

Forget about Condi Rice. A relatively unknown lawyer has emerged with the backing of Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Josh Rosen to create a new system to pay NCAA players for their names and likeness.

News

LSAT Maker Owes $529K in Fees, Calif. Agency Asserts

Karen Sloan | July 17, 2018

The Law School Admission Council said it will fight the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing's new request for more than half a million dollars in attorney fees.

Expert Opinion

Coffee Anyone?: How Sound Legal Conclusions Can Break With Science Under Prop 65

Cheryl S. Chang and Erika R. Schulz| July 17, 2018

On June 15, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), which implements and administers California’s Proposition 65 program, made an unexpected pivot and proposed a new regulation clarifying that cancer warnings are not required for coffee under Proposition 65.

News

Uber's Legal Team Joins Gibson Dunn to Discuss Empowerment at Girls Who Code

Caroline Spiezio | July 17, 2018

Uber and Gibson Dunn staff spoke to a group of girls July 13 about what it's like to work in law as part of an event held in San Francisco by Girls Who Code.

Expert Opinion

What Does the Calif. Consumer Privacy Act Mean for Lawyers?

Dan Goldstein| July 17, 2018

The CCPA is a consumer privacy law, modeled to a certain extent on the European Union’s recently passed General Data Protection Regulation.

Quick Takes

O’Melveny Adds Life Sciences M&A Partner in San Francisco

Meghan Tribe| July 16, 2018

Latham & Watkins counsel Geoffrey Kuziemko jumped to O'Melveny.

News

DLA Piper Poaches McDermott’s Trade Secrets Head

Xiumei Dong | July 16, 2018

The global legal giant, which has watched McDermott Will & Emery robustly recruit from its ranks this year, has returned the favor by bringing aboard the firm's former trade secrets head as a partner in Los Angeles.

News

In Howrey Appeal, ABA Tells Court Firms Have No Claim to 'Unfinished Business'

Scott Flaherty| July 16, 2018

In an amicus brief in a case that the Ninth Circuit referred to the D.C. Court of Appeals, the country's largest bar group said dissolved law firms should not be able to claim a property stake in unfinished client matters that travel with a partner to a new firm.

News

How Russian Cyberattackers Infiltrated 3 Political Organizations

Rhys Dipshan | July 16, 2018

The breaches at the Clinton campaign and Democratic Party organizations show just how vulnerable high-turnover enterprises like political campaigns are to some conventional and well-known cyberattack strategies.

Expert Opinion

Once the Addicted Lawyer Becomes Impaired, It May Be Too Late

Patrick Krill| July 16, 2018

We have implicitly taught attorneys that everything up to that line is OK.

News

Former Drinker Biddle Class Action Vice Chair Michael Stortz Joins 5-Partner Move to Akin Gump

Lizzy McLellan| July 16, 2018

The bicoastal group includes Drinker's Philadelphia-based litigation chair and a former managing partner of the firm in addition to Stortz, who is based in San Francisco.

News

A First Look at California's Proposed Final Marijuana Regs

Cheryl Miller | July 13, 2018

The release of the proposal Friday starts the clock on a process of hearings and public comment that will culminate in a final set of rules.

Expert Opinion

Appellate Court Clarifies 'Dynamex' ABC Test Doesn't Apply to Joint Employment Arrangements

Gina M. Roccanova and Yuki Cruse| July 13, 2018

The Fourth District Court of Appeal recently issued a helpful decision for entities, both in and out of the “gig economy,” that have been scrambling to reassess their contracting relationships in the wake of Dynamex.

News

Trump's Latest Judge Nominees Heavy on Big Law, Include Perkins Coie Partner for Ninth Circuit

Ross Todd | July 13, 2018

As part of his latest wave of judicial nominations, President Donald Trump has tapped Eric Miller, the Seattle-based chair of the appellate practice at Perkins Coie, for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

News

Manatt Adds 3 Cybersecurity, Privacy Experts in California

Xiumei Dong | July 13, 2018

The Los Angeles-based firm has bolstered its privacy and data security group with three experts, including one lawyer.

Analysis

The Long Road to Going Public: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Lawyering of Dropbox's IPO

Caroline Spiezio| July 13, 2018

It took teamwork, preparation and smart technology use to get Dropbox's IPO over the finish line earlier this year.

Analysis

Fox Rothschild and the ‘Dark Art of Copyright Trolling’

Roy Strom | July 13, 2018

The firm is representing a pornography company in its latest nationwide copyright infringement campaign. Can it avoid the controversies that preceded its involvement? Or will a small-time lawyer from Oregon provide the blueprint to stop it?

News

Lyft's Workplace Rules for Confidentiality, IP Are Lawful: NLRB Memo

C. Ryan Barber | July 13, 2018

A top NLRB lawyer concluded Lyft's confidentiality policy was permissible because it was primarily directed at prohibiting the "disclosure of 'technical, financial, strategic and other proprietary' information,” as opposed to the sharing of information about working conditions.

Podcast

Oyez! A Former SG Dishes on Kavanaugh, Kennedy and a Changing Court

Vanessa Blum | Mike Scarcella | July 13, 2018

Munger, Tolles & Olson partner Donald Verrilli Jr. chats with Supreme Court correspondent Marcia Coyle about the Supreme Court term and the battle lines around President Trump's nominee.

News

Read the Document: 12 Russians Indicted Over 2016 Hacks of DNC, Clinton Emails

Colby Hamilton | Ellis Kim | July 13, 2018

All 12 are members of the Russian military intelligence service GRU, the DOJ said.

Quick Takes

On the Move: Tracking the Ins and Outs of California Lawyers

Pearl Wu | July 13, 2018

New hires and promotions from across the California legal market.

Court Executive Tried to Frame Judge for Wrongdoing, DA Alleges

Cheryl Miller | July 12, 2018

District Attorney George Gascón: "Our legal system is based on principles of fairness and honesty. Deliberately falsifying evidence not only harms those who are targeted by the deception, but also jeopardizes our trust in the institutions designed to serve us all."

News

Lenovo Agrees to Pay $7.3M to Settle Adware Suits

Ross Todd | July 12, 2018

The proposed deal would settle claims in multidistrict litigation that preinstalled software the computer maker included on laptops left them vulnerable to hackers and decreased performance.

News

As Turo's Airport Access Claims Against SF Clear Hurdle, the Car-Sharing Company Takes Aim at LA

Ross Todd | July 12, 2018

The San Francisco-based peer-to-peer car-sharing company sued L.A. over access fees at LAX on Thursday, the same week Turo's counterclaims in a lawsuit brought by San Francisco survived an early knockout bid.

News

Kilpatrick, Polsinelli Boost Bay Area Presence With IP Hires

Xiumei Dong | July 12, 2018

The two Am Law 100 firms have made a batch of new intellectual property hires in California, with at least one lawyer switching from one firm to the other, and another firm closing up shop in the region entirely.

News

Confidence Dips, but Firm Leaders Bullish on Demand Growth, Citi Report Says

Scott Flaherty | July 12, 2018

Concerns about the global and U.S. economy have contributed to a dip in law firm leaders' confidence looking ahead at the second half of the year.

Expert Opinion

'Janus' is the Greek God of Transitions and Transitions Are Coming Fast in Calif.

Colin Calvert| July 12, 2018

The overturning of Abood will reverberate through the labor industry for years to come, with the first affects already being seen.

Brett Kavanaugh 'Looks for Ways to Rule for Employers'

Erin Mulvaney | July 12, 2018

Advocates for business interests would find comfort in a would-be justice who could move the court from reliably pro-business to more resoundingly so. Worker advocates, meanwhile, are sounding alarms as Kavanaugh's nomination, to succeed Justice Anthony Kennedy, advances in the U.S. Senate.

News

AIA Patent Invalidations Aren't a 'Taking,' DOJ Insists

Scott Graham | July 11, 2018

Issued patents are only presumed valid, so owners are on notice of potential invalidity proceedings, the government contends before the Court of Federal Claims.

News

Pillsbury Adds New Leveraged Finance Leader From Schulte Roth

Meghan Tribe | July 11, 2018

Leveraged finance partners Michael Michetti and Joel Simon are joining Pillsbury's global finance team in New York.

News

Calif. Appellate Court Orders Governor to Return $330M to Fund for Distressed Homeowners

Ross Todd | July 11, 2018

The Third District Court of Appeal went a step farther than a trial court judge who had found that state official's transfer of settlement proceeds to the state's general fund was unlawful, but declined to force repayment because of separation of powers concerns.

Expert Opinion

Risks Calif. Employers Face Using Time-Rounding Software to Record Employee Hours

Delia A. Isvoranu| July 11, 2018

Properly drafted and applied time-rounding policies will obviate the need to rely on the de minimis defense.

Analysis

Companies Take 'Wait-and-See' Approach to Compliance with New California Privacy Law

Rhys Dipshan| July 11, 2018

In-state companies have a lot of work ahead of them to comply with the California Data Privacy Protection Act. But first, they need clarity on how the law will work in practice.

Fast-Growing LA Boutique Expands in New York

Xiumei Dong | July 10, 2018

Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht has brought on 13 new lawyers in the Big Apple, eight of them as partners.

Expert Opinion

On Appeals: Is 'Espy' as Precedential as the President Presumes?

Charles Kagay| July 10, 2018

At the simplest level, "Espy" appears to be at best an incomplete guide to the question of whether presidential testimony can be compelled, since the decision addressed only a document subpoena.

In California, These Partners Are Switching From Big Law to Small Law

Xiumei Dong | July 10, 2018

Partners have long left large law firms to branch out on their own. But in a legal market increasingly under pressure from a variety of sources, a new batch of lawyers has peeled away from Big Law for new endeavors.

Quick Takes

Senate Confirms Former Hawaii AG as First Trump Appointee to the Ninth Circuit

Ross Todd | July 10, 2018

Mark Bennett, who will maintain chambers in Honolulu, was confirmed in a bipartisan 72-27 vote.

News

Judge OKs MDL Claims Against Monsanto, Says Plaintiffs Face 'Daunting Challenge' of Tying Roundup to Cancer

Ross Todd | July 10, 2018

"Given how close the question is at the general causation phase, the plaintiffs appear to face a daunting challenge at the next phase," U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria wrote. "But it is a challenge they are entitled to undertake."

Expert Opinion

No More Excuses: Technology Makes Public Records Truly Public

Andy Wilson| July 10, 2018

Technology can make record review process much more efficient and less resource-intensive. And it is the civic responsibility of leaders within state and federal agencies to invest in these solutions so that their institutions can provide the transparency so critical to healthy government.

News

Fast-Growing Rubrik Hires First CLO, a Hint it May Be IPO Bound

Caroline Spiezio | July 10, 2018

Peter McGoff, formerly of Box, will lead the company’s global legal and compliance functions, with a focus on expanding into international markets and developing a compliance and governance framework.

Analysis

In Privacy, Technology Cases, Kavanaugh Largely Echoes Kennedy

Rhys Dipshan| July 10, 2018

In prior D.C. Circuit decisions, Kavanaugh has shown he shares a similar jurisprudence to the justice he's been nominated to replace when it comes to privacy and tech.

Sen. Feinstein Hires Morrison & Foerster Partner to Vet Court Nominations

Cheryl Miller | July 10, 2018

Marc Hearron, a partner in Morrison & Foerster's appellate and Supreme Court practice in Washington, joined Feinstein's office Monday as chief counsel for nominations.

Trump Picks Brett Kavanaugh, Conservative Stalwart on DC Circuit, for Supreme Court

Tony Mauro | July 09, 2018

In picking the 53-year-old Brett Kavanaugh of the D.C. Circuit, Trump opted for a hard-to-defeat nominee whose Ivy League credentials are similar to those of Neil Gorsuch, the president's first Supreme Court nominee. Kavanaugh is a Washington-area native who has ruled to dial back federal agencies and broaden gun rights.

San Francisco Jurors Hear Hours of Scientific Data About Herbicide's Link to Cancer

Amanda Bronstad | July 09, 2018

Lawyers bombarded a San Francisco jury on Monday with reams of scientific studies about whether a Monsanto Co. weed killer caused a man to get terminal cancer.

DOJ's Scott Schools Heads to Uber as Chief Compliance Officer

Caroline Spiezio | July 09, 2018

The former DOJ lawyer looks to be part of Uber's grand plan to clean up its act and its tarnished public image.

Salvador Dali Foundation Sues Monterey Museum for Use of Name, Likeness

Scott Graham | July 09, 2018

Dali17 is dedicated to Dali's creations on the West Coast, where he lived during World War II.

Ninth Circuit Turns Back Objections to Massive $10B VW 'Clean Diesel' Settlement

Ross Todd | July 09, 2018

The Ninth Circuit found that the settlement "delivered tangible, substantial benefits to class members, seemingly the equivalent of—or superior to—those obtainable after successful litigation, and was arrived at after a momentous effort by the parties, the settlement master, and the district court."

Gibson Dunn Grabs Keker Securities Litigator for Silicon Valley

Xiumei Dong | July 09, 2018

After more than 17 years at Keker, Van Nest & Peters, partner Michael Celio is leaving the high-powered litigation boutique for Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

News

Report: Big Tech Companies' Privacy Policies Not Totally GDPR Compliant

Dan Clark| July 09, 2018

The report from a consumer protection group indicates that even though privacy policies were revamped right before the GDPR came into effect in late May, “there is still room for significant improvements.” The survey used artificial intelligence to analyze 14 privacy policies at major tech companies, including Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple.

Expert Opinion

That Much, Huh?: The Right Way to Answer Questions About Your Compensation Expectations

Julie Q. Brush| July 09, 2018

When asked to declare salary expectations, it can be challenging to manage the conversation to an optimal outcome. Understanding the context of the situation as well as your feelings will provide a solid starting point to address your questions in this dynamic when it arises.

The Cost to Law Firms of Ignoring Harmful Workplace Behavior

Lauren Stiller Rikleen| July 09, 2018

A new survey shows negative workplace experiences are rampant, and firms suffer by not preventing them.

Law Librarians Focusing More on Competitive Intelligence, Survey Shows

Miriam Rozen | July 06, 2018

The focus is shifting toward more business intelligence research for partners and away from client-facing work, the survey results indicated.

News

Secrecy Clauses Under Microscope in Judicial Misconduct Settlements

Cheryl Miller | July 06, 2018

Judicial branch lawyers are in the "early stages" of considering whether the confidentiality clauses should be eliminated from future settlements.

Analysis

Judge Chhabria Is on a Mission in Patent Litigation

Scott Graham | July 06, 2018

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria is shaking up some of the business-as-usual in patent litigation. Plus, highlights from next week's Federal Circuit calendar in this sneak preview of Skilled in the Art.

Q&A

In-House Q&A: Robinhood's Adele Faure on New Tech, Old Regs and Life as a 'Crypto Nerd'

Caroline Spiezio| July 06, 2018

"The more regulatory framework that comes to this space, the better the entire ecosystem will be," says Faure, assistant general counsel at the Palo Alto financial services firm.

Watch Your Back, Counselor! It’s the Law Firm Threatdown

Vanessa Blum | Leigh Jones | July 06, 2018

From the Big 4 to rivals next door, our latest Legal Speak podcast investigates the biggest threats to law firms in the modern legal economy.

News

Trial Set to Open in Case Linking Monsanto's Roundup to Cancer

Amanda Bronstad | July 06, 2018

Opening statements in the first trial over whether Monsanto's Roundup herbicide caused a user to get cancer are set to begin on Monday in San Francisco.

June Brings Uptick in Legal Employment

Scott Flaherty | July 06, 2018

The country's legal services industry added thousands of jobs in June, pushing the figure for legal jobs slightly above the range that has prevailed since December 2016, according to Labor Department data.

Expert Opinion

In a Job Interview, How Do You Explain Being Fired?

Julie Q. Brush| July 06, 2018

When asked about the reasons or nature of your departure, be honest. But choose your words and messaging carefully.

Quick Takes

On the Move: Tracking the Ins and Outs of California Lawyers

Pearl Wu | July 06, 2018

New hires and promotions in California law firms, companies and government.

News

Laches Still Applies in Trademark Cases, 9th Circuit Rules in Fashion Case

Scott Graham | July 05, 2018

The Supreme Court may have put the kibosh on laches in patent and copyright cases, but Ninth Circuit Judge Jay Bybee says the calculus is different under the Lanham Act.

News

Why SF Judge Turned Down Class Claims in Twitter Bias Case

Erin Mulvaney | July 05, 2018

"This court concludes that plaintiff failed to satisfy the commonality requirement necessary to certify the proposed class," San Francisco Judge Mary Wiss wrote.

Q&A

Meet Dana Rao, IP Master and Adobe's New GC

Caroline Spiezio | July 05, 2018

Rao said he was "surprised and thrilled and excited" to learn that he'd be taking over the post from Mike Dillon, who is retiring.

News

Sacramento Judge Checks DOJ's Bid to Enjoin California's Immigration Laws

Cheryl Miller | July 05, 2018

"If there is going to be a long-term solution to the problems our country faces with respect to immigration policy, it can only come from our legislative and executive branches," U.S. District Judge John Mendez in Sacramento wrote Thursday.

This 'Serial Entrepreneur' Thinks Finding a Lawyer Can Be as Easy as Hailing an Uber

Ian Lopez | July 05, 2018

For $20, Kevin Gillespie’s Text A Lawyer service lets consumers send a legal question to a pool of lawyers to pick up for a response.

Expert Opinion

New Prop 65 Warning Requirements Are Coming On Aug. 30 — Are You Ready?

Albert M. Cohen| July 05, 2018

The regulations requiring warnings to California consumers about significant exposures to chemicals are very detailed, and businesses should carefully review the regulations to make sure they are in compliance.

Analysis

With Kennedy's Exit, California Loses a Singular Voice on the Supreme Court

Caroline Spiezio | July 03, 2018

Justice Anthony Kennedy offered a West Coast brand of conservatism that spoke to his roots and made the U.S. Supreme Court feel less alien.

News

Teachers Seek Return of Union Fees in Wake of SCOTUS ‘Janus’ Decision

Amanda Bronstad | July 03, 2018

A class action suit filed this week in the Central District of California is among the first filed since the U.S. Supreme Court issued its pivotal ruling on union fees.

News

Orrick Keeps Up Lateral Hiring Spree With New Hires in NY, Germany

Xiumei Dong | July 03, 2018

New recruits from Proskauer Rose and Kirkland & Ellis add to a lateral hiring streak that's added more than 30 new partners this year.

Legal Departments Need Hashtags Too: Meet #InHouseTwitter

Caroline Spiezio | July 03, 2018

#AppellateTwitter doesn't get to have all the fun. There's also #InHouseTwitter, which is celebrating its one-year anniversary Tuesday.

News

Ripple Labs Faces Third Securities Fraud Suit Over Its XRP Cryptocurrency

Rhys Dipshan | July 03, 2018

The latest suit, filed by law firm Robbins Arroyo, goes into greater detail in its claims that Ripple Labs promotes and manages XRP to boost the cryptocurrency’s price.

Commentary

2 Ways to Mitigate the Upcoming Reduction to the Trial Court Assigned Judges Program

Ignazio J. Ruvolo| July 03, 2018

Subject to case-by-case exceptions, the current 33,000 annual service days provided across the state under the program that temporarily assigns retired judges and justices to cover vacancies will be cut by 50 percent.

Injured Driver Signed A Release To Settle His Underinsured Motorist Claim. He Just Learned It Barred His Bad Faith Claim, Too.

Steven A. Meyerowitz, Esq., Director, FC&S Legal| July 03, 2018

This story is reprinted with permission from FC&S Legal, the industry’s only comprehensive digital resource designed for insurance coverage…

Expert Opinion

Everything You Need to Know About Legal Malpractice Claims

Shari L. Klevens and Alanna Clair| July 03, 2018

By understanding the most common sources of legal malpractice claims, attorneys can take proactive steps to address issues before claims arise.

Commentary

Bedsworth: Dances With Computers

William W. Bedsworth| July 03, 2018

In which our columnist admits he adjusts to new technology about as well as he used to adjust to curveballs.

News

California Justices Won't Force Yelp to Remove Unflattering Law Firm Review

Cheryl Miller | July 02, 2018

"With this decision, online publishers in California can be assured that they cannot be lawfully forced to remove third-party speech through enterprising abuses of the legal system, and those of us that use such platforms to express ourselves cannot be easily silenced through such tactics either," Yelp deputy general counsel Aaron Schur said in a blog post.

News

Does AI Have a Place in the Courts? Here’s How Experts Weigh the Risks and Benefits

Caroline Spiezio | July 02, 2018

On the one hand is improved efficiency and access to justice. On the other, threats to due process and transparency. A conversation in Silicon Valley last week at the US-China AI Tech Summit dissected the pros and cons of introducing AI into the judicial process.

News

Cannabis Lawyers Could Get More Protection Under New Ethics Rule

Cheryl Miller | July 02, 2018

The proposed language appears to offer guidance—and cover—for attorneys counseling clients who face a conflict between California and federal laws.

News

US Chamber's Top Appellate Lawyer Joins Plaintiff-Side Litigation Boutique

Mike Scarcella | Ryan Lovelace | July 02, 2018

Warren Postman, a former Jones Day associate and Justice David Souter law clerk, had held litigation roles at the U.S. Chamber since 2014. His partnership at Keller Lenkner puts him on the plaintiffs side advocating for class actions, not fighting them.

Firm Mergers Near Record Pace at Midyear Point

Scott Flaherty | July 02, 2018

The first six months of 2018 has seen 51 law firm mergers, including 21 in the most recent quarter.

News

Harvey Weinstein Faces Possible Life Sentence on Sexual Assault Charges

Andrew Denney| July 02, 2018

Movie mogul Harvey Weinstein faces new sex assault charges in Manhattan, including two charges of predatory sexual assault which carry a sentence of 10 years in prison to a maximum life sentence.

Expert Opinion

I Have 2 Job Offers. Which One Should I Take?

Julie Q. Brush| July 02, 2018

Determining which position constitutes the best career move will depend on your priorities and your goals—and you need to figure out what those are.

News

California Judiciary Reveals $645K Tab for Judge Misconduct Claims

Cheryl Miller | June 29, 2018

Most of the agreements provided by council lawyers are heavily redacted. None of them names the accuser, and only a handful identify the accused. The agreements often include confidentiality clauses.

News

Pillsbury Winthrop Names New Diversity Chair

Xiumei Dong | June 29, 2018

Labor and employment litigator Stacie Yee has taken over the role from corporate partner Brian Wong, who left Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman last month to join a longtime client of the firm.

Slideshow

The Recorder's Top 5 Stories of the Week

Recorder Staff| June 29, 2018

California legal stories you might have missed.

News

Lead Paint Liability Initiative Pulled From Ballot After Legislative Deal

Cheryl Miller | June 29, 2018

Legislative leaders said they cut a deal with The Sherwin-Williams Co. and Conagra Grocery Products Co. to drop the ballot measure in exchange for continued talks aimed at reaching "a resolution during the remainder of this legislative session."

News

Six White & Case IP Partners Join Fenwick in New York

Christine Simmons | June 29, 2018

Fenwick & West managing partner Rodger Cole called the team "one of the most successful IP litigation groups in the country."

Skilled in the Art: Looking Back at the Anthony Kennedy Era in IP

Scott Graham | June 29, 2018

In four patent cases where he wrote the majority opinion, Justice Kennedy resisted rigid rules. His 2006 concurrence in eBay v. MercExchange called out non-practicing entities and suggested judges should clamp down on injunctions used to extort settlements.

Quick Takes

On the Move: Tracking the Ins and Outs of California Lawyers

Pearl Wu | June 29, 2018

New hires, promotions, appointments and awards in-house, at firms and in government and academia.

Podcast

The NLJ 500 Deconstructed: Exploring the 2018 Law Firm Rankings

Vanessa Blum | Leigh Jones | June 29, 2018

The National Law Journal Editor-in-Chief Lisa Helem dives into the details of the annual ranking of the country's 500 largest law firms by headcount.

Quick Takes

Altamont Capital Partners Names New General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer

Sue Reisinger| June 29, 2018

Jennifer Mello has joined Altamont, which is based in the Palo Alto and specializes in middle-market investments.

News

Latham Elects London Partner as Firm Chair

Roy Strom | June 29, 2018

Richard Trobman will take the reins of the second-largest, U.S.-based law firm following an unanticipated vacancy for the top spot at Latham & Watkins.

News

Another Former Landlord Circles Sedgwick Carcass in New $23M Lawsuit

Christine Simmons| June 28, 2018

Already facing litigation over its Chicago office, defunct firm Sedgwick is now being sued by its Manhattan landlord for defaulting on payments.

News

California Takes 'Giant Leap Forward' on Consumer Data-Privacy Rights

Cheryl Miller | June 28, 2018

The California Data Privacy Protection Act requires data-collecting businesses to tell consumers what information they gather from them and who they share it with. It also forces companies to delete that information upon a consumer's request.

News

Sidley Recruits Goodwin Procter PE Partner in San Francisco

Xiumei Dong | June 28, 2018

Jared Jensen, a former in-house lawyer at Amazon.com Inc., has joined Sidley Austin's Bay Area base.

Q&A

Beating Beats: A Q&A With the Susman Lawyer Behind the $25M Verdict Against Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine

Ross Todd | June 28, 2018

Susman Godfrey partner Brian Melton led a team that won a $25 million verdict for client Steven Lamar in a royalty dispute over the high-end, celebrity-endorsed headphones.

News

Chhabria Hits NPE and Its Law Firm With $222K Sanction for 'Impossible' Patent Claims

Scott Graham | June 28, 2018

Quarterhill subsidiary Smart Wearable Technologies and Friedman, Suder & Cooke were 'plainly irresponsible and frivolous' in patent case against Fitbit, judge rules.

News

The Search is Over: Google Nabs GE Veteran Karan Bhatia as Global Head of Policy

Caroline Spiezio | June 28, 2018

Former Wilmer partner Bhatia is a 10-year veteran of GE and also has worked in Big Law and at various positions in government.

Analysis

Litigation Funders Face Their Hardest Sell: Big Law

Roy Strom and Ben Hancock| June 28, 2018

There is more money than ever in the hands of litigation financiers. But can they convince law firms to use it?