California Pulse


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    Nixon Peabody Promotes Longtime CFO To COO

    Nixon Peabody LLP has named its longtime chief financial officer as its new chief operating officer responsible for all firm operations, including finance, human resources, knowledge management, information technology and administrative services.

  • Bradley Arant Aims To Toss Malpractice Arbitration Claims

    Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP and a firm attorney urged a California federal judge to toss a San Diego-based business consulting firm's lawsuit contending the law firm botched an arbitration proceeding with tribal entities, saying the court lacks personal jurisdiction and is an improper venue as the arbitration and legal work largely took place outside the state.

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    How Freeman Mathis Maintains Its '1 Office, 1 Firm' Culture

    Atlanta-based Freeman Mathis & Gary LLP recently expanded its roster to include more than 400 lawyers across 21 states, but its managing partner said the firm remains committed to a “one office, one firm” philosophy.

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    Shifting Market Winds Blew Kramer Levin To HSF Deal

    In the span of four years, Kramer Levin co-managing partner Howard Spilko went from "very happy" with the firm's geographical footprint to announcing a combination with a more-than-2,000-lawyer global giant. Here, Law360 Pulse looks at the increasing headwinds for smaller law firms that led to that change in position.

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    Law Firms Positioned To Finish 2024 On 'Very Strong' Note

    The legal market is positioned to have a very strong year, with firms seeing increases in demand, revenue and attorney productivity during the first three quarters of 2024, according to the results of a survey by Citi Global Wealth at Work.

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    What's Next For Court Reform In This New Political Climate?

    Advocates are not holding out hope for bills that would firm up a code of ethics for the U.S. Supreme Court, impose term limits on justices or give judiciary employees antidiscrimination job protections, saying Republican control of the federal government will likely stall any progress that's been made with court reform efforts.

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    Kilpatrick Cybersecurity Leader Joins BakerHostetler In LA

    BakerHostetler has welcomed the cochair of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP's cybersecurity, privacy and data governance practice in California, continuing the firm's plan for strategic growth on the West Coast.

  • Calif. Bar Latest To Offer Smokeball Billing Software For Free

    Legal practice management software provider Smokeball furthered its plan to provide state bar associations with free access to its trust accounting billing software, adding the California Lawyers Association to its growing list of partnerships, according to a Tuesday announcement.

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    Jones Day Real Estate Ace Jumps To Greenberg Traurig In LA

    Greenberg Traurig LLP is expanding its West Coast real estate team, bringing in a Jones Day real estate transactions pro as a shareholder in its Los Angeles office.

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    In-House Counsel Less Wary Of Making BigLaw Jump

    While most in-house counsel aren't actively looking to shift to private practice, a survey out Tuesday found there may be an increasing openness to that career lane shift if certain conditions — such as better salaries, work-life balance, and firm culture — are met.

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    OpenX Promotes Atty To Chief Privacy Officer, Deputy GC

    OpenX Technologies Inc. has looked within for a new privacy leader in what the online advertising exchange company described as a strategic move doubling down on its commitment to privacy-first practices in the ad tech industry.

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    Polsinelli Adds Kirkland AI And Tech Ace In San Francisco

    Polsinelli PC is expanding its West Coast technology transactions team, announcing Tuesday it is bringing in a Kirkland & Ellis LLP data privacy and artificial intelligence expert as a principal in its San Francisco office.

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    Deloitte In-House Atty Joins Foley & Lardner In LA

    Jose Sanchez, a former senior trial counsel in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Enforcement Division, has joined Foley & Lardner's Los Angeles office following nearly six years in Deloitte's office of the general counsel.

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    Law360 Names Attys Who Moved Up The Firm Ranks In Q3

    A promotion to partner or election to practice group chair means a slew of new responsibilities and also lots of well-deserved recognition. Law360 reveals the list of attorneys whose commitment to legal excellence earned them highly coveted spots in the law firm leadership ranks. Find out if your old legal friends — or rivals — moved up in the third quarter of the year.

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    BigLaw Bonus Season Starts With A Move By Milbank

    Milbank LLP announced Monday that it will hand its associates year-end bonuses ranging from $15,000 to $115,000 depending on seniority, numbers that nearly align with bonuses the firm and its peers handed out last year.

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    Herbert Smith Freehills To Merge With US-Based Kramer Levin

    Herbert Smith Freehills LLP said Monday that it is joining forces with U.S. law firm Kramer Levin to form a global legal powerhouse in a move that could signal further consolidation in the sector.

  • Sullivan & Cromwell Fees Questioned In Kidde-Fenwal Ch. 11

    Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and the attorney general of California clashed in Delaware bankruptcy court over the firm's interim fee requests for its representation of debtor chemical company Kidde-Fenwal Inc., with the state alleging overbilling and Sullivan & Cromwell claiming California is seeking "payback" for the results of a recent mediation.

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    Exec Exodus At Hospitality Platform Sonder Includes CLO

    Hospitality platform Sonder announced Friday its chief legal officer will be resigning from her role later this month as one of three executives who have announced their plans to leave the company by the end of 2024.

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    Law360's Legal Lions Of The Week

    Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati PC and Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP lead this week's list of Law360 legal lions for helping a California biotech startup beat a nearly $460 million trade secrets trial before a federal jury in Delaware.

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    Cozen O'Connor Vet Leader On Affinity Group, Military Service

    Affinity groups have become one way for law firms to make sure diverse groups of lawyers in their organizations feel connected and supported. Cozen O' Connor is among the firms that provide a forum for attorneys with military service to link up with one another along with provide pro bono work to veterans dealing with legal issues such as benefits and disability compensation matters.

  • Voir Dire: Law360 Pulse's Weekly Quiz

    The legal industry had another action-packed week as BigLaw firms named new leaders and Donald Trump became president-elect. Test your legal news savvy here with Law360 Pulse's weekly quiz.

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    How General Counsel Are Preparing For Trump 2.0

    While the stock market surge after Donald Trump won election this week shows that business considers him a friend, corporations are still bracing for the impact of changes that a new administration will bring in 2025.

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    Latham Elevates 24 Associates To Partner In Reduced Class

    Latham & Watkins LLP will promote 24 associates to partner at the start of 2025, a number that is down significantly from the 34 associates who were promoted to partner in January 2024, the firm has announced.

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    Wilson Sonsini Accused Of Wrongfully Firing Legal Assistant

    A former practice group assistant at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati PC has filed a wrongful termination suit in California state court, accusing the firm of discriminating against her because of her disabilities and firing her in retaliation for raising hostile work environment and other concerns.

  • Greenberg Glusker Wins Bid To Arbitrate Ex-Client's Suit

    A judge in California state court on Thursday granted a motion by Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP and two partners to arbitrate an investor's allegations that they bungled his defense in an underlying civil suit, finding some of the ex-client's arguments against arbitration were "frivolous" and "not credible."

Expert Analysis

  • 3 Trends Reshaping Chief Marketing Officer Appointments Author Photo

    Recent approaches to hiring chief marketing officers demonstrate how firms are reimagining their marketing and business development frameworks to stay competitive and responsive to evolving client needs, says Murray Coffey at M Coffey.

  • Talking Mental Health: Working As A Mom Of An Autistic Son Author Photo

    Sarah Kovit Hanna at Assurant discusses how she balances the demands of her in-house role and the support needs of her son, who was diagnosed with autism, as a single mom, and reflects on how the legal industry can better support caretakers of family members who have special needs.

  • Ask A Mentor: How Can I Maximize My Pro Bono Impact? Author Photo

    Debbie Berman at Jenner & Block offers advice on how attorneys can make a meaningful impact on their communities through pro bono work while enhancing their professional development through strengthened client-facing skills, hands-on experience and more.

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    My Nonpracticing Law Job: Law Firm Marketer Author Photo

    Liz Bard Lindley at Jaffe PR shares how she went from a family law associate who helped write industry articles to a savvy legal public relations and marketing professional, and offers takeaways for any attorney who might not feel at home in their law practice and is considering alternative career paths.

  • The Case For Keeping The Gas On Deputy GC Compensation Author Photo

    In recent years, the deputy general counsel role has expanded and become increasingly vital in organizations across the globe, and companies should consider a few ways to retain this top talent, including by offering competitive compensation that reflects projected increases, says Heather Fine at Major Lindsey.

  • Talking Mental Health: The View From Life After BigLaw Author Photo

    Life coach and author Wendy Tamis Robbins discusses why she left a career in BigLaw to work in the professional well-being space after finding freedom from anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and substance use disorders, and highlights two changes the legal industry should implement to address attorneys' mental health.

  • 6 Essential Skills For Summer Associates To Land An Offer
    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
    Author Photo

    With full-time offer rates at the lowest point since 2012, summer associates must do all they can to distinguish themselves, starting with a few fundamentals — from the importance of asking clarifying questions to being honest about mistakes, says James Argionis at Cozen O'Connor.

  • Making Legal Cents: How Law Firms Can Innovate Faster Author Photo

    To meet the demands of an evolving legal market and changing client expectations, law firms must not only embrace innovation, but also find ways to accelerate adoption and mitigate risks in an industry historically resistant to change, says Shireen Hilal at Maior Strategic Consulting.

  • Ask A Mentor: How Should Departing Partners Approach Pay? Author Photo

    Sabina Lippman at CenterPeak discusses steps BigLaw partners can take when considering a move or announcing their departure to help navigate tricky compensation issues and remain on good terms with their current partners.

  • How 2 Litigators Decided Dad Would Stay Home With The Kids Author Photo

    Jennifer Hoekstra at Aylstock Witkin shares the tough conversations about timing, goals, logistics and values involved in her family's decision that she would build her career as a litigator and law firm partner while her husband stepped back from his own litigation role to stay home with their children.

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    My Nonpracticing Law Job: Legal Commentary Ghostwriter Author Photo

    Wayne Pollock at Copo Strategies shares how he went from overworked Am Law 50 associate to owner of a legal thought leadership ghostwriting service, and provides four lessons for anyone who might be considering launching a business within the legal industry.

  • Ask A Mentor: As Trials Grow Rarer, How Do I Hone My Skills? Author Photo

    Gary Parsons at Brooks Pierce offers advice for young lawyers seeking trial experience in an environment where fewer cases make it to trial, including how to build their reputations, set their expectations and pick the right firm.

  • Talking Mental Health: Managing Depression As A Co. Founder Author Photo

    New Era ADR co-founder Collin Williams discusses his journey navigating a clinical depression diagnosis, how this experience affected his leadership style, and what the legal industry can do to better support attorneys with mental health conditions.

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    My Nonpracticing Law Job: Career And Wellness Coach Author Photo

    Tara Rhoades at The Sanity Plea shares how she went from BigLaw partner to legal industry career and wellness coach, and explains how attorneys can use their capabilities, knowledge and professional networks to pursue coaching themselves, or bring refreshed meaning and purpose to their current roles.

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    Talking Mental Health: Tackling Stress As A Practice Leader Author Photo

    Constance Rhebergen at Bracewell discusses how she handles the stress of being a practice chair, how sources of stress have changed in the legal industry over the past decade and what law firms can do to protect attorney mental health.

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