Rimon Law Group, a virtual law firm, has hired four new partners: Dov Grunschlag, Jason Jungreis, John Rosenbaum and Rosanna Russell. Grunschlag was a partner at DLA Piper. Jason Jungreis currently holds the position of Vice President of the San Francisco Electric Vehicle Association. John Rosenbaum joins from White & Case LLP. Rosanna Russell was previously with Cooley Godward.

Source:  www.live-pr.com

Above The Law has posted a 2009 top ten legal stories list. The stories that were most frequented on the ATL website made the cut. Two personal favorites focus on superficiality.

Davis Polk revamped its website, added pictures, and by doing so, reinforced its reputation of hiring beautiful attorneys. To check out some of ATL’s crushes:  http://abovethelaw.com/2009/07/davis_polk_website_makeover.php.

Ballard Spahr changed their website too. The firm posted both headshots and body shots of its attorneys. Isn’t the following a well-known saying: Never hire an attorney before you’ve seen their entire torso…? To see ATL’s take on the body shots:  http://abovethelaw.com/2009/09/new_ballard_spahr_website.php

Source:  www.abovethelaw.com

Greenberg Traurig has a new environmental and energy law blog. The blog will focus on new legislation, regulations, trends, opportunities, risks, and particular cases. The website address is as follows:  www.environmentalandenergylawblog.com/.  Reed Rubinstein, a Greenberg partner, will fill of the role of editor.

Source:  www.earthtimes.org

Buchalter Nemer has greatly expanded its real estate practice field. Buchalter poached nine real estate attorneys from Ellman Burke Hoffman and Johnson. This addition brings Buchalter up to 30 lawyers in the field.

Source:  www.sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com

The number of part-time attorneys grew in 2009. The National Association for Law Placement states that the percentage rose from 5.6% in 2008 to 5.9% in 2009. Working part-time seems to be one solution of surviving the economy. It allows for law firms to reduce salary while saving the jobs of its employees. It also benefits attorneys who have family obligations.

Source:  www.nylj.com

Mayer Brown will layoff up to eight associates in London. It is confirmed that four partners will also be leaving the office. Various practice fields will be affected but all the partners are in the corporate group. Nine months ago the London office layed off 55 people, 23 attorneys and 32 staff.

Source:  www.nylj.com

Stinson Morrison Hecker has made plans to move into a new office space within an entirily new building in Clayton, Missouri. The office will be 46,500 square feet. The co-managing partner of the St. Louis office, Chip Misko, claims that the space will allow for future hirings!  But the move won’t happen until October 2010.  So, don’t quit your jobs just yet!

Source:  www.stlouis.bizjournals.com

Nixon Peabody has announced that it is deferring its first-year associates once again. Upon hearing the news, Am Law Daily asked 42 firms who had also deferred its associates to see if they too were re-deferring. Some firms replied that a few of the associates actually began earlier than scheduled when needed in particular practice fields. Bingham McCutchen was such a firm, announced that ten associates began in October. The rest of the deferred associates are to start on January 28^th. King & Spalding gave 18 associates the opportunity to start work earlier than planned and the rest will join the firm on January 19^th. The firms that have (re)pushed back start dates are: Blank Rome; Faegre & Benson; and Winston & Strawn.

Source:  www.amlawdaily.typepad.com