The 2010 law school rankings (obviously ranked in 2009) were recently released by U.S. News & World Report.  The results do not outstandingly differ from last year’s, but there are some changes to take note.  Yale kept its No. 1 spot, while Harvard squeezed Standford Law out of the slot No. 2 they shared last year.  Duke made it into the top 10 by climbing two ranks, thus tying with Northwestern University and University of Virginia School of Law.  To review the list, please click on the following link:  http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com.

Source:  www.nylj.com

The law firm of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton has been on a hiring spree.  Not only have the firm hired Brian Weimer from Latham & Watkins, but also Pamela Westhoff, a partner from DLA Piper. Earlier in April, Sheppard hired a partner from O’Melveny & Myers, Todd Bissett.  Sheppard Mullin chairman, Guy Halgren, wrote that the firm will be adding a “marquee partners and groups”.

Source:  www.abajournal.com

Andrews Kurth has taken on David M. “Max” Williamson as Counsel in the Environmental practice.  Williamson joins the Washington, DC office. Prior to joining Andrews Kurth, he managed a firm-wide practice at Beveridge & Diamond PC.

Source:  www.prweb.com

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has hired Brian Weimer as a partner in Washington D.C.  Weimer joins the firm’s Corporate and Communications group.  He focuses on telecommunications law, specifically on satellite, broadcasting, and wireless industries.  Weimer received a J.D. in 1995 from Georgetown University.

Source:  www.wireless.sys-con.com

The Harrisburg, Pa., office of Wolf Block has been acquired by Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott.  All but one of the nine partners are making the move.  Dan Schulder is joining Cozen O’Connor with the rest of the Wolf Block tax group that already made the move.  Three associates are also jumping aboard of Eckert Seamans.

Source:  www.triangle.bizjournals.com

Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone has launched its seventh international office.  The firm has one office in Shanghai, two in Canada, three in Poland, and now one in Monterrey Mexico.  The firm explained in a press release that Monterrey was chosen as its first office in Mexico, because it is the country’s automotive manufacturing and business center.  

Source:  www.law.com

Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy has created a new practice group in the London office:  commercial litigation.  The firm hired a new attorney, Julian Stait from DLA Piper, to go along with the new practice field.  This brings Milbank’s London office up to 13 partners.

Source:  www.thelawyer.com

Yet another partner has dumped Clifford Chance for another.  Brynn Peltz is leaving her position as a partner in Clifford’s corporate department to join Latham & Watkins.  She focuses on aiding financial institutions, private equity and hedge funds.  Prior to joining Clifford Chance, Peltz was with Simpson Thatcher & Bartlett.  

Source:  www.legalweek.com

Hildebrandt Peer Monitor has collected data from 100 firms, 35 from the Am Law 100, 35 from the Am Law 200 and 30 from the NLJ 250. Their study has concluded that San Francisco has fared much better during the recession than many other big cities.  In the first quarter of 2009, demand for legal services fell 8 percent, compared to the same period last year.  New York’s legal service need dropped a total of 9.5 percent.  Los Angeles saw an 8 percent decrease.  San Francisco, however, demand for legal services only dropped 1 percent.  These figures are calculated with the use of the firms’ billable hours.  The demands for various practice areas were also calculated.  Bankruptcy grew by 13 percent.  M&A became a bigger demand by 2 percent.  Litigation remained the same, and every other practice field decreased in demand.  For instance, general corporate work decreased an outstanding 14 percent.  Real estates is down by 20 percent.  It is unclear as of yet, why San Francisco has weathered the economic decline so well.

Source:  www.law.com

Perkins Coie has laid off 12 attorneys and 26 staff workers.  The firm will continue to provide health insurance for nine months to those people let go.  Perkins Coie announced that these cuts were necessary because of the challenging economic climate.

Source:  www.abajournal.com