Atlanta now has claim over another law firm, that of Barnes & Thornburg.  The firm opens its 8^th office with lateral attorneys, Stuart C. Johnson and Jason A. Bernstein.  They join from Bryan Cave Powell Goldstein’s Atlanta office.  Managing Partner Alan Levin reported the office will be actively recruiting lateral attorneys, with the goal of being a full-service law firm.  

Source:  www.indystar.com

Andrew N. Vollmer, previously deputy general counsel of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, rejoined Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr.  Vollmer joins the Washington office as partner.  He will focus his practice on securities law.  Vollmer left Wilmer in 2006.

Source:  www.nylj.com

Some firms are creating programs that lend junior lawyers to public interest practices with the intent minimizing layoff numbers, while giving these attorneys some experience.  Sidley Austin LLP, Latham & Watkins, and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe are a few of the firms with such a program.  Latham & Watkins offered its incoming associates a salary of $75,000 for doing community service work for one year, and thus delaying their start dates until October 2010.  Orrick has done something similar, in that the firm has asked about 70 third year students, who were previously promised jobs, to defer for year, or take on a fellowship in public service for a year.  

Source:  www.latimes.com

Alexander Cohen retired from his position as chief of staff at the Securities and Exchange Commission in December.  His next step?  Cohen just joined Latham & Watkins as co-chair of the corporate finance practice.  He work out of the D.C. office. 

Source:  www.legaltimes.typepad.com

Blank Rome announced that it is taking on David Gitlin, the chairman of Wolf Block’s corporate securities group.   Wolf Block recently voted to dissolve the firm.  Gitlin focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity and international transactions.  He will be bringing two associates along with him.  

Source:  www.philadelphia.bizjournals.com

Fox Rothschild announced that it has taken on a law firm in Stamford.  The firm, Pastore Osterberg, is composed of 9 lawyers.  It’s practice is based on the following: intellectual property, telecommunications, information technology, litigation, real estate law, and securities.

Source:  www.philly.com

Hammonds has lost four partners on one of the two days a year, equity partners are allowed to resign at the firm. Those days are March 31^st and September 30^th. Fixed share partners are able to leave at any time. David Beswick, a partner in the Birmingham office, left for Eversheds. Martin Letz and Amanda Allen left the Birmingham office as well. Jay Doraisamy, partner-in-charge of Hammonds London pensions practice, also resigned.

Source:  www.thelawyer.com

Littler Mendelson has launched a new office, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Jon Levine has joined the firm and newest office as shareholder.  Prior to joining Littler, Levine was a partner at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, where he was a partner in the labor & employment practice group.  

Source:  www.businesswire.com

An overwhelming percentage of Norton Rose staff has voted to put a four day week plan into action.  96 percent voted to have four day weeks, starting at anytime within the next year.  All staff on the four day plan will keep 85 percent of base salary. The other option is to take a four to 12 week sabbatical, keeping 30 percent of base salary.

Source:  www.thelawyer.com