The National Bar Association has scored the nation’s top law firms in terms of representation of minority attorneys. A total of 18 of Chicago’s biggest law firms were given poor to failing grades. Out of the best possible score of 100, Holland & Knight received a score of 38.7, the lowest score in the survey. The firm has one minortiy equity partner out of 38, and seven minority attorneys out of 132. The survey reports that 27 percent of the firms have zero black equity partners, from which two of those firms, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal and Katten Muchen Rosenmann, do not have any equity partners of color. Co-chair of the Diversity Task Force, Daryl Washington says that the association will help to increase the low percentage of minority found in the most notable law firms.
Source: www.suntimes.com
Law Firms Expect Increased Bankruptcy Cases
At least some one is getting something out of many businesses losing their shirts, along with millions of workers getting the boot. Bankruptcy attorneys are expecting to have much to work on, especially in bankruptcy hot spots like New York, Delaware, California, and Texas. Not only were there many bankruptcy cases from 2007, the outlook for the future shows this already large number will increase, says many big law firms.
Source: www.law.com
Rödl & Partner Is Expanding Rapidly
The German firm of Rödl & Partner has launched a new office in Zurich. This location will be its 79th and is part of an aim for worldwide expansion. Rödl & Partner have plans to open in Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe within a year.
Source: www.thelawyer.com
Holme Roberts & Owen Brings An Office To Phoenix
The firm of Holme Roberts & Owen have announced plans to add an office in Phoenix. This will make the firms 7th office in the US, and its 9th worldwide. The Phoenix arm of Jennings, Strouss & Salmon PLC will lose 5 attorneys to this office, Janet Betts, the soon-to-be managing partner at Holme Roberts & Owen, Glenn Bacal, Joseph Kruchek, Christine Meis McAuliffe, and Robyn Nordin Stowell.
Source: www.bizjournals.com
Greenberg Scores Prominent Litigation Team
Greenberg Traurig has added a prominent litigation team. The following attorneys will be joining the firms Chicago office: Miriam G. Bahcall, Steven M. Malina and Beth A. Black. Bahcall and Malina are shareholders and Black joins as an associate. This group will continue its practice on various financial litigation matters.
Source: www.earthtimes.org
Dechert Loses A Partner
Joel H. Levitin has joined the firm of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP as partner in its New York office. Previously, Levitin was partner at Dechert LLP. Levitin has had much experience in the fields of bankruptcy and mergers and acquisitions. He is whole-heartedly welcomed by Cahill Gordon & Reindel.
Source: www.sunherald.com
Dewey & LeBoeuf to Close Three Offices
Dewey & LeBoeuf has announced its plans to close three US offices in an attempt to boost its major capital markets practice. The Jacksonville office will close at the end of this year in December. The Hartford office is to close in February and the Austin office will be closing in March 2009. All 48 lawyers amongst the three offices are asked to remain with Dewey & LeBouef and relocate to another of its offices.
Source: www.thelawyer.com
Women Leading Law Firms
8 Percent of Women lead US firms, according to the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL). There are various assumptions to why this is percentage is so low. One such reason, is the fact that women, as well as men, do not wish to endure the hardships entailed with the position of Managing Partner. At times, the managing partner must do less lawyering to take on more managerial responsibility. Joel Henning, a consultant at Hildebrandt International, describes the role as being a type of “housekeeper”. Women are not willing to forgo their allowance to excel at what they love, to clean house at work. Another factor for having so few women high up on the ladder, is that it is was not too long ago that big law firms were hiring women in the first place. Jerry Clements, the woman leading the firm of Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, explains that when she graduated from law school in 1981, top law firms were just beginning to hire women. The rate of progress? In 2006, the number of women leaders was at a mere 5 percent.
Source: www.law.com
Top Law Schools and Top Law Firms Go Hand-in-Hand
A growing percentage of graduates from top law schools are taking positions at NLJ 250 law firms. NLJ, The National Law Journal, has an annual survey of the nation’s largest law firms. Colombia Law School took the number 1 slot, as having the greatest percentage of graduates going to one of the 250 NLJ firms. About 75 percent of its graduates took jobs at the largest law firms.
Source: www.law.com
Lovells Loses One to Simmons
Andrea Accornero has announced her departure from Lovells LP. She will be joining the Milan office of Simmons & Simmons at the end of April. Accornero focuses her practice on private equity.
Source: www.thelawyer.com
