U.S. firms’ recent salary increases have traveled beyond our borders to the U.K. New York-based Weil, Gotshal & Manges recently raised newly qualified lawyers pay in their London office from 75,000 to 90,000 British pounds, which is equivalent to over $179,000. Several factors go into determining salary increases in London, including New York rates, the legal market, and the office’s productivity. Other firms do not feel pressure to match Weil Gotshal’s rate; White & Case raised to 76,000 pounds from 67,500 pounds, and O’Melveny & Myers raised to 78,000 pounds. On the other hand, Latham & Watkins always matches London salaries to those in New York.
Source: www.nylawyer.com
Townsend Opens in D.C.
Townsend and Townsend and Crew’s new Washington, D.C. office will focus on patent litigation and patent prosecution. The mid-sized San Francisco-based IP firm will launch the new office with lawyers from Kenyon & Kenyon and McGuire Woods. Seven attorneys will open the office, but the firm hopes to grow over the next three years and eventually be able to offer full IP services there. It is beneficial for an IP firm to have an office in D.C., considering that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the International Trade Commission and the Federal Cicuit are also located there.
Source: www.law.com
Small and Mid-Sized Chicago Firms Welcome Big Law’s Let-Go Partners
Several major Chicago law firms have been making partner cuts over the past couple years. Firms such as Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw; Winston & Strawn; and Jenner & Block have asked groups of partners to leave or to take nonequity positions. As such, there are many talented, experienced attorneys seeking jobs, and small and mid-sized firms are snatching them up. Firms like Bryan Cave and Seyfarth Shaw are eager to hire the partners, especially those with private equity, intellectual property, transactional, or real estate experience. These smaller firms are less concerned with profit-per-partner figures, and instead see value in the axed attorneys because of how they could increase the firm profile and increase marketing power among clients.
Source: www.law.com
O’Melveny Securities Litigator Joins Pillsbury Winthrop
David Furbush left O’Melveny & Myers for Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman. Furbush, a securities litigation specialist, will join Pillsbury’s Silicon Valley office where he will co-lead the firm’s securities litigation team. His work will focus on securities litigation defense in shareholder class actions and investigations initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Source: www.law.com
Stinson Morrison Combines with St. Louis Firm Blumenfeld Kaplan
Stinson Morrison combined with St. Louis firm Blumenfeld Kaplan & Sandweiss over the weekend. After the combination, Stinson’s St. Louis office will have over 65 lawyers, 13 paralegals, and 47 staff members. Stinson is the second largest firm in Kansas City, with 193 attorneys there. The firm will have about 360 lawyers with the addition of those from Blumenfeld.
Source: www.news.moneycentral.msn.com
Paul Hastings’ German Team Leaves to Start New Firm
Five lawyers from Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker’s London office have left to set up their own firm with offices in Munich and London. Former Paul Hastings of counsel, Geza Toth-Feher, and three associates set up Toth-Feher & Partner LLP. The new firm will specialize in private equity advice, and will continue to work closely with Paul Hastings and its clients.
Source: www.thelawyer.com
Pittsburgh Firm Adds Philly Office
Pietragallo Bosick & Gordon, Pittsburgh’s eight-largest firm, has launched an office in Philadelphia. The firm recruited Joseph Mancano from Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney and Joseph Vaughn from Vaughn Law Offices to be partners in the new office. They will be joined by associates Mary March and Divya Wallace. Pietragallo also has offices in Mechanicsburg and Sharon, PA; Steubenville, OH; and Weirton, WV.
Source: www.pittsburgh.bizjournals.com
Government Contract Lateral Partners Make New Home at Akin Gump
Two new litigation partners have joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in Washington, D.C. Robert Huffman and Peter Hutt specialize in representing defense contractors, health care systems, technology companies, and construction companies on a wide variety of government contract issues. Both attorneys have extensive experience in representing contractors in Civil False Claims Act lawsuits and other procurement fraud matters.
Source: www.lawfuel.com
Howrey Introduces Merit-Based Compensation System
Howrey has announced that starting next year they will be changing from a lockstep compensation system to a merit-based system for its associates. In making the change, the firm aims to compensate associates for what they are worth, no matter how what their seniority level. Firm leaders also see it as fairer to their clients, who will no longer be forced to pay an associate more just because he or she has one more year under the belt. First years will still start at the market rate of $160,000, but all other associates advance according to personal evaluations. Their performance and experience could, for instance, shorten or lengthen the partnership track.
Source: www.law.com
Greenberg Traurig Recruits Civil Litigator in Santa Monica
Greenberg Traurig welcomed civil litigator Richard Welsh to its Santa Monica office. Welsh joins as a shareholder in the litigation practice. Formerly, Welsh was a partner with Kirkland & Ellis in downtown L.A. His specialties include real estate, commercial law, and class action suits. He has represented companies such as Home Depot and DirecTV, and also has experience in appellate representation and alternative dispute forums.
Source: www.metnews.com
