California Pulse


  • AI Chatbot Co. CEO, Atty Spouse Indicted On $60M Fraud

    Federal prosecutors in California arrested the former CEO of an artificial intelligence company Thursday alongside his lawyer wife, accusing the duo of a $60 million fraud scheme in which they allegedly lied to investors about the company's financial state and diverted funds to pay for their wedding.

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    FisherBroyles, Pierson Ferdinand See Growth In Year Since Split

    One year after nearly half of the partners at FisherBroyles LLP left to form the breakaway firm Pierson Ferdinand LLP, both firms have grown their headcount and reported a successful 2024, and industry observers say it demonstrates the appeal of their offbeat model as partner-only and fully remote.

  • GOP Rep. Revives Bill To Break Up 9th Circ.

    Republicans are trying once again to break up the expansive Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which judges appointed by Democratic presidents have long had the majority of.

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    'Big Lie' Atty Ethics Cases Linger As Trump Returns

    Though another presidential election has come and gone and President Donald Trump is back in the White House, disciplinary cases continue to play out against lawyers accused of participating in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential contest, and experts say it's unlikely that many of them will wrap up soon.

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    GenapSys Says Paul Hastings Can't Keep Privileged Docs

    GenapSys is pushing back on Paul Hastings LLP's bid to force it to turn over documents that it had inadvertently released during discovery in a legal malpractice suit alleging that the law firm improperly drafted board documents that led to the "demise and liquidation" of the genetic-sequencing company.

  • 9th Circ. Nixes Attys' Challenge To Arizona Victim Contact Law

    A Ninth Circuit panel on Thursday rejected a group of lawyers' constitutional challenge to an Arizona law that requires defense attorneys and their teams to initiate contact with victims through the prosecutor's office.

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    Many Attorneys Not Meeting ABA's 50-Hour Pro Bono Goal

    While most attorneys have volunteered pro bono services at some point in their career, many lawyers are not meeting the American Bar Association's goal for every lawyer to provide 50 hours of pro bono work every year, and lack of time was the biggest discouraging factor, according to a recent report.

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    Littler COO On Helping Attys Succeed By Feeling 'Cared For'

    Lori Brown joined Law360 Pulse to discuss her new role of chief operating officer at Littler Mendelson PC and how her passion for the success of others is rooted in part in her time as a Division I softball catcher for Stetson University.

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    In A Recruiting 'Wild West,' Law Firms Expand Internal Teams

    The last five years have brought with them some major changes in both new lawyer and lateral attorney recruiting, according to experts, leaving large law firms scrambling to find internal recruiting professionals to navigate what some are calling the "Wild West" of hiring.

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    Paul Hastings Adds Ex-Chair Of Willkie Farr Music Practice

    Paul Hastings LLP has added the former chair of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP's music and digital media practice as a partner in its Los Angeles office and as chair of its own music industry practice, the firm announced Thursday.

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    How A Lawyer Saved His Home Office From The Eaton Fire

    Dozens of Los Angeles County lawyers shared stories with Law360 of how the L.A. fires impacted their offices and practices, and one attorney recounted how he saved his home office from the Eaton blaze.

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    MoFo Brings On New COO From Boston Consulting Group

    Morrison Foerster LLP has hired the managing director and chief operating officer of Boston Consulting Group, Brian Gross, to be its new COO, the firm announced Wednesday.

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    Tarter Krinsky Announces 4 Leadership Appointments

    Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP has announced four leadership appointments, elevating two attorneys to practice chair roles and two members of senior management to C-Suite positions.

  • Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds Slam Baldoni Atty's 'Media Blitz'

    Counsel for celebrity couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds told a New York federal judge that Justin Baldoni's attorney from Liner Freedman Taitelman & Cooley LLP has violated ethical rules with an "all-out media blitz" during their thorny litigation over the movie "It Ends With Us."

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    Small Firm Immigration Attorneys Prep For Trump 2.0

    On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump signed executive orders to launch his promised immigration crackdown. And the solo and small firm attorneys who make up the vast majority of the nation’s immigration bar are at the front lines preparing to fight for their clients.

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    Fennemore Craig Fills New Director Role To Lead AI Initiative

    Fennemore Craig PC has hired a senior solutions architect from Thomson Reuters to be its first-ever director of emerging technology and innovation, a role in which he will lead the firm's artificial intelligence initiative.

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    Farella Braun's First Female Chiefs On Helming The Firm

    Karen Kimmey and Holly Sutton joined Law360 Pulse to discuss their recent appointment as co-managing partners of North California firm Farella Braun & Martel LLP — the first women to serve in the role in the firm's 60-plus years of operation.

  • Calif. Panel Upholds $200K Fee Award In Dispatchers' OT Row

    Two train dispatchers could recover $200,000 in attorney fees and costs after snagging a bench trial win in their overtime suit against a transportation company because a California state court looked at their case anew, a state appellate panel ruled.

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    What Lawyers Really Think About Working In-House

    Law360 Pulse asked corporate counsel to identify some common misconceptions about working in-house and share their thoughts on the rewards and challenges of their jobs. Here's what they said.

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    In-House Attorneys Have Saner Schedules, But Long Hours

    It may once have been that the typical in-house lawyer worked a 40-hour week, but that no longer appears to be the case for many corporate counsel, with more than 40% reporting they exceed 50 hours at work each week in a recent survey by Law360 Pulse.

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    How Happy Are In-House Attorneys At Work?

    In-house attorneys report high job satisfaction when it comes to schedule flexibility, team collegiality, and compensation, but concerns linger about workload and career advancement, particularly for mid-level lawyers seeking to climb the career ladder, according to a new Law360 Pulse report.

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    In-House Etiquette — Tips For Outside Counsel

    While most in-house lawyers seem generally happy with their outside counsel, about 9% of participants in Law360 Pulse's first In-House Counsel Satisfaction Survey want more, saying they are fed up with being nickel-and-dimed while receiving low quality work and poor communication from their outside attorneys.

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    Calif. Land Use Law Firms Meyers Nave, Sohagi Law Combine

    Los Angeles-based land use and environmental boutique Sohagi Law Group will merge with Meyers Nave LLP, a litigation and transactional firm known for its strong environmental and land use practice groups, the firms announced Wednesday.  

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    SDNY Prosecutor Returns To Debevoise In San Francisco

    Debevoise & Plimpton LLP announced the return of one of its litigators Tuesday after eight and a half years with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, most recently as deputy chief of the Criminal Division.

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    As Fire Victims Seek Legal Help, Experts Warn Of Red Flags

    As lawyers from across the nation descend upon Southern California to sign up those affected by the devastating wildfires, fire victims should not rush to hire an attorney, lest they also become victims of fraud or other predatory practices, the state bar and ethics-savvy attorneys warn.

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Expert Analysis

  • The Importance Of Legal Macroeconomics Education For Attys Author Photo

    Most legal professionals lack understanding of the macroeconomic trends unique to the legal industry, like the rising cost of law school and legal services, which contributes to an unfair and inaccessible justice system, so law school courses and continuing legal education requirements in this area are essential, says Bob Glaves at the Chicago Bar Foundation.

  • What ABA Student Well-Being Standards Mean For Law Firms Author Photo

    While the American Bar Association's recent amendments to its law school accreditation standards around student well-being could have gone further, legal industry employers have much to learn from the ABA's move and the well-being movement that continues to gain traction in law schools, says David Jaffe at the American University Washington College of Law.

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    Ask A Mentor: How Do I Build Rapport In New In-House Role? Author Photo

    Tim Parilla at LinkSquares explains how new in-house lawyers can start developing relationships with colleagues both within and outside their legal departments in order to expand their networks, build their brands and carve their paths to leadership positions.

  • What Attys Should Consider Before Taking On Pro Bono Work
    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
    Author Photo

    Piper Hoffman and Will Lowrey at Animal Outlook lay out suggestions for attorneys to maximize the value of their pro bono efforts, from crafting engagement letters to balancing workloads — and they explain how these principles can foster a more rewarding engagement for both lawyers and nonprofits.

  • 7 Ways Attys Can Improve Their LinkedIn Summaries Author Photo

    Lawyers can use LinkedIn to strengthen their thought leadership position, generate new business, explore career opportunities, and better position themselves and their firms in search results by writing a well-composed, optimized summary that demonstrates their knowledge and experience, says Guy Alvarez at Good2bSocial.

  • How Law Firms And Attys Can Combat Imposter Syndrome Author Photo

    Imposter syndrome is rampant in the legal profession, especially among lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds, leading to missed opportunities and mental health issues — but firms can provide support in numerous ways, and attorneys can use therapeutic strategies to quiet their inner critic, says Helen Pamely at Rosling King.

  • The Law Firm Qualities Partners Seek In Lateral Moves Author Photo

    In 2022, partners considering lateral moves have new priorities, and firms that hope to recruit top talent will need to communicate their strategy for growth, engage on hot issues like origination credit and diversity initiatives, and tailor their integration plans toward expanding partners’ client base, says Gloria Sandrino at Lateral Link.

  • Small Steps Can Help Employers Beat Attorney Burnout Author Photo

    Lawyers are experiencing burnout on a massive, unprecedented scale due to the pandemic, but law firms and institutional players can and should make a difference by focusing on small, practical solutions that protect their attorneys’ most precious personal resource and professional commodity — time, says Chad Sarchio, president of the District of Columbia Bar.

  • The Evolving Role Of The Law Firm Legal Secretary Author Photo

    Technological shifts during the pandemic and beyond should force firms to rethink how legal secretaries can not only better support timekeepers but also participate in elevating client service, bifurcating the role into an administrative support position and a more elevated practice support role, says Lauren Chung at HBR Consulting.

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    Ask A Mentor: How Can I Ace My Upcoming Annual Review? Author Photo

    Jennifer Rakstad at White & Case highlights how associates can emphasize achievements and seek support before, during and after their annual review, despite the pandemic’s negative effects on face time with colleagues and business development opportunities.

  • How Your Law Firm's Brand Can Convey Prestige Author Photo

    In order to be perceived as prestigious by clients and potential recruits, law firms should take their branding efforts beyond designing visual identities and address six key imperatives to differentiate themselves — from identifying intangible core strengths to delivering on promises at every interaction, says Howard Breindel at DeSantis Breindel.

  • How Dynamic Project Management Can Help Law Firms Author Photo

    Law firms looking to streamline matter management should consider tools that offer both employees and clients real-time access to documents, action items, task assignee information and more, overcoming many of the limitations of project communications via email, says Stephen Weyer at Stites & Harbison.

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    Ask A Mentor: How Can I Successfully Switch Practices? Author Photo

    Associates who pivot into new practice areas may find that along with the excitement of a fresh start comes some apprehension, but certain proactive steps can help tame anxiety and ensure attorneys successfully adapt to unfamiliar subjects, novel internal processes and different client deliverables, say Susan Berson and Hassan Shaikh at Mintz.

  • A Road Map For Creating Law Firm Sustainability Programs Author Photo

    Amid demands from clients and prospective hires for greater sustainability efforts, law firms should think beyond reusable mugs and create programs that incorporate clear leadership structures, emission tracking and reduction goals, and frameworks for reporting results, says Gayatri Joshi at the Law Firm Sustainability Network.

  • Why Firms Should Help Associates Do More Pro Bono Work Author Photo

    Associates may hesitate to take on the added commitment of pro bono matters, but such work has tangible skill-building benefits, so firms should consider compensation and leadership strategies to encourage participation, says Rasmeet Chahil at Lowenstein Sandler.

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