California Pulse


  • Worker's Atty Fees Upheld In Settled Calif. Harassment Suit

    A California state appeals court upheld a $493,600 attorney fees award handed to a freight trucking company worker whose sexual harassment case made it to the state's highest court, finding her former boss failed to show she didn't deserve the sum as the suit's prevailing party.

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    MoFo Investment Funds Ace Jumps To DLA Piper In Palo Alto

    DLA Piper is boosting its California investment team, announcing Thursday that it is bringing in a Morrison Foerster LLP fund formation expert as a partner in its Silicon Valley office.

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    Venable Promotes 33 Attorneys, Adding 18 Partners

    More than 30 attorneys at Venable LLP have new job titles after the firm announced its promotion class for the start of 2025, down from the 40 attorneys elevated the previous year.

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    Federal Judges Fear Slower Courts After 'Devastating' Veto

    The president's veto of legislation that would have added dozens more federal judgeships has stunned and disappointed top jurists around the country, leaving them worried that the "devastating" move means backlogs on court dockets will continue to delay cases, hurt litigants and undermine confidence in the judicial system.

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    Littler Names Former Miami Leader As New COO

    Management-side labor and employment law firm Littler Mendelson PC tapped its former Miami office managing shareholder and member of its management committee to serve as its next chief operating officer.

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    Pryor Cashman's Outgoing Head Talks Legacy

    After 17 years leading New York-based Mid-Law firm Pryor Cashman LLP, the firm's managing partner is stepping down at the end of January, saying that he is proud of the way the firm has grown under his leadership while still maintaining its identity.

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    Law Firm Leaders' Minds Are On Profitability, Growth, AI

    Balancing profitability, growth and the implementation of generative artificial intelligence are the top challenges and priorities on the minds of law firm leaders going into 2025, according to the results of a recent survey by public relations firm Greentarget.

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    Former Amazon In-House Atty Joins Calif. IP Boutique

    California intellectual property boutique Friedland Cianfrani LLP is expanding its team, bringing in a former corporate counsel for IP at Amazon as a partner.

  • Whistleblower Attys Get $8.7M In Academy Mortgage FCA Suit

    Counsel representing a whistleblower will receive $8.7 million in fees and expenses — less than requested — for their role in reaching a $38.5 million deal with Academy Mortgage in a suit accusing the company of submitting false claims, according to a newly public order.

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    Raging Wildfires Roil Los Angeles Legal Community

    As out-of-control wildfires reportedly killed at least five people and forced tens of thousands in Los Angeles to evacuate, lawyers and law firms in the city confronted a day of upheaval both at home and in their jobs.

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    Leech Tishman Leader Begins 3rd Decade At The Helm

    Leech Tishman is staying with the status quo for some of its top leadership positions after extending the firm's managing partner's 20-year tenure for another three-year term and reelecting two members of the management committee.

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    Attys For Organizations May Need To Clarify Roles, ABA Says

    Lawyers advising organizations through nonclient constituents may be obligated to clear up any confusion about their role that may cause the constituents to mistakenly think they can rely on the lawyer's advice to avoid criminal or civil liability, the American Bar Association said in a formal opinion Wednesday.

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    Nixon Peabody Elevates Longtime Controller To Finance Chief

    Nixon Peabody LLP announced Wednesday that it has named longtime controller Susan Bileschi Tripi as the firm's new chief financial officer.

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    Spencer Fane Elevates 13 To Partner, Biggest Class In Years

    Spencer Fane LLP has promoted 13 attorneys to partner in what is the firm's largest class in recent years, according to an announcement.

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    Eversheds Sutherland Names New US General Counsel

    Eversheds Sutherland announced that a longtime partner and its former co-head of global litigation has been appointed its new U.S. general counsel following his predecessor's decision to step down into a senior counsel role.

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    Growing Tech Co. Names Ex-Airbnb, Google Atty As GC

    California-based Moloco, an operational machine learning and performance advertising company, announced Wednesday it has added a former in-house attorney with Airbnb Inc. and Google to serve as its new legal leader.

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    Goodwin Exec Joins Lowenstein As Chief Marketing Officer

    Lowenstein Sandler LLP has brought on a senior leader from Goodwin Procter LLP as chief marketing and business development officer, the firm said Wednesday.

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    K&L Gates Promotes 33 Attys Across 18 Offices

    K&L Gates LLP has promoted 33 attorneys across 18 of the firm's 45 offices, 27 of whom will join its partnership, along with a handful of other promotions of employees who will take on government affairs and of counsel roles, the firm recently announced.

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    Ballard Spahr, Lane Powell Leaders On Post-Merger Plans

    Ballard Spahr LLP officially merged with Lane Powell PC on Jan. 1, marking its entry into the Pacific Northwest. Law360 Pulse spoke with Peter Michaud, chair of the combined firm, and Barbara Duffy, former Lane Powell president, about their leadership priorities, integration strategies and growth plans.

  • Calif. Justices Urged To Rescue Malicious Prosecution Claims

    A fugitive recovery agent urged the California Supreme Court on Tuesday to revive malicious prosecution claims that a lower court struck under the attorney-malpractice law's one-year statute-of-limitations, arguing that he never had an attorney-client relationship with the defendant and so the two-year statute-of-limitations for tort claims must apply.

  • Hacked LA Law Firm Hill Farrer Beats Suit Over Cyberattack

    A Los Angeles judge Tuesday tossed a proposed class action against Hill Farrer & Burrill LLP alleging it failed to stop a preventable cyberattack carried out by hackers and said he would not allow for the complaint to be amended because the case law cited by the lead plaintiff is deficient.

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    Katz Banks Adds Discrimination Partner From Sanford Heisler

    Plaintiffs-side firm Katz Banks Kumin LLP has brought on a former Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight LLP attorney as a partner in its San Francisco office, adding a civil rights and employment attorney who said childhood experiences helped shape her career.

  • Keller Postman Drops Suit Against Jenner & Block, For Now

    Keller Postman LLC has dismissed its suit accusing Jenner & Block LLP of using unethical tactics to gain leverage in mass arbitration against the streaming service Tubi but requested the complaint be dismissed without prejudice.

  • Google Avoids Data Destruction Sanctions In Ad Privacy Suit

    A California federal judge has declined to sanction and hold Google in contempt for purportedly intentionally destroying key evidence in a putative class action claiming the company's ad auction practices violate privacy rights, saying the consumers' motion came too late after fact discovery closed.

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    Calif. Software Co. Names New Leadership Including GC

    Medallia Inc., an experience management software platform, has hired a new management team, including a general counsel and a CEO who worked for its onetime rival Clarabridge.

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Expert Analysis

  • How BigLaw Can Mirror Small Firm Attorney Engagement Author Photo

    BigLaw has the unique opportunity to hit refresh post-pandemic and enhance attorney satisfaction by adopting practices that smaller firms naturally employ — including work assignment policies that can provide junior attorneys steady professional development, says Michelle Genet Bernstein at Mark Migdal.

  • Ditch The Annual Review To Boost Attorney Job Satisfaction Author Photo

    In order to attract and retain the rising millennial generation's star talent, law firms should break free of the annual review system and train lawyers of all seniority levels to solicit and share frequent and informal feedback, says Betsy Miller at Cohen Milstein.

  • How Attorneys Can Narrow LGBTQ Gap In The Judiciary Author Photo

    Lawyers can take several steps to redress the lack of adequate LGBTQ representation on the bench and its devastating impact on litigants and counsel in the community, says Janice Grubin, co-chair of the Judiciary Committee at the LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York.

  • Employers Must Heed Rising Attorney Stress And Alcohol Use Author Photo

    Krill Strategies’ Patrick Krill, who co-authored a new study that revealed alarming levels of stress, hazardous drinking and associated gender disparities among practicing attorneys, highlights how legal employers can confront the underlying risk factors as both warnings and opportunities in the post-COVID-19 era.

  • Lawyers Can Get Ready For Space Law To Take Flight Author Photo

    While international agreements for space law have remained relatively unchanged since their creation decades ago, the rapid pace of change in U.S. laws and policies is creating opportunities for both new and veteran lawyers looking to break into this exciting realm, in either the private sector or government, says Michael Dodge at the University of North Dakota.

  • Series

    Ask A Mentor: What Makes A Successful Summer Associate? Author Photo

    Navigating a few densely packed weeks at a law firm can be daunting for summer associates, but those who are prepared to seize opportunities and not afraid to ask questions will be set up for success, says Julie Crisp at Latham.

  • How To Successfully Market Your Summer Associate Program Author Photo

    Law firms can attract the right summer associate candidates and help students see what makes a program unique by using carefully crafted messaging and choosing the best ambassadors to deliver it, says Tamara McClatchey, director of career services at the University of Chicago Law School.

  • Opinion

    Judges Deserve Congress' Commitment To Their Safety Author Photo

    Following the tragic attack on U.S. District Judge Esther Salas' family last summer and amid rising threats against the judiciary, legislation protecting federal judges' personal information and enhancing security measures at courthouses is urgently needed, says U.S. District Judge Roslynn Mauskopf, director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

  • Series

    Ask A Mentor: How Can Recalcitrant Attys Use Social Media? Author Photo

    Social media can be intimidating for reluctant lawyers but it can also be richly rewarding, as long as attorneys remember that professional accounts will always reflect on their firms and colleagues, and follow some best practices to avoid embarrassment, says Sean Marotta at Hogan Lovells.

  • Keys To Digitizing Inefficient Contract Management Processes Author Photo

    Neville Eisenberg and Mark Grayson at BCLP explain how they sped up contract execution for one client by replacing email with a centralized, digital tool for negotiations and review, and how the principles they adhered to can be helpful for other law firms looking to improve poorly managed contract management processes.

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    Ask A Mentor: How Can Firms Coach Associates Remotely? Author Photo

    Practicing law through virtual platforms will likely persist even after the pandemic, so law firms and senior lawyers should consider refurbishing their associate mentoring programs to facilitate personal connections, professionalism and effective training in a remote environment, says Carol Goodman at Herrick Feinstein.

  • How Law Firms Can Welcome And Celebrate Autistic Lawyers Author Photo

    As the U.S. observes Autism Acceptance Month, autistic attorney Haley Moss describes the societal barriers and stereotypes that keep neurodivergent lawyers from disclosing their disabilities, and how law firms can better accommodate and level the playing field for attorneys whose minds work outside of the prescribed norm.

  • Law Firm Tips For Evaluating AI And Machine Learning Tools Author Photo

    Many legal technology vendors now sell artificial intelligence and machine learning tools at a premium price tag, but law firms must take the time to properly evaluate them as not all offerings generate process efficiencies or even use the technologies advertised, says Steven Magnuson at Ballard Spahr.

  • A Call For Personal Accountability On Diversity And Inclusion Author Photo

    While chief legal officers are increasingly involved in creating corporate diversity, inclusion and anti-bigotry policies, all lawyers have a responsibility to be discrimination busters and bias interrupters regardless of the title they hold, says Veta T. Richardson at the Association of Corporate Counsel.

  • Learning How To Code Can Unleash New Potential In Lawyers Author Photo

    Every lawyer can begin incorporating aspects of software development in their day-to-day practice with little to no changes in their existing tools or workflow, and legal organizations that take steps to encourage this exploration of programming can transform into tech incubators, says George Zalepa at Greenberg Traurig.

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