Article Abstract:
Some very large law firms have determined a need for their own general counsel, and a National Law Journal survey identified 16 such positions, all in the Midwest, Southwest and West of the country. The experience cited by recently named general counsel is the most typical, who say their position started as an administrative one, but that gradually substantive legal duties took up more of their time. Time is devoted to such professional issues as spotting conflicts of interest, possible malpractice and other pitfalls putting the firm at risk. Most relied on top management for validation of their authority.
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Article Abstract:
Litigators are becoming the managing partners of law firms and stepping elsewhere into the management ranks, positions which used to be held by business lawyers. Questions to a selection of firms on the advantages of having managing partners with trial experience yield few generalities, saying an attorney's individual qualities are more important. Many say the growing complexity of litigation has forced successful trial lawyers to become team players, at the same time increasing their numbers and political clout within firms.
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Article Abstract:
McKenna, Connor and Cuneo was a product of the merger of the Los Angeles firm McKenna and Fitting and Washington, D.C.'s Sellers, Conner and Cuneo, but the merger apparently never worked and the firm is 'de-merging' into McKenna and Fitting and McKenna and Cuneo. The dissolution of the West Coast branch has been particularly acrimonious, with allegations that the 21 remaining partners used at least $1 million owed departed partners to fund a new firm. This dispute has been resolved by arbitration.
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