➤➤ Want to get this daily news briefing by email? Here's the sign-up. 

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

 

SUITED UP - Paul Manafort is due in court today to address charges that he lied to special counsel Robert Mueller, despite a plea agreement. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered the former Trump campaign chairman to appear in person, despite his request to remain in his Virginia jail cell. However, the judge is permitting Manafort to appear in a suit instead of prison garb. [Insert $15K ostrich-jacket snark here.] Mueller's office asserts, among other things, that Manafort lied about his contact with Konstantin Kilimnik, an associate believed to have ties to Russian intelligence, and his contact with the Trump administration.

BOLD MOVES - DISCO is rocking. Rhys Dipshan reports that the e-discovery technology and services provider has closed on an $83 million funding round, with plans to expand beyond its core e-discovery business and the U.S. market. The latest investment brings DISCO's total funding since its inception in 2012 to $135 million. It is one of several e-discovery companies to receive substantial investments in the past year. Among them: Logikcull, with $25 million; Exterro with an undisclosed “nine-figure” investment; and Everlaw with $25 million.

PUH-LEEZ - Yes, inflating billables is wrong. But The Careerist Vivia Chen takes issue with all the pearl-clutching over Christopher Anderson's admission of padding his hours while at Kirkland & Ellis and later at Neal Gerber & Eisenberg. It isn't right, Chen says, but there's an attitude in Big Law that overbilling is a victimless crime, particularly if you're working for a fat-cat client on a hefty transaction.

EDITOR'S PICKS

 

Pier 1 Imports Lands Former Abercrombie & Fitch GC

Android War: Google Asks US Supreme Court to Take Up Appeal of Oracle's Copyright Victory

Personal Injury Plaintiff's Devices, Social Media Accounts Should Be Made Available to Defense, Court Rules

Photographer Sues Miami Pop Art Gallery Over Vintage Brigitte Bardot Photo

Former Ogletree Partner Lodges New Gender Bias Suit

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

 

FRESH HIRE - Freshfields has named its first leader of its international arbitration practice for the U.S. Dan Packel reports that New York partner Noiana Marigo will fill the role for the U.K.-based firm. Marigo, who joined Freshfields in 2002, has served as the global co-head of its Latin America practice group since May 2014, and she will be continuing in that position.

WHAT YOU SAID

“Justice Kavanaugh was the most qualified Supreme Court nominee in our history.”

—  MIKE DAVIS, FORMER CHIEF COUNSEL FOR NOMINATIONS AT THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, WHO  LEFT THE POSITION LAST WEEK AFTER SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM TOOK THE REINS OF THE COMMITTEE AND HIRED HIS OWN NOMINATIONS

 ➤➤ Sign up here to receive the Morning Minute straight to your inbox.