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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

 

AT ODDS - Lawyers are exercised over a proposed change to the federal rules that govern depositions. As Sue Reisinger reports, 138 leading companies and organizations have signed a letter opposing the proposal that would require, among other things, both parties to confer on the identity of the people whom the company designates to testify on its behalf. Opponents to the change say the rule is well settled that corporations get to choose their deposition witnesses. Among the signers are American Airlines Inc., Bank of America Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp., Ford Motor Co., and General Electric Co. By contrast, the National Consumer Law Center and the National Association of Consumer Advocates argue that the proposal “represents a reasonable change.”

SHOW OR NO? Matthew Whitaker, the acting U.S. attorney general, is scheduled to testify today before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee about his communication with the White House regarding Mueller investigation. But at the 11th-hour there were questions over whether he'd appear—and what he'd be able to discuss. Meanwhile, over at the U.S. Senate, the judiciary committee Thursday advanced the nomination of Kirkland & Ellis counsel Bill Barr as the permanent U.S. attorney general.

NOPE - California's high court has struck a decisive blow favoring payroll companies, finding that employees could not bring claims against ADP for an employer's failure to pay wages under the state's employee-friendly labor laws. As Cheryl Miller reports, the California Supreme Court reasoned that allowing payroll companies like ADP to be brought into such cases would likely mean “an unnecessary and potentially burdensome complication.”

EDITOR'S PICKS

 

Chief Legal Officer v. General Counsel: Why You May Need Both

How Many Lawyers Does It Take to Write a Status Update? A Lot

Grassroots 'Black Lives' Program Grows at Law Schools

Bitter Court Fight Pits Health Care Giant Against a Former Top Executive

Behind Elevate's Buying Binge: Liam Brown's Meticulous Strategy

AI Legal Transcription Provider Verbit Raises $23 Million

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

 

HELLO MOFO - Latham & Watkins banking co-head in London has decamped to Morrison & Foerster. Hannah Roberts reports that heavyweight partner Christopher Kandel leaves Latham after almost nine years. He was at White & Case prior to that. Other finance hires for MoFo in London during last year include former Clifford Chance partner Caroline Jury and Ropes & Gray project finance partner Benoit Lavigne.

WHAT YOU SAID

“The challenges facing senior company leaders have never been greater, and have never demanded a more holistic and nuanced approach than they do today.”

— RICHARD FIELDS, DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AT KING & SPALDING. THE FIRM CREATED HIS POSITION IN RESPONSE TO THE GROWING PRESSURE ON CORPORATE BOARDS FROM SHAREHOLDER ACTIVISM.

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