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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

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BUMMER - Pot professionals have lost another round against the federal government. Cheryl Miller reports that the Tenth Circuit upheld the IRS' authority to audit state-licensed marijuana dispensaries, rejecting a New Mexico outlet's argument that the tax agency is acting as a surrogate for criminal prosecutors. Tuesday's ruling was the latest blow for marijuana-related businesses seeking to take the full range of tax deductions available to other companies.

SHOWTIME - What is it with the profession's fixation on “My Cousin Vinny”? Nate Robson and Mike Scarcella report that Chief Judge Merrick Garland in the D.C. Circuit is the latest appeals judge to cite, in an opinion, the 1992 movie starring Joe Pesci. Garland, whose reference to the movie is among the roughly 25 made by judges over the years, was included in the opening lines of an opinion issued Tuesday, which involved whether the firing of four labor union workers before a union vote was lawful. Wrote Garland, “In 1992, Vincent Gambini taught a master class in cross-examination. Trial counsel for the National Labor Relations Board and the National Union of Healthcare Workers apparently paid attention.”

POPULAR - We're edging closer to revealing the No. 1 law school sending the highest percentage of its 2018 graduates into Big Law jobs. This afternoon we'll present Nos. 21-30 of the top 50 Go-To Law Schools. For Nos. 31-50 go here and here.

DOWN AND UP - Here's a tale of two boutiques. After a decade running white-collar New York boutique Park Jensen Bennett, its co-founders are returning to Big Law. Meghan Tribe reports that Tai Park and Douglas Jensen are moving to White & Case. Meanwhile, litigation boutique Pierce Bainbridge, founded in 2017 by former Quinn Emanuel partner John Pierce, has added two more partners—Joan Meyer from Baker McKenzie and Michael Winograd from Ropes & Gray—to its ranks on the East Coast, bringing the firm's total number of partners to 31.

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EDITOR'S PICKS

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Patagonia Lands Ex-EPA General Counsel, Gibson Dunn Partner as New Environmental Advocate

Williams & Connolly's Allison Rushing Is Confirmed to 4th Circuit Seat

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WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

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ACCOUNTING FOR CHANGE - Andersen Global has big plans. Rowan Bennett reports that the tax and legal adviser aims to operate in 100 countries in the next three years, expansion that would more than double its existing footprint. The company is currently in 48 countries, 39 of which have a legal capability. Chairman Mark Vorsatz says that the company plans to add 20 law firms to its network this year.

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WHAT YOU SAID

“For those of us who care about our institutions of government, who care about science, who care about the rule of law and the progress we have made in the past, we are really coming into a crucial period in the administration when those of us who have experience and have a voice need to speak up.”

— AVI GARBOW, FORMER GENERAL COUNSEL AT THE EPA, WHO IS NOW AN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE AT PATAGONIA.

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