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


|

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

BONUS POINTS – Four days after Milbank issued the first—and early—salvo in the law firm bonus wars, Cravath has announced its year-end bounty, which matches Milbank and is the same as last year. Dylan Jackson reports that first-year associates are taking home a $15,000 year-end bonus while senior associates are receiving up to a $100,000 bonus. Last year Cravath was the first mover on associate bonuses, announcing them on Nov. 19. Meanwhile, one Austin boutique says it's outdone them both, Brenda Sapino Jeffreys reports. Reid Collins & Tsai, with 35 lawyers, says it's paid associates with one to three years of experience $85,000 to $95,000 in bonuses so far this year, while senior associates with four or five years of experience have received $85,000 to $102,500.

DREAM TEAM – U.S. Supreme Court this morning will hear the DOJ's drive to end the Obama-era DACA immigration program. Gibson Dunn's Ted Olson will argue for a group of Dreamers, along with Michael Mongan, the California state solicitor general. Mongan, a former clerk to Justice David Souter, will make his argument debut. Major U.S. companies including Microsoft and Apple are backing pro-DACA arguments. U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco will argue the justices have no authority to review the Trump administration's move to declare the program unlawful.

WINE WOES – The EU's Court of Justice is expected to rule today in a controversial case over whether wine produced in Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories should state as much on its label and whether requirements to do so are in line with EU law, Simon Taylor reports. The Israeli government fears that a decision requiring the labeling would be forced upon all 28 EU countries and would boost the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement known as BDS, which encourages countries to boycott Israeli products in solidarity with Palestinians. The case involves Psagot winery, which hired Covington & Burling in late September to battle the pending EU regulations on country of origin labels.


|

EDITOR'S PICKS

No Bleeping Required: Jury Gets Uncensored Look at Roger Stone's Messages

5 Challenges Facing Firms Trying to Boost Marketing With Tech


|

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

EXPANDING – U.S. law firm Tully Rinckey has opened an office in London—the second U.S. outfit to set up shop in the city in the past three months. Simon Lock reports that the London office will focus primarily on litigation, corporate immigration and employment. Alston & Bird opened a London office in September with the hire of former K&L Gates London finance head Andrew Petersen and a team of six other lawyers.


|

WHAT YOU SAID

"They're profane, they're rude, they're crude."

—  Bruce Rogow, lawyer for Roger Stone, referring to his client's profanity-laced emails that are part of the evidence presented during the ongoing trial of the former Trump ally who faces charges of lying to Congress and impeding a congressional investigation into the 2016 presidential campaign.

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