Ross Todd

September 16, 2010 | Law.com

Last week saw a deluge of press releases from law firms touting new partner hires. When asked about the bonanza of lateral announcements, one recruiter said with the close of the third quarter, partners have a better idea of how things are shaping up for themselves and their firms. Another recruiter notes that partners are moving to firms that are more flexible about meeting clients' demands. "People are no longer moving to amplify their comp," he says. "They're moving to survive."

By Ross Todd

3 minute read

September 22, 2009 | The American Lawyer

A new, in-depth look at the battle for Minnesota's U.S. Senate seat spotlights the candidates' lawyers. The verdict? Attorneys for Al Franken and Norm Coleman were at times brilliant and bumbling. But in the end, Franken's lawyers from Perkins Coie and Frederickson & Byron outmaneuvered their opponents.

By Ross Todd

2 minute read

September 16, 2009 | The American Lawyer

Why do white-collar defendants hire Brendan Sullivan and Williams & Connolly? Well, among other skills, they write damned good pretrial briefs, as Monday's filing in the case of former Bear Stearns hedge fund manager Ralph Cioffi demonstrates.

By Ross Todd

2 minute read

July 22, 2009 | The American Lawyer

Pom Wonderful is an extremely vigilant juice company that considers the health benefits of pomegranates a life-or-death matter. When rival juice makers began touting their own pomegranate juice blends, Pom went on the attack. Defendants keep claiming it's up to the FDA to decide whether their juice labels are okay, but all but one of the federal judges who've considered the issue have disagreed.

By Ross Todd

3 minute read

January 04, 2012 | The American Lawyer

Here's a tip for the Securities and Exchange Commission: If you happen to get a Freedom of Information Act request from lawyers representing Russia in the country's sprawling litigation over the renationalized Yukos Oil Company, take it seriously.

By Ross Todd

3 minute read

January 17, 2012 | The American Lawyer

A study co-authored by Steven Davidoff and Matthew Cain notes that judges in Delaware award attorney fees in M&A litigation that are on average $400,000 to $500,000 higher than other states, while they dismiss a greater proportion of cases. "Overall, Delaware's strategy implies that it is favoring good cases by preferring to award higher attorneys' fee awards rather than dilute its law and dismiss fewer cases to attract litigation," they wrote.

By Ross Todd

3 minute read

December 20, 2010 | The American Lawyer

The recording artist, producer, and activist proposed a "thank you" concert--for the firm's pro bono efforts in Haiti and for the work it does for Jean--last Friday over lunch with DLA Piper partner David Hryck. By 3 pm Monday, it was Wyclef and band in a multi-purpose room at the firm's midtown NYC office.

By Ross Todd

2 minute read

July 18, 2011 | The American Lawyer

Cordray's aggressive pursuit of AIG and other financial titans earned him Litigator of the Week honors last year and prompted securities plaintiffs lawyers to fuel his past campaigns. That background could be a liability as Cordray fights to be confirmed as director of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

By Ross Todd

2 minute read

March 12, 2010 | The American Lawyer

In 2008 a California federal jury found Siemens's patent on tiny sensors was invalid. It took the appellate panel no time flat to agree.

By Ross Todd

2 minute read

March 08, 2010 | The American Lawyer

For the third time in recent years, a Missouri state court jury has hit Premium Standard Farms with a multimillion-dollar verdict, finding the odor of its hog farms is a public nuisance. Premium Standard, meanwhile, says it doesn't smell anything--and is threatening economic consequences for neighborhoods where it's not welcome.

By Ross Todd

3 minute read