The bulk of The Legal's 10 most-read stories of the year fit pretty neatly into three categories:  unhappy news for law firms, attorneys in trouble and upheaval in the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.

If you were among the many readers who found any or all of those topics compelling in 2017, you can rest assured none of them are likely to go away in 2018.

Here's a countdown of our 10 most popular stories of the year.

10.) Phila. Injury Firm Sues Morgan & Morgan for False Advertising

Its commercials pepper daytime television and its billboards can be seen on highways in the Philadelphia area, but the personal injury firm of Morgan & Morgan attracted some unwanted attention in September. The Philadelphia law firm of Rosenbaum & Associates sued Orlando-based Morgan & Morgan and its principals in federal court, claiming the firm falsely advertises that it represents clients in Philadelphia and the surrounding area, when it only has one attorney in Pennsylvania with “little or no experience in handling personal injury matters,” according to the complaint.

 

9.) Seth Williams Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison, Endures Withering Criticism From Judge

Former Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, once the most powerful law enforcement officer in the city, was sentenced in October to five years in federal prison for his role in a corruption scandal that marked his downfall. Williams, who was indicted for taking bribes, stealing money meant for his mother's nursing home care, and using campaign funds to bankroll a lavish lifestyle, entered the courtroom in handcuffs and a tan prison uniform, illustrating just how far he had fallen.

 

8.) Partner Pins Move to Ballard Spahr on Holland & Knight's Trump Stance

Presidential politics may have helped drive a top media partner at Holland & Knight to jump to Ballard Spahr. Charles Tobin said in June that he left Holland & Knight because the firm had adopted a policy of not taking on matters that were adverse to President Donald Trump or the executive office of the president. But Holland & Knight said it has no such policy, and routinely represents clients in matters adverse to the executive branch and its agencies.

 

7.) Krasner Announces Transition Leadership Team, Including Castille

In December, Philadelphia's district attorney-elect, Larry Krasner, named the leaders of his transition team, and the list of names included several prominent political and criminal justice figures, including former Pennsylvania Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille. Krasner, who is set to take over the office starting in January, released the names of 16 attorneys, politicians and labor leaders who he said will help him to shape his administration and the office that will be serving under him.

 

6.) Disciplinary Board Warns Public About Suspended Lawyer

In June, the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board alerted the public to “beware” of a suspended lawyer, saying he has persisted illegally in practicing law. In an unusual release, the board said it is cautioning people not to engage Harris Roy Rosen for legal work or counsel. Rosen was placed on indefinite suspension effective April 15, following an order by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in March.

 

5.) K&L Gates Cuts Staff Across Offices

In February, sources said K&L Gates laid off a group of secretaries and staff in an effort to cut costs. The layoffs, first reported by Above the Law, affected a “substantial” number of firm employees across offices, a former partner of the firm said. Asked about the dismissals, a spokesman for K&L Gates said in a statement: “The firm works to assure the right employees are performing the right jobs in order to maximize client service and efficiency. As is the case with any global professional services organization, we periodically review our staffing needs and make adjustments for the good of the firm and its clients.”

 

4.) Clients Attend 'Camp for Adults' on Pepper Partner's Private Island

In October, readers gravitated to a story about Pepper Hamilton partner Ray Miller's unique approach to developing client relationships. Miller, an intellectual property lawyer in Pepper Hamilton's health sciences department, came up with an ambitious idea several years ago: He invited a group of his contacts up to Black Bass Island, his three-acre property on the Georgian Bay in Canada, for a four-day stay. They came to call it “Ray's Retreat.” Nearly two dozen founders, executives, partners and in-house counsel of various technology, health and financial businesses gathered at Black Bass Island in August for the fourth annual Ray's Retreat. A little more than half were existing clients of Miller and his firm. The rest were prospective clients or industry leaders, he said, and several other Pepper Hamilton partners attended too. They donned T-shirts and shorts, shared four-person cottages and spent the bulk of each day in discussion and presentation sessions where they shared information and ideas about their work. Those sessions, of course, were punctuated by hiking, fishing trips and barbecued meals.

 

3.) Duane Morris Faces $625M Suit Over Appellate Brief

Just before the start of the year, Duane Morris was hit with a $625 million lawsuit for allegedly failing to file an appellate brief, but contended that the plaintiff was never a client of the firm. Jeffrey Servin filed a complaint in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas alleging negligence, breach of contract, tortious interference and misrepresentation. The complaint argued that Servin, as a 50 percent equity owner of First City Communications, was relying on Duane Morris to file an appellate brief on behalf of the company in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which the firm ultimately did not do. But while the complaint alleged that Duane Morris owed Servin a duty to adequately represent his interests, Duane Morris disagreed. “Mr. Servin was never a client of Duane Morris,” Duane Morris spokesman Joshua Peck said. “There is no legal basis for this lawsuit, which the firm will vigorously defend.” In April, a judge sided with Duane Morris, granting the firm's preliminary objections and tossing the case.

 

2.) Duane Morris Benefits Partner Dies at 45

Amanda Layton, a partner in Duane Morris' employee benefits practice, died of breast cancer June 5. She was 45. Layton died while in hospice care, the firm said in an announcement. She had taken medical leave from the firm beginning in October 2016 after continuing to practice law through much of her earlier treatment. “Amanda had very bravely battled breast cancer over the last several years, even returning to the firm following a course of chemotherapy,” chairman John Soroko said in a statement. “To the end, Amanda was marked by her positive and upbeat approach to all things, even in the face of very serious illness.”

 

1.) Amid Departures, Pepper Hamilton Revenue Drops 10 Percent, PPP Down 28 Percent

Firm leaders at Pepper Hamilton blamed double-digit declines in revenue and profits in 2016 on a temporary drop in demand in the firm's health effects practice, and said the financial trend lines are skewed by a particularly strong 2015. But sources with knowledge of the firm said changes in the health effects litigation practice and a number of lawyer defections had eroded the firm's performance. Combined with the firm's failed merger talks with Reed Smith, they said, the situation drove additional lawyers to leave the firm. Pepper Hamilton saw a 10.6 percent decline in revenue in 2016, to $347.5 million. Profits per equity partner dropped 28.8 percent to $730,000. Average compensation for all partners was $610,000, a decline of 23.3 percent.