California Pulse


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    Fisher Philips Expands In Calif. With Employment Litigator

    Labor and employment firm Fisher Phillips is expanding its West Coast team, announcing Wednesday it is bringing in a Gibbs Giden Locher Turner Senet & Wittbrodt LLP litigator as a partner in its Woodland Hills, California, office.

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    Trusts & Estates Boom Leaves Small Firms Fighting For Talent

    As aging Baby Boomers fuel demand for estate planning work, a growing number of large law firms have recommitted to growing their private wealth practices. For the small boutiques and solo practitioners that have traditionally dominated the market, the new competition has made it difficult to recruit and retain talent, leaving many struggling to survive.

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    Amid Tensions With Trump, University GCs Feel The Burden

    As universities face frozen funds, federal probes, and demands for change to diversity programs and curriculum, their general counsel face heightened pressure as they navigate school presidents and boards through the storm.

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    Blank Rome Hires Bicoastal Pair Of Patent Attys

    Blank Rome LLP announced Tuesday that it has welcomed two new patent attorneys to its ranks: a Los Angeles-based firm alum and a New York-based former Leason Ellis LLP lawyer.

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    Quarles & Brady Names New San Diego Office Head

    Quarles & Brady LLP announced that an experienced labor and employment attorney who has been with the firm's San Diego location for over a decade will be appointed its new office managing partner.

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    Incoming Tucker Ellis Managing Partner Discusses Transition

    As James W. Mizgala prepares to take over as managing partner of Tucker Ellis LLP, he spoke to Law360 Pulse about succeeding a longtime managing partner and his perspective on the future of the firm. 

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    Boies Schiller Builds Arbitration Team With Hands-On Training

    In August, Boies Schiller Flexner LLP held a full-scale, hands-on training for its international arbitration associates — an investment that firm leaders say not only helped to build legal skills but also strengthened relationships within the team.

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    Office Snapshot: Gibson Dunn Gets 'Refresh' In Century City

    After more than 40 years in its Century City home, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP knew it was time to change the channel on an office that one leader said seemed pulled from an episode of the 1980s TV show "L.A. Law." The firm found the station it was looking for just a half block away.

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    Ex-Orrick Litigator Tapped To Lead California Justice Center

    The California Policy Center, a conservative public policy think tank, has hired a former Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP litigator to head its public interest law firm arm, the California Justice Center.

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    'Great Wealth Transfer' Drives Trusts & Estates Boom

    As aging Baby Boomers prepare to hand down trillions of dollars in assets to their children and grandchildren, some of the country's largest law firms have been bulking up their trusts and estates practices, turning frequently to small boutiques and solo practices to add attorneys to their ranks.

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    Keller & Heckman Taps K&L Gates Leader As Exec Director

    Keller & Heckman LLP has hired K&L Gates LLP's head of administration to take over as its global executive director, a role in which she'll oversee all operational and administrative functions across the firm's five offices.

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    Greenberg Traurig, Procopio Mourn 'Selfless' Litigator In Calif.

    Greenberg Traurig LLP shareholder S. Todd Neal, who died Saturday from a terminal illness a few months after joining the firm in San Diego from Procopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch LLP, was a "selfless" team player who brought compassion and wisdom to the job, his former colleagues said.

  • Calif. County Defender To Pay $200K In Harassment Probe

    A California public defender's office has agreed to pay $200,000 to an employee to resolve the worker's claims that a superior sexually harassed them on the job through inappropriate comments and unwanted touching, the state's Civil Rights Department announced Monday.

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    Girardi Loses Bid To Avoid Prison During Appeal

    Disgraced attorney Tom Girardi will have to wait in prison while he appeals his wire fraud conviction for stealing from his own clients, a California federal judge has ruled.

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    2 Leave Lewis Brisbois C-Suite In Latest Leadership Changes

    Two members of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith's C-suite will be leaving the firm this winter, a firm spokesperson told Law360 Pulse on Monday.

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    Trial Atty Named To Become Tucker Ellis Managing Partner

    The head of Tucker Ellis LLP's Chicago office will take over as its next managing partner at the start of 2026, replacing the managing partner who has led the firm since 2010, the firm announced Monday.

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    Taco Bell CLO Adds Global Development Duties, Title

    Taco Bell's top in-house attorney also being named its chief development officer is one of several leadership changes the company recently announced as part of its strategy to focus on its brand, development, and digital and technology functions.

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    Trump Call For Biannual Filing Unlikely To Ease GC Workloads

    While the president's recently renewed proposal to end quarterly reporting requirements for publicly traded U.S. companies could help reduce workloads for general counsel in theory, investor demand for more regular disclosures makes it unlikely that such a change would make a meaningful difference.

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    Paul Weiss Mourns Death Of Former Chair Alfred Youngwood

    Alfred Youngwood, a tax attorney, business adviser and Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP's first democratically elected firm chair, died Friday at the age of 87, the firm has announced.

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    Calif. Bar Escapes Class Claims Over Girardi Case

    A Los Angeles judge has dismissed a proposed class action brought against the State Bar of California accusing the agency and its former leadership of mishandling its investigation into former celebrity attorney Tom Girardi, who was convicted of swindling clients, after plaintiffs seemingly abandoned the case.

  • Law360 Pulse Spotlight On Mid-Law Work

    Susman Godfrey's representation of Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster in an AI copyright suit and Foley Hoag's work on a Massachusetts energy project lead this edition of Law360 Pulse's Spotlight On Mid-Law Work, recapping the top matters for Mid-Law firms from Sept. 5 to 19.

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    LA Atty Rallies 'Speak Up' Coalition To Defend Rule Of Law

    When a panel of state judges come together next week to discuss the increasing threats against them and the independence of the judiciary, it will be the latest in a string of events organized by a longtime plaintiffs attorney taking on the role of defender of judges and the legal system itself.

  • Voir Dire: Law360 Pulse's Weekly Quiz

    The legal industry marked the last official week of summer with attorneys taking on new roles at law departments and firms across the country. Test your legal news savvy here with Law360 Pulse's weekly quiz.

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    Hagens Berman Seeks To Limit Sanctions For AI Mistakes

    A Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP partner should face only limited sanctions and the firm shouldn't be sanctioned at all over a contract attorney's use of artificial intelligence to generate legal briefs in a proposed class action against online platform OnlyFans since its attorneys did not act in bad faith, the firm told a California federal judge.

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    Gunderson Dettmer Launches Platform For Startups

    Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian LLP has launched a new platform called Catalyze that is designed to help startups and investors during all stages of growth.

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Expert Analysis

  • Biz Development Tip Of The Month: Make A Plan For The Year Author Photo

    While firms are busy allocating resources and assessing client demand, individual attorneys should use the start of the year to slow down and create a personal business plan, which can be accomplished with a few steps, say Elizabeth Gooch, Teri Robshaw and Chris Newman at McDermott.

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    Talking Mental Health: Caring For Everyone As A Firm Leader Author Photo

    Reid Phillips at Brooks Pierce discusses how he manages the pressure of running a law firm, how sources of stress in the legal industry have changed over the past decade, and what firm leaders should do to help manage burnout and mental health issues among employees.

  • How Firms Can Use LinkedIn To Aid Marketing Efforts In 2025 Author Photo

    LinkedIn has several features law firms can use to showcase their capabilities and thought leadership to reach prospective and existing clients, including the Event and Live features, says Sofia Millar at Reputation Ink.

  • Talking Mental Health: Managing Emotions In Trauma Cases Author Photo

    Nikki Hurtado at The Ferraro Law Firm discusses what motivates her to represent victims of catastrophic injuries, how she copes with the emotional toll of such cases, and what other attorneys taking on similar cases can do to protect their mental well-being.

  • Strategies For Successful Law Firm Mergers In 2025 Author Photo

    Law firms are expected to continue consolidating in the year to come, and because these mergers require a different kind of playbook, firm leaders must carefully consider office culture nuances, professional services economics and talent retention strategy before any merger, say directors at FTI Consulting.

  • Making Legal Cents: Winning More Work In A Crowded Market Author Photo

    In a market where clients have more options, tighter budgets and higher expectations, firms must figure out how to differentiate themselves without discounting their rates, and several practical strategies for pitching, pricing and early-engagement communication can help, says Shireen Hilal at Maior Strategic Consulting.

  • Best Practices For Implementing Firm Revenue Cycle Roles Author Photo

    Law firm revenue cycles are becoming more complex and time-consuming, but hiring dedicated revenue cycle personnel can help streamline the process and reduce the burden on attorneys, says Christine Indiano at Harbor Global.

  • Tips For Constructing Your Small-Law Exit Strategy Author Photo

    By initiating planning and processes to evaluate personal retirement goals and firm value early, longtime solo practitioners and small-firm owners can unlock a range of possibilities and potential buyers, setting up for a profitable exit and a rewarding transition, says Brent Daub at Gilson Daub.

  • Tips For Persuasive Briefs Beyond The Argument Section Author Photo

    When crafting an appellate brief, the focus for most lawyers is the argument section, but other sections also offer strategic opportunities to shape the court's perception of the case and favorably frame the issues, say attorneys at Frost Brown.

  • Ask A Mentor: Is Secondment A Good Career Move? Author Photo

    Kate Driscoll at Morrison Foerster suggests six questions to help candidates evaluate whether a secondment will benefit their career.

  • 3 Trends Reshaping Chief Marketing Officer Appointments Author Photo

    Recent approaches to hiring chief marketing officers demonstrate how firms are reimagining their marketing and business development frameworks to stay competitive and responsive to evolving client needs, says Murray Coffey at M Coffey.

  • Talking Mental Health: Working As A Mom Of An Autistic Son Author Photo

    Sarah Kovit Hanna at Assurant discusses how she balances the demands of her in-house role and the support needs of her son, who was diagnosed with autism, as a single mom, and reflects on how the legal industry can better support caretakers of family members who have special needs.

  • Ask A Mentor: How Can I Maximize My Pro Bono Impact? Author Photo

    Debbie Berman at Jenner & Block offers advice on how attorneys can make a meaningful impact on their communities through pro bono work while enhancing their professional development through strengthened client-facing skills, hands-on experience and more.

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    My Nonpracticing Law Job: Law Firm Marketer Author Photo

    Liz Bard Lindley at Jaffe PR shares how she went from a family law associate who helped write industry articles to a savvy legal public relations and marketing professional, and offers takeaways for any attorney who might not feel at home in their law practice and is considering alternative career paths.

  • The Case For Keeping The Gas On Deputy GC Compensation Author Photo

    In recent years, the deputy general counsel role has expanded and become increasingly vital in organizations across the globe, and companies should consider a few ways to retain this top talent, including by offering competitive compensation that reflects projected increases, says Heather Fine at Major Lindsey.

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