California Pulse


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    Pierson Ferdinand Taps Founding Partner As GC

    The rapidly-growing firm Pierson Ferdinand LLP announced Friday that it selected one of its Philadelphia-based founding partners to serve as the firm's global general counsel.

  • Voir Dire: Law360 Pulse's Weekly Quiz

    The legal industry kicked off February with another action-packed week as attorneys took on new roles in BigLaw and the Trump administration. Test your legal news savvy here with Law360 Pulse's weekly quiz.

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    DLA Piper Business Litigator Jumps To Hanson Bridgett In SF

    Hanson Bridgett LLP is boosting its litigation team, bringing in a DLA Piper trial attorney as a partner in its San Francisco office.

  • Credit Union's Arb. Pact Not Unconscionable, Court Says

    A California state appeals court has reversed a ruling finding an arbitration agreement contained in a credit union's employment contract to be unconscionable, saying the JAMS rules incorporated in the pact permit an arbitrator to allow for necessary third-party discovery.

  • Calif. Firm Settles Photographer's IP Claim Over Photo Use

    A New Mexico photographer told a California federal judge on Thursday that he was ending his copyright infringement suit against Santa Monica immigration law firm Wolfsdorf Rosenthal LLP over ownership of a photograph on the firm's website, as the two sides have reached a settlement.

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    Jones Day Names 6 Office And Practice Leaders

    Jones Day announced Thursday that six of its attorneys earned new practice group or office leadership roles, including at shops in Texas and California.

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    Nixon Peabody Adds Greenberg Glusker Cannabis Co-Chair

    Nixon Peabody LLP is boosting its West Coast litigation team, bringing in a former federal prosecutor, who was most recently the founder and co-chair of the cannabis practice at Greenberg Glusker LLP, as a partner in its Los Angeles office.

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    Legal Job Satisfaction Up, Less Turnover Expected, Study Says

    Legal professionals surveyed reported high job satisfaction at the end of last year, signaling a quieter job market for the legal industry in 2025, according to a new report from recruiting firm Robert Half Inc.

  • Girardi's Mental Evaluation At NC Prison Extended By 15 Days

    A California federal judge Thursday ordered Tom Girardi's psychiatric evaluation at a North Carolina federal prison to be extended by 15 days, and she also lectured Girardi's public defender while saying she "could not have imagined" why it took 17 days to get his client's medical records sent to the facility.

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    US Attys To Shift Focus Amid Questions Of Staffing, Politics

    The new U.S. attorneys under President Donald Trump's administration will almost certainly shift their offices' enforcement priorities, experts say, but they may also be faced with the impacts of a shrinking federal workforce and a politicized Justice Department, others worry.

  • Davis Wright Partners With Stanford's CodeX On Legal AI

    Davis Wright Tremaine LLP announced Thursday a new partnership with Stanford University's legal technology hub CodeX to collaborate on new artificial intelligence tools, joining other universities the past year in striking up partnerships with law firms and legal tech companies to advance research and real-world implementation of AI into law.

  • Judge Puts Atty On Hook For Fees For Conduct In TM Trial

    A California judge ordered an attorney who represented a microphone manufacturer that lost a trade dress infringement trial to be jointly responsible with his client for attorney fees and costs as a sanction for his conduct during the case.

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    Convicted Atty Disbarred In NJ Over LA Utility Billing Scandal

    The New Jersey Supreme Court disbarred an attorney this week who orchestrated a sham lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles on behalf of plaintiffs suing the local water utility and who later made $24 million off contracts with the city reached through a number of bribery schemes.

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    Golden State Warriors CLO Named GC Of NBA Players Union

    The National Basketball Players Association said Thursday it has hired the chief legal officer of the Golden State Warriors, who has made a career melding music, sports and finance, to be the union's managing director and general counsel.

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    USC Taps University's GC To Serve As Interim President

    University of Southern California announced Wednesday that its general counsel Beong-Soo Kim, who is also a former federal prosecutor, will serve as the school's interim president once Carol Folt retires as USC leader at the end of June.

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    Reed Smith Leaps Into The Future At New Downtown LA Office

    Reed Smith LLP has moved its downtown Los Angeles office to a new location, just two blocks from the previous location.

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    Experienced Capital Markets Atty Joins Procopio In Calif.

    Procopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch LLP announced Wednesday that an experienced capital markets and securities attorney, who most recently practiced at Barton LLP, has joined the firm's office in Orange County, California.

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    MoFo Adds BraunHagey Corporate Leader In San Francisco

    Morrison Foerster LLP continues expanding its emerging companies and venture capital team, announcing Wednesday a BraunHagey & Borden LLP startup and venture capital specialist has come aboard as a partner in its San Francisco office.

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    Which GCs Sold Stock In January? Netflix, Palantir And More

    Legal leaders at Netflix and Palantir Technologies were among those corporate lawyers who welcomed the New Year by hauling in millions of dollars in stock sales in January.

  • Girardi Keese Trustee Sues NY Atty Who Funded Girardi

    The bankruptcy trustee for disgraced California attorney Tom Girardi's defunct law firm is suing to prevent New York attorney Joseph DiNardo from discharging $7.5 million in his own bankruptcy, claiming DiNardo received the money by helping Girardi defraud his own clients.

  • Calif. Panel Revives Malpractice Suit Against Insurer Attys

    A California state appeals court revived an Allstate policyholder's legal malpractice suit against his insurer-appointed attorney, saying the policyholder sufficiently alleged the attorney's drafting of an underlying settlement in a wrongful death suit caused him damages.

  • Paxos' Top Atty Takes CLO Spot At Crypto Co. Kraken

    Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has tapped the general counsel at crypto trust company Paxos to serve as its new chief legal officer.

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    Law Firms Add Marketing Chiefs Amid Biz Development Push

    As law firms battle for business in a more competitive market, the new year has seen a wave of chief marketing officer appointments. This shift, experts say, reflects a growing emphasis on strategic leadership and business development, as firms look to differentiate themselves and drive growth.

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    Inside Fitch Even's Play To Reclaim Patent Litigation Work

    Amid a patent litigation landscape dominated by BigLaw, Chicago-based intellectual property boutique Fitch Even Tabin & Flannery LLP has teamed up with litigation firm MoloLamken LLP to reclaim the litigation work that bigger players have siphoned away.

  • Calif. AG Gets $25M To Fund Legal Fights Against Trump

    The California Legislature greenlighted a $25 million cash infusion Monday for the state attorney general's office in a strategic effort to bolster the state's legal defenses against President Donald Trump's policy agenda, including anticipated challenges to immigration and environmental regulations.

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Expert Analysis

  • 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.

  • Talking Mental Health: The View From Life After BigLaw Author Photo

    Life coach and author Wendy Tamis Robbins discusses why she left a career in BigLaw to work in the professional well-being space after finding freedom from anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and substance use disorders, and highlights two changes the legal industry should implement to address attorneys' mental health.

  • 6 Essential Skills For Summer Associates To Land An Offer
    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    With full-time offer rates at the lowest point since 2012, summer associates must do all they can to distinguish themselves, starting with a few fundamentals — from the importance of asking clarifying questions to being honest about mistakes, says James Argionis at Cozen O'Connor.

  • Making Legal Cents: How Law Firms Can Innovate Faster Author Photo

    To meet the demands of an evolving legal market and changing client expectations, law firms must not only embrace innovation, but also find ways to accelerate adoption and mitigate risks in an industry historically resistant to change, says Shireen Hilal at Maior Strategic Consulting.

  • Ask A Mentor: How Should Departing Partners Approach Pay? Author Photo

    Sabina Lippman at CenterPeak discusses steps BigLaw partners can take when considering a move or announcing their departure to help navigate tricky compensation issues and remain on good terms with their current partners.

  • How 2 Litigators Decided Dad Would Stay Home With The Kids Author Photo

    Jennifer Hoekstra at Aylstock Witkin shares the tough conversations about timing, goals, logistics and values involved in her family's decision that she would build her career as a litigator and law firm partner while her husband stepped back from his own litigation role to stay home with their children.

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    My Nonpracticing Law Job: Legal Commentary Ghostwriter Author Photo

    Wayne Pollock at Copo Strategies shares how he went from overworked Am Law 50 associate to owner of a legal thought leadership ghostwriting service, and provides four lessons for anyone who might be considering launching a business within the legal industry.

  • Ask A Mentor: As Trials Grow Rarer, How Do I Hone My Skills? Author Photo

    Gary Parsons at Brooks Pierce offers advice for young lawyers seeking trial experience in an environment where fewer cases make it to trial, including how to build their reputations, set their expectations and pick the right firm.

  • Talking Mental Health: Managing Depression As A Co. Founder Author Photo

    New Era ADR co-founder Collin Williams discusses his journey navigating a clinical depression diagnosis, how this experience affected his leadership style, and what the legal industry can do to better support attorneys with mental health conditions.

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    My Nonpracticing Law Job: Career And Wellness Coach Author Photo

    Tara Rhoades at The Sanity Plea shares how she went from BigLaw partner to legal industry career and wellness coach, and explains how attorneys can use their capabilities, knowledge and professional networks to pursue coaching themselves, or bring refreshed meaning and purpose to their current roles.

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    Talking Mental Health: Tackling Stress As A Practice Leader Author Photo

    Constance Rhebergen at Bracewell discusses how she handles the stress of being a practice chair, how sources of stress have changed in the legal industry over the past decade and what law firms can do to protect attorney mental health.

  • Making Legal Cents: Engaging A Remote, Evolving Workforce Author Photo

    In the face of a dispersed and changing workforce with Generation Z entering the scene, law firms should consider some practical strategies to revitalize their cultures, provide meaningful mentorship and safeguard their knowledge bases, says Shireen Hilal at Maior Strategic Consulting.

  • How Firms Can Effectively Evaluate Their Summer Associates Author Photo

    One of the most effective ways firms can ensure their summer associate programs are a success is by engaging in a timely and meaningful evaluation process and being intentional about when, how and by whom feedback should be provided, say Caroline Cimei and Erica Fine at Shutts & Bowen.

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    Talking Mental Health: Life As A Lawyer With OCD Author Photo

    Kelly Hughes at Ogletree discusses what she’s learned in the 14 years since she was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, recounting how the experience shaped her law practice, what the legal industry and general public get wrong about the disorder, and how law firms can better support employees who have OCD.

  • 3 Innovative Ways AI May Be Used In Legal Practice
    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Artificial intelligence tools will increasingly be used by outside counsel to better predict the outcomes of litigation — thus informing legal strategy with greater precision — and by clients to scrutinize invoices and evaluate counsel’s performance, says Ronald Levine at Herrick Feinstein.

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