California Pulse


  • vinson-elkins.png

    V&E Taps 3 Biz Leaders In London And Houston For C-Suite

    Vinson & Elkins LLP announced a trio of promotions on Wednesday, appointing new leadership for the firm's non-U.S. operations and the team in charge of supporting practice group and legal department heads.

  • Holly-and-Karen-web-teaser-default-thumbnail-teaser-thumbnail-teaser-15108.png

    Farella Braun Names Firm's First Women Managing Partners

    North California-based Farella Braun & Martel LLP announced Wednesday that it has elected its first women managing partners in its more than 60 years of operation.

  • iStock-1193289151.jpg

    Attys Name Evolving Legal Tech As Industry's Top Challenge

    Adjusting to ever-evolving technology including artificial intelligence, automation and emerging legal tech is the biggest challenge facing the legal industry in 2025, according to a new survey by peer-review publication company Best Lawyers.

  • E._Martin_Estrada,_U.S._Attorney_2.jpg

    US Atty For Central Calif. To Resign Before Inauguration

    The U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, Martin Estrada, is stepping down at the end of the week, ending an eventful two-year tenure that's seen several high-profile prosecutions in the nation's most populous federal judicial district.

  • 'Totally A Tactic': Judge Rips Apple For Discovery Delays

    The California federal judge presiding over Epic Games' antitrust compliance fight with Apple criticized the tech giant's efforts to withhold tens of thousands of documents under attorney-client privilege, telling Apple's counsel at a hearing Tuesday that "in large part, this is delay ... it's totally a tactic" and "there will be consequences."

  • US_Media_Fact_Checking_Falters_38531.jpg

    Meta Atty Quits IP Case Over Zuckerberg's 'Toxic Masculinity'

    An attorney helping defend Meta Platforms in copyright litigation brought by artists who claim their content was used to train the large language model Llama has dropped the tech company as his client, citing Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's "descent into toxic masculinity and Neo-Nazi madness" in a LinkedIn post.

  • Colatrella.jpg

    Calif.'s McGeorge School Of Law Taps Longtime Prof As Dean

    The University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law has named a longtime professor specializing in alternative dispute resolution to be its new dean.

  • iStock-952625346.jpg

    Orrick Elevates Partnership Class With 17 Attorneys

    Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP has promoted 17 senior associates to partner, marking a 70% increase over the 10 promoted to partner a year ago, the firm announced Monday.

  • Roy-Austin-headshot.jpg

    Meta Civil Rights Atty To Exit Amid Corporate Policy Changes

    Meta's vice president of civil rights and deputy general counsel is leaving the company after four years amid announced changes to its diversity programs and an end to its third-party fact-checking.

  • iStock-177718816.jpg

    Why Law Firms Are Seeing 'Profit Leakage'

    Even as many law firms see rising profitability, a number of factors are still negatively affecting their profit margins, including write-offs and discounts, according to a new report out Tuesday.

  • Stanford AI Expert Reamed For Erroneous AI-Generated Brief

    A Minnesota federal judge on Friday threw out an erroneous expert declaration prepared by a Stanford University expert on artificial intelligence in litigation over the state's law on deepfakes, finding that the fake, AI-generated sources in his declaration "shatters his credibility with this court."

  • Special Counsel Slams Biden's Critique Of Son's Prosecution

    The special counsel who oversaw the investigation into Hunter Biden, which was wiped out by a presidential pardon, released a report published Monday criticizing President Joe Biden's "baseless accusations" that his son was "selectively" prosecuted and warning that such comments threaten "the integrity of the justice system as a whole."

  • james-yc-sze.png

    FisherBroyles Adds IP Atty From Kilpatrick In Palo Alto

    FisherBroyles LLP announced Monday that it has brought on a patent attorney from Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP in Palo Alto, California.

  • Tesla_Robotaxi_24465.jpg

    Tesla Wants Judge DQ'd From Accident Suit Over Prior Work

    Tesla wants a California federal judge disqualified from hearing a woman's personal injury lawsuit against it over the judge's previous work for a law firm that had won a $3.2 million jury verdict against the electric carmaker.

  • jillyn.png

    Frost Brown Absorbs Calif. Trusts And Estates Boutique

    Frost Brown Todd LLP announced a major expansion of its trusts and estates practice on Monday with the addition of the seven attorneys and six business professionals from California boutique firm Hess-Verdon.

  • katherine_adams_image.png.large_2x.png

    Apple GC's Comp Reached Nearly $27.2 Million In 2024

    Apple Inc. paid general counsel and senior vice president Katherine Adams a total compensation package of nearly $27.2 million in fiscal year 2024 — keeping her among the highest-paid legal chiefs in America.

  • IMG_7762.jpeg

    Procopio Names New Latin America Practice Leader

    Procopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch LLP has promoted a longtime tax attorney to be the new head of its busy Latin America practice.

  • feishen.png

    Patent Partner Leaves Kilpatrick Townsend For K&L Gates

    K&L Gates LLP has added to its Orange County, California, office a Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP partner with a practice of working with Chinese companies looking to file patents with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. 

  • 3_up_FBFK Law.png

    Ferguson Braswell Adds 5-Atty Vogt Resnick Team In Calif.

    Ferguson Braswell Fraser Kubasta PC has grown its presence in Orange County, California, with the addition of five Vogt Resnick & Sherak LLP attorneys and a new office space.

  • California_Wildfires_Photo_Gallery_11514.jpg

    As Lawyers Face Wildfire Losses In LA, Firms Step Up To Help

    Amid the tragedy of losing their homes to the wildfires engulfing Los Angeles, attorneys have found hope in the support of their firms and colleagues.

  • iStock-1337620061.jpg

    Law360 Pulse Spotlight On Mid-Law Work

    Parker Poe's work on the sale of a majority stake in a $575 million real estate portfolio and Keker Van Nest's handling of a first-of-its-kind challenge under a new California gaming law lead this edition of Law360 Pulse's Spotlight on Mid-Law Work, recapping the top matters for Mid-Law firms from Jan. 1 to 10.

  • iStock-912617272.jpg

    US Legal Sector Sheds 1,200 Jobs In December

    After three months of steady recovery, the U.S. legal sector's job growth reversed course in December, with a loss of 1,200 positions, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released Friday.

  • LegalLions.png

    Law360's Legal Lions Of The Week

    Sive Paget & Riesel PC and Kaplan Martin LLP lead this week's edition of Law360 Legal Lions after the Third Circuit denied an emergency motion for an injunction to halt New York City's highly litigated congestion pricing toll program.

  • Goodwin Procter Extends Bonus Season With Milbank Match

    The 2024 bonus season has trickled into January, with Goodwin Procter LLP announcing it will give associates year-end and special bonuses matching those given by other BigLaw firms, Law360 Pulse confirmed Friday.

  • iStock-1960986400.jpg

    How State Courts Can Start Building Data Governance

    State courts can start tackling data governance by forming a committee, providing additional training to current team members, hiring more team members and creating data use guidelines, according to a pair of state court leaders.

Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the California Pulse archive.

Expert Analysis

  • The Importance Of Legal Macroeconomics Education For Attys Author Photo

    Most legal professionals lack understanding of the macroeconomic trends unique to the legal industry, like the rising cost of law school and legal services, which contributes to an unfair and inaccessible justice system, so law school courses and continuing legal education requirements in this area are essential, says Bob Glaves at the Chicago Bar Foundation.

  • What ABA Student Well-Being Standards Mean For Law Firms Author Photo

    While the American Bar Association's recent amendments to its law school accreditation standards around student well-being could have gone further, legal industry employers have much to learn from the ABA's move and the well-being movement that continues to gain traction in law schools, says David Jaffe at the American University Washington College of Law.

  • Series

    Ask A Mentor: How Do I Build Rapport In New In-House Role? Author Photo

    Tim Parilla at LinkSquares explains how new in-house lawyers can start developing relationships with colleagues both within and outside their legal departments in order to expand their networks, build their brands and carve their paths to leadership positions.

  • What Attys Should Consider Before Taking On Pro Bono Work
    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
    Author Photo

    Piper Hoffman and Will Lowrey at Animal Outlook lay out suggestions for attorneys to maximize the value of their pro bono efforts, from crafting engagement letters to balancing workloads — and they explain how these principles can foster a more rewarding engagement for both lawyers and nonprofits.

  • 7 Ways Attys Can Improve Their LinkedIn Summaries Author Photo

    Lawyers can use LinkedIn to strengthen their thought leadership position, generate new business, explore career opportunities, and better position themselves and their firms in search results by writing a well-composed, optimized summary that demonstrates their knowledge and experience, says Guy Alvarez at Good2bSocial.

  • How Law Firms And Attys Can Combat Imposter Syndrome Author Photo

    Imposter syndrome is rampant in the legal profession, especially among lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds, leading to missed opportunities and mental health issues — but firms can provide support in numerous ways, and attorneys can use therapeutic strategies to quiet their inner critic, says Helen Pamely at Rosling King.

  • The Law Firm Qualities Partners Seek In Lateral Moves Author Photo

    In 2022, partners considering lateral moves have new priorities, and firms that hope to recruit top talent will need to communicate their strategy for growth, engage on hot issues like origination credit and diversity initiatives, and tailor their integration plans toward expanding partners’ client base, says Gloria Sandrino at Lateral Link.

  • Small Steps Can Help Employers Beat Attorney Burnout Author Photo

    Lawyers are experiencing burnout on a massive, unprecedented scale due to the pandemic, but law firms and institutional players can and should make a difference by focusing on small, practical solutions that protect their attorneys’ most precious personal resource and professional commodity — time, says Chad Sarchio, president of the District of Columbia Bar.

  • The Evolving Role Of The Law Firm Legal Secretary Author Photo

    Technological shifts during the pandemic and beyond should force firms to rethink how legal secretaries can not only better support timekeepers but also participate in elevating client service, bifurcating the role into an administrative support position and a more elevated practice support role, says Lauren Chung at HBR Consulting.

  • Series

    Ask A Mentor: How Can I Ace My Upcoming Annual Review? Author Photo

    Jennifer Rakstad at White & Case highlights how associates can emphasize achievements and seek support before, during and after their annual review, despite the pandemic’s negative effects on face time with colleagues and business development opportunities.

  • How Your Law Firm's Brand Can Convey Prestige Author Photo

    In order to be perceived as prestigious by clients and potential recruits, law firms should take their branding efforts beyond designing visual identities and address six key imperatives to differentiate themselves — from identifying intangible core strengths to delivering on promises at every interaction, says Howard Breindel at DeSantis Breindel.

  • How Dynamic Project Management Can Help Law Firms Author Photo

    Law firms looking to streamline matter management should consider tools that offer both employees and clients real-time access to documents, action items, task assignee information and more, overcoming many of the limitations of project communications via email, says Stephen Weyer at Stites & Harbison.

  • Series

    Ask A Mentor: How Can I Successfully Switch Practices? Author Photo

    Associates who pivot into new practice areas may find that along with the excitement of a fresh start comes some apprehension, but certain proactive steps can help tame anxiety and ensure attorneys successfully adapt to unfamiliar subjects, novel internal processes and different client deliverables, say Susan Berson and Hassan Shaikh at Mintz.

  • A Road Map For Creating Law Firm Sustainability Programs Author Photo

    Amid demands from clients and prospective hires for greater sustainability efforts, law firms should think beyond reusable mugs and create programs that incorporate clear leadership structures, emission tracking and reduction goals, and frameworks for reporting results, says Gayatri Joshi at the Law Firm Sustainability Network.

  • Why Firms Should Help Associates Do More Pro Bono Work Author Photo

    Associates may hesitate to take on the added commitment of pro bono matters, but such work has tangible skill-building benefits, so firms should consider compensation and leadership strategies to encourage participation, says Rasmeet Chahil at Lowenstein Sandler.

×

Law360

Law360 Law360 UK Law360 Tax Authority Law360 Employment Authority Law360 Insurance Authority Law360 Real Estate Authority Law360 Healthcare Authority Law360 Bankruptcy Authority

Rankings

NEWLeaderboard Analytics Social Impact Leaders Prestige Leaders Pulse Leaderboard Women in Law Report Law360 400 Diversity Snapshot Rising Stars Summer Associates

National Sections

Modern Lawyer Courts Daily Litigation In-House Mid-Law Legal Tech Small Law Insights

Regional Sections

California Pulse Connecticut Pulse DC Pulse Delaware Pulse Florida Pulse Georgia Pulse New Jersey Pulse New York Pulse Pennsylvania Pulse Texas Pulse

Site Menu

Subscribe Advanced Search About Contact