DC Pulse


  • Senate Panel OKs Miss. Judge, US Atty Nominees After Delay

    After weeks of holdup, nominees for Mississippi federal courts and U.S. attorneys were voted out of committee on Thursday, following an impasse between Republican senators.

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    In-House v. Associate Life: Who's Really Got It Better?

    Most in-house counsel who responded to Law360 Pulse's survey cited factors such as shaping business strategy and the absence of billable hours as motivations for joining corporate legal departments. Law360 Pulse spoke with in-house counsel and law firm associates about the pros and cons of their respective roles and the facets of their legal peers' positions that are, or are not, appealing.

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    A Deep Dive Into In-House Counsel Pay

    Total compensation packages for in-house counsel at different levels of the typical corporate legal department can vary significantly. Find out how corporations are leveraging salaries, bonuses and other incentives to attract top talent. 

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    For In-House Attys, Bonuses Come Easy, But Equity Less So

    The vast majority of in-house counsel at all levels received pay bonuses in 2024, while a smaller share — but still a majority — received long-term incentives, according to a new survey.

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    Law Firms Begin Upping The Ante For Associate Bonuses

    Trial boutique Wilkinson Stekloff LLP is exceeding the year-end associate bonus scale set by Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP, announcing bonuses late Wednesday that are 150% of market.

  • Justices Told Presidential Firing Limits Is An 'Originalist' Idea

    A bipartisan collection of current and former government officials has urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a 90-year-old ruling that empowers Congress to prohibit the president from firing certain agency officials at will, claiming the precedent has roots that date back to the country's founding and reflects key separation of powers principles.

  • Law Firms' Share Of US Office Leasing Grows To 10.5%

    The legal sector's presence in the broader U.S. office leasing market grew to 10.5% in the third quarter — over double what it was about seven years ago — with Moore & Van Allen PLLC and Latham & Watkins LLP signing three of the biggest deals, according to a Wednesday report from Savills.

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    In-House Atty From Teva Joins Spencer Fane's DC Office

    A former associate general counsel of Teva Pharmaceuticals, an Israel-headquartered biopharmaceutical company, is returning to private practice with Spencer Fane LLP, where he will work as a partner with the firm's intellectual property practice group, according to a Monday announcement.

  • Alaska Senator Pushes For Better Vetting After Judge Scandal

    Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, said on Wednesday that after a federal judge in his state resigned in disgrace last year, he decided he had to revamp his selection process for judicial nominees.

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    V&E Elevates 10 Attys To Partner, 12 To Counsel

    Vinson & Elkins LLP announced Wednesday that it plans to promote 10 lawyers to partner and 12 more to counsel across seven offices and 11 practice areas.

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    Blank Rome Reelects Firm Chair To New Term

    Blank Rome LLP's top leader will hold on to his position for another four years, after the firm recently reelected him to serve as chair and managing partner.

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    Halligan Says Grand Jury Never Saw Final Comey Indictment

    U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan acknowledged Wednesday that the full grand jury in the James Comey case never saw or voted on the final version of the indictment that was handed up to the court in the case. An attorney for Comey said the clarification was grounds for dismissal.

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    BigLaw Begins To Fall In Line With Cravath Bonuses

    Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson, McDermott Will & Schulte LLP and Dechert LLP are among the law firms following the lead of Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP on year-end associate bonuses this week, with at least five large firms matching the market leader within a day of Cravath's Tuesday announcement.

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    Compensation Report: A Deep Dive Into GC Pay

    Law360 Pulse went beyond the numbers to examine how industry, law firm experience and education shape the pay of top-earning S&P 500 general counsel. Here's what we found.

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    These Are The Legal Chiefs Who Command Top Dollar

    While the pay packages for most legal leaders in the corporate space remains strong — especially because of hefty stock awards and bonuses — there are large gaps in compensation even among the top 10 earners in the U.S.

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    Everything You Need To Know About GC Pay

    Find out which S&P 500 general counsel earns the most and how pay differs across industries. Explore every detail in our interactive compensation graphic.

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    Pierce Atwood Energy Pro Joins Barnes & Thornburg In DC

    Marking his third career move in the last five years, a Pierce Atwood LLP partner has made the jump to Barnes & Thornburg LLP's office in Washington, D.C., to continue his work on transactional and regulatory matters related to new energy technologies.

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    Law Firms Struggle To Keep Partners Amid Lateral Boom

    The number of lateral moves for associates, counsel and partners seeking greener pastures is outpacing last year, which is both good and bad news for legal employers, according to law firm leaders and search firms.

  • Cravath Unveils Associate Bonuses, Multiple Firms Follow

    Multiple firms swiftly fell in line Tuesday evening just hours after Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP announced associate bonuses in line with those offered last year, continuing a long tradition of BigLaw firms following Cravath's lead on compensation.

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    After Merger, Troutman Pepper Locke Elects 20 New Partners

    In its first partner class since the merger of Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP and Locke Lord LLP at the beginning of the year, the newly combined Troutman Pepper Locke announced Tuesday it would be elevating 20 attorneys to the firm's partnership in January.

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    Law Firms Being Tested With Associate Performance Reviews

    Eighty-three percent of U.S. and Canadian associates receive a yearly annual review, but there is room for improvement in how law firms evaluate their attorneys' performance, according to a new study.

  • Judge Details Reasons For Goldstein's Pretrial Motion Losses

    A Maryland federal judge explained in further detail Tuesday her decision against SCOTUSblog co-founder Tom Goldstein on several motions seeking to trim his tax evasion case as it heads to trial next year.

  • NY AG James Blasts 'Outrageous Conduct' Behind Indictment

    New York Attorney General Letitia A. James has told a Virginia federal court to dismiss the U.S. government's indictment of her, calling it "patently unconstitutional" and "outrageous conduct."

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    Clifford Chance Adds Day Pitney Energy Pro In DC

    Clifford Chance LLP has grown its energy regulatory and markets practice in the nation's capital with the addition of a veteran attorney from Day Pitney LLP.

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    Non-Law Firm Lobby Shops Overtake BigLaw In Trump Era

    Law firms have been K Street's top earners in recent years, but some non-law firm lobbying shops, including Trump-connected Ballard Partners, have surpassed major legal industry players in 2025 as clients seek access to the White House in a year of upheaval.

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Expert Analysis

  • 5 Emerging Themes Shaping Lateral Partner Moves This Year Author Photo

    A few key trends have arisen in partners’ lateral movements in the first half of 2025, reflecting a legal market defined by macroeconomic uncertainty, shifts in firm structures and rising scrutiny of firm affiliations, say legal recruiters at Macrae.

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    Biz Development Tip Of The Month: Be A Mentor Or Mentee Author Photo

    Mentorship is a powerful tool for business development when both mentors and mentees approach their relationships with strategic purpose, ensuring professional success while supporting broader business goals, say Angela Liu at Dechert and Jessica Lewis at WilmerHale.

  • 4 Biz Dev Steps For Attys Who Don't Know What They Want Author Photo

    Junior attorneys are increasingly expected to start building books of business while they are still figuring out their long-term career goals, but a few pointers can help young lawyers develop business even when they’re uncertain about their future direction, says Lana Manganiello at Practice Growth Partner.

  • Protecting Client Funds From Cyberattacks Author Photo

    As cyberattacks on law firms continue to escalate, bar associations, law firms and individual lawyers must all take steps to protect client funds in attorney trust accounts — from imposing cyber hygiene mandates to reimagining malpractice coverage — because once that money is gone, it’s generally gone for good, says Michael Epstein at The Epstein Law Firm.

  • Making Legal Cents: For Billing, Think Value, Not Time Author Photo

    Pricing strategy is one of the most consistently discussed but underleveraged tools in a firm's arsenal, and rather than keeping hourly billing because it's easy, firms should consider their differentiators when structuring more effective fee models, says Shireen Hilal at Maior Consultants.

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    Achieving Organic Growth For A Legal Nonprofit Author Photo

    We started Law Rocks to promote music education for underprivileged youth and raise funds for local nonprofits, and our 15-year journey has shown that enthusiasm, persistence and a great network can lead to a surprising amount of organic growth, say Nick Child and Ted Scott at Secretariat.

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    Biz Development Tip Of The Month: Engage With The Media Author Photo

    Business development is all about awareness — and by taking existing skills and adapting them to build media relationships and thereby address today's audiences, lawyers can expand their outreach and use thought leadership to build a more complete, compelling personal brand, says Michael Goodwin at Stanton PR.

  • What GCs Value Most: 7 Habits Of Great Relationship Partners Author Photo

    When seeking outside legal advisers, general counsel want commercially savvy lawyers who cultivate relationships of trust with their in-house counterparts, back up the GC's authority and focus on actionable advice instead of abstract legal analysis, say Andrew Dick at The L Suite and Rob Morvillo at Olo.

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    Generating Confidence In A Legal Nonprofit Author Photo

    I started LawWithoutWalls to change the way legal professionals see and think about their world, and it taught me the importance of giving people a reason to believe in your nonprofit mission, as well as how to achieve work-life integration, says Michele DeStefano at the University of Miami.

  • Nonequity Partner Frustrations Reflect Erosion Of Opportunity Author Photo

    Nonequity partners report the lowest satisfaction, highest stress and poorest financial outlook of any group of lawyers, highlighting a growing structural disconnect that leaves attorneys at many firms feeling like the ladder has been pulled up behind those who already ascended, says Jake Carroll at Nelson Mullins.

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    Building Brand Awareness For A Legal Nonprofit Author Photo

    I co-founded the Bridging the Gap Scholarship as a way to increase minority representation in BigLaw, and my advice for other legal professionals starting a nonprofit is to focus on building brand awareness early on, and to get comfortable delegating work to a dedicated team, says Imani Maatuka at Sidley.

  • Learn Your Colleagues To Cross-Sell Their Services Fearlessly Author Photo

    Understanding where colleagues in other practice areas shine can help attorneys confidently cross-sell each other's services and bring in business to keep the firm afloat in hard times, says Joe Calve at Calve Communications.

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    Biz Development Tip Of The Month: Advertise Ethically Author Photo

    Business development in the legal industry is about building authentic connections and showcasing expertise in a way that reflects reality, and, when done right, it can elevate a practice, establish credibility and bring in clients without risking an ethics violation, says Melody Jackson at Robinhood.

  • Ask A Mentor: How Do I Help After Mental Health Leave? Author Photo

    Molly Ranns at the State Bar of Michigan suggests five ways to smooth a colleague's return to practice after short-term mental health leave, while creating a firm culture that protects employees’ emotional health.

  • Tips For Attracting Stellar CLOs In A Competitive Landscape Author Photo

    Amid a rapidly changing regulatory environment and a fierce market for talent, companies hoping to attract the best chief legal officers must have a strong grasp of their roles’ biggest selling points, and any roadblocks that may prevent them from recruiting the strongest choice, says Heather Fine at Major Lindsey.

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