Posts on ‘March 2nd, 2009’

More than a dozen new DOJ lawyers come from private firms representing Guantanamo Bay detainees, creating potential conflicts of interest as the agency begins its review of about 245 detainees. Conflict-of-interest issues are common in new administrations, but Guantanamo poses a singular challenge due to the sheer scope of legal work. About 150 separate law firms, federal public defender offices, law school clinics and nongovernmental organizations have been involved in detainee litigation.

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s reinvigorated enforcement focus in the new presidential administration and under the leadership of new Chairwoman Mary Schapiro increases prosecution risks for public company directors. Schapiro has also instituted SEC policy changes to increase the commission’s enforcement powers. Michael Dockterman, a litigation partner at Chicago’s Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon, discusses why boards need to boost compliance, even amid corporate budget cutbacks.

Tired of lifting heavy projectors into the overhead bin? With a microprojector, you’ll significantly lighten your carry-on luggage and still be able to display images at your next presentation. Consultant Donna Payne surveys the most recent models on the market and picks her favorite.

These days, associates across the country are anxiously reading about almost-daily law firm layoffs. Even though attorney layoffs have become common and very public, “stealth” layoffs remain a concern. Here are some steps that associates can take, if they’ve started to notice a significant slowdown, to avoid finding their name on the cut list — whether the cuts are stealthy or not. Consultants Stacy Humphries and Elaine Makris Williams also provide some tips for those who do find themselves on that list.

With a six-month severance package capped at $100,000, Latham & Watkins signaled Friday it means to continue to lead the pack, even when delivering bad news. The offer to 190 associates and 250 staffers is generous by industry standards and could help Latham recruit talent when the economy improves. But some worry that the size of the layoff could hamper Latham’s workforce for years. “It’s a very dismal statement of their view of the economy and the likelihood of a turnaround in the short term,” says one recruiter.

Enforcement lawyers at the Securities and Exchange Commission have recently been dressed down by Congress, blamed for major investment bank failures and publicly criticized for missing the alleged frauds of financiers Bernard Madoff and R. Allen Stanford. And still, they’re in the best mood they’ve been in for years. Since being sworn in as chairman Jan. 27, Mary Schapiro has rolled back a number of rules created by her predecessor, Christopher Cox, that critics say hindered the enforcement process.

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments this week involving judicial recusal precedents, some nearly a century old, in the modern context of campaign contributions in judicial elections, one of today’s hottest ethics controversies. At issue in the case is whether the Constitution required West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Justice Brent Benjamin to recuse himself from an appeal in which the president of a company seeking reversal of a $50 million jury verdict was the biggest contributor to Benjamin’s campaign.

The success of Glaceau’s VitaminWater was built on aggressive, edgy marketing. The company was so successful that The Coca-Cola Co. bought Glaceau in 2007 for $4.1 billion — the largest acquisition in the soda giant’s history. But as VitaminWater’s popularity and distribution grows, so does the number of would-be imitators. The company’s small but feisty legal department vigilantly defends VitaminWater’s distinctive two-toned labels. In fact, Glaceau hasn’t lost a trademark case yet.