Posts on ‘February 3rd, 2010’

As the U.S. Supreme Court collects briefs from parties interested in the work-product doctrine debate in Textron v. United States, Pennsylvania’s high court couldn’t come to an agreement on a similar issue involving attorney-client privilege. The court has issued a per curiam order in the long-running case of Nationwide v. Fleming, upholding a Superior Court ruling that attorney-client privilege only applies to information given to the attorney by the client, not the other way around.

The global recession has led to a spike in cross-border commercial disputes, which in turn has led to a rise in international arbitration. But even as more companies turn to arbitration, many in-house lawyers complain that the process, at its worst, can be as costly and time-consuming as litigation. An advocacy organization called the Corporate Counsel International Arbitration Group is highlighting the problems in order to encourage reform. Launched three years ago, the group is now making its influence felt.

Thomas Russo of Patton Boggs, formerly the top in-house lawyer for Lehman Brothers, is the new general counsel for American International Group. He said friends told him that he was crazy to consider the job in the wake of Lehman’s bankruptcy. But Russo said he was attracted by the challenge. “It’s an opportunity that sort of transcends who you are as an individual, and it’s exciting to be back and doing something that’s important.”