Texas Justice
 

Just so you know, Bartie does not equal Bart_CL3. :P

Whoooohoooo!!!
 

All my bills are printed, stuffed, and stamped - and it's not even the last of the month!

T(had to tell someone since no one is here but me.)L

Texas Justice
 

Oh good lord - how embarrassing.

-TL

I live in Angleton, and believe me, it's like a whole other nation. My wife and I both work in Houston and we moved there because the housing market is really excellent compared to Houston. There sure are a lot of hicks there though. I think they use stun guns on 'em in the hospital when they're newborns or something.:eek:

Metroplex DAs Focus on Corporate Crime
 

Interesting article from the Dallas Business Journal:

White-collar crackdown
More and more local DAs take on corporate crime

William Hoffman
Staff Writer

GREATER METROPLEX -- As federal prosecutors shift their focus and resources to the new frontiers of homeland security, local prosecutors are increasingly picking up corporate fraud and white-collar crime cases the feds leave behind.

Collin County criminal district attorney John Roach, in office since Jan. 1, has added a criminal section to his office's special crimes division, partly in response to the feds' new priorities and partly due to rapid county growth.

Since 1999 Dallas County has experienced an uninterrupted rise in the number of corporate and white-collar crime cases handled by its specialized crime division, according to Brian Flood, the division's chief in the Dallas County District Attorney's office.

And the Denton County District Attorney's office now hosts three certified fraud investigators -- often called on by the Secret Service and other locally based federal law enforcement agencies -- and one of just 180 certified computer forensic analysts in the world, according to first assistant criminal district attorney Lee Ann Breading.

"I think the local district attorneys offices and (federal) agency offices and state attorneys general will do more of the white-collar crime and fraud cases that used to come out of the U.S. Attorneys' offices," said former assistant U.S. Attorney John Teakell, now an attorney at Dallas-based Milner & Finn.

Teakell said the shift of white-collar crime and corporate fraud prosecutions from federal U.S. Attorney's offices to county district attorneys might improve a convicted individual's chances of probation from state courts compared with federal courts, where sentencing guidelines and mandatory minimums limit judges' discretion.

Full text: http://www.bizjournals.com/industrie...3.html?f=et153

I thought this was a very good article - esp for new lawyers:

A Good Lawyer: Secrets Good Lawyers [and their best clients] Already Know


"1. Not everything requires a Supreme Court brief.

2. Try not to equivocate.

3. Never underestimate your opponent.

4. Don’t make idle threats, it undermines your credibility.

5. Don’t embarrass your opponent............................"

DiverseWorks event
 

I don't know if anyone is interested, but DiverseWorks in Houston is having their second annual summer luck of the draw art auction a week from today, June 18. $100 gets you in the door, wine and beer, and you get a number for the drawing. Your number gets picked, you go to the wall, pick out your art, and take it home. I think that there are about 200 pieces of art that have been donated so far, and DiverseWorks events are always a lot of fun. It's an inexpensive way to add to an art collection, plus the money goes to an excellent organization.

http://www.diverseworks.org/programs/spec_auction.html

Yes, I changed the name of the thread because, well because I can. And for those interested, check out : http://www.mosquitofestival.com/

And on a serious, and more relevant, note...

Are we seeing the jobs situation pick up at all out there? I've noticed a few more job postings than we've had for a while and more people talking about hiring (mostly small firms) than they have in some time - I'm tempted to feel optimistic, but what's going on in your neck of the woods? Comments?

-TL

edited to add that I am in Houston, if you did not know this.

SO (corp-type) was laid off last year, and is finally getting attractive leads, calls from headhunters, and interviews with places em's actually interested in. However, I've read on the other board rumblings of layoffs at Hayboo. I can't imagine that they're unique. From a Houston perspective, I am still concerned about V&E fallout, energy sector troubles, etc., although WGM seems busy (not necessarily the result of booming business in Houston). I guess I'm cautiously optimistic.

Help!!!
 

Anyone heard of George T. Harris in Fort Worth? He's a solo.

Any info much appreciated.

-TL

edited to add that if anyone knows of an entry level (6mos good experience) litigation job opening in the FW area, please pm me. Small firm and gov't positions OK. (helping out a friend) TIA!

Arter Hadden dissolving?
 

Rumor is that, barring miracles, the entire firm is shutting doors as of the end of June. A rescue merger apparently was tanked by the Dallas partners, which seems odd because Dallas was probably the worst money-loser in the firm.

There was an article in the Recorder http://www.law.com/regionals/ca/ earlier this week, but I haven't seen anything else surface.

Edited to add that the link doesn't go to the article - if anyone has a better link, please post. -TL

Brobeck Fallout Article from the NY Times
 

The Sunday Times had a very interesting article on the fallout from Brobeck's fall. It offers some areas of concern for GAs at other firms in the Death Pool.

The Unraveling of an Un-Law Firm
By JONATHAN D. GLATER

BROBECK, PHLEGER & HARRISON tried to be the un-law firm, young and hip instead of staid and boring.

With expansive offices in a downtown San Francisco office tower, it was not the kind of place where lawyers wore white shirts and striped ties. While young associates at other firms complained about endless hours, pushy partners and boring work, Brobeck, according to a former associate there, was often fun. And profitable: the firm's roughly 150 partners took home an average of $1.2 million each in 2000, and associates were paid wages as high as those offered at many older, powerhouse firms in New York.

Its clients, including companies like Cisco Systems and Compaq Computer, were ebullient, riding to fabulous wealth on the crest of the new Internet economy.
So when partners told employees in January that the firm would be closing, many of the roughly 450 lawyers and nearly 1,000 staff members there weren't just stunned. They felt betrayed.

They found that their firm had not paid administrative fees for its 401(k) plan, locking them out of their accounts for months. Many found themselves suddenly without health insurance. Some have been stuck with unreimbursed firm expenses. And many say they have not received information about any of these problems — let alone about how to deal with them — from their bosses.
Many former senior partners said they were embarrassed by the collapse of the firm and no longer wanted to have their names associated with it. Privately, they said they, too, were hurt badly financially by the firm's problems, which became acute when its debts became immediately payable as a result of the departure of a number of partners.

The collapse of any business can be devastating to employees. But the fallout from Brobeck's demise, which has already spawned a lawsuit by former employees, has exposed many of the resentments that are usually hidden in a law firm. Staff members like secretaries and computer technicians say they were treated much worse than the well-paid associates, and many Brobeck employees resent the hundreds of thousands of dollars that they believe the partners paid themselves even as the firm's prospects deteriorated.

Perhaps most striking is the way Brobeck's downward trajectory resembled that of any other company in trouble, even though the firm occasionally provided strategic advice to companies in financial trouble.

There are bitter parties on all sides and much slinging of blame.

Charles Bencomo, who worked in computer support in the firm's office in New York, said he was surprised to learn in mid-February that he could not withdraw funds from his 401(k). In early 2002, Brobeck stopped paying UMB Bank to administer the firm's plan, which held more than $160 million.

Employees knew the firm was having some trouble — it had gone through layoffs last year — but "for that to happen was pretty shocking," said Mr. Bencomo, who now works in computer support at another law firm, McDermott, Will & Emery. Many of Brobeck's employees were eventually able to pull money out of 401(k) accounts, and all should ultimately be able do so.

Mr. Bencomo said he was still bitter that the firm did not contribute a bonus of 5.5 percent of his salary to his 401(k) account, as it had in previous years. But at least he was able to find another job, he said.

"I was fortunate," Mr. Bencomo said. "I was able to land on my feet. But there are a lot of people who couldn't."

Full text: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/22/bu...22FIRM.html?th

Brown McCarroll - Hilgers Merger
 

I have heard some that the transition for the Hilgers lawyers has been very rocky, and that at least one high profile woman partner from Hilgers has already jumped, and that women associates are floating resumes.

Can anyone confirm the Austin rumors?

Brown McCarroll - Hilgers Merger
 

Are we talking individual lawyers or whole groups?

And why just women?

Even(enquiring minds . . .)Odds

Brown McCarroll - Hilgers Merger
 

The rumor from very close sources is that Brown McCarroll only offered equity partnerships to the male partners, leaving the female partners out in the cold. That sent a chiling message to the female partners and associates, so they are now scrambling to join a more female-friendly firm.

Hilgers has an impressive health section, so that may be in danger.

Brown McCarroll - Hilgers Merger
 

It now appears that the Hilgers female partners are splintering to different firms throughout Austin.

Could Brown McCarroll be such a bad place to work? Or did bad things happen during the negotiation that turned them off?

V&E Lawsuit
 

Anyone have a copy of the discrimination lawsuit against V&E?Case number is H-03-2195, filed on the 20th, in the U.S. Dist. Ct., Southern Dist., Houston Division. Allegations include sexual harassment, race discrimination, constructive discharge and retaliation.

If so, could you email it to me at secchick@hotmail.com?

Mods, would there be a way to post it to the site? (Assuming that the suit is real and not a hoax)

V&E Lawsuit
 

If you get it, we will find a way to do it.

Etiquette Question
 

Here's a question - I've had a potential client schedule two appointments and no-show for each - and did not call until later on each. She since left a message that she will be calling to reschedule. What is the most appropriate way to tell her I am not interested in her business?

a) Tell her I am no longer taking new clients because I'm too busy?

b) Tell her the truth - she's an inconsiderate loser?

c) Refer her to someone else (perhaps someone I'm not too fond of).

d) Send her a bill for the consultation fee for the no-show appointment(s) and hope I never hear from her again?

e) (?) ________________________

Etiquette Question
 

d. with a letter telling her that you would be happy to speak to her, but that your time costs money and that you expect that she will pay your normal hourly rate for any consultation or appointment cancelled without notice. it likely tells her off, but politely and for a good reason, and allows you to tell her why you don't want her business in a businesslike way.

Munsch Hardt Sued for $20 Million+
 

Law firm sued for $20M

Colin Pope
_
Austin Business Journal Staff

The parent company of defunct mortgage lender Empire Funding Corp. has slapped bankruptcy attorneys at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr PC with a $20 million lawsuit, alleging the law firm botched Empire Funding's bankruptcy case.

Austin-based Empire Funding went out of business three years ago under $75 million of debt. The parent company's lawsuit was filed June 19 in Travis County District Court.

In the suit, Empire Funding Holding Corp. claims attorneys in the Dallas office of Munsch Hardt failed to assert various claims in the bankruptcy case of another mortgage lender, ContiFinancial Corp., which filed for bankruptcy protection at about the same time as Empire Funding.

By allegedly doing so, Empire Funding claims it lost its chance to collect at least $20 million from ContiFinancial, which since has gone out of business.

Empire Funding is suing for actual damages of $20 million and seeks millions more in exemplary damages from the Dallas-based firm. Munsch Hardt attorneys listed individually in the suit are Russell Munsch, Paul Seiler and Joe Marshall.

Speaking on behalf of the firm and the attorneys being sued, Munsch Hardt partner Steven Harr in Dallas dismisses Empire Funding's claim.

"We believe that the lawsuit is meritless, in particular because we never represented the party making the claim," Harr says. "We have hired counsel and intend to aggressively defend ourselves."

Harr says Munsch Hardt represented subsidiary Empire Funding Corp., not parent company Empire Funding Holding Corp., which is making the current claim.

The holding company's suit claims Munsch Hardt was "engaged and retained" by the holding company and subsidiary.

More info at http://www.bizjournals.com/industrie...1.html?f=et153
(free registration required)

Arter Hadden dissolving?
 

Arter law partners rebound - Form new firm: Bailey Cavalieri

Arter & Hadden, one of Ohio's oldest law firms, will shut its doors July 15, but its 79-member Columbus staff will show up for work the next day as employees of a new firm, Bailey Cavalieri LLC....


Firm nabs Arter lawyers - Andrews & Kurth gets 15 from former highflier

The day after the July 15 closing of 1990s highflier Arter & Hadden L.L.P., 15 of its former attorneys -- including Arter's last managing partner -- will move a few floors down in the Bank One Building to new digs at Andrews & Kurth L.L.P.

UT-Houston
 

I recently found out that UT-Houston laid off both the chief legal officer and the chief compliance officer a few weeks ago. From what I've been told, compliance and legal are merging into one department, but there really isn't anyone left who has expertise in all of the relevant areas.

An attorney has been named interim chief legal and compliance officer, but it is unclear what level that position is. I've been told that in addition to the interim person there are two attorneys in the legal affairs office and two in the compliance office and one more attorney in another office.

New office in Houston?
 

who is this firm?

---

'97-'01 grads needed in Houston

National firm; critical opening

Downtown location; top dollar

Excellent credentials desired

Collegial national firm seeks 1-2 associates
w/top tier credentials for int'l litigaton
group. Firm has 15-20 litigators in Houston
office. Downtown Location. Vibrant branch.

---

'98-'01 JD Litigator for Houston

Collegial Branch of Nat'l firm;

New Offices and normal hours

Great Pay; Good people.

National firm seeks 1998-2001 JD litigation
associate. $110-130K + bonus; reasonable hours

HayBoo Layoffs
 

From the rumor mill and the SB:

20-40 mid-level and senior-level associates will be laid off within the next few weeks.

From the SB:

"As a matter of fact, one of the main items to be discussed at the partner's retreat in San Antonio on September 5th-6th is a reduction in the number of associates. Apparently the Board of Directors has asked Section Heads and Practice Group Leaders to offer up associates to be sacrificed."

any more word on this
 

What areas were the people in or was it an across the board?

Brown McCarroll - Hilgers "Merger"
 

The Brown McCarroll absorption of Hilgers is finally complete and official, making it the second largest law firm in Austin behind Clark, Thomas, with 104 lawyers to CTW's 117 in Austin. It now has 190 statewide.

The firm will continue to be known as Brown McCarroll.

http://www.bizjournals.com/ct/c/582008

Anyone have news on the inside of how these two very different firms have integrated?

Brown McCarroll - Hilgers "Merger"
 

The article stated that only four lawyers left during the merger, insinuating it's because they didn't want to work for so large a firm. That's a lie. Resumes were flooding other large local firms' offices, mostly from women partners and associates.

One woman who was a Hilgers equity partner reported that she was offered a non-equity position in Brown McCarroll, while all of her male equity colleagues were offered equity partnerships.

Fulbright Expansion
 

There is an occassional rumor about Fulbright opening a New Orleans office. Anyone in Texas heard anything similar?

Help this guy
 

If anyone in the Austin area is in need of a tech support guy, or a writer/researcher type, please help this guy out..

Actually, go visit his site anyway. Really well written blog.

Help this guy
 

Cool site.

Austin tech is still in a depression. It's shocking, actually, so who knows what will happen to the thousands of people who have been unemployed far longer than your blogger.

Jackson & Walker
 

Ok I'm doing this for a buddy - and he's asked us to find out "Whats the deal is with Jackson & Walker "- J&W.
Need to know what the inside story is - QOL, billable targets and bonus?
This person is coming from NYC BIGLAW and has heard of them but never had them across the table - interested in the Corp., Inter'l and RE groups.
So - "o wonderful ladies and gents of the the art of law - bestow this unknowing fool with your wisdom!"....

Austin Commute
 

Are there any thoughts on a commute from Jonestown to downtown Austin? Jonestown generally (other than the unfortunate name)?

Austin Commute
 

Whether or not this is actually where there was a big massacre, moving someplace called "Jonestown" is like dating (or, worse, marrying) someone named Heather. Not a good idea.

Austin Commute
 

I have never heard of Jonestown, Texas. I mapped it and it is really far for an Austin commute. People commute in from Cedar Park, which is southeast of Jonestown, but they whine about it all the time.

It ultimately depends on where you are really going. If you are commuting to some place on 360 or 620 (in the former high tech corridor), it wouldn't be too terrible. If you are commuting truly downtown, you will be stuck in traffic on Mo-Pac or 360 that will make you want to kill yourself every single morning.

Austin Commute
 

That's what I was afraid of. Oh well. So much for the outdoor dining area overlooking the lake. Too bad - it was very lairlike.

Thanks for the reply.

H&K - San Antonio
 

Originally posted by Freakin' NA on 03-17-2004 06:03 PM

Can anybody fill me in on this joint? What about firmwide - what's lowdown on this nuthouse?

Crain Caton & James
 

Any word on QOL, salary, bonus, hours...you know the routine about this place.

Thanks in advance.

Godwin Gruber Houston Office
 

Godwin Gruber, LLP Announces New Houston Office; 23 Attorneys Join from Dunn, Kacal, Adams, Pappas & Law

Additions make Godwin Gruber Texas’ largest litigation trial firm

(Houston) ¯ Dallas’ Godwin Gruber, LLP today announced the addition of 23 attorneys from Houston’s Dunn, Kacal, Adams, Pappas & Law P.C., to coincide with the opening of Godwin Gruber’s new office in Houston.

“This is one of the most exciting days in the history of our Firm,” says Donald E. Godwin, founder of Godwin Gruber. “The addition of Chris Pappas, Dan King, Bob Dunn, and this excellent group of attorneys provides our firm with an immediate and undeniable presence in Houston and the Gulf Coast region.”

Mr. Pappas leads the group of five partners and 18 associates joining Godwin Gruber. In addition to being named to Godwin Gruber’s Executive Committee, Mr. Pappas will serve as Managing Partner of the Houston office.

“Our group is looking forward to incorporating in Houston the vision that has made Godwin Gruber such a success in North Texas,” Mr. Pappas says. “This is a major step, and we’re all ready for the challenge.”

Former Dunn, Kacal partners Bob Dunn, Dan King, Darrell Greer and Andrew Sarne will join Godwin Gruber as partners. Amy Dunn Taylor, a Senior Associate at Dunn, Kacal, is also joining Godwin Gruber as a partner.

The firm currently is locating space for the Houston office, which will officially open its doors on July 1. The additions will make Godwin Gruber the largest litigation trial firm in Texas with 158 lawyers.

The firm’s practice areas include commercial litigation, energy law, products liability, mass tort litigation, insurance coverage/disputes, personal injury, medical malpractice, securities law, labor and employment, intellectual property, bankruptcy, construction, environmental law, and appellate matters in federal and state courts.

Godwin Gruber represents Fortune 500 and middle-market industry leaders in Mission Critical Litigation® in Texas and throughout the U.S.

If you would like more information, please contact Donald E. Godwin at 214.939.4412, Chris Pappas at 713.819.6754 or Mike Androvett at 800.559.4534 or cell phone 214.507.5456.

It's been so very long
 

Does anyone have any information at all on this. I got an e-mail from the Texas Lawyer with this blurb, and I'm not a subscriber, so I wasn't able to get to the article.

• Thompson & Knight Raises
  Base Salaries for Associates
  In the first significant associate pay hike in Texas since the heady days of 2000, Thompson & Knight will raise associate base salaries in January, a move that might signal the start of another paycheck bonanza for associates. Full story

Anyone know of a firm willing to match?