Patent Malpractice
 

Hmmm....edited to better match dates/historical record?

Other famous words from Atticus Grinch's inner futurist:

5/7/42: "Gentlemen! As soon as I get out of school, I'm becoming a big band star."

3/14/48: "Chaps, this Benny Carter fellow is smashing! This guy will be around forever!"

6/30/52: "Father has a friend on the Committe of Bar Examiners--I cannot fail."

3/2/2000: "I don't much care for this Gunderson fellow. His incessant associate raises will be the death of us all. I think I shall lateral to Brobeck, as their PPP was much higher this year and is increasing."


Better?

Patent Malpractice
 

That's weird. When I think of Atticus he doesn't sound anything like that.

Patent Malpractice
 

Does it sound more like this?

http://www.sixmilliondollarsite.co.u...20houseman.gif

(At least during liturgical or historical posts.)

Patent Malpractice
 

Gatti, you are so perfect that it makes me ache.

Patent Malpractice
 

I guess my attempt at being all ironical and shit didn't work. Atticus' posts do sound like a lesson plan sometimes...:P

Nutty Professor
 

No, it worked. I just wanted to make it all about me and how I feel about Atticus.

Nutty Professor
 

Humph. How quickly the spotlight dims.

Nutty Professor
 

Now, now, I have enough love for all of you, my perfect one. And I never picture you as John Houseman or wearing either breeches and a doublet or a black robe and white wig.

Nutty Professor
 

Thy "re:" line maketh my sanguine humours to course and boil within mine veins, varlet.

Nutty Professor
 

My love doth so approve him that even his stubbornness, his checks, his frowns, and his calling me a varlet though I be a chick, have grace and favor.

Nutty Professor
 

My, you are feeling frisky today.

Nutty Professor
 

I think I would be turned on if I knew what you guys were saying.

:shrug:

Locals
 

I didn't know Robust Puppy and Idle Acts were local (and they may not be), but, if so, you should invite them for cocktails next time, Mr. Grinch.

Locals
 

I probably technically have to buy the first round at this point, lest I be thought a cad, even though I know I don't stand a chance of scoring --- at least with Idle Acts. NTTAWWT.

Gunderson
 

Anybody know what's going on there? They've been off the radar screen for some time now.

The Answer is "No."
 

Unabomber Wants His Bomb Back

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Convicted Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski wants the U.S. government to return a pipe bomb and other items seized from his Montana cabin so that they can be used for "research," according to court papers made public on Monday..........

http://image.imgfarm.com/images/reuters/amdf335396.jpg

The Answer is "No."
 

And today's award for long-shot motion goes to......

The Answer is "No"
 

What does the case law say about physical evidence held by the government after termination of proceedings? Is it "taking" under the U.S. constitution? or just simply a breach of bailment? What does Ted think?

One from Column A, One from B
 

Whew- only 135 candidates in the race, should Gov. Davis be recalled.

For the record, I'm appalled by the recall, and will vote against it, but this is an interesting "populist" sort of election. I still cringe at how many votes will be (IMO) wasted by asshoops voting for Gary Coleman or Angelyne.

The Candidates range from the ridiculous to the sublime. And then some. While I hate all the idiots who decided to run just because they have nothing else to do, I must admit to have smiled when I saw that Jack Grisham, frontman of TSOL, is running.

C(we might die today, or at least on Oct. 7)deuced

One from Column A, One from B
 

I am very upset that Father Guido Sarducci was ultimately disqualified for having incomplete signatures.

not7y(finda the gov'nor inna da pizza)S

One from Column A, One from B
 

No!!!! That's terrible news. He makes more sense than virtually any other candidate.

I particularly liked his views on international relations back in the Reagan era. In response to Reagan's comment that "Nicaragua is closer to the US than Texas is to Washington DC," he pointed out that we should really worry about Canada: "After all, iss so big! An' Canada issa closer to US than Manhattan issa to Brooklyn!"

One from Column A, One from B
 

Not to mention that those Canadians are wily.

Latham's Corp group
 

I am considering lateraling to Latham's corporate group in Menlo Park. Thus, I'd be very appreciative if anyone could offer any insights into the office culture or a general sense of job security? Thanks

Latham's Corp group
 

I've heard good things about Latham office culture in general, especially if you are the kind of person that thrives in a fraternity/sorority setting.

Latham's Corp group
 

Latham's Corp group
 

You are two thirds of the way there. The third part of the trifecta is to swear an oath to only date people in the office.

Bingham Mccutchen Picks Up Cooley Finance Veterans
 

Bingham Mccutchen Picks Up Cooley Finance Veterans

Brenda Sandburg
The Recorder
08-27-2003


Bingham McCutchen has snagged two veteran finance partners from Cooley Godward and a seventh-year associate who will join the firm as a partner.

Pamela Martinson, who has spent her 14-year legal career at Cooley, and Peter Carson, who has been with the firm 16 years, said they were drawn to Bingham's national and international financing practice. While Cooley has 11 lawyers in its credit finance group, Bingham has about 250 attorneys in its entire finance area, representing about one-third of the firm's 850 attorneys.

"I was looking for a firm with finance at its core, as a primary focus," Martinson said. "Bingham has one of the best practices around in that area of any firm."

Carson compared his move to Bingham to that of someone who would join Cooley to do venture capital work.

"Just as venture capital and life science and representation of emerging companies is at the heart of what Cooley does on the business side, finance is at the heart of Bingham," he said.

Martinson and Carson said a date had not been set for their departure from Cooley but that they would be leaving soon. Seventh-year associate Bradley Crawford will also be joining Bingham. When they leave, Cooley will have one partner in its credit finance practice.

Edwin Smith, the chair of Bingham's finance area, said the three Cooley lawyers would help the firm build a strong finance practice on the West Coast. He said Bingham took the first step when it hired former Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison partner George Hisert in February. Smith said he and Hisert then sought out Carson, Martinson and Crawford independently of each other.

Hisert had been friends with Carson for many years and had been one of Crawford's lawyers when Crawford was a banker at Chase Manhattan. And Smith had Martinson as a student when he taught a class at Harvard Law School.

"It's like having some old friends join," Smith said. "We think they are quality people and highly regarded in their field."

Carson represents foreign and domestic banks, commercial finance lenders, debt funds and other institutional lenders, as well as company and private equity clients. He obtained his law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law in 1985, and after a two-year stint with a bankruptcy boutique, joined Cooley.

Martinson represents institutional and other lenders and borrowers in financial transactions ranging from bank lines of credit to private placements of debt securities. Prior to law school, Martinson spent 10 years as a commercial banker and lender. She joined Cooley in 1989 after graduating from Harvard Law School.

Martinson and Carson said their decision to leave Cooley had nothing to do with the collapse of Cooley's recent merger discussions with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and that Cooley had tried to retain them.

Mark Pitchford, Cooley's chief operating officer, declined to comment on the departures. But he said Cooley is "firmly and fully committed to that practice" and client needs would continue to be met.

One From The Rumor Mill
 

A good source -- i.e., a friend who pays for drinks if I'm willing to listen to him yammer for awhile -- tells me that MoFo is acquiring, or merging with, or just living with for awhile to see if it works out, VLG.

All the usual caveats. Let's not rush out to buy VLG stock on the inside info.

O'Melveny SV?
 

I drive by OMM's Silicon Valley office (next to Orrick's) everyday on the way to work. Today, the parking lot was empty, and the shades were all drawn and dark. What's up? Firm retreat? Moving? Taking over the world? Why don't I get a Thursday off? Anyone have the scoop?

Flinty

VLG - Heller Ehrman
 

VLG snubs Orricks for Heller Ehrman deal

Palo Alto boutique The Venture Law Group (VLG) has rebuffed a proposed merger with Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe to agree a tie up with San Francisco’s Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe.

On Tuesday (2 September) VLG announced the Heller Ehrman deal, although the proposal is set to go to both firms’ partnerships on 9 September for final approval.

The agreement brings to an end a frantic period of merger talks for the highly-respected technology boutique, which has been hit hard by the two-year collapse in California’s technology and venture capital market.

VLG was already being wooed by Orricks before Legal Week revealed in July that the Palo Alto firm was also in talks with Heller Ehrman and Morrison & Foerster of San Francisco.

VLG's chairman Graig Johnson said: "Our combination with Heller Ehrman represents the next chapter in the evolution of [our firm]."

Heller Ehrman has around 660 lawyers while VLG has a little more than 60. The combined firm will unite under the Heller Ehrman brand.

Heller Ehrman chairman Barry Levin said: "[The combined firms] will be a world leader in serving both early stage and established life sciences and technology companies."

The merger signals the end of another of California’s celebrated technology specialists after Brobeck Phleger & Harrison in January announced that it was to dissolve amid partner defections and mounting firm debts.

Click on ‘e-mail news’ at www.legalweek.net to be alerted to breaking news stories.



Author: Richard Tromans
Source: Legal Week
Start Date: 02/09/2003 00:00
End Date: 07/09/2003 00:00

VLG - Heller Ehrman
 

Yikes. That means VLG shrunk by half in the past 2-3 years, if I'm not mistaken.


Sidd(the Atkins Diet for law firms?)Finch


edited to fix tags -- T.S.

One From The Rumor Mill
 

I buy all this VLG stock hoping to get into MoFo on the cheap, and now I've got all this Heller Ehrman paper instead. Thanks, Sidd.

One From The Rumor Mill
 

Maybe you should buy me more (or better) drinks than the schmuck who gave me the tips did. Then I might be a more reliable source.

Or, I might not....

Sidd(coy)Finch

Heller/VLG article
 

The latest from Renee:

http://www.law.com/jsp/pubarticleCA....=1061487976028


Salient points:

1. Heller has no really good-looking guys. At least, no one who can replace "that dreamy Tower" in Renee's eyes.

2. VLG bigwigs have advanced denial to the status of an art form, by claiming that this move has little to do with "Darwinian" survival and is really part of the natural evolution of the firm.

3. VLG bigwigs have little sense of irony, given that natural evolution and Darwinian survival are one and the same. ("It's like ra-hay-hayn, on your wedding day!")

4. Anyone who thinks all 60 VLG lawyer will survive for more than six months be smokin' da' ganja an' feelin' IRIE, mon!

Heller/VLG
 

According to my source, Heller Ehrman and VLG approved the merger today, and the two firms will become one on or about October 1. Heller picked up less than 60 lawyers -- it's unclear whether there are more headed elsewhere.

So far, I have not been able to confirm that the firm's new name will be Venture Ehrman Group, or that Barry Levin is changing his first name to Craig.

Heller/VLG
 

Anybody have them in the pool?

He hates the cans
 

This just in...
Bomb Threat Leads To Moscone Center Evacuation

SAN FRANCISCO, 4:11 p.m. PDT September 10, 2003 - San Francisco police say they are facing a "logistical nightmare" Wednesday afternoon, as they decided to evacuate roughly 11,000 people from Moscone Center due to a bomb threat.
Police spokesman Dewayne Tully said the call concerning the convention center at 747 Howard St., where an OracleWorld trade event is under way through Sept. 11
Howard St. is currently closed to traffic.
He added that initial reports indicate the caller made a somewhat rambling series of comments, alluding to "bloodshed in Iraq and Afghanistan," as well as "human rights" and "Allah."

now hiring
 

I hear Heller Ehrman is looking to hire 3-5 year laterals in the general and securities litigation groups.

(Keep that stuff coming.)

new MoFo office in Shanghai
 

According to LawCrossing.com, Morrison Foerster has announced the opening of an office in Shanghai, China, its second in mainland China and fifth in Asia. The office will be headed by a partner from its Tokyo office and a lateral partner from the Shanghai office of Coudert Brothers. One associate is also set to join the Shanghai office upon its opening. The office will mainly work in inbound and outbound investment, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, securities offerings, construction and infrastructure, telecommunications and IP matters. MoFo has approximately 70 lawyers in the Asian region, spread out in Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Singapore.

And here's an article from the East Bay Business Times about how hot the IP market is.