DC Pulse


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    Coalition Rips Trump Deputy AG's Claim Of 'War' With Judges

    A group of former federal judges on Thursday condemned what they called "inflammatory remarks" last week by Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche detailing the U.S. Department of Justice's "war" with "rogue activist" judges.

  • Minn. Chief Federal Judge To Take Semi-Retired Status In July

    Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz of the District of Minnesota will take semi-retired status next summer, according to an update on Thursday from the federal judiciary.

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    Holland & Knight Adds Education Dept. Senior Adviser In DC

    Holland & Knight LLP has hired a former senior adviser for the U.S. Department of Education, who joined the firm in Washington, D.C., and will provide counsel to local governments on federal policy and funding matters.

  • Judge Casts Doubt On Legitimacy Of Halligan's Appointment

    A federal judge in Virginia said Thursday that Attorney General Pam Bondi couldn't have reviewed the full transcript of the grand jury proceedings that netted an indictment of James Comey before ratifying the charges against the former FBI director because the U.S. Department of Justice didn't have them at the time.

  • NY Gov't Ethics Watchdog Called To Testify Against AG James

    The federal government subpoenaed the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government on Wednesday to testify in its case against New York Attorney General Letitia A. James.

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    In-House Tax Controversy Director Joins Miller & Chevalier

    The former director of tax controversy at Cleveland, Ohio-based real estate company GBX Group LLC has moved to Miller & Chevalier Chtd.'s Washington, D.C., office, where she'll continue working on a range of tax-related matters.

  • Justices Won't Block 5th Circ. Order On Child's Removal

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday denied an emergency application to stay a Fifth Circuit decision that would allow an asylum-seeker's 7-year-old daughter to be deported to Venezuela.

  • Ex-CFPB Enforcers Launch Consumer Litigation Project

    Three former enforcement attorneys of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have joined the advocacy group Protect Borrowers as senior fellows to launch a new litigation project focused on the "weaponization of corporate power that is plunging working people into financial crisis."

  • House Looks To Undo Sens.' Ability To Sue Over Phone Info

    House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Wednesday that House Republicans will be introducing stand-alone legislation to repeal a provision tucked into the government funding package the Senate passed Monday that would allow Republican senators investigated by special counsel Jack Smith to sue for damages.

  • Justices Fret Over Giving Judges More First Step Act Power

    The U.S. Supreme Court raised concerns Wednesday about spurring a flood of compassionate release motions from prisoners if it allows judges to have wide discretion to find "extraordinary and compelling reasons" to pare down sentences for criminal defendants under the First Step Act.

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    Hilgers Graben Revamps Leadership Structure, Changes Name

    Hilgers Graben PLLC said Tuesday that the commercial litigation and discovery counsel services firm has new leadership and a shortened name that reflects both its current status and future goals.

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    Where Are Top Firms Bringing On The Most New Partners?

    Lateral partner hiring data for the last five years paints a surprisingly static portrait of where top law firms are making the most hires, even as they warm up to secondary and tertiary legal markets.

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    Baker McKenzie Accuses Ex-Atty Of Playing 'Cat And Mouse'

    An ex-associate at Baker McKenzie's Washington, D.C., office has been accused by her former employer of playing a "cat and mouse game" to avoid getting served a defamation complaint filed in October by the office and its managing partner.

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    McDermott Exploring Selling Stake To Private Equity

    McDermott Will & Schulte on Wednesday acknowledged it is fielding interest from private equity investors, a development that underscores how some of the legal industry's largest players are considering moving to a nontraditional business model.

  • Ex-Energy Department General Counsel Joins Torridon Law

    The general counsel of the U.S. Department of Energy during President Donald Trump's first term has joined Torridon Law PLLC, a Washington, D.C., boutique launched in 2022 by Trump's former Attorney General William Barr and former Facebook general counsel Ted Ullyot.

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    Crowell & Moring's Asia IP Practice Co-Leader Joins Pillsbury

    Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP has hired the co-head of Crowell & Moring LLP's Asia intellectual property specialty practice, the firm said in an announcement this week.

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    Longtime Bracewell Partner Joins White & Case In DC

    A former Bracewell LLP partner who spent nearly 16 years there advising clients on the regulatory aspects of energy infrastructure transactions and on related matters has joined White & Case LLP's Washington, D.C., office as a partner, the firm has announced.

  • Texas Pick Among 3 Formally Tapped For District Court Seats

    President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday three nominees for federal judgeships in Texas, Arkansas and Alaska, which have been anticipated for a few weeks.

  • IP Law Daily Columnist Starts New Copyright Litigation Firm

    A D.C. attorney with BigLaw chops who has spent more than four years writing a daily column on U.S. copyright law for Intellectual Property Law Daily has hung out his own shingle.

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    Law360 MVP Awards Go To Top Attorneys From 76 Firms

    The attorneys chosen as Law360's 2025 MVPs have distinguished themselves from their peers by securing significant achievements in high-stakes litigation, complex global matters and record-breaking deals.

  • Trump, Ill. Debate 'Regular Forces' In National Guard Case

    President Donald Trump invoked the founders' distrust of standing armies in a bid to convince the U.S. Supreme Court he can deploy National Guard troops to Chicago for immigration enforcement, but Illinois and the city contend the use of guardsmen is intended as a backup plan. 

  • Senate Committee To Investigate Impeachment Of Judges

    The Senate Judiciary Committee will have a hearing next week to consider impeachment of "rogue" federal judges, according to an announcement on Monday.

  • Justices Doubt GEO's Immunity Claim In Forced Labor Suit

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday appeared reluctant to adopt GEO Group's interpretation of an 85-year-old ruling as extending immunity to contractors facing lawsuits, as the private prison operator stands accused of forcing immigrant detainees to clean a detention facility. 

  • 'Legal Fiction' May Doom Rastafarian's Haircut Suit

    The U.S. Supreme Court appeared to doubt Monday that a Rastafarian could hold Louisiana prison guards personally responsible for allegedly violating his religious rights when they forcibly shaved off his dreadlocks, with the justices splitting ideologically over whether a federal law gave the guards enough warning about their potential liability. 

  • Judge To Review Grand Jury Materials In Comey Indictment

    A Virginia federal judge said he would review grand jury materials in camera to see if any privileged information was used to secure the indictment of ex-FBI Director James Comey on charges of lying to Congress.

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Expert Analysis

  • 5 Pointers For Firm Leaders Communicating Tough Decisions Author Photo

    Certain law firm decisions — such as whether to challenge an executive order — cannot be crowdsourced, but leadership can collaboratively communicate these choices using strategies that build trust, reinforce values and preserve cohesion, says John Hellerman at Hellerman Communications.

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    Biz Development Tip Of The Month: Create A Succession Plan Author Photo

    ​​​​​​​Conversations around retirement and succession can be understandably difficult, but when attorneys make a plan for the transition early and effectively, they have the opportunity to not only keep work but also increase it, says Jillian McKenna at Verrill Dana.

  • Looking Under The Hood Of The $3,000 Billable Hour Author Photo

    In recent years, top-tier law firms have pushed hourly rates to unprecedented heights, with some partners commanding $3,000 per hour — but this eye-popping number doesn’t tell the full story, as there are numerous caveats and rigorous winnowing along the way, says Christopher Seck at Squire Patton.

  • Alien Enemies Act Case Could Reshape Executive Power Author Photo

    President Donald Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan nationals raises fundamental questions about statutory interpretation, executive power and constitutional structure, which now lay on the U.S. Supreme Court's doorstep, says Mauni Jalali at Quinn Emanuel.

  • How Law Firms Can Keep Nonequity Partners Happy Author Photo

    Law firms that successfully manage two-tiered partnership do so by creating a culture that treats everyone with respect and by establishing financial incentives outside their base compensation to reward performance, says Carol Morganstern at Major Lindsey.

  • Jurisdiction Argument In USAID Dissent Is Up For Debate Author Photo

    A dissent refuting the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent order directing the U.S. Agency for International Development to pay $2 billion in frozen foreign aid argued that claims relating to already-completed government contract work belong in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims – answering an important question, but with a debatable conclusion, says Steven Gordon at Holland & Knight.

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    Biz Development Tip Of The Month: Leverage Your Atty Bio Author Photo

    If maintained properly, your firm bio can help attract potential clients and create authentic connections, so it's crucial to take steps to write an updated attorney profile that goes beyond a list of credentials, says Raychel Lean at Reputation Ink.

  • Ask A Mentor: How Can I Promote Thoughtful Use Of AI? Author Photo

    Eran Kahana at Maslon discusses how partners can encourage responsible use of artificial intelligence tools within their firms by learning to spot pitfalls common to AI-generated work product and championing firmwide procedures and trainings that address the risks of uncritically relying on this powerful but imperfect technology.

  • Making Legal Cents: Firm Culture Is The New Game Plan Author Photo

    Law firm culture is often dismissed as a soft factor — merely platitudes on a website that seem disconnected from the bottom line — but by intentionally embedding a strong culture into day-to-day operations, law firms can achieve sustainable success, says Shireen Hilal at Maior Strategic Consulting.

  • 5 Questions Firms Must Ask For Successful Lateral Integration Author Photo

    To ensure that lateral partners effectively integrate their books of business, firms should design a structured transition plan based on a few fundamentals, from tracking the right data to implementing meaningful incentives, says Lana Manganiello at Practice Growth Partner.

  • Goldilocks Solution: Why The 4-Day Office Week Is Just Right Author Photo

    As law firms continue to wrestle with return-to-office policies, many are being pulled toward one or the other of two extremes: the rigidity of a five-day in-office schedule and the laissez-faire approach of a flexible three-day hybrid model — but a four-day in-office workweek may be the sweet spot, says Paul Manuele at PR Manuele Consulting.

  • As Attys Adopt Generative AI, 3 Elements Should Be Cardinal Author Photo

    As the legal world increasingly adopts generative artificial intelligence, lawyers and firms must develop and utilize strong prompting skills, keep a pulse on forthcoming tech evolutions, and remain steadfast to ethical obligations, say Michele Carney at Carney & Marchi and Marty Robles-Avila at BAL.

  • Rethinking 'No Comment' For Clients Facing Public Crises Author Photo

    “No comment” is no longer a cost-free or even a viable public communications strategy for companies in crisis, and counsel must tailor their guidance based on a variety of competing factors to help clients emerge successfully, says Robert Bowers at Moore & Van Allen.

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    Biz Development Tip Of The Month: Prioritize Connections Author Photo

    One reason business development in the legal industry seems so mysterious is because human relationships are so complex, but lawyers can reorient their thinking in two important ways to drive the process of connecting with new colleagues and contacts, say Jamie Lawless and Angela Quinn at Husch Blackwell.

  • Overcoming US Law Firms' Hesitancy To Enter Indian Market Author Photo

    Successful private equity exits with strong returns have solidified India's buyout market as an increasingly attractive destination for future investments, offering compelling reasons for the U.S. legal community to overcome its caution on the country's markets, says Vaishali Movva at Eimer Stahl.

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