DC Pulse


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    Blank Rome Lands Trade, Security Pro From Morgan Lewis

    Blank Rome LLP has grown its international trade group in Washington, D.C., with the addition of a veteran attorney from Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP.

  • Voir Dire: Law360 Pulse's Weekly Quiz

    This was another action-packed week for the legal industry as one BigLaw firm elected a new managing partner and other shops expanded their rosters. Test your legal news savvy here with Law360 Pulse's weekly quiz.

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    Columbia-Based Advocate Sues For Law Firms' DEI Details

    A free speech institute at Columbia University told a New York federal court Thursday that President Donald Trump's administration effectively denied its requests for information related to the government's demands that law firms supply details about their diversity, equity and inclusion practices.

  • Baldwin Opposes 7th Circ. Pick For Her State

    Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., on Thursday officially opposed the nomination to the Seventh Circuit of Rebecca Taibleson, a federal prosecutor in Wisconsin, who would serve in her state.

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    Greenberg Traurig Adds Energy Lawyers In NY, DC

    Greenberg Traurig LLP has rehired a former attorney who left to work as general counsel of the New York Public Service Commission, who returns alongside a lawyer joining the firm from the U.S. Department of Energy, in the nation's capital.

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    Ex-DOJ, WilmerHale Attys Latest To Join Democracy Forward

    Democracy Forward on Thursday announced the addition of four attorneys, including a former U.S. Department of Justice appellate leader and a longtime assistant U.S. attorney in Virginia.

  • Squire Patton Boggs Partner Confirmed To Kentucky Bench

    The Senate voted 48-45, along party lines, on Thursday to confirm former Kentucky Solicitor General and Squire Patton Boggs LLP partner Chad Meredith to the Eastern District of Kentucky.

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    BigLaw's 'New Normal' Is Fewer Hours Per Lawyer

    Lawyers are billing fewer hours, even as their rates soar, ushering in what appears to be a "new normal" for billable hours.

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    Judges Admit AI Missteps After Grassley's Oversight Push

    Federal judges in New Jersey and Mississippi admitted their staff used artificial intelligence in faulty orders they had to redo over the summer, according to correspondence released Thursday by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, who is investigating the matter.

  • Biden Judicial Noms Atty To Lead Progressive Nonprofit

    The American Constitution Society, a progressive legal nonprofit, has named a White House Senior Counsel from former President Joe Biden's administration as its next president, who in his time working at Pennsylvania Avenue oversaw a historic number of judicial confirmations.

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    Baker McKenzie Partner Hired Security In Dispute With Ex-Atty

    The managing partner of Baker McKenzie's Washington, D.C., office told a Maryland state judge Wednesday that he has had to employ a protective detail because of harassment and threats from a former firm associate who he says falsely accused him of sexual assault.

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    Racial, Class Gaps Persist In Strong Year For Law Grad Hiring

    Employment for the class of 2024 reached near-record levels, but graduates from underrepresented backgrounds were less likely to secure attorney positions or judicial clerkships, according to newly released data from the National Association for Law Placement.

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    Baker Donelson Hires CFPB Veteran In DC

    Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz PC has hired for its Washington, D.C., team a 12-year veteran of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau who brings more than two decades of legal experience working on financial services matters.

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    Former Jack Smith DOJ Leaders Launch DC Boutique

    Two attorneys who supported former special counsel Jack Smith in his criminal prosecutions of Donald Trump have now launched a boutique law firm that will specialize in services such as criminal defense and helping state and local governments handle public corruption investigations.

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    Hinshaw Unveils Rebrand To Show 'Forward Momentum'

    Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP on Wednesday announced a new website and rebranding during what it calls a period of strong financial performance and growth.

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    Arnall Golden Launches Alumni Connect Program

    Arnall Golden Gregory LLP launched a new program this month that aims to foster collaboration between current and former firm attorneys.

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    Kirkland Partner, Ex-Sen. Cornyn Counsel Tapped For US Atty

    A Dallas-based Kirkland & Ellis LLP litigation partner who previously served as U.S. Sen. John Cornyn's chief counsel has been nominated as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

  • La. Justice Faces Questions On Campaigns At Nom Hearing

    Two nominees for Louisiana federal court positions appeared before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, including a state Supreme Court justice who faced Democratic questions about the election process for his current role.

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    16-Year CFTC Atty Joins Orrick's DC Finance Team As Partner

    A veteran Commodity Futures Trading Commission lawyer who most recently served as an associate director has joined Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in Washington, D.C., as former lawyers from the agency move to new roles months after a round of layoffs.

  • Trump Special Counsel Pick Backs Out Over Lack Of Support

    President Donald Trump's pick to lead the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, the independent agency tasked with safeguarding federal employees, on Tuesday announced he was withdrawing his nomination over a lack of Republican support, following a news report that he sent a series of racist text messages.

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    GrayRobinson Brings On Pair Of Military Vets In Fla., DC

    GrayRobinson PA has picked up two U.S. military judge advocate veterans who are seasoned litigators in Jacksonville, Florida, and Washington, D.C.

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    Companies Report Increasingly Gearing Up For AI Risks

    More than a third of major public companies in a study cite AI as a risk factor in their annual financial filings, and 73% report they are aligning with external cybersecurity standards. Both numbers are significantly higher than last year.

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    Ballard Partners' Quarterly Lobbying Revenue Surges To $25M

    Ballard Partners saw a more than five-fold increase in federal lobbying revenue in the third quarter compared to the same period last year, far outpacing law firms' earnings.

  • Judge Won't Rush Ruling On Proposed Comey 'Filter Team'

    A Virginia federal judge rejected prosecutors' request for him to quickly rule on a proposed "filter team" to review potentially privileged evidence in their case against James Comey on Monday, ruling that the standard 14-day period for the former FBI director's team to fully respond to the proposal balances speed and fairness.

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    The 2025 Law360 Pulse Prestige Leaders

    Check out our Prestige Leaders ranking, analysis and interactive graphics to see which firms stand out for their financial performance, attractiveness to attorneys and law students, ability to secure accolades and positive legal news media representation.

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Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Generating Confidence In A Legal Nonprofit Author Photo

    I started LawWithoutWalls to change the way legal professionals see and think about their world, and it taught me the importance of giving people a reason to believe in your nonprofit mission, as well as how to achieve work-life integration, says Michele DeStefano at the University of Miami.

  • Nonequity Partner Frustrations Reflect Erosion Of Opportunity Author Photo

    Nonequity partners report the lowest satisfaction, highest stress and poorest financial outlook of any group of lawyers, highlighting a growing structural disconnect that leaves attorneys at many firms feeling like the ladder has been pulled up behind those who already ascended, says Jake Carroll at Nelson Mullins.

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    Building Brand Awareness For A Legal Nonprofit Author Photo

    I co-founded the Bridging the Gap Scholarship as a way to increase minority representation in BigLaw, and my advice for other legal professionals starting a nonprofit is to focus on building brand awareness early on, and to get comfortable delegating work to a dedicated team, says Imani Maatuka at Sidley.

  • Learn Your Colleagues To Cross-Sell Their Services Fearlessly Author Photo

    Understanding where colleagues in other practice areas shine can help attorneys confidently cross-sell each other's services and bring in business to keep the firm afloat in hard times, says Joe Calve at Calve Communications.

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    Biz Development Tip Of The Month: Advertise Ethically Author Photo

    Business development in the legal industry is about building authentic connections and showcasing expertise in a way that reflects reality, and, when done right, it can elevate a practice, establish credibility and bring in clients without risking an ethics violation, says Melody Jackson at Robinhood.

  • Ask A Mentor: How Do I Help After Mental Health Leave? Author Photo

    Molly Ranns at the State Bar of Michigan suggests five ways to smooth a colleague's return to practice after short-term mental health leave, while creating a firm culture that protects employees’ emotional health.

  • Tips For Attracting Stellar CLOs In A Competitive Landscape Author Photo

    Amid a rapidly changing regulatory environment and a fierce market for talent, companies hoping to attract the best chief legal officers must have a strong grasp of their roles’ biggest selling points, and any roadblocks that may prevent them from recruiting the strongest choice, says Heather Fine at Major Lindsey.

  • 'Golden Handcuffs' May Be A Double-Edge Sword For Firms Author Photo

    As law firms increasingly use certain financial incentives to retain partners in a fierce lateral market, managing partners should consider the pros and cons of various deferred compensation schemes, says Tom Hanlon at Buchanan Law.

  • The 10-Min. Rule For Building A Business Development Habit Author Photo

    Many lawyers assume that becoming a rainmaker requires a significant investment of time and effort, but the truth is that building a consistent habit of business development can start with just 10 minutes of strategic outreach a day, says Paul Manuele at PR Manuele Consulting.

  • 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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