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Date : 08-29-2006

Law firms seeking proficient email-management tools

More and more law firms are now looking for eDiscovery applications and email-management tools to cut costs and keep pace in this ever-competing legal world. Palo Alto, CA-based, Pooley & Oliver, LLP, has sought the services of Clearwell's E-mail Intelligence Platform, through which it saves its clients 20 to 80 percent off the usual costs for email analysis and review. The traditional method of storing copies of electronic communication in paper files was a cumbersome, time-consuming, and costly affair. The software application from Clearwell proved beneficial after a test run. After installing the software, the firm was able to better manage its emails, create privileged logs, and generate searches for important documents.

Bryan Cave enters agreement

In a significant development, law firm Bryan Cave has entered into an agreement with Recommind to implement MindServer Legal Enterprise Search and MindServer Legal Matters & Expertise to power its internal search functions. The launch of the new IT platform will allow powerful searching of all documents, time and billing records, and other databases in 15 offices across the United States, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Asia. The MindServer legal product suite is helpful in substantially reducing the time and costs involved in doing legal research. Lawyers and staff benefit from a much simpler, more accurate, and easier information-gathering processes. With the implementation of this platform, Bryan Cave will improve its efficiency in serving its clients, which include multinational corporations, large and mid-sized privately held companies, partnerships, and emerging companies.

Firms merge to form Cooley Godward Kronish

Cooley Godward has announced a merger with Kronish Lieb Weiner & Hellman to create Cooley Godward Kronish. Recognized for counseling technology and life sciences companies, Palo Alto-based Cooley Godward focuses on litigation and intellectual property issues in large enterprises. New York-based Kronish Lieb has a popular bankruptcy practice, noted for its representation of the now-defunct Enron Corp. The merged entity is expected to have 550 attorneys—440 lawyers from Cooley and 110 from Kronish. Effective October 1, the merger is expected to generate a solid coast-to-coast litigation arm. The new firm will have offices in America's important technology markets on both coasts.

Lord Bissell boosts entertainment practice

Lord, Bissell & Brook, LLP, has undertaken expansion of its entertainment practice in Atlanta with the hiring of C. Anthony Mulrain and Donald M. Woodward as partner and counsel, respectively. The new attorneys will focus on extending entertainment-focused legal services including structuring and negotiating business transactions in areas such as the television, film, stage, and music industries, as well as negotiating recording, production, publishing, distribution, and joint venture agreements on behalf of artists, producers, and lyricists for the recording industry. They will work closely with attorneys in the firm's Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York offices, enhancing the firm's service in major entertainment markets. Lord, Bissell & Brook, LLP, serves national and international clients from offices in Atlanta, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, DC, and now Sacramento.

Allen & Overy hires partner from Milberg Weiss

British firm Allen & Overy has hired Patricia M. Haynes, a former partner at Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman, as senior counsel in its New York office. The firm has a team of 220 lawyers offering services to the world's leading financial centers, combining legal, business, and cultural skills to service the needs of clients. The firm's New York office is the principal hub of Allen & Overy's U.S. law group, with more than 100 U.S. lawyers together with on-the-ground Latin American, Netherlands, and Netherlands Antilles capabilities.

Foley & Lardner expands health care practice

In an attempt to further bolster its healthcare practice, Foley & Lardner, LLP, named Lawrence W. Vernaglia as a partner in its Health Care Industry Team in Boston. The firm had recently announced the addition of Michael L. Blau to head its health care venture. Vernaglia was previously with Hinckley, Allen & Snyder, LLP, where he was partner with a reputable health law practice, advising New England's health care institutions. Specializing in representation of hospitals and other health care organizations, he counsels on areas including compliance, certification matters, operations issues, and transactional work encompassing strategic and reimbursement matters. Providing a full range of corporate counsel, Foley & Lardner focuses its practice in the areas of complex business matters, automotive, technologies, entertainment, energy, and financial services.