News

LexisNexis records processing 1 Billion pages for e-discovery

An achievement by LexisNexis shows that e-discovery is fast catching up with law firms and that the use of technology for reviewing legal documents is set to grow further in 2007. The leading provider of information and services solutions announced that Applied Discovery had processed 1.16 billion pages for legal discovery in 2006. The company reached the one-billion mark in September, an increase of 49 percent over last year's figures. The increase was in direct correlation with the industry-wide estimates which said that in 2006 electronic discovery grew 37 percent and would continue to grow another 37 percent in 2007.

Thomson Corporation acquires Baker Robbins

Baker Robbins, a leading company providing technology and information management consulting to law firms and law departments has been acquired by The Thomson Corporation. The acquisition provides Thomson a lead in its legal consulting services, and an in-depth understanding of the legal working processes and technology. Baker Robbins is trusted by the world's largest law firms and law departments for its insight and expertise in meeting technology challenges. Chairman David Baker and President and CEO Brad Robbins will continue to lead the firm.

NALA announces CLA achiever

The National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. announced that Melissa M. Gillen has cleared the two-day Certified Legal Assistant examination and will be entitled to use the “CLA” professional credential. Gillen, who has earned an associate's degree in paralegal technology, is an honors graduate of Durham Technical Community College. She is one of the 395 legal assistants in North Carolina and one of the 13,726 legal assistants in the United States who have successfully completed the exam. The CLA program includes communications, legal research, ethics, legal terminology, human relations and interviewing techniques, judgment and analytical ability, and substantive law. A nonprofit association, NALA represents more than 19,000 paralegals through individual members and 85 affiliated state and local associations.

Brinks Hofer elects seven new shareholders

Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione has elected seven attorneys as shareholders of the firm. All seven are patent lawyers and specialize in their respective areas. The attorneys are Lawrence G. Almeda, David H. Bluestone, Vincent J. Gnoffo, Howard S. Michael, John F. Nethery, Jeffry M. Nichols, and Richard E. Stanley Jr. Chicago-based Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione has 150 attorneys and is one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the United States.

Kramer Levin announces two partners and six special counsel

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP has named J. Eric Wise and Elise Wagner as Land Use Partner and Banking & Finance Partner respectively. It has also appointed six special counsels—Alexandra Kambouris Alberstadt for Financial Services, Avram J. Cahn for Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, Gabrielle Gould for Litigation, Steven M. Knecht for Employment Law, Yehudis Lewis for Litigation, and Karen Leo Mintzer for Environmental Law. A full-service law firm, Kramer Levin has offices in New York and Paris and an alliance with UK-based Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP.

Former Assistant U.S. Attorney joins law firm

Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaime Guerrero has joined the Los Angeles office of Foley & Lardner LLP as senior counsel and member of the Litigation Department and the White Collar Defense and Corporate Compliance Practice. As Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Los Angeles office, Guerrero served as lead counsel for several criminal jury trials in federal district court. He has significant experience in working as auditor and managing a number of antitrust and securities matters. A corporate law firm, Foley & Lardner works on a number of areas including corporate governance, securities enforcement, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property counseling, information technology, labor and employment, and tax.

Kaye Scholer adds regulatory expert in UK

Kaye Scholer LLP has announced that former Legal Adviser in the UK Financial Services Authority Owen Watkins has joined the law firms London office. Among other things, Owen will work on advising financial institution clients on the impact of UK and EU regulation on their businesses. Having spent 15 years with the regulator, Watkins was instrumental in the preparation of the FSA Handbook. His clients include hedge fund managers and private equity firms. Established in 1917, Kaye Scholer has 500 attorneys working from offices in New York, Chicago, Frankfurt, London, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Washington, D.C., and West Palm Beach.

Top military lawyer joins Stevens & Brash

National military defense firm, Stevens & Brash, LLC, has added Frank Spinner—an independent defense attorney. Spinner who is a retired Air Force JAG attorney with specialization in defending military members facing courts-martial and other military adverse actions, has represented some of the most high-profile cases in military justice. Founded by two former Air Force JAG attorneys, Stevens & Brash represents military members who face adverse actions such as courts-martial, appeals, and administrative boards.

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