News

Cadwalader receives accolades from Interwoven

Leading content management-solutions provider Interwoven, Inc., has named Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, LLP, as one of its Interwoven Excellence Award winners. The awards were given out at the company's annual user conference, Interwoven GearUp '07. Company CEO and director Joseph Cowan said that the businesses honored were "innovative examples of how organizations can harness the power of content to produce dramatic and meaningful business results." Cadwalader implemented Interwoven in 2006. It was one of the first law firms to choose the company's matter-centric solution, which facilitates the management of emails, documents, and other electronic data. Established in 1792, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft is known for offering clients innovative business and financial solutions.

Steptoe & Johnson chooses Verdatum

Am Law 100 law firm Steptoe & Johnson has chosen Verdatum as its enterprise digital-dictation system. Integrated with Interwoven, Verdatum is exclusively committed to law firms' workflow processes. The system will help simplify work handled by the firm's eight offices and will allow lawyers to instantaneously upload dictation from any Internet connection to the Verdatum system. Attorneys will also be able to dictate via telephone. The new system will enable the firm to track transcription production for the purpose of cost recovery. International law firm Steptoe & Johnson has more than 450 attorneys and advises clients on matters involving arbitration and business transactions.

ADERANT Expert to have new architecture

Software leader ADERANT has restructured its widely used ADERANT Expert software system, a business management-solution suite. Expert Framework will utilize Microsoft's newly launched .NET Framework 3.0 technologies to create customizable, easily integrated, visually rich, and workflow-enabled business applications and services. The new architecture will improve business functions such as business-process automation, application extensibility and integration, and user experience and management. To develop Expert Framework, ADERANT has created a special technology adoption program. The program will allow the company to work closely with select clients so that it can gain an improved understanding of their needs. A provider of comprehensive software solutions, ADERANT serves clients including Clifford Chance, Greenberg Traurig, Macleod Dixon, LLP, Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, LLP, Skadden Arps, and Winston & Strawn.

Sutherland Asbill raids Paul Hastings to staff its new outsourcing practice group

Eight lawyers from Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, LLP, have moved to Am Law 100 law firm Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan, LLP. Scott M. Hobby, Charles F. Hollis, III, Derek C. Johnston, and John B. Miller, Jr., have joined the firm as partners; Timothy R. Dodson has joined as counsel; and three others have been named as associates. The new additions will join prominent technology and licensing partner Peter C. Quittmeyer to form an outsourcing/systems integration practice. The new practice group is expected to work on strategic outsourcing transactions, especially BPO, ADM, ITO, HRO, and ERP systems integration deals. The group will manage issues involving domestic and offshore outsourcing-services arrangements and work with clients including Fortune 1000 companies. Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan has 450 lawyers working from offices in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, New York, Tallahassee, and Washington.

New survey shows robust increase in staff hiring

According to a survey developed by Robert Half Legal, almost 50% of law firms and legal departments plan to expand their staffs in the next year. The survey, which was carried out by an independent research firm, included responses from 300 attorneys working in the 1,000 largest law firms and companies in the United States and Canada. When asked whether they anticipated increases or decreases in the numbers of lawyers in their firms or departments, 47% said they planned to increase the sizes of their staffs, 47% said their staff sizes were likely to remain the same, and only 2% said they predicted decreases. The survey also identified litigation as the field that would witness maximum growth, followed by corporate governance and intellectual property.

Newly formed Santa Monica firm adds four lawyers

Santa Monica-based Dreier, Stein & Kahan, LLP, has announced the addition of four attorneys. Joining the firm as partners are Gregory Rovenger and Edward Schultz; Alvin Galstian and Jennifer Provencher are joining as associates. All four lawyers come from Christensen, Glaser, Fink, Jacobs, Weil & Shapiro, LLP. The new team, which has significant experience in corporate and securities law, is expected to strengthen Dreier Stein's prominent transactional department. Formed on January 1, 2007, Dreier, Stein & Kahan has 125 attorneys serving clients in areas including intellectual property, corporate law, franchise and distribution counseling, taxation, labor and employment, bankruptcy, and litigation.

Leading pharmacy lawyer combines his firm with John, Lewis and Wilkins

The law firm of Michael McMains, which specializes in pharmacy and business law, has combined with leading Indianapolis firm John, Lewis and Wilkins. Prominent pharmacy law attorney Michael McMains said the move will allow him to focus on teaching, community service, and other business activities. The merged entity will retain the moniker John, Lewis and Wilkins. McMains will work at John Lewis as of counsel. Most of McMains' lawyers have moved to John, Lewis and Wilkins along with their staff and have retained their current positions. John, Lewis and Wilkins focuses on complex litigation, governmental services, and business counseling.

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