The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times

Amid Dismal Job Market, Public Defender Career Conference Comes to D.C.

Hoping to attract law students and young lawyers facing an increasingly dismal job market, representatives from public defender offices across the country are converging in Washington this weekend to make their pitch.

Since 2008, the D.C. Public Defender Service has organized a biennial conference dedicated to raising the profile of indigent criminal defense work. Public defender offices are often represented at general public interest job fairs, but PDS director of legal recruiting and conference organizer Jennifer Thomas said they saw a need for an event focusing on topics unique to public defender recruitment and jobs.

"In the civil legal services…everybody assumes you're on the side of the angels. In criminal defense, the public perception is very different," she said.

The Morning Wrap

Gray: The 2010 campaign of D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray had a database of almost 6,000 public housing residents whom it targeted in get-out-the-vote efforts, which seems to be an unapproved use of private government information, The Washington Post reports. Gray said he didn't know about the database. "Frankly, such a list wouldn't have been of any use," he said in a statement.

'Lawyered Up': The suspect in the Aurora, Colo., shooting last week isn't cooperating with police, The Associated Press reports. James Holmes has been in solitary confinement at a Denver-area county detention facility since he allegedly killed 12 and left 58 wounded during a Batman movie. Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said Holmes is "lawyered up." The chief said: "He's not talking to us."

Associate Bonuses: A year after 47 Am Law 200 and Magic Circle firms gave associates spring bonuses that ranged from $2,500 to $20,000, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan was the only firm that confirmed to The Am Law Daily that it gave such payments to its associates this year. "Profitability at firms has flattened, and in many cases declined," said law firm consultant Joel Henning. "Bonuses typically reflect profitability."

The Morning Wrap

Shades of Gray: Mayor Vincent Gray allegedly gained knowledge in January that people associated with his campaign were spending money on his campaign that was not reported, according to The Washington Post. Three members of the D.C. Counsel have called on Gray to resign.

Settlement: Former Dewey & LeBoeuf partners are being asked to kick in between $25,000 and $3 million toward $103.6 million as part of a proposed settlement, according to Am Law Daily. The bankruptcy leadership team is encouraging former Dewey attorneys to agree to the settlement by July 24. Otherwise it could open the door to future litigation.

Hazing: The President of Florida A&M University resigned yesterday, eight months after a member of the marching band died during a hazing ritual, reports The New York Times. The resignation coincided with a lawsuit filed in Orlando by the parents of the band member.

Stump: Mitt Romney took his presidential pitch to the NAACP convention in Houston, Texas. He was received with cheers and boos, reports The Houston Chronicle. Oh, there was also an organ there too.

Baker & McKenzie Bolsters IP Practice with Lateral Partner

Baker & McKenzie has added an IP litigator to its Washington ranks, the firm announced Monday.

Julie Petruzzelli, formerly a partner at Venable, joins Baker & McKenzie as a partner. She focuses her litigation practice on matters including patent, trade secret, trademark and copyright disputes. During the past few years Petruzzelli has increasingly served more Asian companies, particularly those based in Japan.

In an interview, Petruzzelli said that Baker & McKenzie's footprint matched the growing global demand of her clients.

"[Baker's] global focus and the extremely strong IP group are two combinations that are difficult to ignore," Petruzzelli said. "It is an exciting time for IP practitioners."

ABA Recognizes Akin Gump for Its Pro Bono Work

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld is set to be honored by the American Bar Association for its pro bono work.

Akin Gump will be presented with the 2012 Pro Bono Publico Award Aug. 6, during the ABA's annual meeting in Chicago. The association will award five recipients. In addition to the firm, the recipients will include three individual lawyers and a department of the New York State Supreme Court.

"Pro bono work is a key component of our legal system, and these good deeds help to fill the void left by devastating budget cuts," ABA president William Robinson III said in a written statement.

Attorneys at Akin Gump averaged 84 hours of pro bono work per U.S. lawyer last year, according to the ABA release. Globally, the firm donated more than 67,000 hours of pro bono work. Since 2006, Akin Gump increased its pro bono hours by more than 50 percent.

Covington & Burling Adds Partner to Government Contracts Practice

Covington & Burling has boosted its government contracts practice with a lateral partner, the firm announced Monday.

Susan Cassidy, formerly senior counsel of the information systems sector at Northrop Grumman Corp., joins Covington in Washington.

"I spent the last four years learning how my clients think," Cassidy said in an interview. "You will see a lot of defense contractors grappling with technology issues." She said technology often outpaces the law in certain areas and that will only make things more complex in the future.

Wiley Rein Bolsters White Collar Practice with Lateral Partner

Wiley Rein has added a partner to its white collar defense practice in Washington, the firm announced Wednesday.

Ralph Caccia, formerly chair of Akerman Senterfitt's white collar crime and government investigations practice, joins Wiley Rein.

Caccia focuses his practice on white collar issues, corporate internal investigations, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters, health care fraud, criminal antitrust cases, defending government enforcement actions and Congressional investigations. He has represented defense contracts and health care providers in criminal and civil False Claims Act investigations. Caccia is also a former assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.

"His substantial experience further deepens our white collar capabilities and complements several of our existing practice areas, including government contracts, public policy and health care," firm chairman Richard Wiley said in a written statement.

IP Boutique Partner Heads to McKenna Long in D.C.

McKenna Long & Aldridge has added a patent litigator to its Washington office, the firm announced Tuesday.

Robert Nissen joins the firm as a partner in the intellectual property and technology practice. He was formerly managing partner at his firm, Nissen & Associates. When his partner at their two-person shop decided to retire, Nissen weighed whether he should seek out a new partner or join a larger firm.

"We had been real successful, but at some point we became too successful," Nissen said in an interview. "It was extremely difficult to handle the workflow."

D.C.-based Legal Staffing Firm to be Acquired in $31.5 Million Deal

Washington-based legal staffing firm AdamsGrayson will be acquired by Chicago-based Huron Consulting Group for $31.5 million, the latter company announced Monday in a press release.

Huron will pay $21.5 million in cash plus $10 million in deferred payment. The deal is expected to close in July, according to the release.

AdamsGrayson, which was founded in 1998, provides legal staff placement and e-discovery services.

Polsinelli Bolsters White Collar Practice with Lateral Shareholder

Polsinelli Shughart has added a litigator to its Washington office, the firm announced Tuesday.

Jonathan Rosen joins the firm's white collar defense and government investigations practice as a shareholder. He was formerly a partner at Shook, Hardy & Bacon in Washington.

Rosen formerly served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Fraud and Public Corruption Section of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia from 1998 to 2006. Rosen led the prosecution team investigating fraud in Iraq, and initiated the first prosecution using the alternative nationality provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

"Conducting an investigation in a war zone presented some fairly dramatic logistical hurdles," Rosen said in an interview.