Some examinees in California said that they took the first day of the bar exam yesterday in cold temperatures, and they fear they won’t pass the two-day test as a result of the conditions. The Cow Palace—an arena and event center outside of San Francisco—was so inhospitable amid temperatures that hovered in the low 50s that some examinees struggled to complete the essay portion of the exam, according to comments posted to the online forum Reddit. Read more.
More from the legal industry …
The State Bar of California is eyeing a hefty dues increase … The U.S. judiciary toughened standards for judges considering whether to recuse themselves from cases based on their financial conflicts … SCOTUS Justice Clarence Thomas hired a law clerk who was accused of racist conduct … Trump ally Jeffrey Clark fended off a subpoena from attorney ethics investigators seeking records tied to his work challenging the 2020 election … A U.S. judge ruled that Latham & Watkins and Jackson Walker did not commit bankruptcy fraud … Locke Lord settled claims that it gave faulty legal advice to an insurer … A federal judge appointed Quinn Emanuel to help steer class-action litigation accusing Amazon of duping customers about its return policies … A NY judge chided Cuddy Law Firm for citing results generated by ChatGPT … And the ABA declined to grant full approval to JD-Next.
MOVES
In New York …
Randi Singer joined Sidley as a partner in the firm’s commercial litigation and disputes group from Weil Gotshal … White & Case tapped fintech leader Rachel Rodman from Cadwalader … Hogan Lovells added capital markets partner Rupa Briggs from Cooley … Akerman hired real estate finance partner Naheem Harris from Vinson & Elkins.
In Washington …
Former CIA senior counsel Ashley Powers joined Miller & Chevalier as counsel in the government contracts counseling and litigation practice.
In Chicago …
Eric Posner returned to MoloLamken as counsel. Posner was serving as counsel to the United States Assistant Attorney General for the antitrust division … Sheppard Mullin hired healthcare partner Megan Rooney from McDermott.
In Los Angeles …
Cooley hired the co-chair of Baker McKenzie’s North American class action practice group, Teresa Michaud.
In San Diego …
Sheppard Mullin added IP Partner Jaime Choi from Snell & Wilmer where she was co-chair of the life sciences and medical technology industry group.
In Silicon Valley …
Nick O’Keefe joined Foley & Lardner as a partner in its technology and healthcare sector practices from Arnold & Porter.
In Palo Alto …
Skadden added Brian Paulson as a capital markets partner from Latham.
In Orange County …
Transactional partner David Hengstler joined Haynes Boone from Sheppard Mullin.
In Dallas …
King & Spalding opened a new office in the city, hiring Veronica Moyé from Gibson Dunn.
In Houston …
Mark Brasher rejoined Vinson & Elkins as a partner in the firm’s energy and infrastructure practice from Cordina.
In New Orleans …
Litigators Timothy Hurley and José Cot rejoined McGlinchey Stafford, bringing two litigators and two legal assistants with them.
In Cleveland …
Malisheia Douglas joined Squire Patton Boggs as of counsel in the intellectual property and technology law practice from Eaton Corp.
In Charlotte …
Alston & Bird added partner Peter Fritz to the firm’s private equity team from Kirkland & Ellis.
In Fort Lauderdale …
Baker Donelson added IP attorney Catherine Hoffman as a shareholder from Dickinson Wright.
In Sarasota …
Fox Rothschild opened a new office in Sarasota led by Robert Stroud, who will also chair the firm’s healthcare transactions practice group.
In Dubai …
Alexander Hendry joined Baker Botts as a partner in the corporate department from Latham.
