The American Lawyer/July 2002

In the July 2002 Print Edition...
There is much more to be found in the print edition of The American Lawyer. Below are the contents of the current issue.
To subscribe, click here.

The Am Law 100
Despite a poor economy and a dearth of dealmaking, America's largest law firms have posted another year of revenue gains. But beyond the top-line growth is a less happy story of pinched profits and less productive lawyers.
More...

Practically Bankrupt
Inviting big firms into bankruptcy work has had inevitable results. The work pays better. But it's hopelessly riddled with conflicts -- to the point that the rules no longer mean what they say.
By Nathan Koppel

Plus: Your Grandfather's Bankruptcy
How we've come full circle in the history of big firms' involvement in big bankruptcies.
By David A. Skeel, Jr.

In Too Deep?
Balance sheets? Bo-ring! But wait: Too many firms are financing themselves with too much debt. And any partner worth his salt needs to know how to tell how much is too much.
By Laura Pearlman
Read this story online.

Tower Snow's Exit Wounds
It didn't have to get this personal. By kicking its former chairman out of the firm, Brobeck guaranteed the one thing it most feared: an angry ex-chairman who's now free to poach its lawyers and clients.
By Susan Beck
Read this story online.
Die Hard
It's usually a good thing -- a hardworking lawyer who won't back down. But, as Baker & McKenzie has found, when a law firm gives such a partner the boot, those very qualities can become a giant pain in the neck.
By Laura Pearlman
Into The Shredder
In Chicago, connections to a pol like Governor George Ryan should be a good thing. So why was Altheimer & Gray bounced from a big racketeering case against the Ryan campaign fund?
By Tatiana Boncompagni
Read this story online.
A Higher Hurdle
Can a new San Francisco program meant to boost the number of women partners do any better than the many affirmative action programs that preceded it?
By Daphne Eviatar
Postmerger Flight At KMZ
In just the first six weeks after its merger with Rosenman & Colin, Chicago's Katten Muchin has lost 16 partners.
By Elisabeth Preis
Finally Hitched
In February, we told the story of McCutchen's search for a merger mate. Now that search has led to a match that would have been unlikely just a year ago-with Boston's Bingham Dana.
By Laura Pearlman
Above The Fold
The New York Times's new chief legal correspondent was no stranger to journalism, but had never worked a day as a beat reporter before making the leap from an in-house legal job at the paper.
By Robert Lennon
A Gold In Rainmaking
The controversy over the French Olympics skating judge has turned into an active assignment for a Salt Lake City firm that saw a pro bono investment pay off.
By Robert Lennon

In-House
The story behind the stories.
By Aric Press
Read this story online.
Headnotes: The Sniff Test
While you were napping, Clifford Chance stole the hottest lateral hires to come along in a long while. Alas, it's no longer enough to be a merely elite firm.
By Aric Press
Big Deals
Westfield Holdings/Simon Property Group/The Rouse Company/Rodamco North America
Sears/Lands' End
Anthem/Trigon Healthcare
Big Suits
Capital Consultants Settlement
PPG Asbestos Settlement
Williams Communications Bankruptcy
Management: Paring The Partnership
Dealing with underperforming partners; the secrets to success in a down economy; and what Clifford Chance's westward move means.
By Peter D. Zeughauser
Tech 101: Bearable Lightness
Lightweight no longer means inferior, at least when it comes to laptops. A comparison of the leading models.
By Alan Cohen
Letter From Europe: Turkish Bloodbath
Kurdish human rights lawyers certainly have not lacked for work. Now their fight with Turkey is for their own independence.
By Michael D. Goldhaber
Read this story online.
Supreme Advocacy: On TV, No Justice
The failure of the season's two Supreme Court TV dramas means that the Court remains a recluse, winning in its fight to stay out of the public consciousness.
By Tony Mauro
Books: Making The Rules
In Robert Caro's Master of the Senate, LBJ is the consummate lawyer -- despite not being one.
Review by Charles Herring, Jr.
Read this story online.
Excerpt: Second Chair, First Person
Inside a murder trial voir dire with a litigation neophyte. An excerpt from the new book In America's Court.
By Thomas Geoghegan
Dicta: Virtually Victimless
Here's a way to defuse the threat of virtual child pornography while protecting children and the Constitution. The trick is getting Congress to listen.
By Roger Parloff

Good Behavior: Brave Hearts And Foie Gras Appetites
Vacationing in France's Dordogne.
By Paul Braverman
Motion: Handle With Care
At "only" $60,000, the Lexus SC 430 advertises itself as a bargain, relative to other luxury touring coupes. But while Lexus has spared no effort on the basic build of the SC, it seems to have forgotten about the driving aspect.
By Ronald Gordon
Case of the Month
Beach and barbecue fare.
By John Anderson
Read this story online.

	In the July 2002 Print Edition... There is much more to be found in the print edition of The American Lawyer. Below are the contents of the current issue. To subscribe, click here.
	The Am Law 100 Despite a poor economy and a dearth of dealmaking, America's largest law firms have posted another year of revenue gains. But beyond the top-line growth is a less happy story of pinched profits and less productive lawyers. More...
	Practically Bankrupt Inviting big firms into bankruptcy work has had inevitable results. The work pays better. But it's hopelessly riddled with conflicts -- to the point that the rules no longer mean what they say. By Nathan Koppel Plus: Your Grandfather's Bankruptcy How we've come full circle in the history of big firms' involvement in big bankruptcies. By David A. Skeel, Jr. In Too Deep? Balance sheets? Bo-ring! But wait: Too many firms are financing themselves with too much debt. And any partner worth his salt needs to know how to tell how much is too much. By Laura Pearlman Read this story online.
	Tower Snow's Exit Wounds It didn't have to get this personal. By kicking its former chairman out of the firm, Brobeck guaranteed the one thing it most feared: an angry ex-chairman who's now free to poach its lawyers and clients. By Susan Beck Read this story online. Die Hard It's usually a good thing -- a hardworking lawyer who won't back down. But, as Baker & McKenzie has found, when a law firm gives such a partner the boot, those very qualities can become a giant pain in the neck. By Laura Pearlman Into The Shredder In Chicago, connections to a pol like Governor George Ryan should be a good thing. So why was Altheimer & Gray bounced from a big racketeering case against the Ryan campaign fund? By Tatiana Boncompagni Read this story online. A Higher Hurdle Can a new San Francisco program meant to boost the number of women partners do any better than the many affirmative action programs that preceded it? By Daphne Eviatar Postmerger Flight At KMZ In just the first six weeks after its merger with Rosenman & Colin, Chicago's Katten Muchin has lost 16 partners. By Elisabeth Preis Finally Hitched In February, we told the story of McCutchen's search for a merger mate. Now that search has led to a match that would have been unlikely just a year ago-with Boston's Bingham Dana. By Laura Pearlman Above The Fold The New York Times's new chief legal correspondent was no stranger to journalism, but had never worked a day as a beat reporter before making the leap from an in-house legal job at the paper. By Robert Lennon A Gold In Rainmaking The controversy over the French Olympics skating judge has turned into an active assignment for a Salt Lake City firm that saw a pro bono investment pay off. By Robert Lennon
	In-House The story behind the stories. By Aric Press Read this story online. Headnotes: The Sniff Test While you were napping, Clifford Chance stole the hottest lateral hires to come along in a long while. Alas, it's no longer enough to be a merely elite firm. By Aric Press Big Deals Westfield Holdings/Simon Property Group/The Rouse Company/Rodamco North America Sears/Lands' End Anthem/Trigon Healthcare Big Suits Capital Consultants Settlement PPG Asbestos Settlement Williams Communications Bankruptcy Management: Paring The Partnership Dealing with underperforming partners; the secrets to success in a down economy; and what Clifford Chance's westward move means. By Peter D. Zeughauser Tech 101: Bearable Lightness Lightweight no longer means inferior, at least when it comes to laptops. A comparison of the leading models. By Alan Cohen Letter From Europe: Turkish Bloodbath Kurdish human rights lawyers certainly have not lacked for work. Now their fight with Turkey is for their own independence. By Michael D. Goldhaber Read this story online. Supreme Advocacy: On TV, No Justice The failure of the season's two Supreme Court TV dramas means that the Court remains a recluse, winning in its fight to stay out of the public consciousness. By Tony Mauro Books: Making The Rules In Robert Caro's Master of the Senate, LBJ is the consummate lawyer -- despite not being one. Review by Charles Herring, Jr. Read this story online. Excerpt: Second Chair, First Person Inside a murder trial voir dire with a litigation neophyte. An excerpt from the new book In America's Court. By Thomas Geoghegan Dicta: Virtually Victimless Here's a way to defuse the threat of virtual child pornography while protecting children and the Constitution. The trick is getting Congress to listen. By Roger Parloff
	Good Behavior: Brave Hearts And Foie Gras Appetites Vacationing in France's Dordogne. By Paul Braverman Motion: Handle With Care At "only" $60,000, the Lexus SC 430 advertises itself as a bargain, relative to other luxury touring coupes. But while Lexus has spared no effort on the basic build of the SC, it seems to have forgotten about the driving aspect. By Ronald Gordon Case of the Month Beach and barbecue fare. By John Anderson Read this story online.