Given that patent litigation brought by non-performing entities (n�e patent trolls) continues in full blossom, it's no surprise that Big Firm castaways are leaping in to get a piece of the action on the plaintiffs side. But representing trolls carries risks for lawyers who earned their patent pedigrees at defense firms, as a pair of decisions highlighted on Thursday.

The fight over the validity of so-called unfinished business claims in law firm bankruptcies is heating up in courts on both coasts this week.

Examiner Anton Valukas avoids stating an opinion about the litigation between Barclays and the Lehman estate and creditors, but his report provides a detailed account of events leading up to the sale. He finds some support for Lehman's argument that certain assets were undervalued--yet no evidence of a quid pro quo conspiracy.