Daily Business Review
Daily Business Review










March 22, 2010
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Florida Supreme Court

New majority criticized governor and tackled foreclosure crisis. But experts theorize court’s workload is cyclical, and busy docket will return.

DBR TV: 2009 was largely a transtion year for the state's high court

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Law Firm Diversity Survey

The Daily Business Review’s annual diversity survey indicates minorities actually made gains at several firms in spite of the recession, and overall the bar has been raised.

DBR TV Report:
Concerns about setbacks for minorities and women in the law appear to be unfounded, according to the Review’s South Florida Diversity Scorecard.

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Securities Law
Reform focuses on ‘too big to fail’ concept
Bill will have massive impact on business regulation
Feds must know difference between poor decisions and fraud
Investors first line of business must be vigilance

SEC disclosure rules not the magic bullet

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Bankruptcy & Auctions

In a ruling of interest to mortgage lenders, a bankruptcy judge ruled that even a grossly negligent lender can come out on top. The Jan. 11 decision is good news for Countrywide Homes Loans, which is trying to recover on a $691,000 loan made to Richard Spair in 2004 to refinance his Wall Township, N.J., home. Countrywide acquired the mortgage from Quicken Loans in 2006.

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Most Effective Lawyers

Every year, in what has become one of the most closely watched attorney recognition programs in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, the Daily Business Review highlights the work of private and public sector lawyers through the Most Effective Lawyers in South Florida.

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Video: How the Most Effective Lawyers were selected
Video: Most Effective Lawyers 2009

 

Health Care Fraud
Prosecuted doctors: Caught in catch 22?


Attorneys, patient advocates and physicians say a Miami acquittal is indicative of how doctors can be unfairly prosecuted for drug or insurance fraud

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Prosecuting health care fraud

Managing Partners Survey
Law firms ready for the up cycle
With layoffs and pay cuts hopefully behind them, South Florida firms look for ways to increase revenue.

For some firms, it’s all about the silver lining
Overall, 85 percent of managing partners described feeling optimistic about the coming year at their firm. Some firm leaders even said the recession strengthened their businesses.

The Charts

Video Report:
Reporter Vanessa Blum’s video report on laws firms big and small tightening their belts and as one person put it, “flat is the new up.”

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Lawyer Compensation

South Florida’s top attorneys charge slightly more in 2009
Despite the sluggish economy, top billing rates at most South Florida law firms showed modest increases in 2009, with more partners than ever charging hourly rates exceeding $500.

Law firms forced to be more flexible with billing
Even law firms that had a take-it-or-leave-it approach in boom times are now negotiating their prices.

The Chart: Lawyer Compensation

 Video Report:
Vanessa Blum reports on South Florida attorneys billing rates and profiles local attorneys and the cases that led them to rank highest in lawyer compensation.

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Arbitration and Mediation

ABA wants to protect international arbitration in bill before congress
The policymaking body of the American Bar Association has passed an important report and recommendation on the proposed Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009.

Flat fees are not for the faint of heart
The recession is clearly having its impact on lawyers’ fees

Cost-splitting at issue in New York case
The U.S. Senate is considering — and many expect it to pass — a bill to be called the Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009 that would make pre-dispute mandatory arbitration clauses in employment agreements unenforceable unless provided under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement.

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Corporate Counsel Compensation
Base salaries rise, but disappearing bonuses and sluggish stock options hurt general counsel in the wallet.

GC’s losing altitude in overall paycheck
Top legal officers of Florida corporations got some good news and some bad news with their paychecks in 2008.

Compared to rest of work force, GC’s still getting paid fairly well
General counsel of the nation’s largest companies managed to get a modest raise. All cash metrics for last year were up, while anything involving stocks, option grants and cash outs were down.

Bankruptcy expert tops pay list
Usually, the chief legal officer of a thriving global conglomerate takes the top spot in a national survey of general counsel compensation. That was before the global recession. This year, the top honor goes to Gregory Doody, an expert in bankruptcy law.

Review 100: The largest 100 law firms in Florida by attorney count

Leaders say layoffs, cost-cutting enough to keep firms afloat until recovery
Law firms across Florida and the country have been forced to make cuts and re-evaluate priorities after the severe economic downturn quickly turned their fortunes from record revenue and robust growth. The firms most reliant on transactional work were hardest hit.

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Litigation Technology

When computers don’t just contain evidence, but are the evidence, proceed with caution

How to handle technology-bereft opposition

Technology is great, but proving your point is the key

Paralegals have many more tools at their disposal


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New Partners

Fewer make it to the top ranks
Aspiring partners must work harder with higher standards as frugal law firms promote fewer to top echelon.

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E-Discovery
Federal rule seeks to curb inadvertent disclosure of e-mail

Facebook, other networking sites look like plunder to attorneys

Lawyers must get tech-savvy to help gather evidence

Early strategies for ESI discovery work best in court

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