Georgia Pulse

Ballard Spahr, Lane Powell Leaders On Post-Merger Plans

By Xiumei Dong

Ballard Spahr LLP officially merged with Lane Powell PC on Jan. 1, marking its entry into the Pacific Northwest. Law360 Pulse spoke with Peter Michaud, chair of the combined firm, and Barbara Duffy, former Lane Powell president, about their leadership priorities, integration strategies and growth plans.

Trump Asks Supreme Court To Stop NY Sentencing

By Katie Buehler and Frank G. Runyeon

Donald Trump asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to halt proceedings in his New York criminal hush money case, including a sentencing hearing scheduled for Friday, as the president-elect seeks to throw out the charges and the jury's conviction.

Ga. Court Backs Trial Judge's Atty Fees Award In Crash Case

By Kelcey Caulder

The Georgia Court of Appeals has affirmed an award of $424,000 in additional attorney fees and costs in a car crash suit that ended in a $3 million verdict and $1.25 million in fees and costs, rejecting the plaintiff's argument that the trial court should have made a larger award but used the wrong legal standard.

Jackson Lewis Promotes 20 Attys To Ring In 2025

By Jack Rodgers

Jackson Lewis PC has promoted 20 attorneys to principal to start the new year, a slight dip from the 26 it promoted at the beginning of 2024.

Clark Hill Adds Taylor English Corporate Atty Trio In Atlanta

By Emily Johnson

Clark Hill PLC has hired a trio of former Taylor English Duma LLP partners in Atlanta to bolster its national franchise practice, the firm announced Tuesday, making them the latest attorneys to leave Taylor English to join Clark Hill since its Atlanta office opened last year.

Alston & Bird Partner Class Highlights Litigation Bench

By Andrea Keckley

Litigators again dominated Alston & Bird's partner class this year as the firm announced Tuesday that it had promoted a roster of 20 attorneys, slightly fewer than last year's 27.

Approach The Bench: Justice Goodwin Liu On Oral Argument

When Goodwin Liu became a California Supreme Court justice in 2011, the constitutional law professor found the intellectual demands of judging similar to academia, but was surprised to learn that "the art of judging is much more practical than people think."

Ga. County Officials Want Election Denier's Arrest Suit Stayed

By Kelcey Caulder

A host of Floyd County, Georgia, officials and the law firm of the county attorney have asked a federal judge to stay a lawsuit brought against them by an election denier who alleged they conspired to have him jailed after he lobbied for the county attorney to be fired.

Ga. Judge's Ethics Case Gets March Hearing Date

By Kelcey Caulder

A hearing has been set for March in the ethics case against a Georgia state judge accused of improperly allowing her personal friendship with an attorney to influence her role as a judge during a child custody case and of initiating and participating in ex parte communications.

Here's How Paul Hastings' Big Bet On Finance Paid Off

By Xiumei Dong

As the financial markets swayed between booms and busts in recent years following the waning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Paul Hastings LLP stayed the course, doubling down on its transactional practices by recruiting top-tier talent across key global markets like New York and London, and rising hubs such as Texas.

Troutman Pepper Locke Leaders Define A Successful Merger

By Aebra Coe

What makes for a successful law firm merger? It's more than headcount and profits, according to two leaders of the newly minted Troutman Pepper Locke LLP law firm, which was formed Jan. 2 by the combination of major U.S.-based law firms Troutman Pepper and Locke Lord.

Trump Can't Halt Sentencing In NY Case, Appeals Judge Says

By Frank G. Runyeon

A New York appellate judge Tuesday declined to freeze proceedings in Donald Trump's criminal hush money case, clearing the way for the president-elect to be sentenced as scheduled on Friday following his guilty verdict and just days before his inauguration.

Tyson & Mendes Names First National Managing Partner

By Lynn LaRowe

Tyson & Mendes LLP has elevated a California-based attorney under 40 as its first-ever national managing partner, a position that she hopes will allow her to continue supporting women leaders in the legal industry and beyond.

Giuliani Held In Contempt In $148M Defamation Row

By Stewart Bishop

A New York federal judge on Monday found Rudy Giuliani in contempt of court for failing to turn over evidence to two former Georgia election workers seeking to collect on a $148 million defamation judgment they secured against the former attorney to President-elect Donald Trump.

Which GCs Sold Stock In Dec.? Robinhood, Alphabet, More

By Sue Reisinger

Legal leaders at tech and fintech companies like Robinhood, Alphabet, Coinbase and Meta enriched their holidays as each sold more than $2 million worth of stock in December.

Talk Show Host Says OpenAI Can't Duck Ga. Defamation Suit

By Madison Arnold

A conservative talk radio show host pushed back Monday against OpenAI's quest to secure summary judgment in his defamation lawsuit, calling the company "the high-tech equivalent of the neighborhood gossip."

Smith Gambrell Expands Partner Class With 8 Across 4 Cities

By Madison Arnold

Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP has added eight attorneys across four cities and eight practice areas to its partnership ranks in the New Year, growing its class from just six in 2024.

Judge Denies Trump's Request To Delay Jan. 10 Sentencing

By Frank G. Runyeon

A New York state judge on Monday denied Donald Trump's request to suspend his Jan. 10 sentencing in his hush money case as the president-elect simultaneously appealed the court's refusal to throw out the charges based on presidential immunity.

Giuliani Says Memory Faulty In Meandering NY Contempt Row

By Pete Brush

A Manhattan federal judge mulled a bid to hold Rudy Giuliani in contempt of a $148 million defamation judgment Friday, during a day of sparring in which the former New York City mayor repeatedly told counsel for two defamed Georgia poll workers that he doesn't remember case details.

Battling Berts: Judge Enjoins Ga. Law Firm In Trademark Row

By Kelcey Caulder

A Georgia federal judge Friday temporarily barred an Atlanta-based law firm from advertising and promoting its personal injury legal services through messaging like "If You're Hurt ... Call Bert!" and "If You're Hurt, Call Bert," ruling that it is too similar to another personal injury firm's trademarked slogan.

Law Firms Ended 2024 With 'Drastic' Drop In Lateral Hiring

By Aebra Coe

Large law firms engaged in more lateral hiring in 2024 than the year before, but a strong start to the year fizzled out with a substantial dip in hiring across all job categories in the fourth quarter, according to new information from legal data company Firm Prospects LLC.

Ga. Law Firm Says Investment Co. Dodging $182K Bill

By Chart Riggall

A Michigan-based investment firm is facing allegations it dodged paying more than $180,000 in legal fees owed to an Atlanta-area law firm, according to a suit removed to Georgia federal court Friday.

Ga. US Atty Joins Wave Of Resignations Ahead Of Trump

By Emily Johnson

President-elect Donald Trump will once again be able to appoint a U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, after the current top prosecutor, an appointee of President Joe Biden who's served since 2022, announced he would resign Jan. 19, a day before Trump takes office.

NY Judge To Sentence Trump Jan. 10 But Says Prison Unlikely

By Frank G. Runyeon

A New York state judge said Friday he will sentence Donald Trump on Jan. 10 after rejecting his motion to dismiss his hush money conviction in light of his status as president-elect, but suggested a prison term is highly unlikely.

Ogletree's 2025 Shareholder Class Is Largest In Over A Decade

By Andrea Keckley

After a year of expansion, management-side labor and employment firm Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC on Thursday announced its largest shareholder class in more than a decade.