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Elite Law Firms - Raising Fees Doesn't Damper Demand

That's the way it is. And likely that's the way it will continue to be in the near future.

Clients will grouse but pony up the increase in fees elite law firms demand. Essentially it's the mindset of You won't get fired if you hire X law firm. And, no in-house counsel wants to get fired. 

Also, the kinds of legal matters presented to a BigLaw firm usually are BigMoney ones. If they involve litigation, they could be bet the ranch. 

That reality has been confirmed by Citi Private Bank Law Firm Group Report, notes Joe Patrice in Abovethelaw.com. 

On the other hand, those AmLaw 51-1000 do have to keep a lid on fees, especially increases. That means they are squeezed in profits. 

Clearly the legal sector is binary.

Those Brandnames at the top can do whatever they want in their business practices such as billing, recruiting, compensation for associates, and establishing the culture. 

The rest are subject to the Invisible Hand. At this time period in capitalism, that operations of that hand can be brutal.

Attention is the currency of the 21^st century. Jane Genova helps you get it for products, services, points of view, causes, branding, careers after-50, and college admission.

In addition, this blog welcomes sponsored content.

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Michael Cohen's 3-Year-Sentence Should Blast Chill throughout TrumpWorld

Three years in prison is a long time.

And, perhaps to Michael Cohen's surprise, that's how long his sentence from U.S. District Judge Pauley III has turned out to be. In addition, he will have to pony up millions in restitution, fines, and more. Here are more details from Law.com.

This is real. And it should blast a chill throughout the networks of Donald Trump. The odds are that they are pondering if and by how much they crossed the line from fast and loose to illegal. There probably are plenty of contacts made to lawyers. 

Cohen had taken a guilty plea for eight charges including tax fraud and campaign finances violations. 

Reflection: Is this the beginning of the end of TrumpWorld?

Attention is the currency of the 21^st century. Jane Genova helps you get it for products, services, points of view, causes, branding, careers after-50, and college admission.

In addition, this blog welcomes sponsored content.

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Women Over-65 Establishing New Retirement Model in Japan - Manipulate Their Way into Prison

Aging females in Japan have discovered a way to have their material needs met and to enjoy human companionship.

That model is to commit a petty crime such as shoplifting in order to be incarcerated. One of out five in Japanese prisons are seniors. That's a lot since 27.3% of Japan's population is over-65. Here are more details from Bloomberg. 

With so much economic and social change, half of the aging females in Japan are in the same sort of pickle as many in the U.S. They live alone. And half of those who are living alone are in poverty. They are invisible. Society refuses to acknowledge they exist. Of course, they are lonely.

No fools, they steal some rice or an article of clothing. And then they can tap into the resources of prison life. There they receive meals, medical care, attention, and companionship. Days of heaven, relatively so.

A kind of analogue exists in the U.S. among those with a substance abuse problem. Intuitively, they get it that if they are arrested for a crime such as breaking and entering or disorderly conduct, they will be able to enter the "system." For the long term. There could be detox, 28 days of rehab, months in a sober halfway house, and years in a three-quarter house. All their needs are met. There is a built-in social network. And, obviously, they receive plenty of attention. 

Reflection: Can the law enforcement systems in Japan and the U.S. be encouraging dependence on the government - instead of individual effort? 

Litigation Communications

Making points of law, policy issues, and politics accessible and engaging for the public, media, investors, and more. Complimentary consultation. Please contact janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

"FBI" - High Ratings, But

Viewers are on the side of "FBI," that new series by "Law & Order" creator Dick Wolf.

"FBI" started out with a 10.082 million viewers. That's typical with a new introduction on television. There hasn't been much of a drop-off since. For the December 4th episode, the numbers was 9.715 million, up 9% from the previous week. Here are more details. 

However, I experience the series as lackluster.

The plot lines seem needlessly complex. Last night's focused on global arms dealing. The brave FBI agents risked their lives uncover to stop that. It was all hard to follow. And emotionally the threat didn't grab me.

Also, some of us haven't come to the point of caring about the characters. They haven't connected enough with us - or with each other. There was a tedious subplot of the FBI training instructor who had been unduly tough on one of the most earnest current agents. Yawn.

But, if the ratings hold up, the show could be renewed for another season. And Wolf will have another success. His "True Crimes" introduction never really got off the ground and is in scheduling limbo. 

Attention is the currency of the 21^st century. Jane Genova helps you get it for products, services, points of view, causes, branding, careers after-50, and college admission.

In addition, this blog welcomes sponsored content.

Free consultation janegenova374@gmail.com

 

Charles Harder, Donald Trump's Lawyer, Wins $293k+ Against Stormy Daniels

Charles Harder strikes again.

This time it's as the lawyer representing Donald Trump.

The loser is plaintiff Stormy Daniels who had filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump. The latter had called her a "con." The judge perceived that as hyperbolic rhetoric, not defamation. 

Many recall Harder from his win of a $140 million verdict against Gawker and for plaintiff Hulk Hogan. That pushed Gawker into bankruptcy and was partly funded by venture capitalist Peter Thiel.

As Fox reports, the judge awarded Harder $293k for payment of his legal fees. That will cover about 75% of them. In addition, Daniels was ordered to pay $1k in sanctions as a deterrent not to ever again mess with the First Amendment.

Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti stated the verdict will never stand up on appeal. 

Harder has become the lawyer you don't want your lawyer to have to go up against. 

Litigation Communications

Making points of law, policy issues, and politics accessible and engaging for the public, media, investors, and more. Complimentary consultation. Please contact janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

Law Firm, NYC - PR/Marketing

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"Criminal Minds" - Brought Profiling, Triggers, and Serial Killer Compulsiveness Mainstream

On "Criminal Minds," David Rossi's engagement to one of his former wives pumped some excitement into the aging series. 

But, according to TVSeriesFinale, this season could be its last.

Some of us wonder how it was able to keep going without the iconic Aaron Hotchner. That shut-down character was the face of "Criminal Minds," as much as Jack Malone from "Without a Trace." In addition, the show lost Derek Morgan who went on to star in "S.W.A.T."

At CBS Entertainment Kelly Kahl didn't indicate to TVSeriesFinale anything definite about the future of "Criminal Minds." Last year in ratings the show came in 19th out of 26. Last week the series only attracted 4.495 million viewers, down more than 18% from the week before. 

Even if new episodes aren't made, "Criminal Minds" has already been embedded in the global consciousness. The world has been tutored about profiles, triggers, and the compulsions of serial killers. Also, the series built admiration for the FBI. 

This blog hopes the new year brings in more viewers for "Criminal Minds."

Attention is the currency of the 21^st century. Jane Genova helps you get it for products, services, points of view, causes, branding, careers after-50, and college admission.

In addition, this blog welcomes sponsored content.

Free consultation janegenova374@gmail.com

Dignity of Work - How Quaint

U.S. senator Sherrod Brown is taking on raw capitalism.

The meme of his 2018 re-election campaign here in Ohio was: the dignity of work. That includes, of course, fair wages. And the dignity of work also can be his platform if he runs for U.S. president in 2020.

Part of his mission is to ensure work is available. He has been a tireless presence in struggling to keep open the GM Lordstown production plant. He won't let GM head Mary Barra off the hook. 

Timing is everything. And, the timing is exactly right for Brown's message.

It isn't just the blue collar worker whose labor is being treated as an easily replacement widget in capitalism. I can't think of any professional who hasn't experienced the same phenomenon. Lack of dignity is the prevailing ethos.

Associates in law firms, assistant professors, over-50 corporate employees, and content providers in digital media - all recognize they could be on short time. But that's not really the core issue.

What is the core issue is that there is no dignity - or a sense of sacredness - about their tasks. 

At the best, fear hovers over.

At worst, as Stanford Business School professor Jeffrey Pfeffer documented, that work can kill. In his book "Dying for a Paycheck," Pfeffer presents concrete examples how workers around the world are losing their health, mental and physical, through overwork and stress. The number of suicides is growing. 

If Brown does run in 2020, his edge is his uncharisma. He is the antithesis of the gladhanding politico. Some might think of him as the 21st century version of the Mr. Smith who goes to Washington - and winds up in the White House for four years, or more.

Attention is the currency of the 21^st century. Jane Genova helps you get it for products, services, points of view, causes, branding, careers after-50, and college admission.

In addition, this blog welcomes sponsored content.

Free consultation janegenova374@gmail.com

 

Sears Chapter 11 - Weil Gotshal & Manges Bills $5 Million for 17 Days Work

Weil Gotshal & Manges has gotten itself on the radar of tabloid the New York Post. 

The attention-getter is that WGM billed the Chapter 11 filing by Sears $5 million for 17 days work. That involved 5,032 hours. 

Of those assigned to the project were 19 lawyers who were first-year associates, including some who had not yet been admitted to the bar. Those 19 each billed up to $920 an hour. Clearly, that is a high hourly rate for relatively inexperienced lawyers. 

This kind of lawyer story will have legs. 

But, ironically, it could attract more business for WGM. There could be those who conclude that the law firm must be quite skilled if Sears would pay it all that money for this transactional work.

Attention is the currency of the 21^st century. Jane Genova helps you get it for products, services, points of view, causes, branding, careers after-50, and college admission.

In addition, this blog welcomes sponsored content.

Free consultation janegenova374@gmail.com