DC Pulse


  • House Looks To Undo Sens.' Ability To Sue Over Phone Info

    House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Wednesday that House Republicans will be introducing stand-alone legislation to repeal a provision tucked into the government funding package the Senate passed Monday that would allow Republican senators investigated by special counsel Jack Smith to sue for damages.

  • Justices Fret Over Giving Judges More First Step Act Power

    The U.S. Supreme Court raised concerns Wednesday about spurring a flood of compassionate release motions from prisoners if it allows judges to have wide discretion to find "extraordinary and compelling reasons" to pare down sentences for criminal defendants under the First Step Act.

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    Hilgers Graben Revamps Leadership Structure, Changes Name

    Hilgers Graben PLLC said Tuesday that the commercial litigation and discovery counsel services firm has new leadership and a shortened name that reflects both its current status and future goals.

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    Where Are Top Firms Bringing On The Most New Partners?

    Lateral partner hiring data for the last five years paints a surprisingly static portrait of where top law firms are making the most hires, even as they warm up to secondary and tertiary legal markets.

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    Baker McKenzie Accuses Ex-Atty Of Playing 'Cat And Mouse'

    An ex-associate at Baker McKenzie's Washington, D.C., office has been accused by her former employer of playing a "cat and mouse game" to avoid getting served a defamation complaint filed in October by the office and its managing partner.

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    McDermott Exploring Selling Stake To Private Equity

    McDermott Will & Schulte on Wednesday acknowledged it is fielding interest from private equity investors, a development that underscores how some of the legal industry's largest players are considering moving to a nontraditional business model.

  • Ex-Energy Department General Counsel Joins Torridon Law

    The general counsel of the U.S. Department of Energy during President Donald Trump's first term has joined Torridon Law PLLC, a Washington, D.C., boutique launched in 2022 by Trump's former Attorney General William Barr and former Facebook general counsel Ted Ullyot.

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    Crowell & Moring's Asia IP Practice Co-Leader Joins Pillsbury

    Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP has hired the co-head of Crowell & Moring LLP's Asia intellectual property specialty practice, the firm said in an announcement this week.

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    Longtime Bracewell Partner Joins White & Case In DC

    A former Bracewell LLP partner who spent nearly 16 years there advising clients on the regulatory aspects of energy infrastructure transactions and on related matters has joined White & Case LLP's Washington, D.C., office as a partner, the firm has announced.

  • Texas Pick Among 3 Formally Tapped For District Court Seats

    President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday three nominees for federal judgeships in Texas, Arkansas and Alaska, which have been anticipated for a few weeks.

  • IP Law Daily Columnist Starts New Copyright Litigation Firm

    A D.C. attorney with BigLaw chops who has spent more than four years writing a daily column on U.S. copyright law for Intellectual Property Law Daily has hung out his own shingle.

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    Law360 MVP Awards Go To Top Attorneys From 76 Firms

    The attorneys chosen as Law360's 2025 MVPs have distinguished themselves from their peers by securing significant achievements in high-stakes litigation, complex global matters and record-breaking deals.

  • Trump, Ill. Debate 'Regular Forces' In National Guard Case

    President Donald Trump invoked the founders' distrust of standing armies in a bid to convince the U.S. Supreme Court he can deploy National Guard troops to Chicago for immigration enforcement, but Illinois and the city contend the use of guardsmen is intended as a backup plan. 

  • Senate Committee To Investigate Impeachment Of Judges

    The Senate Judiciary Committee will have a hearing next week to consider impeachment of "rogue" federal judges, according to an announcement on Monday.

  • Justices Doubt GEO's Immunity Claim In Forced Labor Suit

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday appeared reluctant to adopt GEO Group's interpretation of an 85-year-old ruling as extending immunity to contractors facing lawsuits, as the private prison operator stands accused of forcing immigrant detainees to clean a detention facility. 

  • 'Legal Fiction' May Doom Rastafarian's Haircut Suit

    The U.S. Supreme Court appeared to doubt Monday that a Rastafarian could hold Louisiana prison guards personally responsible for allegedly violating his religious rights when they forcibly shaved off his dreadlocks, with the justices splitting ideologically over whether a federal law gave the guards enough warning about their potential liability. 

  • Judge To Review Grand Jury Materials In Comey Indictment

    A Virginia federal judge said he would review grand jury materials in camera to see if any privileged information was used to secure the indictment of ex-FBI Director James Comey on charges of lying to Congress.

  • Ex-Judges, US Attys Urge Axing 'Political' Indictment Of NY AG

    A bipartisan group of former federal judges and U.S. attorneys on Monday threw their weight behind New York Attorney General Letitia James' bid to dismiss the indictment accusing her of mortgage fraud, rebuking the appointment of interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan and slamming the prosecution's apparent political motivations.

  • FTC Dem Tells Justices Case Law Supports Her Reinstatement

    Fired Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter has argued that in taking up her appeal over President Donald Trump's decision to remove her before her term was up, the U.S. Supreme Court is really mulling whether it has "gotten it wrong for the last 90 years."

  • Gov't Can Support Anti-Abortion Group In NJ Subpoena Fight

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday granted Solicitor General D. John Sauer's request to file an amicus brief and participate in oral argument in an anti-abortion pregnancy center's bid to revive its challenge to a subpoena from the New Jersey attorney general demanding information about its donors.

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    Squire Patton Launches Veterans Business Resource Group

    Squire Patton Boggs LLP announced Monday a new business resource group aimed at connecting employees with military service backgrounds, with a kickoff event planned for Veterans Day.

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    Shutdown Deal Funds Justices' Security, Public Defender Pay

    The government funding agreement reached in the Senate on Sunday includes funding for public defenders, some of whom haven't been paid since July, and security for U.S. Supreme Court justices.

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    Cole Schotz Moves DC Office To K Street

    Months after planting a flag in the nation's capital, Cole Schotz PC has relocated to 1875 K Street NW, a move it says solidifies its presence in the D.C. market, according to a Monday announcement.

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    DOJ Civil Veteran Joins Clyde & Co. In DC

    Clyde & Co. LLP announced Monday that it is growing its North American trial and defense team with a partner in Washington, D.C., who brings over a decade of experience handling civil matters for the U.S. Department of Justice.

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    Law Firm Revenue, Demand Are Up, But So Are Expenses

    U.S. law firms saw an average of double-digit growth in both revenue and inventory during the first nine months of 2025, signifying they're on pace to end the year on a positive note, according to the results of a survey released Monday by Citi Global Wealth at Work.

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Expert Analysis

  • Guidance For Attorneys As Tariffs Reshape Legal Hiring Author Photo

    As law firms and in-house legal departments grapple with the uncertainty of evolving tariff policies, attorneys at all career stages should consider how to lean into these shifts to best position themselves for long-term opportunities, says Rena Barnett-Matthews at Attorney Career Coach.

  • How Firms Can Plan For Succession Of Admin Professionals Author Photo

    Many law firms are familiar with the need for attorney succession plans, but it’s also essential to plan for the succession of administrative professionals — from human resources personnel to finance leaders — to ensure continuity of critical day-to-day operations, say Eryn Carter and Travis Armstrong at the Association of Legal Administrators.

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    Expanding The Reach Of A Legal Nonprofit Author Photo

    I co-founded the Legal Mentor Network with the goal of providing free legal mentoring to law students and early career attorneys, and the experience has highlighted how nonprofits can grow with the help of strong sponsorships and volunteers who all operate from a positive place, says Chrystal Mauro at the Legal Mentor Network.

  • How 1Ls Can Plan For Sped-Up Summer Associate Hiring Author Photo

    The ever-earlier recruiting of summer associates sets high stakes before new law students may even realize, but 1Ls can better land a good 2L summer fit if they hit their first semester focused on the hiring timeline and ready to ask important questions about their would-be firms, says Kate Reder Sheikh at Major Lindsey.

  • How GCs Can Help Build A Geopolitical Command Center Author Photo

    In the face of sustained regulatory and economic uncertainty, general counsel can help businesses move from reactive to proactive management by building a clear, cross-functional geopolitical command center that monitors and coordinates responses to a wide spectrum of issues, says Lars Faeste at FTI Consulting.

  • For Some Lawyers, Building A New Practice Makes Perfect Author Photo

    Leaving an established law firm to start a boutique business of your own requires not only vision and resilience but also a solid business plan to help mitigate risks and increase your chances of unparalleled personal and professional success, says Rebecca Palmer at the Rebecca L. Palmer Law Group.

  • Beyond Billable Hours: The Unseen Labor Of Women In Law Author Photo

    The legal profession has a critical role to play in reducing attrition of women lawyers by addressing the disproportionate burden of the mental load — the often-unseen work of managing tasks and anticipating needs in both personal and professional realms, says Michelle Browning-Coughlin at Northern Kentucky University’s Chase College of Law.

  • 10 Key Strategies For Successful Lateral Partner Integration Author Photo

    To help ensure new partners and practice groups are successfully integrated, firms should embrace specific structured practices that recognize each lateral's distinct value, personalize their integration plans and proactively address transition complexities long after onboarding ends, say Elizabeth Kennedy at NewEdge BD and Erika Steinberg at CMO2Go.

  • How Firms Can Manage DEI Commitments Amid Headwinds Author Photo

    By recalibrating how they structure and communicate their inclusion efforts, law firms can reduce legal exposure and preserve their values, says Angela Vallot at VallotKarp Consulting.

  • Key Ingredients For Effective Law Firm Strategic Planning Author Photo

    As the legal industry faces political turmoil and economic uncertainty, the time is ripe for firms to revisit their strategic plans, ensuring they contain a few essential elements — from accountability systems to broad-based input — to achieve sustainable growth and profitability, says Joe Calve at Calve Communications.

  • AI-Powered Biz Development Can Democratize Rainmaking Author Photo

    As fluency in artificial intelligence becomes a competitive imperative in the legal industry, the next generation of rainmakers likely won’t be defined by their Rolodexes or club memberships, but by their ability to leverage AI business development tools effectively, says Jessica Aries at By Aries.

  • How Law Students Can Effectively Use AI In Their Job Search Author Photo

    Law students can use artificial intelligence tools strategically throughout the job application process to review materials, prepare for interviews and navigate employers’ use of similar tools, but there are several key missteps they should be careful to avoid, says Lauren Wong at University of San Diego School of Law.

  • An After-Placement Plan Maximizes Legal Content's Potential Author Photo

    Before landing a published quote, feature or interview, law firms should articulate the content’s purpose and develop a strategic plan for repurposing it to ensure they’re aligning public relations efforts with measurable business outcomes, says John Hellerman at Hellerman Communications.

  • Ask A Mentor: How Should I Coordinate Pro Bono Projects? Author Photo

    Julie LaEace at Perkins Coie offers tips for attorneys acting as pro bono coordinators, including how to choose appropriate projects, how to encourage participation and why it is important to keep in touch with legal aid partner organizations.

  • 6 Strategies For Navigating Legal Leadership Transitions Author Photo

    Amid uncertainty in the legal job market, attorneys who are considering a transition to a leadership role must fundamentally reimagine their approach to value creation and develop a new set of skills, say Stacy Bratcher at Cottage Health and Michael Watkins at Genesis Advisers.

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