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Pennsylvania Pulse


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    Why This Small-Firm Lawyer Charges $3,000 Per Hour

    As a solo or small firm attorney, would you charge $3,000 per hour? Meet one attorney who does — and learn how his story of ultra-high prices could help you set your own rates.

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    Law Firms Saw Strong First Half Of 2025, Wells Fargo Says

    The legal industry saw strong performance during the first six months of 2025, according to a report released Tuesday from the Wells Fargo Legal Specialty Group, with strong growth in revenue largely driven by rising billing rates.

  • Willig Williams Atty Named Philly Leader Of Labor Group

    An attorney at Willig Williams & Davidson's Philadelphia office with more than 15 years of experience representing workers has been tapped to lead the city's branch of the Labor and Employment Relations Association through next spring.

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    Beyond Pay: How To Retain Your Rainmakers

    U.S. law firms are working overtime to keep their top-billing attorneys, as growing profits and higher compensation increase lateral movement.

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    With More Rainmakers On The Go, Firms Pay Them Millions

    Amid a growing gap between the most profitable BigLaw shops and everyone else, top law firms can afford to pay a lot more to lure rainmakers and their practices.

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    NY Firm Must Face Malpractice Claims Over Patent Fight

    A New York real estate and business law firm must face a negligence claim lodged by a medical research and development company arguing that the firm's incompetence led it to lose a patent licensing dispute.

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    Battle Over NJ US Atty Appointment Lands In 3rd Circ.

    The U.S. Department of Justice said Monday it will appeal a Pennsylvania federal judge's ruling that interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba is not lawfully serving as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor.

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    Former EPA Attorney Joins Manko Gold In Pennsylvania

    Environmental boutique Manko Gold Katcher & Fox LLP strengthened its litigation, transaction and regulatory resources in the Philadelphia suburbs with the recent addition of an attorney who spent nearly 30 years with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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    3rd Circ. Again Rejects Atty's Fee Row With Pierce Bainbridge

    The Third Circuit on Monday denied Philadelphia attorney Bruce Chasan a third chance to litigate a long-running fee dispute with Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht LLP over a client who unsuccessfully sued Microsoft over allegedly stealing his image for a video game.

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    PierFerd Co-Founder Talks Hitting 250-Atty Milestone

    A little over a year and a half after launching the firm with commitments from 130 attorneys leaving FisherBroyles, Pierson Ferdinand LLP has reached 250 attorneys, with the founders saying the firm plans to keep growing.

  • Ex-Ohio Lawyer Gets Probation For Making False Statements

    A former Ohio lawyer was sentenced to two years of probation and fined $15,000 after pleading guilty earlier this year to making false statements to the FBI regarding a cooperating witness he represented in a drug and sex trafficking probe the bureau was pursuing.

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    Ballooning BigLaw Rates Create Opportunities For Mid-Law

    Some midsize, regional and boutique firms are using their lower rates to attract both clients and lateral attorneys against the backdrop of spiraling BigLaw rates, though there are definite limits to the strategy.

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    Elite Deal Partners Command Rates That Soar Above Peers

    Lawyers who orchestrate massive transactions make up the lion's share of attorneys charging top-tier rates that have broken far away from average billing rates for law firm partners in recent years, experts say.  

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    Habba Ruling Could Put Tighter Limits On 'Acting' Officials

    A Pennsylvania federal judge's ruling disqualifying Alina Habba from acting as the U.S. attorney for New Jersey has the potential to end a long-standing means of filling government posts without going through the U.S. Senate.

  • ݮƵ Pulse Spotlight On Mid-Law Work

    Wiley Rein LLP's work on a $3.65 billion telecommunications merger and Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC's pursuit of privacy claims against a health and wellness app lead this edition of ݮƵ Pulse's Spotlight On Mid-Law Work, recapping the top matters for Mid-Law firms from Aug. 8 to 22. 

  • ݮƵ's Legal Lions Of The Week

    Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP and Jackson Lewis PC lead this week's edition of ݮƵ Legal Lions, after the Fifth Circuit upheld injunctions barring the National Labor Relations Board from prosecuting unfair labor practice cases against SpaceX and two other companies.

  • $785K Legal Malpractice Judgment Against Pa. Firm Upheld

    A debt collection agency did not provide enough evidence to show it deserved prejudgment interest on a $785,000 jury award it received from a malpractice suit against two former Hartman Valeriano Magovern & Lutz attorneys who allegedly botched a real estate transfer that cost the agency $1.4 million, according to a recent decision from the Pennsylvania Superior Court.

  • Voir Dire: ݮƵ Pulse's Weekly Quiz

    This was another action-packed week for the legal industry as U.S. firms expanded their practice offerings with new talent across the country. Test your legal news savvy here with ݮƵ Pulse's weekly quiz.

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    Office Snapshot: Fox Rothschild Sees The Light In Pittsburgh

    Fox Rothschild LLP had several boxes to check as it hunted for a new office for its attorneys and staff in Pittsburgh, but the final decision on where to move ultimately came down to one simple factor: the sun.

  • Pa. City Water Dept. Fights Bid To Sanction Counsel

    The Chester Water Authority has urged a Pennsylvania bankruptcy court to reject the city's bid to recover about $140,000 in attorney fees as sanctions, arguing any delay in producing documents was necessary to comply with a state confidential information law.

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    Howmet Aerospace's Top Atty To Depart Next Month

    The legal leader of Pittsburgh-based Howmet Aerospace Inc. will leave the company early next month to pursue a new opportunity.

  • Pa. Firm Lacked Standing To Sue Legal Malpractice Insurer

    A Philadelphia law firm that dropped its bad faith lawsuit against its insurer was not a true legal entity and never had standing to sue for coverage of a legal malpractice case that ended in a $600,000 judgment, a Pennsylvania federal judge ruled Thursday.

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    Ogletree Taps Pittsburgh Atty To Lead Higher Ed Team

    Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC has strengthened its resources for university clients, promoting a four-year firm shareholder who previously spent more than three years as an executive in the University of Pittsburgh's athletics department to lead its higher education practice group.

  • Judge Finds Habba Unlawfully Serving As NJ's US Atty

    Alina Habba, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney and his pick to remain the U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, was unlawfully given an extension of her temporary post after her "interim" appointment expired, a Pennsylvania federal judge ruled Thursday.

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    Most Lawyers Feel Prepared To Meet Clients' AI Expectations

    The majority of surveyed attorneys feel ready to meet client demands regarding artificial intelligence, according to survey results released Thursday by legal professionals network Best Lawyers.

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Expert Analysis

  • Goldilocks Solution: Why The 4-Day Office Week Is Just Right Author Photo

    As law firms continue to wrestle with return-to-office policies, many are being pulled toward one or the other of two extremes: the rigidity of a five-day in-office schedule and the laissez-faire approach of a flexible three-day hybrid model — but a four-day in-office workweek may be the sweet spot, says Paul Manuele at PR Manuele Consulting.

  • As Attys Adopt Generative AI, 3 Elements Should Be Cardinal Author Photo

    As the legal world increasingly adopts generative artificial intelligence, lawyers and firms must develop and utilize strong prompting skills, keep a pulse on forthcoming tech evolutions, and remain steadfast to ethical obligations, say Michele Carney at Carney & Marchi and Marty Robles-Avila at BAL.

  • Rethinking 'No Comment' For Clients Facing Public Crises Author Photo

    “No comment” is no longer a cost-free or even a viable public communications strategy for companies in crisis, and counsel must tailor their guidance based on a variety of competing factors to help clients emerge successfully, says Robert Bowers at Moore & Van Allen.

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    Biz Development Tip Of The Month: Prioritize Connections Author Photo

    One reason business development in the legal industry seems so mysterious is because human relationships are so complex, but lawyers can reorient their thinking in two important ways to drive the process of connecting with new colleagues and contacts, say Jamie Lawless and Angela Quinn at Husch Blackwell.

  • Overcoming US Law Firms' Hesitancy To Enter Indian Market Author Photo

    Successful private equity exits with strong returns have solidified India's buyout market as an increasingly attractive destination for future investments, offering compelling reasons for the U.S. legal community to overcome its caution on the country's markets, says Vaishali Movva at Eimer Stahl.

  • Biz Development Tip Of The Month: Make A Plan For The Year Author Photo

    While firms are busy allocating resources and assessing client demand, individual attorneys should use the start of the year to slow down and create a personal business plan, which can be accomplished with a few steps, say Elizabeth Gooch, Teri Robshaw and Chris Newman at McDermott.

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    Talking Mental Health: Caring For Everyone As A Firm Leader Author Photo

    Reid Phillips at Brooks Pierce discusses how he manages the pressure of running a law firm, how sources of stress in the legal industry have changed over the past decade, and what firm leaders should do to help manage burnout and mental health issues among employees.

  • How Firms Can Use LinkedIn To Aid Marketing Efforts In 2025 Author Photo

    LinkedIn has several features law firms can use to showcase their capabilities and thought leadership to reach prospective and existing clients, including the Event and Live features, says Sofia Millar at Reputation Ink.

  • Talking Mental Health: Managing Emotions In Trauma Cases Author Photo

    Nikki Hurtado at The Ferraro Law Firm discusses what motivates her to represent victims of catastrophic injuries, how she copes with the emotional toll of such cases, and what other attorneys taking on similar cases can do to protect their mental well-being.

  • Strategies For Successful Law Firm Mergers In 2025 Author Photo

    Law firms are expected to continue consolidating in the year to come, and because these mergers require a different kind of playbook, firm leaders must carefully consider office culture nuances, professional services economics and talent retention strategy before any merger, say directors at FTI Consulting.

  • Making Legal Cents: Winning More Work In A Crowded Market Author Photo

    In a market where clients have more options, tighter budgets and higher expectations, firms must figure out how to differentiate themselves without discounting their rates, and several practical strategies for pitching, pricing and early-engagement communication can help, says Shireen Hilal at Maior Strategic Consulting.

  • Best Practices For Implementing Firm Revenue Cycle Roles Author Photo

    Law firm revenue cycles are becoming more complex and time-consuming, but hiring dedicated revenue cycle personnel can help streamline the process and reduce the burden on attorneys, says Christine Indiano at Harbor Global.

  • Tips For Constructing Your Small-Law Exit Strategy Author Photo

    By initiating planning and processes to evaluate personal retirement goals and firm value early, longtime solo practitioners and small-firm owners can unlock a range of possibilities and potential buyers, setting up for a profitable exit and a rewarding transition, says Brent Daub at Gilson Daub.

  • Tips For Persuasive Briefs Beyond The Argument Section Author Photo

    When crafting an appellate brief, the focus for most lawyers is the argument section, but other sections also offer strategic opportunities to shape the court's perception of the case and favorably frame the issues, say attorneys at Frost Brown.

  • Ask A Mentor: Is Secondment A Good Career Move? Author Photo

    Kate Driscoll at Morrison Foerster suggests six questions to help candidates evaluate whether a secondment will benefit their career.

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