Every lateral partner hiring brings with it the potential for a lawsuit. Many conflicting interests are presented, including the lateral partner's duties to his old law firm, the lateral partner's duties to his clients, and the new firm's duties to both. Courts across the country are grappling with these issues on a constant basis with sometimes seemingly inconsistent results. In an age of partner mobility, every practitioner needs to have at least a working knowledge of the "dos" and "don'ts" of the lateral partner hiring process.

Paul D. Murphy of Murphy Rosen & Cohen LLP specializes in partnership law and has represented dozens of partners and partnerships in the lateral partner hiring process. He has also litigated numerous cases involving alleged breaches of fiduciary duty between partners arising out of a partner defection to a new firm. In April 2003, he, along with Brian C. Lysaght, spent six weeks trying to a jury these complicated issues which arose out of a dispute between two law firms - Dickson, Carlson & Campillo and Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison - over the proper bounds of fiduciary duties in the context of a lateral partner hiring.

In this intentionally interactive forum, Mr. Murphy will moderate a discussion that explores the issues from the perspective of the four categories of interested parties - the lateral, the old firm, the new firm and the client. Whether you are a lawyer in law firm management or otherwise involved in the lateral hiring process, this program is designed to give you the tools to successfully navigate these traditionally troublesome waters.

SPEAKER
Paul D. Murphy of Murphy Rosen & Cohen LLP is a business trial lawyer with an emphasis in partnership law and corporate governance issues. He has represented law partnerships, accounting firms, and Fortune 500 companies, as well as individual partners, sole proprietors, and S corporations. In April 2003, he was co-trial counsel in a high-profile breach of fiduciary duty suit against the dissolved law firm of Brobeck Phleger & Harrison. The case involved cutting-edge issues of breach of fiduciary duty and lateral partner hiring and resulted in a precedent-setting decision of the law by the Court of Appeal.

LACBA/LexisNexis Conference Center
281 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles

For March 2004 Forum, click here.