Many situations arise in the work place where young lawyers find themselves facing real ethical dilemmas. For example, your supervisor has asked you to do something that you believe may violate the Rules of Professional Conduct. Or you become aware that another lawyer has engaged in conduct already that may be unethical. Or a close […]
Ethical Considerations for Young Lawyers Read More »
An IP attorney continued his legal education the hard way. He falsely represented to the California Bar that he had completed the mandatory minimum of 25 hours of continuing legal education. In truth, he had completed zero hours of CLE. The result: a one-year suspension. This matter involved California-based patent attorney Jens Edward Hoekendijk. In
Lessons in Ethics: Lying About CLE Attendance Is Just So Wrong Read More »
On Friday, May 15, I was honored to be a presenter at the Annual Meeting of the Intellectual Property Law Section of the Arizona Bar, held in beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona. Roberta Tepper of the State Bar of Arizona and I went a full two hours, providing the section members with treasured ethics CLE credits. The IP Bar in
Arizona Bar IP Section Hot for Ethics Read More »
Last week, the United States Supreme Court turned more than a few heads when it issued an attorney discipline order against Howard Shipley – a partner at Foley & Lardner, LLC – for his conduct relating to a (denied) petition for writ of certiorari. The Supreme Court is demanding that, within 40 days, Shipley show cause “why
SCOTUS Threatens Sanctions Against Patent Attorney: Is USPTO Ethical Discipline Next? Read More »
Never lie, never cheat, never steal. – John Wooden Patent attorney Rodney K. Worrel should have listened to the sage advice of UCLA’s legendary basketball coach. The California-based attorney has been excluded from practice before the USPTO for engaging in a pattern of misconduct that involved multiple acts of neglect, deceit, and conversion of client
Motions to disqualify opposing counsel are not uncommon, especially in patent litigation. In many cases, disqualification is sought based on an alleged former client conflict of interest. Former client disqualification motions normally allege that an attorney working in the law firm representing one of the parties to a litigation previously represented the opposing party in
Job counselors always seem to be full of advice for people who are fired from their jobs. “Go out gracefully” and “don’t burn bridges” are common suggestions for the newly-unemployed. Recently-fired intellectual property attorney Alecia Schmuhl might have benefitted from such words of wisdom. Instead, she sits in a jail cell charged with malicious wounding and abduction while her victims–the managing
Fired Trademark Attorney And Husband Arrested For Stabbing Law Firm Managing Partner Read More »
In the wake of a multi-million patent malpractice verdict against Antonelli Terry Stout & Kraus LLP, a federal judge has imposed “temporary” financial restrictions on the Virginia-based IP firm. Protostorm LLC et al. v. Antonelli Terry Stout & Kraus LLP, No. 1:08-cv-00931 (E.D.N.Y.) As discussed in our October 13, 2014 post, Protostorm LLC engaged the Antonelli firm
