The National Law Journal's L.A. Legal Pad

No new trial for Wilkes for grand jury leak

Leaked grand jury proceedings aren't enough for a new trial for defense contractor Brent Wilkes, who was convicted of bribing former U.S. Rep Randy "Duke" Cunningham last month.

A federal judge in San Diego ruled that leaks to the media about his indictment didn't pressure the grand jury to charge Wilkes.

Wilkes' attorney, Mark Geragos sought to subpoena reporters and government officials to determine the source of the leak.

Geragos told KPBS he'll appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to allow the subpoenas and dismiss the indictment.

Attorney General Brown investigating nation's No. 1 mortgage lender

California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown is investigating the nation's No. 1 mortgage lender, Countrywide Financial.

Brown and the Illinois attorney general have filed subpoenas. Neither side is giving details. Brown has only said he's looking broadly at lending practices by mortgage bankers and brokers, and how they may have contributed to the mortgage meltdown.

"U.S. No. 1 mortgage lender under investigation", Xinhua News Agency

"Two states probe Countrywide home loans", Los Angeles Times

Former O.J. prosecutor seeks L.A. Superior Court judgeship

Attorney Christopher Darden is pursuing a Los Angeles Superior Court judgeship, reports the Metropolitan News-Enterprise.

Darden was part of the legal team that prosecuted O.J. Simpson, who was found innocent in the criminal trial for the murder of his wife and a friend.

Darden would be the third Simpson prosecutor to become a judge, joining L.A. Superior Court Judge Hank Golberg and San Diego Superior Court Judge George "Woody" Clarke.

Bar committee amends malpractice proposal

An amended proposal requiring attorneys to tell clients if they don't carry malpractice insurance was passed by a California Bar committee last Thursday, The Recorder reported.

The proposal requires lawyers the disclosure in writing when it's reasonably foreseeable that they'll be represented for more than four hours and exempting legal services in an emergency and government lawyers or in-house counsel - except when they do outside work for others.

The state bar's Committee on Regulation, Admissions and Discipline met in Los Angeles, passing the proposal 4-3. If the Board of Governors approve it, there would be 90 days for public comment.

Read the full story here

Liner Yankelevitz promotes three to partner

Liner Yankelevitz promoted three attorneys to partner at their Los Angeles office.

Mathew Rosengart is a former federal prosecutor who joined the firm this year from O'Melveny & Myers. Rosengart focuses on white collar crime, entertainment litigation and complex commercial litigation.

Casey Sobhani focuses on real estate transactions, with an emphasis on commercial leases, acquisitions and finance. He joined the firm in 2004, leaving Latham & Watkins.

Paul Swanson counsels clients on their corporate, intellectual property and entertainment-related transactions. His clients include studios, production companies and financiers.

Last charter member of the American College of Trial Lawyers dies at 92

Attorney Phyllis Norton Cooper, the last surviving charter member of the American College of Trial Lawyers who attended law school in the 1930s, died Dec. 5 of natural causes. She was 92.

A trailblazer for women in law, she assisted her husband Grant Cooper in defending infamous clients like Sirhan Sirhan who assassinated Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, according to a Los Angeles Times obituary.

Cooper was also the first female president of the University of South California's Alumni Association.

Memorial donations can be made to Global Opportunity Garden or the USC Alumni Assn. Scholarship Fund

Los Angeles Times Obituary

Los Angeles Daily Journal article - Cooper discusses how trailblazer's inspired her

Joseph Cavallo gets six months for paying bail bondsmen for clients

Orange County defense lawyer Joseph Cavallo was sentenced to six months in jail for paying a bail bonds firm to send clients his way, CBS 2 reported.

The former associate of indicted Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona will also pay a $10,000 fine and serve three years probation. Cavallo is cooperating with the federal government in the corruption case against Carona, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Cavallo can't practice law for the next five years. He may not be able to regain his license, end a 25 year legal career, given the type of three felony convictions, Susan Schroeder of the Orange County District Attorney's Office told CBS.

Cavallo paid two Santa Ana's bail bondsmen hundreds of dollars for each client referred to him - $50,000 in total, according to prosecutors. Referred clients would then received preferential treatment in jail.

Cavallo pleaded guilty without any plea agreement and will report to jail on March 7.

Coughlin Stoia promotes six to partner in San Diego

Coughlin Stoia promoted six associates to partner at its San Diego office, The Recorder reported. Five of the six came with a background in consumer and/or securities fraud.

They include:

-  Leslie Hurst, consumer and insurance fraud
-  Stephanie Schroder (top left), securities fraud class actions and corporate securities fraud
-  Benny Goodman III, securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative litigation
-  Rachel Jensen (right), class action securities and consumer fraud litigation
-  Trig Smith, securities and other complex litigation
-  Ramzi Abadou (bottom left), securities fraud class actions and the firm's lead plaintiff practice)

Norma Garcia Guillen named president of OC's Hispanic Bar Association

The Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County elected Norma Garcia Guillen as their 2008 president, The Recorder reports.

Guillen, an associate in Sheppard Mullin's Orange County office, is one of only a handful of past female presidents at the association - replacing Lorena C. Peñaloza.

Guillen focuses on general business litigation and is involved in Sheppard Mullin's business trial and Latino business practice groups.

Pillsbury Winthrop promotes two to partner

Pillsbury Winthrop promoted two senior associates in their Los Angeles office to partner.

Andrew Grossman (top) has experience in all areas of intellectual property law.

David Stanton (bottom) focuses on securities regulation and enforcement, mostly representing Fortune 500 companies and executives.