DC News: And 20,000 extra square feet seems pretty smart in their world

Arent Fox inks deal for 1000 Connecticut Ave. NW

Washington Business Journal - by Melissa Castro Staff Reporter

"In the largest private-tenant lease so far this year, law firm Arent Fox LLP announced today it will move its 264 D.C. lawyers one building over from its current office, becoming the lead tenant in the new building planned for Connecticut and K streets NW.

After its current lease expires in 2012, the firm will take 255,000 square feet -- eight floors -- in the Pei Cobb Freed & Partners-designed building slated for 1000 Connecticut Ave. NW. The prominent downtown corner currently hosts a quickly shrinking core of old floor slabs and center columns as demolition of the existing building proceeds.

Arent Fox signed a 17-year lease and will move from Washington Square, 1050 Connecticut Ave. NW, where it now occupies 235,000 square feet. The new lease represents a net gain of 20,000 square feet."

Outsourcing: For $625 bucks Indian Publisher can tell you why you won't have a job in 2010

From Bharat Book:

"The India revenues from legal services offshoring are slated to grow from $146 million for the calendar year 2006 to reach $640 million by end 2010. The industry employed around 7,500 people in the legal offshoring space in India as of end 2006. The number of employees is expected to reach 32,000 by end 2010."

"According to Arun Jethmalani, CEO, "While most vendors start by offering lower value services and gradually move up the value chain by demonstrating domain skills and gaining client confidence, there are others who focus on specific high-end services or niches." Adds Neeraja Kandala, analyst and co-author of the report, "High volume services like Document review, eDiscovery, Legal publishing as well as niche areas in Intellectual Property and Contract services will drive future growth in legal services offshoring."
Based on our exhaustive primary research and analysis of this sector, It has identified a "List of frontrunners" which includes Evalueserve, Integreon, OfficeTiger, CPA Global, Mindcrest, Pangea3 and Quislex. We have also identified ''Emerging players'' that have potential to emerge as winners within their chosen niches. These include players like LawScribe, New Galexy, SDD Global Solutions, Tusker Group, Aptara, Lason and Quattro BPO.
The report: "Offshoring Legal Services to India: An Update" provides an in-depth information and analysis of the Indian vendor space along with vendor profiles of all major and upcoming players."

Indian Lawyers Fear Americans, British would practice Indian law for a fraction of their price

Supreme Court of India

In an irony of ironies, there is currently a case before the Indian courts that would open up legal practice in India to foreign firms. Indians, as they should be, are very tight on who can practice law in India, and currently foreign attorneys cannot practice Indian law. That is why Howrey can not call their new office in India a legal practice. Indian lawyers for the most part are fighting the opening up of outsiders tooth and nail, because they are afraid that foreign firms could drive them out of business. However, Indians being able to practice American law in India, that perfect ok.

From Sofia Lind of LegalWeek:

"The Bar Council of India is set to visit the U.K. later this month, as the longstanding talks about opening up the country’s legal market to foreign law firms continue.

The news comes as it emerges that a crucial court case, scheduled to take place at the end of last month, has been pushed back until the summer.

The case, now due to be heard in July, was initially brought against Ashurst, White & Case and Chadbourne & Parke in 1995, when the firms set up liaison offices in India. The hearing, now set for July 16, will determine whether the Advocates Act means foreign law firms are prevented from practicing Indian law in the country or from practicing in the country at all. Whatever the outcome, it is likely that the case will be appealed."

FRCP New e-Discovery Rules: Companies Embrace Change Like They Embrace Employee Goodwill

This is something that probably only interests me. From the EDD Blog:

"More than 40 sanctions cases -- resulting in millions of dollars in fines -- have been decided in one year since revisions to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure took effect. In contrast, only two have been recorded under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act since it was put into place in 2002.

The 2006 changes to the FRCP specifically require that companies ensure all potentially relevant electronically stored information associated with litigation is preserved and protected, with a subset ultimately produced when required. While on the surface this may sound simple, those in the trenches on both sides -- legal and IT -- have war stories to tell, with hard lessons learned. Organizations that do not take a comprehensive approach to managing ESI for discovery may fall prey to fines, sanctions or worse."

Here is thr link to the original article.