He was probably just confirming how awesome I am.

Who cares about AGAG? V&E needs to give us Texas associates a raise. And kill the awful compression too.

GONZO MUST GO!

I thank God I did not pick UT-Austin and end up practicing in Texas. Not that Texas is bad, but Harriet and Alberto make Texas Justice sound moronic. Those two can ride-share in the same short yellow bus -- for lawyers whose analytical, thinking, speaking and existing skills are retarded.

serious question: has anything good EVER come out of texas?

Just so long as he 1) leaves DOJ, and 2) does NOT come to my firm, he can do what he likes. If V&E want to give him a "flyback", more power too 'em. Between the Texas SCT and the 5th Circuit, its not like HE'S going to poison the well of Texas justice. Just more of the same.

"Girl, don't go away mad...just go away!"

As much as I'd love to see Torture Boy tarred, feathered, run out of town, I would also just be happy to see him leave.

Seriously.

I never thought anyone could make lost-to-a-dead-guy/Jesus is my Deputy Asscroft look so good in comparison.

would V & E really want this guy?

He was there for the funeral of a former partner--Rush Record.

More importantly, has V&E raised in DC yet? The answer is no.....

On a national scale, V&E is irrelevant. Sure, they may be the big-boy in Houston, but outside of that firmly entrenched third/fourt tier market, they are irrelevant.

Last year, V&E tried to establish some sense of national relevancy when they raised Texas pay to then-NY/CA levels. When they raised in 2006, the managing partner made a statement that V&E recognized it was recruiting talent and seeking to retain talent on a nationwide scale, so the firm believed it should pay its Texas associates on a nationwide scale.

But V&E has completely ignored the last two waves of nationwide pay raises. While out of state firms have raised their pay to the NYC level, V&E has stood firm and kept its Texas pay at the levels established in 2006. Now, an attorney considering V&E and a national firm with offices in Texas, must decide if working at V&E is worth $500,000 over the course of his associate career -- because that is what he will have to forgo in order to work at V&E over a truly national firm.

If V&E still believes what it said in 2006 -- that it wants to be a player on the national scene for talent, then V&E needs to raise its pay. Sure, V&E can continue to pay what it pays and attract attorneys. But certainly, the best law grads who will have options -- in other markets and even in Texas--to make $500,000 more over their associate careers, will take the money and run. If V&E is okay with that, and okay with filling its associate ranks with grads from lower in the class and from less prestigious law schools, then it should "stay the course."

But don't pretend for one minute that V&E is relevant nationwide if it wont pay its associates what they can get elsewhere -- from true national firms.

Anon @ 12:24 -- are you wishing you hadn't taken that offer last fall?

Or are you feeling that $135k in Houston isn't enough to compensate you for sleepwalking your way through doc review?

Quit your bitchin' and go over to Weil or Skadden, if they'll have you.

The poster by the name of “Ralbylove” is in no way associated with the individual named Ian M. Ralby, but is instead an alias created without the consent of Mr. Ralby.

Is there any precedent for the DOJ to use a private law firm to conduct, advise, or assist with a criminal investigation? Assuming for the sake of argument that a regulatory component of the DOJ, perhaps even including the OPR, had its hands full with their own failure to investigate and prosecute certain criminal violations regarding concealed conflict of interest, bankruptcy fraud, conspiracy, and a certain death threat made in conjunction with a bankruptcy proceeding... Wouldn't it make sence for the DOJ to go with outside counsel not already conflicted? Perhaps some DOJ insiders are conflicted by their own possible violations of 18 U.S.C. § 3057. And who else would Arthur Gonzalez turn for such an investigation other than Vinson & Elkins? It's seems to me that V&E would understand better than most other biglaw firms that the old unspoken agreement among lawyers to protect each other is dissolving. Surely it is just speculation, but the Department of Justice might be using the services of Vinson & Elkins with respect to criminal investigations of certain "Untouchables".

Woops. I referred to AGAG, our Attorney General, as Arthur Gonzalez. My mistake. Arthur Gonzalez is a Federal Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of New York and presided over what I believe was the largest bankruptcy, resulting from the largest corporate fraud, in U.S. History a/k/a the MCI / Worldcom bankruptcy case. What was I thinking? Alberto Gonzales is the U.S. Attorney General and head of the DOJ. I believe that Arthur Gonzalez, the bankruptcy judge, did work for the DOJ; specifically in the Office Of The U.S. Trustee, as have many participants in the lucrative bankruptcy industry at one time or another. After all, the bankruptcy industry is really just one big happy family, as is admitted by some blanket waivers used by law firms: "Several attorneys at LAWFIRM have spouses, parents, children, siblings, fiances, or fiancees who are attorneys at other law firms and companies". No kidding? Any relation$ at Private Equity / Hedge Fund / Claims trading firms as well? Lucky for all of them they are not Sicilian-Americans as the Feds would likely prosecute them as Racketeers. Race based investigation and prosecution by the DOJ harms some and protects others.