Lawyer 2 Lawyer

Every lawyer knows the costs of discovery can escalate. Last month on September 19, 2008, President Bush signed Senate Bill 2450 into law, which establishes Federal Rule of Evidence 502 and is effective immediately. This law creates a new rule of evidence limiting certain attorney-client privilege and work product waivers. Law.com bloggers and co-hosts, J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi, welcome Attorney Robert D. Owen, a partner in Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., to take a look at New Federal Rule of Evidence 502 and see how this new rule will affect litigation and litigation costs as well as clients.

Will the U.S. Supreme Court dismiss a class action suit brought by smokers in Maine, who say they were misled into believing that "low tar" and "light" cigarettes are a healthier alternative to regular cigarettes? Arguments heard before the high court this week, pit tobacco giant, Phillip Morris against smokers. Law.com blogger and co-host, Bob Ambrogi welcomes Dr. Jeffrey Wigand, a nationally known whistleblower involving tobacco company, Brown & Williamson. Wigand's courageous story ultimately led to a landmark case against big tobacco, changes in cigarette advertising and was the basis for the movie, The Insider. He is now founder of SMOKE-FREE KIDS, Inc. Tony Mauro, Supreme Court correspondent for Legal Times and Law.com, also joins us to discuss this important case with insights from inside the courtroom.

A special edition of Lawyer2Lawyer, marking our 3rd anniversary and our 150th show! We have covered a lot of legal stories over the course of three years and Law.com bloggers and co-hosts, J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi will talk to returning guests and play clips from some stand out shows with guests who have inspired, educated and even made us laugh. Bob & Craig welcome back Professor Eugene Volokh, professor at the UCLA School of Law and blogger for the Volokh Conspiracy and Attorney/musician Larry Savell of Chadbourne & Parke to discuss his new album, "The Lawtunes: Live At Blackacre" and introduce a new theme song made especially for Lawyer2Lawyer! And extra thanks to YOU, our audience, for making Lawyer2Lawyer one of the top legal podcasts in the legal community!

When Hurricane Ike hit the Texas coast, many were left to deal with the devastation of the storm which toppled businesses, firms and homes. Join Law.com bloggers and co-hosts, J. Craig Williams & Bob Ambrogi as they speak to Bill Livesay, Executive Director from Andrews Kurth LLP and Miriam Rozen, staff reporter from Texas Lawyer, to get their personal accounts of Hurricane Ike. On Lawyer2Lawyer, you'll hear how it has affected law firms and look at what firms are doing to assist their employees, their clients and those in need. * If you would like to help those affected by Hurricane Ike, you can donate here at the Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund.

The largest bankruptcy case in U.S. history is playing out before us with the fall of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., creating chaos in the financial community. Join co-hosts and Law.com bloggers, J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi, as they talk to the top legal experts, Attorney John D. Penn, Partner at the firm, Haynes and Boone, LLP and Attorney Victor Bass, Partner at the firm, Burns & Levinson LLP, about how lawyers will unravel the company’s assets, what will happen to stockholders and customers along with the impact of all that on the economy. Hear their take on the legal options and strategies being used in this unprecedented case.

Attorneys have fallen prey to a new email scam circulating that specifically targets law firms. Join Law.com blogger and co-host, J. Craig Williams as he dissects this check scam sweeping law firms. Craig welcomes Attorney Gregory Bartko, an Atlanta securities and corporate attorney and Attorney John P. Donohue, Senior Counsel from Thorp Reed & Armstrong in Philadelphia to talk about the details of the scam, how they were targeted, how one lawyer was victimized and one narrowly escaped - this is a story you can't afford to miss!

Last week, the FBI arrested blogger, Kevin Cogill of Culver City, California, on suspicion of violating a federal copyright law for posting nine tracks from the unreleased and much anticipated Guns n’ Roses album "Chinese Democracy" on his blog. Join Law.com bloggers and co-hosts, J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi, as they discuss this hot legal topic with Attorney Lisa Borodkin, an entertainment attorney in private practice in Los Angeles and Attorney Philip Daniels an associate in the Entertainment, Media and Communications Practice Group at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP. Hear about the legal issues in this case, the new federal copyright law and what the future looks like for Cogill.

It all started when three MIT students put together a presentation for their Network Security Class at MIT about their findings regarding the security vulnerabilities of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) Charlie Card and Charlie Ticket. The MBTA sued the students and MIT in United States District Court in Massachusetts. Join Law.com bloggers and co-hosts, J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi as they discuss this case with Tuna Chaterjee, a fellow at the Berkman Center and a Staff Attorney with the Citizen Media Law Project and Attorney Marc Randazza, First Amendment attorney with the law firm of Weston, Garrou, Walters & Mooney. They we will take a look at the legal issues involved in MBTA vs. Anderson, the rights of these students, the lawsuit filed, First Amendment issues, security issues and what the future holds for these students.

It’s about that time of year again when the law students are heading back to school and thinking ahead to what they want in a law firm once they graduate. Law.com blogger and co-host, J. Craig Williams turns to both a recruiter and two law students to get two different perspectives. Craig welcomes Partner and Chair of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton’s Recruiting Committee, David Leinwand, Matthew Donnelly, third year law student from the University of Iowa College of Law and Roger Smerage third year law student at Suffolk University Law School in Boston, to discuss recruiting at a large firm, what firms are doing to set themselves apart from the competition of other law firms, the interview process, what firms are looking for in a future associate, what students are looking for in a firm and how they are preparing for the competition of other law students.

Attorney Gerry Spence has practiced law for over fifty years, has never lost a criminal case and is the author of sixteen books. On Lawyer2 Lawyer, Law.com bloggers and co-hosts, J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi talk to Attorney Spence about his most prominent cases, life as a trial attorney, his founding of the Trial Lawyers College, his opinion about law school, stepping into the world of blogging and his mission to represent the poor, the injured and the forgotten. Listen and find out why he says "Lawyers disappoint me."