Five at five: selected stories to end the week

The song is over: Darby & Darby, one of the country’s oldest intellectual property boutiques, announced today that it will be closing shop after 115 years.

Population control: After a year of plummeting profits, Howrey will cut 25 to 30 partners—up to 10 percent of its partnership.

Bright lights, big city—who needs ‘em? In-house counsel are looking offshore and outside major cities for more of their legal work.

Bankruptcies in aisle 10: If the US were to open the legal sector to the kinds of changes implicated in Britain’s Legal Services Act, not only might big firms gain from access to external capital, but ordinary consumers could benefit from access to more affordable legal services.

A long-awaited milestone: Congratulations to Quinn Emanuel partner Kathleen Sullivan, who has become the first female name partner at an Am Law 100 firm.

Happy weekend!

- posted by vera