White Sox Trade for Carl Everett
 

No. the downside is that she didn't make it clear enough whether she was letting me know in her own subtle way that I still have a shot with her, or if she was just getting Timmy on fringey's ass.

I'm so confused.

White Sox Trade for Carl Everett
 

While I can certainly see the appeal that both (a) and (b) would hold for you, I think the actual answer is (c), she was just being silly.

But dtb can rule on whether it was correct for you to say "I wish I was X so that my current condition would be Y."

White Sox Trade for Carl Everett
 

I'm sure you're right, but a boy can hope, can't he?

For Not Bob
 

On July 27th, a bronze statue of Bob Hartley, the psychologist portrayed by Bob Newhart in the Bob Newhart Show will be unveiled on Michigan Avenue at the address where his fictional office was supposed to be.

No word on whether the local bums (homeless for the more PC among us) who plan to take up residence by the statue will drink every time a passerby says "Hi, Bob!" to the statue...


Link

My Kind of Town
 

Sniff. It makes me wish that I hadn't lost the picture of Dr. Robert Hartley that was my original avatar.

My Kind of Town
 

Here's a photo from today's unveiling:

Link

More than you ever wanted to know about suicide by commuter train
 

Apparently I missed this article when it first appeared last month, but now its being reproduced as a masterpiece. The Trib's transportation writer (Hilkevitch) wrote a long-ass article about suicide by commuter train. As an aside, this guy has certainly found his niche... he does an awesome job writing about Chicago's transporation issues. Anyhoo:

http://www.ble.org/pr/news/headline.asp?id=10929

Whudda thunk that there have been more than 450 Chicago area train fatalities since 1990 or something like that. And that 1/2 or more of them are suicides.

Or that the mirrors on Tokyo train platforms are for suicidal Japanese commuters to face themselves in the mirror one last time before they ruin the day for thousands of others by jumping in front of a train.

Kind of a random article, but maybe it will help one of you to convince your kids not to walk on or near tracks.

Hello

New Vault Rankings Out
 

Batmobile sighting...
 

Saw the new Batmobile the other night leaving work, as they are filming Batman Begins near my office. Looks pretty sweet. Aintitcoolnews.com has film of it in action shot by fans for those interested. Hoping this movie gets away from the campy stuff and is darker like the first two from the last series of films.

No Katie Holmes or Christian Bale sightings yet.

Arrest in Plot to Blow Up Dirksen Building
 

According to the Trib, a Chicagoan named Gale William Nettles, has been arrested for plotting to blow up the Dirksen Federal Building. Life in the big city just gets dangerouser and dangerouser every day.

WTF?
 

Alan Keyes for Senator?

Arrest in Plot to Blow Up Dirksen Building
 

What gets me a bit emotionally pissed off about this story is that threats against Federal Judges have been made multiple times in the recent past in Chicago. The ND and 7th Cir. are groups of judges whom I greatly admire (with an exception here or there, of course), and the wild west atmosphere in the city is just deplorable.

Tying the two recent threads together, I hope Obama plays the role of a Mr. Smith. It would be great to see the guy only ally himself to other Mr. Cleans, liberal though they otherwise may be.

Hello

Wildman Harold Allan & Dixon
 

Longtime poster, but definitely outable that I'm talking to these guys.

Anybody in Chicago have any insight into this firm? Good, bad, indifferent? I'm looking at their IP/media practice. Any guesses on salary range for a midlevel (5-6 years) lateral?

Wildman Harold Allan & Dixon
 

Don't know anyone there personally, but they have a solid reputation regionally. Primarily known for litigation work -- a group there that specializes in defending gun manufacturers from mass tort litigation is very well-known. Can't provide specific insight on IP/Media.

They pay market for 1st tier in Chicago, so a 5th-6th year lateral should be between $160k (5th year) to upwards of $175k (6th year).

Not much, but hope it helps.

Wildman Harold Allan & Dixon
 

Very helpful, thank you.

Anyone else? Wonk? Coltrane? mmmm? hello? Any thoughts from you guys would be much, much appreciated.

Wildman Harold Allan & Dixon
 

Good luck. Let us know in the future (privately if you prefer) if/when we have a new Chicago poster to add to the ranks...

Wildman Harold Allan & Dixon
 

Unfortunately, all I have on these guys is a general vibe that they have overcome a former reputation for being a sheap sweatshop, and that they are supposed t be pretty decent now. I don't have any real specifics, though.

Wildman Harold Allan & Dixon
 

I have insight. On or about 2000, their practice group head was a soft-IP guy. They had what seemed like a hodge-podge of IP people. A few interesting litigators, lots of nice patent partners and associates etc.

I must say though, its always fun to watch the interaction between e.g., patent types, e.g., from third tier schools, and soft-IP/non-IP types, from e.g., Michigan and Northwestern or whatever. Its like mixing martians and venetians in the cutthroat GP world. Personally, I think everyone would get along better if they just put the patent people in the penthouse suites and left them alone. But I digress.

I quit keeping track of them long ago, but my understanding was that at least a few of the patent people left quickly to open their own shop. Most of the people I met there seemed like very nice people.

Rumors on this and *other* boards, has the source of any discord possibly being the practice group head. But that's not my bone to pick.

For IP type stuff in Chicago, I swear I'd be interested in hearing anyone's thoughts on Barnes & Thornburgh or Michael Best. There was at least one ugly series of stories coming out of Michael Best last year, but I'm not even sure if I believe it still.

Hello

Dave the Dumper
 

I always believed that Dave matthews's stuf was watery shit. Now he's gone and proven me right.

Thoughts, comments, collective giggles?

Dave the Dumper
 

This was so gross that I couldn't bring myself to even smile. Seriously, and I am smiling like a retard 89% of the time, or so I'm told.

I don't believe in coincidence, so however it happened, iI think it certainly wasn't an accident (though I'm not saying they were aiming for anything other than moving water).

That said, I'd love to see the quality of the eyewitness accounts. If someone has a credible eyewitness account of the plate number and the discharge-in-progress, than someone should be going to jail (not necessarily Cook County) for 12 to 18 months for this. This wasn't just a random attack on random tourists, it was a sickening attack on the entire city at a time when the city has enough problems of its own.

Hello

ETA that this is now the poll on chicagotribune dot com. 51% of respondents so far say it matters not that it was Dave Matthews, the whole incident just stinks. I should run for mayor or something.

Dave the Dumper
 

I think I have proof of his involvement -- according to one of their fansites, they opened their Sunday show with the song "Don't Drink the Water"... :shock:

Dave the Dumper
 

Roe Conn on WLS just went through a list of other possible suspects, since Dave Matthews' people claim their buses were parked at that time and their driver called in from downstate and had a cop verify his "tank" was still full.

Other possibilities in town that night include Loverboy, Linkin Park, Korn (possibly -- where's Coltrane when I need a good corn and poop joke?) and Snoop Dogg (though the bus was not in a cloud at the time of the incident)... DNA testing may be necessary.

Wildman Harold Allan & Dixon
 

Thanks, everyone for your comments. I'll let everyone know if I'm changing regional affliliations. I'm talking to WHAD soon, so we'll see.

Interestingly, one of the things I found somewhat attractive is the fact that their "IP" department is not just a "patent" department. I will keep my eyes open for any evidence of infighting, though.

Thanks once again,

SFAP

Oprah's Jury Duty
 

She got selected and is hearing a three-day murder trial starting today at 26th and Cal. Apparently she was selected despite saying she would have trouble being impartial if a defendant did not take the stand in their own defense. Hmmm...

What I cannot understand is why this is headline news here. Sure, Oprah is huge in Chicago (sometimes literally AND figuratively), but this is not news. Yes, it's mildly interesting, but that's it.

Link

Oprah's Jury Duty
 

Oh, I don't know. I think its sort of news. At least, its something people read when they see it, whereas I still tend to skip lots of other headlines.

Any idea where the murder took place?

He(In other news, Daley has looked like he's on the ropes the past 2 weeks... when was the last thing he's said something bad about George Bush in public?)llo

Wildman Harold Allan & Dixon
 

I don't have much else to add. I know of them, but not that much. In my mind, they are among the best-regarded of the truly regional firms in Chicago that try to excel locally, have the occasional national matter and try to be decent places to work. I think that the sweatshop rumors are quite old now; I've worked briefly with or against them on matters, and everyone seemed pretty happy. That was transactional work, but when I last worked with them, when the market was busier in that subject matter than it is now, they were mostly working modified 9-5 schedules, say 8-6 with the occasional weekend or all-nighter.

However, I would be very suprised if they truly match market for anything beyond second years or third years. Or if they match them for people not working 2200 hours a year or more. From what I understand about their billing rates, they probably can't afford to pay rainmakers what they need to if they're reallying paying a bunch of fifrth year associates $185k when they're probably billing at $300/hr or lower.

Chicago Biglaw market compensation
 

I didn't catch this before, but I usually consider

1st year $125,000
2nd yesr $135,000
3rd year $150,000
4th year $165,000
5th year $185,000
6th year $205,000
7th year $225,000

to be market in Chicago, with significant variation and compression beginning in the fifth year. I think that there are at least half a dozen firms that pay on this scale. Many (including perhaps WHAD) also adhere to a modified scheme where they start associates at $125,000 and do raises or approximately $10,000 most years.

Chicago Biglaw market compensation
 

1-4 is right on, but 5-7 is more compressed than that from the information I have... more like $175k, $190k, $210 give or take 5 each way.

Oprah's Jury Duty
 

And to answer my own question, today's (Sun-Times?) indicates Kostner and West End (Lawndale). Basically, not too far from the Kostner exit of the Eisenhower.

"Make the changes like the monkey fucking scribe that you are."
 

Apparently, a profane voicemail from one associate to another is circulating via e-mail. Recipient takes the ultimate revenge and mails it all over the country. Sender sounds like an asshole, but uses his and his firm's name; recipient is mentioned only by first name. Regardless, an instant classic...

"Make the changes like the monkey fucking scribe that you are."
 

I've only read a transcript, but frankly I've heard of worse. Definitely something no one should say, or especially leave on someone's voicemail, but at the same time the distribution of it by the recipient strikes me as a little troubling as well. Settle your arguments face to face. I'm hearing, though, that the recipient may have only intended the distribution to be in-house and it got out of hand.

In the interests of full disclosure, I know of, but don't personally know, the person who left the message.

"Make the changes like the monkey fucking scribe that you are."
 

This website has the sound file of the voicemail: http://www.kinsellalaw.com/

The guy who left the voicemail sounds like a dickhead and shouldn't have left the voicemail, but I agree that it isn't particularly newsworthy (I've dealt with opposing counsel like him on more than one occasion). Might hurt his partnership prospects if he's up soon (seems like he should be based on his class year) and if many Winston partners get wind of it. Pretty embarrassing.

"Make the changes like the monkey fucking scribe that you are."
 

I hate dealing with people like this, but it's always nice when they do stupid shit like this.

From the back story I've heard around town, the VM sender was sending a bunch of e-mails in the day before a closing doing things like changing notice addresses because he and his firm hadn't caught them earlier. VM recipient got fed up with repeated changes immediately before closing and after a completed pre-closing process. I can understand how annoying that is when you're dealing with a very defined process like a loan and real estate transaction, and in the same situation, I've rejected changes like that and required that they be made in an amendment after closing. Anyway, VM recipient decided to make changes but sent an e-mail saying that there should be no further non-substantive changes, which resulted in the VM. I think the method of sending the VM around is pretty underhanded, since there are probably ethical considerations associated with publicizing private and potentially privileged messages. However, I love the fact that another slash and burn asshole got his comeuppance. I'd love to have a good enough relationship with the client in that situation that he or she will send a few e-mails or messages to put a guy like that is his place, or even hold the deal for a day or two. That would be perfect. I wonder how this all turned out.

A new Contender
 

Buona Beef, a suburban shop. It ain't Mr. Beef on Orleans, but it beats Al's. And that's saying something.

A new Contender
 

Where's it at?

A new Contender
 

They have a few of them, apparently. The one I go to is in Naperville, where Naperville Road runs into Ogden.

Electronic Discover Job Opportunity - Chicago
 

Kroll Ontrack seeks a motivated professional to initiate sales/marketing efforts to drive new revenues and build a brand around Kroll Ontrack’s electronic discovery services. Included would be direct sales/marketing efforts that develop and maintain relationships with specified law firms. Maintain a high level of strategic contacts with firms who are responsible for influencing the decision to outsource the e-discovery work as well as ensure that the company is meeting customer expectations before and during project engagements. The marketing efforts would consist of public speaking around: workshops, educational courses (CLE), seminars, and on-site law firm presentations. In addition, the responsibilities include assisting with the publication of books and articles related to the company's electronic discovery services.

Qualifications: Juris Doctor Degree is required and more than 5 years of professional experience selling/marketing technology services and/or software to the legal community; or equivalent combination of education and experience is necessary. Current State Jurisdiction License is required.

To apply please send resume in MS Word format to hr@KrollOntrack.com and reference "Legal Consultant" in the subject line.


ETA -- Please do not spam the boards with new threads. Mgmt.

Report of Shooting at IL Capitol
 

Just heard a report of a shooting at the Illinois Capitol Building in Springfield...

Report of Shooting at IL Capitol
 

WXRT reported this morning that a man had shot and killed an unarmed security guard at the Capitol after robbing two gun stores. He was arrested this morning in Springfield, as a result of phone tips identifying him and giving his location.

ETA I don't get all my news from the Daily show. I get the local stuff on the radio.

Thanks for the car (and the tax bill), Oprah!
 

As many of us suspected when the great Oprah car giveaway was announced, there is a catch...

Turns out the recipients can pick their cars up between now and Feb. of next year -- as soon as they get the $$$ together to pay the federal income taxes on the prize. The taxes may amount to as much as $7,125, depending on the tax bracket the prize drives the recipient into. Some of the winners are expressing dismay that they now have to figure out where to come up with the money.

Gee, thanks Oprah!