About
The Common Scold



The Common Scold is named after a cause of action that originated in Pilgrim days, when meddlesome, argumentative, opinionated women who displeased the Puritan elders were punished by a brisk dunk in the local pond. Believe it or not, the tort lasted until 1972, when State v. Palendrano, 120 N.J. Super. 336, 293 A.2d 747 (N.J.Super.L., Jul 13, 1972) pretty much put it to rest. But the thought of those feisty women, not afraid of a little cold water, has always cheered me up and inspired me. I first used the moniker as the name of my humor column at the University of San Francisco School of Law many moons ago, and revive it now for this blawg!


BACK ON THE PAYROLL

Babs shot 2 copy Mvr_headshot01a Good news from both Babs Deacon and Mark Reichenbach, who both got pink slip'd a few months back.

Deacon has landed a new gig with Integreon, (which recently acquired Onsite3) as director of consulting. New e-mail here.

Reichenbach is the new veep for client and industry development, with Capital Legal Solutions. 411 here.

Both will join us at the "Greening Your Career" job seekers' networking breakfast, June 25 at LegalTech West Coast.

Congrats!!

April 20, 2009 in Darwin Watch, People, Tech Turbulence (Economy) | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

GREEN YOUR CAREER: A NETWORKING BREAKFAST

FiredThis erratic economy has been tough on everybody, but none more so than the members of our legal technology community who have lost their jobs. It's difficult, scary, and challenging for even the most self-confident professionals.

Our Incisive gang wants to help -- so we decided to team up at LegalTech West Coast and offer a simple, heartfelt gesture: On day 2 (Thursday June 25) we will host a very informal, free "Green Your Career" networking breakfast, from 7:45--8:45 a.m. at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

It will be co-hosted by Law Technology News and law.jobs, with the support of the LegalTech crew, and has a straightforward format:  We're inviting job seekers -- as well as vendors and law firm leaders (even if you do not currently have an available opening).

For the first half-hour, we'll just schmooze together, and enjoy coffee, tea, danish, etc. — i.e., a chance to "work the room."  Then we'll gather at round tables, where at each table a leader of our community will talk about how he or she survived/thrived thru a career transition. Among the scheduled speakers are:

• John Tredennick, who was a litigator partner at Holland & Hart when he spun off Catalyst Respository Systems.
• Tom Collins, former owner of Juris Inc., who survived cancer and now is a murder mystery novelist!
• J. Craig Williams, who shuttered his small firm and joined Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold.
• Mary Mack, renowned counsel at Fios Inc.
• Brad Blickstein, who opened his own consultancy to help businesses serve corporate legal departments, after working in magazine publishing.
• Babs Deacon, who was one of the SPi folks who lost jobs last winter, who is the new director of consulting at Integreon, based in New York.
• Mark Reichenbach, who just joined Capital Legal Solutions after losing his gig at i365.
• John Lipsey, who left law practice to work for legal technology vendors, and now works for Martindale Hubbell Connected. 

The event is FREE -- and all attendees will be invited to stick around and visit our exhibit hall and the Day 2 Keynote Address (immediately following the breakfast) on us.

Job seekers will be encouraged to post their resumes on lawjobs.com, and all firms/vendors who attend will get free access to lawjobs.com (for a limited period, of course).

Again, just a simple concept:  let's provide an hour of inspiration, nurturing, contacts, and networking. 

Please come, whether you need a job, or just want to offer encouragement. And if you are coming to show support, please bring along a gift card (you can pick them up at most supermarkets or drug stores), so we can give a day brightener "party favor" to each job seeker. It can be just a few dollars (or more if you can tithe a bit more generously) -- to a national "chain" such as Starbucks, Target, Macy's, Chevron, Von's, movies, SuperCuts -- you get the picture. Something practical and upbeat that will lift spirits!

(If you can't attend and want to send a gift card, mail them to us c/o Law Technology News, 120 Broadway, 5th floor, NYC 10271.)

Job seekers: Come for warmth, support and new contacts! If you e-mail us at lawtech@incisivemedia.com, we'll have a badge ready for you (and that will help us make sure we have enough coffee and danish). But you can also just show up.

Firms/vendors: If you do have a spot open, what a better place to find great talent? And even if you don't, you might tomorrow -- so bring lots of business cards.

And as an added incentive for technology vendors: We will raffle off a wonderful lunch or dinner with moi (you can even use the word "solution" and I will promise to try not to cringe) where you can tell me about your company's plans, products and services and get a great meal on LTN!

BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!  Visit www.legaltechshow for details, or e-mail LTN at lawtech@incisivemedia.com.

LAST but not least: Please help spread the word!  Twitter this! Blog this! Reprint this post freely! Let's get viral! The permalink is http://tinyurl.com/LTWCbkf. Twitter hash: #LTWC.

Update: Great news! The Los Angeles County Bar Association (which offers career resources on its website, has joined us as a co-sponsor of the breakfast!!

April 14, 2009 in Conventions, Meetings, Live Programs, Darwin Watch, Diversity, EDD: E-Discovery, Good Works, People, Social Networking, Tech Turbulence (Economy) , Webinars, Podcasts, Programs | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

#LTNY: WHY FEB 5 IS THE DAY AFTER XMAS

Xmas Craig Ball, LTN's "Ball in Your Court" columnist, says today is "the day after Christmas," and the news of Onsite3's bankruptcy and acquisition probably won't be the last Darwin news in the next weeks.

Check it out here.

February 5, 2009 in Darwin Watch, LTNY09 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

WHAT LIES BENEATH

Ball_reduced With the news of layoffs at two EDD providers (i365/Metalincs and SPi), I thought you might want a sneak preview of Craig Ball's column "What Lies Beneath."

Ball warns us to be sure we have considered how to protect our firms and clients should a vendor evaporate.

View it here  or download it here: Download Ball_In_Your_Court

January 26, 2009 in Breaking News, Darwin Watch, EDD: E-Discovery, News & Analysis | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

LAYOFFS AT SPi

Layoff The grapevine is humming about layoffs at SPi -- and possible reorganization (jettisoning EDD work) -- but no official statements yet. Will keep you posted as we hear more.

January 26, 2009 in Darwin Watch | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

MORE ON INTERWOVEN ACQUISTION

Autonomy Corp. has reported plans to acquire Interwoven Inc. According to the company:

• Interwoven stockholders will receive $16.20 in cash for each outstanding Interwoven share, representing a premium of 36.8% to the closing share price of $11.84 on January 21, 2009, and a premium of 36.2% to the average closing share price over the 30 days through January 21, 2009.
 • Aggregate consideration of approximately $775 million (assuming exercise of all vested in-the-money Interwoven share options), funded by an underwritten placing of ordinary shares (the "Placing"), a new revolving credit facility from Barclays and a portion of Interwoven and Autonomy's cash reserves.
• Post-closing Autonomy expects to have a cash balance of at least $75 million, assuming close in Q2'09

• The acquisition is expected to complete in the second quarter of 2009

January 26, 2009 in Darwin Watch | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

AUTONOMY TO ACQUIRE INTERWOVEN

Breaking news: http://www.autonomy.com/content/News/Releases/2009/0122.en.html

January 24, 2009 in Darwin Watch | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

DARWIN SUMMARY

Fisheat Joe Howie and Michael Potters came up with this very nifty chart of key acquisitions over the last couple years for the ALSP Newsletter. Check it out.

January 14, 2009 in Darwin Watch | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

VERDICT SYSTEMS (SANCTION) SOLD

Vs Verdict Systems has been sold to Atlanta-based Alexander Gallo Holdings, reports Verdict Systems spokesperson Colleen O'Donnell Pierce.

AGH offers court reporting and litigation support services. Verdict Systems offers Sanction trial presentation software, and the more comprehensive Verdical package. The transaction includes all subsidiaries of Verdict Systems, including the service arm, Sanction Solutions.

“This acquisition fulfills one of our primary goals, which is to offer our clients a complete suite of services to handle all of their litigation needs from discovery through trial," said president/CEO Alexander Gallo.

Subsidiaries of AGH include Associated Reporters, Brown & Gallo, DepoNet, Esquire Deposition Services, Esquire Litigation Solutions, Esquire Solutions, The Hobart West Group, Hobart West Solutions, Jack Daniel Reporting & Video Services, LRI, Paulson Reporting & Litigation Services, SetDepo and Tankoos Reporting.

January 7, 2009 in Darwin Watch | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

VISTA EQUITY BUYS ADERANT

Fish Vista Equity Partners has announced it has completed its acquisition of Aderant Holdings Inc. Terms of the deal were not announced.

Michael Kohlsdorf, president and CEO: “I am fully confident that Vista will help us further energize our business, and I look forward to working with our current management team and dedicated employees to reach the next level of our company’s growth."

November 3, 2008 in Darwin Watch | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

PLAXO BOUGHT BY.... COMCAST?!

FishmoSocial networking company  Plaxo has announced plans to be acquired by... Comcast?!

wow.

May 20, 2008 in Darwin Watch, Technology | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

 
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