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The article discusses financially-troubled law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, with a particular emphasis on the large, guaranteed pay packages Dewey used to attract legal talent, and which have contributed to its indebtedness. Dewey, which may declare bankruptcy, is in merger talks with law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP. Former Dewey chairman Steven Davis is being investigated by the district attorney's office of Manhattan, New York City.

The article discusses a contest at a comedy club in New York City aimed at finding the funniest compliance officer in the U.S. Michael L. Shaw of drug company GlaxoSmithKline PLC won the event with his five-minute stand-up presentation. A description of the event is given, along with instances of alleged humor.

The article discusses developments in the case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who quit his job as head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after being arrested in New York City on charges of sexual assault. He will be released from prison and subject to 24-hour confinement in a New York apartment rented by his wife. French finance minister Christine Lagarde is a top candidate to replace Strauss-Kahn at the IMF.

An obituary for Judith Kaye, the first woman to serve as New York's chief judge, is presented.

The article focuses on the dissolution of a proposed 2007 merger between the New York law firm of Dewey Ballantine LLP and the California law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. A discussion of the factors which led to the dissolution including concerns over money, corporate power and prestige, is presented.

The article reports that the New York law firms Simpson Thacher and Bartlett LLP, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton LLP will raise year-end bonuses for their associate lawyers.

The article reports that New York state has reached a civil agreement with nonpracticing entity MPHJ Technology Investments LLC to ban it from attempting to have business enterprises in the state pay for patent licenses.

The article presents law-related news briefs as of January 6, 2014 on topics including U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf's decision to quit blogging, concerns about the implementation of New York's SAFE Act gun control law, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

The article reports that U.S. federal judge Lewis Kaplan dismissed a suit filed by law firm Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices LLC that sought to challenge a New York state rule barring non-attorneys from buying ownership stakes in law practices.

The article comments on the value of the settlement of the case between radio broadcaster Sirius XM Radio and its subscribers approved by a federal judge in New York state in October 2011.

The article reports on the conflict of the Marriage Equality Act, which legalized gay marriage in New York State, with other state laws and federal laws which banned same-sex unions.

The article reports on a lawsuit filed by actress Lindsay Lohan in a state court in Mineola, New York on March 8, 2010 against E*Trade Financial Corp. for allegedly misusing her name and personality in a television (TV) commercial.

The article reports that New York City restaurant Commerce has decided to adopt a card-only policy. According to co-owner Tony Zazula, customers can use a debit card if they do not have a credit card. The restaurant received several criticisms for its policy. Zazula cites convenience and security as two key advantages of going cashless. Robert Hammer of R. K. Hammer expects other high-end restaurants to adopt the same policy.

The article reports that the New York law firm Dreier LLP is in danger of collapsing after the arrest of its founder Marc Dreier in Canada for allegedly impersonating another person to complete a business transaction. According to Dreier's attorney Edward Greenspan, Dreier will not plead guilty to the charges in Canada. Several partners claim they have doubts that Dreier LLP will survive but it is still possible the firm could recover.

The article reports that Carlos Spinelli-Noseda, a lawyer at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, was disbarred after admitting to misappropriating over $500,000 from the firm and its clients. An affidavit was filed by the lawyer with a New York state disciplinary committee to request his resignation from the state bar. It says that Spinelli-Noseda confessed to improperly billing for personal meals, travel and lodging.

The article reports that on March 6, 2014 officials from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and the district attorney's office of Manhattan, New York City are expected to announce criminal charges against three former executives of defunct law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP.

The article states that New York City law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP told several associate attorneys that they were being relieved of their positions in mid-May 2012.