Res Ipsa Blog

Yesterday, in In re Babcock & Wilcox Co., the Fifth Circuit held that firms cannot bill full hourly rates for travel time when the time is not spent working. The suit arose after the New York law firm of Caplin & Drysdale sought over $5.6 million in attorney's fees and $745,000 in expenses following the firm’s role as appointed counsel in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The bankruptcy court denied 50% of the full hourly rate for travel time not spent working. This ... Read More

Catharina Haynes, a partner at Baker Botts, and a longtime insurance defense lawyer, was confirmed by the Senate for a lifetime appointment to the influential United States 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Haynes served as a state court judge, winning the 1998 and 2002 elections for the 191st District Court in Dallas. As a trial judge she presided over nearly 200 jury trials and 100 bench trials. Haynes, a graduate of Emory, also served on the Emory Law Journal. She is also ... Read More