Ownership of Bankrupt Howrey’s Unfinished Work a D.C. Question

A federal appeals court said the District of Columbia top court should answer who owns hourly unfinished business from the bankrupt Howrey LLP, the latest development in the long-running battle over who gets to keep fees from dead law firms.

As expected in the closely watched case, the U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit asked the D.C. Court of Appeals Feb. 27 to answer how much interest the first partnership has in client matters started at one firm that later dissolves and completed at another. The Ninth Circuit also asked to what extent the new firm has to account for ...