Unfinished Business Rule Answers in Howrey May Rest in D.C.

Who owns unfinished business in the bankrupt Howrey LLP is a question that may best be answered by District of Columbia courts, an appeals court and attorneys said Nov. 16.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in the closely watched case suggested it could do in the Howrey bankruptcy what it did in the Heller Ehrman LLP battle—ship it to where the partnership is incorporated (Diamond v. Hogan Lovells US, 9th Cir., No. 15-6326, oral arguments 11/16/17).

Judges asked counsel for Howrey and the eight law firms fighting the estate’s attempts ...