Dentons Loses $32 Million Challenge to Swiss Law Firm Model (1)

Dentons lost its latest bid to overturn a $32.3 million legal malpractice award it must pay a former client.

The Ohio Supreme Court’s decision Tuesday could have implications for the Swiss verein law firm ownership model used by Dentons and other major firms. Swiss verien firms market services from loosely affiliated legal operations under a single brand.

The ruling treats affiliated firms as the same entity for conflict-of-interest purposes. That means firms will have to drop clients or sit out matters if there is a conflict based on work that affiliates are doing for other clients.

The high court declined ...