Dentons Loses Appeal to Annul $32 Million Malpractice Award (1)

Dentons lost its appeal Thursday of a $32.3 million jury award in a case that tests whether firms using a Swiss verein model must do conflicts checks with all affiliates in their networks before deciding to take on a client.

“Dentons US’ protestations to the contrary, the overwhelming evidence suggests the Dentons verein operated as a single firm,” a three-judge panel with Ohio’s Eighth District Court of Appeals in Cleveland found.

Swiss verien firms risk losing business if they’re required to disclose conflicts related to affiliates’ work. Existing clients may balk at other representations, and potential clients could decide ...