Google is reportedly working to make its settlement with book publishers more palatable to the court, but even if the deal goes through, consumers are likely a long way from getting out-of-print "orphaned" books onto their e-readers.

The settlement, in its current state, would allow Google to make large passages of these books, which are in copyright but whose authors can't be found, searchable on the Web. The government and other parties have raised privacy concerns, worrying about Google's observation of what people read. (And not all authors and publishers are satisfied, although their associations signed on to the deal.)

But what really has Amazon, Microsoft and other competitors in a tizzy is the part of the settlement that lets Google sell online access and subscriptions to orphaned books. As the e-reader market heats up, Amazon argues, the Google book settlement would create "a cartel of authors and publishers" who could set pricing and availability without restrictions.

These opponents would have a harder time setting up their own market of orphaned materials because they'd have to create an agreement with publishers and authors from scratch, instead of making a settlement in court.

Manchester-based law firm HL Interactive has announced Chris McSpirit as its operations and finance director. McSpirit was formerly finance director at insurance litigation specialists Keoghs.

“This is a great time for Chris to join the team”, said CEO Matt Wightman. “His in-depth understanding of our market and successful track record for driving performance is ideally suited to the role”.

McSpirit joins a new executive team that includes former RBS Retail MD Mike Hutchins as chairman, which has been put together following Wightman’s MBO of the firm in May last year.

Dave Frohnmayer, retired president of the University of Oregon, has become "of counsel" to the law firm of Harrang Long Gary Rudnick, which has offices in Salem, Eugene and Portland.

In his role "of counsel," the 69-year-old Frohnmayer will take on special assignments but will not be a partner.

A former legislator, Frohnmayer retired June 30 after 15 years as university president, and had also been a professor and dean of the law school.

Frohnmayer is on a sabbatical from the university, but will continue to teach a freshman honors course in leadership.

Law firm Hill Dickinson has launched a new fixed-cost service for SMEs to help them keep employment contracts up-to-date.

The Employment Contracts Diagnostic Toolkit has been created to review companies’ contracts and prepare a clear report, which identifies any areas of legal non-compliance, commercial weaknesses and other legal risks.

“British employment laws are notoriously strict and change on a regular basis,” said Will Clayton, an empployment partner at Hill Dickinson. “As a result, any errors or weaknesses within contracts of employment can not only create misunderstandings and loss of productivity, but can also increase the likelihood of disputes and legal claims.

In recent years, law firms have lost market share advising employers on employment law by a number of firms such as Salford-based Employment Law Advisory Services and Peninsula Business Services – both of which charge companies a subscription fee based on updating firms on employment and health & safety law as well as providing insurance against legal costs if a business does find itself brought before an employment tribunal.

However, Clayton said that it encouraged clients “to do more than merely comply with their minimum legal obligations by using their contracts with employees as a business tool to protect their commercial interests, improve labour relations and encourage employees to perform at their best”.

“We believe this service is unique in its offer and is one of several products that will be developed to support our client base.”

Whiteman Osterman and Hanna LLP, the Capital Region's largest law firm, has announced that John Alsina of Saranac Lake, will be joining the firm.

Alsina's practice will focus on European and Canadian clients with business interests in New York, and on issues involving technology development and application. Mr. Alsina has been Of Counsel to Weissberg, Gaetjens, Zeigenfeuter and Associates, a law firm in Paris, France, where he will continue to act as a consultant on specific matters. Previously, Mr. Alsina held positions at Telecordia and Bellcore, where he was involved with telecommunications technology and software, and at Viacom, where he advised on technology strategies and intellectual property protection.

Alsina graduated with a B.A. degree from Columbia University. He obtained his M.B.A. degree from the University of Chicago and his Juris Doctorate from Cornell University. Mr. Alsina will maintain an office in Whiteman Osterman & Hanna's Albany and Plattsburgh offices.

State police say a secretary has been charged in connection with the theft of more than $700,000 from the Hudson Valley law firm where she worked.

Troopers say 43-year-old Mary Merten of New Paltz was charged Wednesday with grand larceny, forgery, falsifying business records and possession of a forged instrument.

The arrest follows a five-month investigation into an embezzlement scheme at a local attorneys office where Merten worked as a legal secretary and bookkeeper.

Investigators say more than $700,000 was stolen from corporate and personal accounts associated with the firm. The law firm's name wasn't released.

Merten was being held Thursday in Ulster County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail. It couldn't be immediately determined if she had a lawyer.

Thelen LLP, a U.S. law firm that once had more than 600 lawyers, said it filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation after Citigroup Inc (C.N), a large creditor, cut off needed funding.

The 85-year-old firm said Citigroup "is no longer willing to advance funds for the cost of collection and (to) wind down operations," or to fund the costs of a Chapter 11 proceeding, according to a filing on Thursday with the U.S. bankruptcy court in Manhattan."

Thelen also said its estimated assets "will be insufficient to result in any meaningful payment" to unsecured creditors, in light of Citigroup's $7.2 million secured loan.

A Citigroup spokeswoman declined to comment.

According to its bankruptcy petition, also filed on Thursday, Thelen has between $10 million and $50 million of assets, and between $50 million and $100 million of liabilities.

Thelen shut down in late 2008 after the recession hurt revenue, many partners departed, and efforts to merge with another firm fell apart.

The San Francisco-based firm had reached its maximum size following a 2006 merger with New York's Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner LLP. Thelen said its largest remaining creditors are in New York.

A debtor can liquidate under either Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy code. A Chapter 11 liquidation can make more economic sense for a debtor and give creditors more of a say in how proceeds are distributed.