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Articles by Peter Coutu
Bank of Thailand Tests Potential of a Retail CBDC, the Digital Baht
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has released a report on its Retail Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot project, conducted using Giesecke+Devrient’s (G+D) technology solution. The project tested the digital version of the Baht and its potential for financial innovation, delivering key lessons on the capabilities of a CBDC in supporting multiple online and offline […]
Peter Coutu - Business Insider
Legal reporting fellow Peter is a legal reporting fellow at Insider. He previously worked for The Virginian-Pilot, a local newspaper in coastal Virginia. Prior to working at The Virginian-Pilot, Peter wrote for Isthmus and the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism while studying at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he majored in journalism and history. Follow him on Twitter at @ByPeterCoutu, email him at pcoutu@businessinsider.com or reach him via Signal at 920-209-0623.
Its workers describe 80-hour weeks, sleeping in chairs, and snakes in the stockroom Original
Family Dollar managers told Insider they worked 80-hour weeks, slept in chairs, found snakes in stockrooms — and didn’t get overtime. The company used private arbitration to keep their claims out of public view, but Insider found them. Marianne Ayala/Insider Family Dollar workers said they put in 80-hour weeks, slept in chairs, and found snakes in stockrooms. Their complaints have been secret until now.
トップクラスの弁護士に聞く、スタートアップの創業者が犯しがちな5大法的トラブルとその回避策
Goodwin and Wilson Sonsini スタートアップ企業は、急激なスピードで成長する過程でしばしば法的な問題で世間を騒がせてきた。 ニュースの派手な見出しや裁判前手続きである｢証言録取｣でなされた衝撃的な証言とは裏腹に、創業者たちが法的問題に陥る理由は、創業初期からの単純な間違いの見落としによるものが多い。それは、創業者たちが、会社の組織体制や誰が何を担当しているかということより、自分たちのアイデアの裏にある技術や科学にばかり目が行っている時に起こりがちだ。 スタートアップ企業の顧問弁護士に話を聞くと、若い起業家が犯しがちな法的なミスのほとんどは意図しない見落としによるもので、重大なミス、複雑なミスというのはほとんどないという。テック関連の起業家たちは1990年代後半のドットコムバブル以来、同じような過ちを繰り返してきたということだ。 ｢同じような法律上のミスが1999年、2005年、2010年——そして先週起こっています｣と法律事務所グッドウィン（Goodwin）のテック企業部門のパートナー、ピーター・フスコ（Peter Fusco）は指摘する。...
Top tech lawyers reveal the biggest legal mistakes that startup founders make — and how to avoid them
In a rush to grow, startup founders often make legal mistakes without realizing it. Many entrepreneurs forget important tax or employment law considerations. Insider spoke to top tech lawyers who shared the top mistakes and how to avoid them. In the middle of growing at breakneck speed, startups have often made headlines with their legal woes.
4 legal recruiters share their predictions for 2022: In another busy year, tech practices will be especially hot
The red-hot legal market will likely continue into 2022, recruiters predict. Law firms will likely differentiate themselves through remote-work policies, they said. Along with mergers and acquisitions, recruiters expect a busy year for tech-adjacent practices. Big Law associates, overworked from an avalanche of deals, have been showered with raises and special bonuses in 2021 by firms desperate to keep them. 2022 is on track to be just as hot, according to recruiters.
Yale Law is one of the most powerful law schools in the country. Insider tracked where its graduates ended up 25 years later.
US Markets Loading... H M S Premium Yoonji Han , Jack Newsham , and Peter Coutu 2021-12-22T16:30:12Z Fr. Dominic Legge, Kimberley Harris, Hunter Biden, and Neera Tanden are all Yale Law grads. Courtesy of Fr. Dominic Legge; Lisa Berg; Paul Morigi/Getty ; Teresa Kroeger/ Getty; Yale; Taylor Tyson/Insider This story is available exclusively to Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Yale Law is the training ground for America's legal elite; four Supreme Court justices went there.
Family Dollar forced employees to sign arbitration agreements. Here's what happened when they tried to sue the company over unpaid wages.
Nearly 2,000 people brought arbitration cases against Family Dollar alleging unpaid wages. The process was opaque, and many received a payout of a few hundred dollars. In a similar case that went before a jury, workers averaged $25,000 each. Sandra Brock spent 11 years working at Family Dollar stores in Georgia and Tennessee. Despite being scheduled to work 52 hours a week, she really worked about 55 to 60, she said. "They expected you to be at work all the time," Brock told Insider.
Family Dollar workers complained of being underpaid for 80-hour workweeks, sleeping in chairs, and finding snakes in their stockrooms. Their complaints have been kept secret until now.
US Markets Loading... H M S Marianne Ayala/Insider Family Dollar managers told Insider they worked as many as 90 hours a week and didn't get overtime. They dealt with robberies, injuries, and natural disasters for annual pay under $50,000. The company used private arbitration to keep their claims hidden, but Insider found them. Loading Something is loading.
The human cost of Family Dollar's low prices: Its workers describe 80-hour weeks, sleeping in chairs, and snakes in the stockroom
Family Dollar workers said they put in 80-hour weeks, slept in chairs, and found snakes in stockrooms. Their complaints have been secret until now. During her first year as a store manager at a Family Dollar in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Aimee Hargrove had to rush her teenage son to an emergency surgery to remove his appendix. The boy spent a few days in the hospital to recover, and Hargrove hoped to spend that time with him. But she couldn't miss work.
Get Ready for 'Stealth Layoffs' at Big Law Firms As the Economy Slows
In most of corporate America, getting fired or laid off happens in a quick meeting with HR. But at Big Law firms, "managing out" is common, with lawyers quietly directed to look for work elsewhere. Firms will resort to the process in tough economic times so they can cut costs through attrition. When it came time for her January performance review, O., a senior associate at a white-shoe law firm in New York, had some idea of what would happen.
How to switch law schools, according to admissions officers and a lawyer who transferred to Harvard
Law-school reps and a young lawyer shared tips on how to transfer law schools. Grades matter, but candidates need to show why they'd stand out at a given school. Law schools typically accept transfer students in the spring. Stefan Andreev didn't think about transferring until the end of his first semester at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. He got mostly straight A's and decided to apply to a few top-tier schools, including the University of Chicago and Harvard.
In two years, US wildfires have torched nearly 20% of all giant sequoia trees
arch 09, 2014 shows a tourist posing for a photo next to the General Sherman Giant SequoiaMLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images California wildfires have killed between 13% and 19% of all giant sequoias in the last two years. The giant sequoias have long lived with fire, which has been critical in maintaining healthy forests. But a new report from the National Park Service details the toll of recent fires.
Recruiters share the best time to jump from Big Law to an in-house job — and how to be the most competitive applicant
Lawyers should think about making the switch after four to six years. In-house legal departments look for candidates who understand their business. Transactional experience is helpful, as is familiarity with labor and employment law. With the "always on" demands of working in Big Law, some young attorneys may start planning exit strategies early on in their careers. In-house legal gigs are a top alternative for junior associates. But how — and when — should they make the jump?
A former Big Law associate turned skin-care entrepreneur walked us through how he used private legal work to fund his passion
Justin Moore quit his Big Law job in 2017 to launch a skin-care business. He said he didn't draw a salary yet, but his company continues to grow. Instead, he uses contract legal work to fund his passion. When Justin Moore was working as a mergers-and-acquisitions and capital-markets associate at Vinson & Elkins, he always wanted to be on the other side of the phone leading his own company.
The 29 lawyers leading billion-dollar M&A deals for companies like JPMorgan Chase, Disney, and Microsoft
The global mergers-and-acquisitions market could hit record highs this year. The high-stakes practice area attracts some of the best attorneys in the US. Here are the 29 lawyers who are closing some of the biggest deals in the country. The global mergers-and-acquisitions market is rebounding after a pause during the pandemic and could hit record highs this year. Behind the scenes of billion-dollar deals are some of the best attorneys money can buy.
Meet the Supreme Court's new clerks, 37 millennials set to be the most powerful lawyers, judges, and politicians in the US
Behind the scenes, clerks do research and draft opinions for the Supreme Court's nine justices. Nearly one-third of this year's class graduated from Yale Law, the court's main feeder school. At least seven clerks were in the Federalist Society, reflecting the court's conservative majority. The nine justices who sit on the Supreme Court are among the most powerful legal practitioners in the US, ruling on cases that deal with the First Amendment, antitrust regulation, and the death penalty.
I took a $100,000 pay cut to be a public defender, but I work the same hours. I've never been happier.
After 18 months as a Big Law attorney, I left to be a public defender. I took a roughly $100,000 pay cut and have never been happier. Here's what it's really like to be a public defender. Like many top lawyers in the US, Adam Heyman cut his teeth in Big Law. After graduating from the University of Virginia's law school in 2003, he took a full-time job at Akin Gump, where he worked as a general corporate lawyer.
Why I quit Big Law: 4 lawyers share stories of mental and physical exhaustion — and why fat paychecks weren't enough to keep them around
The market for lawyers is red-hot, with firms offering raises and other benefits to attract talent. But as always, associates are still leaving Big Law for business, the government, and nonprofits. Four former Big Law associates told Insider why they made the jump. Big Law has long been notorious for grinding 80-hour workweeks and difficult work-life balance.
A 12-hour workday in the life of a Chicago public defender trying to keep kids out from behind bars
Amber Miller is a juvenile public defender supervisor in Chicago. She tries to get kids help and spends time in court to get minors out of custody. She walked Insider through a typical 12-hour workday following a 5:15 am wakeup. Amber Miller spends her days trying to get Chicago kids help and keep them out from behind bars.
Hiring partners share how young lawyers can land a job Paul Weiss, one of the country's top law firms
Paul Weiss is the 20th-highest-grossing law firm and represents some of the US's biggest companies. Two of the firm's hiring partners shared how to land a summer associate job. Candidates should show they're a team player and be focused on clients. Paul Weiss is one of the most well-known Big Law firms in the United States, with litigation and corporate teams that have represented clients like Apple and Apollo Global Management.
How to land a job at Cooley, one of Silicon Valley's top law firms, according to its lead recruiter
Cooley is the 19th highest grossing law firm and a go-to for big tech companies. Cooley's recruiting director and a top partner shared how to get hired at the Big Law firm. They said candidates should learn about "Cooley culture" and be ready to ask questions. Cooley, one of Silicon Valley's top law firms, wants potential summer associates to be excited about the firm.
Here's a breakdown of what entry-level prosecutors get paid across the US, from $50,000 in Miami to $127,518 in San Jose
US Markets Loading... H M S Premium In New York, assistant district attorneys make about $70,000 fresh out of law school. That's roughly $50,000 less than their counterparts in the San Francisco Bay Area. Chris Ryan/Getty Images This story is available exclusively to Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. BigLaw Investor compiled a first-of-its kind database of prosecutor salaries. In Miami, entry-level lawyers in the district attorney's office make $50,000.
How to land a job at Gibson Dunn, according to two partners leading the law firm's recruiting and hiring efforts
Perlette Michèle Jura and Dhananjay Manthripragada Gibson Dunn This story is available exclusively to Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Gibson Dunn is one of the nation's most prestigious law firms. For summer associates, the firm is looking for students who are collaborative and passionate. Here's how to nail the interview and application process. See more stories on Insider's business page.
How to get accepted into the elite Skadden public-interest fellowship, according to two people reviewing applications
Skadden fellowships provide young lawyers with two paid years of public-interest work. Insider spoke with Skadden lawyers who help pick would-be fellows. They shared tips for nailing the interview and standing out in a competitive applicant pool. The prestigious Skadden fellowship is likely a dream job for many law students who have their hearts set on doing good. The two-year paid public-interest fellowship was launched in 1988 with the goal of improving legal services for low-income people.
How to Quit Big Law and Start Your Own Firm, From a Lawyer Who Did It
After 12 years at Skadden, Warren T. Allen II quit his Big Law job to go off alone. His wife designed his website, and he saved up 18 months of expenses before starting. This is how he launched his own firm, as told to Insider. To demystify how to leave a Big Law job to launch your own firm, Insider spoke with Warren T. Allen II, a former Skadden lawyer who recently launched his own practice with another attorney. The following is how he did it, as told to Insider and edited for length and clarity.
How to leave Big Law and start your own legal practice, according to lawyers who made the leap
Giving up a Big Law salary and bonuses can be daunting when starting a new firm. Success doesn't come overnight, and business acumen is a must. Insider spoke with seven lawyers to learn how they launched their own firm. Giving up a steady Big Law paycheck to venture off alone can seem like a daunting task, especially for young attorneys with clients who may not follow them to their next venture.
Elite law firms have defended fossil fuel companies in hundreds of lawsuits. These 5 lawyers led the way.
States and municipalities are suing big fossil-fuel companies for climate-crisis damages. Some of the US's most prestigious law firms are defending the companies in court. Insider has identified the top five lawyers backing the oil companies in this fight. The world's largest fossil-fuel companies, including Exxon Mobil and Chevron, are facing a spate of lawsuits brought by US states and municipalities looking to hold them financially accountable for the effects of the climate crisis.
How a lawyer who went to prison for 9/11-related fraud got his law license back and became an ordained minister along the way Original
After nearly two decades without practicing, Jeff Grant got his law license back this May. He served over a year in prison for lying about office space to get federal relief money after 9/11. He then went to seminary and opened a ministry serving white-collar defendants. Jeff Grant started his law career the way many young lawyers would dream of starting.
Meet the 9 top lawyers suing governments and energy companies like Exxon over the climate crisis
States and local communities are increasingly suing energy companies for climate-crisis damages. The number of climate-crisis cases in the US has grown from 654 in 2017 to 1,200 in 2020. Insider identified nine lawyers who are at the forefront of this fight. From coastal cities preparing for sea-level rise to mountain counties in Colorado, states and municipalities are suing big fossil-fuel-energy companies as they brace for the multibillion-dollar costs tied to the climate crisis.
With new funding pouring in, Virginia flood program readies for first round of projects
The Virginian-Pilot | Jul 03, 2021 at 7:59 AM People attempt to push a disabled car from a flooded street near the intersection of Settlers Landing Road and LaSalle Avenue in Hampton last November. (Jonathon Gruenke/Daily Press) With tens of millions of dollars now pouring in, a new statewide program will soon greenlight flood-control projects that would help communities from coastal Virginia to the rural Shenandoah Valley.
Chesapeake Bay improves slightly to C grade in 2020 report card
The Virginian-Pilot | Jun 22, 2021 at 5:05 PM Watermen dredge for oysters on the Chesapeake Bay in southern Maryland on Nov. 19, 2019. The health of the Chesapeake Bay is getting a better grade in an annual environmental report card. (Brian Witte/AP) The health of the Chesapeake Bay ticked up slightly to a C grade in 2020, up from a C-minus the year before, according to an annual report card released Tuesday.
Virginia Beach officer said nothing to Donovon Lynch before shooting and killing him, witness says
The Virginian-Pilot | Jun 21, 2021 at 11:02 AM Darrion Marsh visits the memorial erected to honor his friend Donovon Lynch on Friday, May 7, 2021. Marsh witnessed Lynch being fatally shot by a Virginia Beach police officer. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot) Donovon Lynch and Darrion Marsh were as close as brothers, but stood out because of their differences. Lynch, at 6-foot-5 and every bit of 305 lbs, towered over Marsh, who is slim and about 11 inches shorter.
Two people dead, another injured after separate shootings in Hampton, police say
Two people were killed and another was injured in separate shootings overnight in Hampton, police said. On the 700 block of Homestead Avenue, near the West Hampton neighborhood, a 41-year-old man was shot and killed at about midnight, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Another victim, a 40-year-old man, was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot injures.
Claudette expected to hit North Carolina late Sunday and Monday; could strengthen to tropical storm
A tropical storm warning has been issued for much of the North Carolina coast as Claudette continues its march across the southeast. Tropical Depression Claudette, which is expected to re-intensify into a tropical storm, could bring heavy rain, strong wind gusts and localized flooding to the North Carolina coast late Sunday night and into Monday, the National Hurricane Center said Sunday. Some of the coast could see between two and four inches of rain.
Family of 25-year-old fatally shot by Virginia Beach officers discuss police reform at NSU
The Virginian-Pilot | Jun 17, 2021 at 5:57 PM Wayne Lynch shows off his son Donovon's championship ring during the Re-Imagine America symposium organized by the Donovon Wayne Lynch Foundation for Social and Economic Justice, in collaboration with Norfolk State University Center for African American Public Policy, on Thursday, June 17, 2021. (Stephen M.
Virginia Beach mass shooting gunman was ‘motivated by perceived workplace grievances,’ FBI says
VIRGINIA BEACH — The longtime city engineer who shot and killed 12 people before being fatally wounded by police was “motivated by perceived workplace grievances, which he fixated on for years,“ according to a report from the FBI released Wednesday. It was the first time a government agency has identified a motive for why DeWayne Craddock, 40, opened fire on his coworkers at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center in 2019 after roughly nine years on the job.
Anne Ferrell Tata wins Republican nomination for 82nd district
By about a 20-point margin, well-connected Anne Ferrell Tata beat out a former Navy pilot for the Republican nomination for Virginia’s 82nd district, local party officials said Saturday. Tata, who works in Christian media, is the daughter-in-law to Bob Tata, who represented Virginia Beach’s 85th district in the House of Delegates for 30 years.
Roughly 62% of likely voters consider flooding a serious threat to Virginia’s economy, poll shows
The Virginian-Pilot | May 07, 2021 at 10:00 AM Kids ride their bikes through flood waters following a rainstorm in Norfolk on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. (Kristen Zeis/The Virginian-Pilot) A majority of likely voters view flooding and climate change as serious threats to Virginia and its economy — and want the state to do more to combat the issues, a new poll shows.
Andrew Brown shot in the back of the head and right arm by sheriff’s deputies, private autopsy shows
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — The gunshot that killed Andrew Brown hit him in the back of his head, penetrating his brain, according to a private autopsy conducted by his family. Brown, who was fatally wounded April 21 by Pasquotank County sheriff’s deputies, also had four wounds to his right arm, two of which were graze wounds, his attorneys reported at a press conference Tuesday.
Police footage of Andrew Brown shooting won’t immediately be released to the public, judge rules
A Pasquotank County, North Carolina, judge decided Wednesday not to release the bodycam videos of Andrew Brown’s shooting by deputies, but left the door open for the footage to be released after the state’s investigation into the fatal incident. Superior Court Judge Jeff Foster did, however, order the release of four bodycam videos to Andrew Brown’s son and to one attorney within the next 10 days. Brown, 42, was shot and killed by Pasquotank County sheriff’s deputies in Elizabeth City on April 21.
Andrew Brown shot in the back of the head by sheriff’s deputy, autopsy shows
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — The gunshot that killed Andrew Brown hit him in the back of his head, penetrating his brain, according to a private autopsy conducted by his family. Brown, who was fatally wounded April 21 by Pasquotank County sheriff’s deputies, also had four wounds to his right arm, two of which were graze wounds, his attorneys reported at a news conference Tuesday.
Andrew Brown shot in the back of the head by sheriff’s deputy, private autopsy shows
NATION Jeff Hampton and Peter Coutu, The Virginian-Pilot (TNS) Posted 4/27/21 The gunshot that killed Andrew Brown hit him in the back of his head, penetrating his brain, according to a private autopsy conducted by his family. Brown, who was … Sign up to keep reading — IT'S FREE! In an effort to improve our website and enhance our local coverage, HillCountryNews.com has switched to a membership model. Fill out the form below to create a free account.
Andrew Brown shot in the back of the head by sheriff’s deputy, private autopsy shows
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — The gunshot that killed Andrew Brown hit him in the back of his head, penetrating his brain, according to a private autopsy conducted by his family. Brown, who was fatally wounded April 21 by Pasquotank County sheriff’s deputies, also had four wounds to his right arm, two of which were graze wounds, his attorneys reported at a news conference Tuesday.
FBI launches federal civil rights investigation into sheriff’s office shooting of Andrew Brown
CHARLOTTE — The FBI announced Tuesday that it has launched a federal civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Andrew Brown by Pasquotank County deputies. Brown was shot several times by deputies on April 21, including in the back of the head, his family’s attorneys announced at a press conference Tuesday.
County officials in NC show only 20 seconds of body cam video of Andrew Brown shooting
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Attorneys of Andrew Brown Jr.’s family said Monday afternoon that the Pasquotank County authorities only showed them 20 seconds of the redacted body cam video of Brown’s fatal shooting by sheriff’s office deputies. The family’s attorneys expressed disappointment in what the county authorities showed them Monday, describing the video as a “snippet” and saying it was heavily redacted. “We do not feel we got transparency,” said Ben Crump, one of the family’s attorneys.
NC city declares state of emergency before bodycam footage of Andrew Brown's shooting is released
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Elizabeth City declared a state of emergency Monday, ahead of the anticipated release of body camera footage in the fatal shooting of Andrew Brown. One or more Pasquotank County sheriff’s deputies shot and killed Brown, 42, last week while executing search and arrest warrants. Neighbors reported hearing multiple shots fired, and one eyewitness said Brown was shot as he tried to drive away. Protesters have since called for officers’ body camera footage to be released.
Wayne Lynch dedicated his life to stopping violence in his community. Then his son was killed by police.
The Virginian-Pilot | Apr 18, 2021 at 11:03 AM Wayne Lynch listens as family speaks about the life of his son, Donovon Lynch, on Friday, April 16, 2021, in Nags Head, N.C. Donovon Lynch was shot and killed by a Virginia Beach police officer on Friday, March 26, 2021, at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. (Kaitlin McKeown/Virginia Media) NAGS HEAD — For the past couple of decades, Wayne Lynch has worked with at-risk children in Hampton Roads, trying to help them excel.
Father of Donovon Lynch, 25-year-old killed by police, hammers police over moving son’s body
The Virginian-Pilot | Apr 14, 2021 at 5:24 PM Wayne Lynch, father of Donovon Lynch, speaks into a megaphone during a vigil held for Donovon Lynch on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Lynch was shot and killed by a Virginia Beach police officer March 26 at the Oceanfront. (Jonathon Gruenke/Daily Press) The family of Donovon Lynch, the 25-year-old fatally shot by police on March 26, responded sharply Wednesday to the city’s acknowledgment that Lynch was moved by first responders after he was shot.
Gov. Northam announces state investigation into treatment of Army lieutenant by two Windsor police officers
Ralph Northam is considering signing a bill that would set up a retirement savings plan for private-sector workers whose employers don’ t give them one. (L. Todd Spencer/The Virginian-Pilot/The Virginian-Pilot/TNS) Gov. Ralph Northam on Sunday announced that he directed state police to investigate the arrest of a Black Army second lieutenant by two Windsor police officers, during which they threatened and assaulted the man, according to a video of the incident.
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