Winston & Strawn LLP to represent Chapterhouse Studios LLC vs Games Workshop

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**Empchild**

@Nkelch: I am not a lawyer, but I use mine a lot and they tell me they are required to do so many pro-bono hours a year.

**Manchu**

It is strongly encouraged but not really required.

**nkelsch**

Empchild wrote:@Nkelch: I am not a lawyer, but I use mine a lot and they tell me they are required to do so many pro-bono hours a year.

Oh, I know most law firms require it and many firms use Pro Bono as a way fo giving inexperienced lawyers experience on larger and different cases as well as advertisement for the firm to say they do 'good things'. It is funny but charitable pro bono work increases profits for a lawfirm, studies have shown the charity work generates more business! Lots of good reasons for pro bono work to exist.

They appear to have a pretty substantial judging process for pro bono cases and this one just doesn't seem to measure up to the types of cases a law firm (especially this one) would take on, and arguably there are much more deserving causes for the public good and chapterhouse is a 'for profit commercial company'.

But if Chapterhouse found someone who is using his pro bono hours for his case, good for him. He should consider himself lucky and let his lawyer handle instead of posting things...

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

The very best of luck to you and your legal team Nick.

Hope they can get you a favourable outcome.

**aka_mythos**

nkelsch wrote:Seems 'odd' to me that a law firm with such a 'pro bono' policy would choose to take on a case for a 'for profit commercial business' when there are no end to legitimate people who would need free legal representation. I would hardly consider a civil dispute between two commercial for-profit companies 'for the public good'.

They probably see it as in the "public good" to keep a company that is overreaching and trying to litigate through attrition a company that is less than 1% its size; they also would want to keep in check any potential expansion of IP rights that encroach on everyone's fair use.

**malfred**

I never thought of that before. Pro bono = practice.

Nice!

**carmachu**

Chapterhouse wrote:My company, Chapterhouse Studios LLC, has been very fortunate to locate pro-bono council with the help and tips of a few of our customers. Those customers have intensive legal background as well as leads that helped us find a firm that believes in our case enough to support us.

Thanks to some friends good advice and experience we have a legal agreement for Winston & Strawn LLP - http://winstonandstrawn.com/ to represent us in our case.

I consider myself very lucky to have three attorneys from the firm willing to be our representatives during the case and any other negotiations with Games Workshop. The lead on the case Jennifer Golinveaux has some major experience behind her, and I am confident that with her teams' help we will come out of this experience in great shape.

For everyone who has given their support, I really do appreciate it. I will do my best to let everyone know what happens (as much as is ok with the attorneys).

For those who swore up and down that GW was going to shut us down, bury us in legal fees and we had no chance to win since we were obviously in the wrong... I think the attorneys thought this was a slam-dunk case for Games Workshop and we had no legal ground to stand on that there would be little chance for us to find such an outstanding firm to help us.

Sincerely,
Nick Villacci
Chapterhouse Studios LLC

Thats awesome. And as another poster said- do the thing your lawyer will tell you:

Stop talking now. Anything you say can and will be used against you.

**Manchu**

malfred wrote:. Pro bono = practice.

Ugh, ask ChapterHouse Studios (or any client) what they think of that equation . . . No attorney should stand in front of a court on a pro bono case thinking "well, this is just for practice."

**legionaires**

Good luck, it will be interesting to watch this one.

**Buzzsaw**

malfred wrote:I never thought of that before. Pro bono = practice.

Nice!

While that is one way to look at it, let's also remember that all attorneys representing clients (even when the representation is pro bono) are bound by standards of ethics regarding obligations to their client. Let's all try and keep that in mind if the urge to speculate about the quality of representation.

Ugh, I'm defending fellow attorneys... I feel a sudden urge to drink. Heavily.

**AgeOfEgos**

malfred wrote:I never thought of that before. Pro bono = practice.

Nice!

Sounds like a nice pick up line too. Of course, I'll have to make sure I slur my speech as I say and spill my drink on her dress.

On topic, looks like you got a heavy hitter Nick. Did they give you any idea on time frame (That you can speak to)?

**Manchu**

Buzzsaw wrote:Ugh, I'm defending fellow attorneys... I feel a sudden urge to drink. Heavily.

Lol, beat you to it.

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

Go easy on Malfred
I thought Pro Bono was being in favour of the U2 lead vocalist.

**nkelsch**

I wasn't trying to insult Pro Bono work as a whole as inferior, but it is used as a tool to generate business and train legal professionals as well as provide legal representation to those who cannot afford it.

Here is a good article:
http://news.probono.net/e_article001286827.cfm?x=b11,0,w

They basically tell people 'out of work? new to the legal game? do pro bono work to build your resume!' they also say "Pro bono is essential for junior associates to access the foundational skills of the legal practice by gaining hands-on experience."

Yeah, junor lawyers practicing with your case. But when your options are 'this guy' or 'nobody', sometimes guy padding his resume with courtroom experience pro bono is better than nothing.

(not saying Winston & Strawn LLP is doing any of this and I am not trying to say Winston & Strawn LLP's pro bono work is inferior or unqualified... Just discussing the concept of pro bono in general)

**Pyriel-**

Thanks for all the moral support and well-wishes for Chapterhouse guys.
Its really appreciated and a nice word or two helps out when the going gets tough.

Awesome! I'll be putting in an order for a couple things in a couple weeks, once this check clears... buts I'd buy a lot more if you released the TS marines kit...

lol
They are coming, just give me a time machine

Thanks again

**Snord**

Chapterhouse wrote:Actually, I did ask them if this was ok, and they said it was, I was concerned about showing our hand with out "pro-bono" defense among other things.

You guys are wayyyy too paranoid sometimes!

The fact that you've been sued would suggest that you weren't paranoid enough...certainly in jurisdictions like the UK and Australia, HBMC's advice would be very sensible.

I have suggested to the mods that this isn't really something that should be being discussed on Dakka. Obviously it's their call, but I question how it's appropriate for Dakka to be a platform for Chapterhouse (or GW, for that matter, although that's clearly unlikely) to make public statements on a dispute that's now in litigation.

**TBD**

I heard GW will be represented by OJ's legal team

**chaplaingrabthar**

TBD wrote:I heard GW will be represented by OJ's legal team

I thought the main guy had died.

**Darth Bob**

I hope you guys win this suit. GW has been going way to hard with the C&D's, in my opinion, and I commend Chapterhouse for finally taking a stand.

**warboss**

nkelsch wrote:Yeah, junor lawyers practicing with your case. But when your options are 'this guy' or 'nobody', sometimes guy padding his resume with courtroom experience pro bono is better than nothing.

(not saying Winston & Strawn LLP is doing any of this and I am not trying to say Winston & Strawn LLP's pro bono work is inferior or unqualified... Just discussing the concept of pro bono in general)

if your pro bono lasts more than four hours, please call your doctor immediately... lol, your post has more disclaimers than a prescription drug commercial!

**Kanluwen**

Darth Bob wrote:I hope you guys win this suit. GW has been going way to hard with the C&D's, in my opinion, and I commend Chapterhouse for finally taking a stand.

This is a statement I will never understand.

How is a Cease and Desist "too hard"?

It's a warning.
They're basically saying "Knock off what you're doing, or we're coming after you full-on".

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

They're basically saying "Knock off what you're doing, or we're coming after you full-on".

ie be a good little doggie, roll over and play dead.
Don't defend yourselves or bother getting legal representation.
or are we playing Monopoly?

**Acardia**

personally I want to see if their products fit what's known as the after sale market, and if they do, I want to have all sorts of custom bits made. I wish they could strike a deal to make all sorts of custom bits with profit share, versus this all or nothing drama.

**Kanluwen**

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:
They're basically saying "Knock off what you're doing, or we're coming after you full-on".

ie be a good little doggie, roll over and play dead.
Don't defend yourselves or bother getting legal representation.

Or "We know that you were fething the pooch, stop now and you won't get the book thrown at you."

There's really not much else that can be done "officially" other than a C&D.

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

Until the courts have decided, afaik, it would be presumptuous to say that. You are making pre-judiced assumptions based on loyalty to GW.
It is also getting into the legalities of the case which is not the point of this thread.

**Kanluwen**

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:Until the courts have decided, afaik, it would be presumptuous to say that. You are making prejudiced assumptions based on loyalty to GW.

Not really. To use the ever-so-popularly flawed "aftermarket car parts" example: The aftermarket parts industry thrives, for the most part, by being "generic".

And, y'know, because no one company produces everything involved in producing a car. Tires, brakes, wipers, headlights, etc all come from outside manufacturers to begin with.

That's not the case with GW.
And before the inevitable "So they have a monopoly!" comments, no they do not. It's nothing like a monopoly when you're producing a product that is singularly yours to produce. You don't hear complaints about Sony being unable to market their own Xbox 360s, do you?

It is also getting into the legalities of the case which is not the point of this thread.

Then what's the point of this thread?
To have a "Rah rah Chapterhouse! Boo hiss GW!" thread, again? We've got one of those threads going on in Dakka Discussions.

**Manchu**

Kanluwen wrote:Then what's the point of this thread?

The point is to discuss the news of CH obtaining legal counsel. You can take the tomfoolery elsewhere, preferably Dakka Discussions. If you want to say "hope you lose" on the way out, fine. Just make sure it's a bit more gentlemanly than that.

There are already some ground rules for this thread. I'd appreciate if you would follow them.

**TheSecretSquig**

Go Team!

I hope it turns out well for CH. GW are playing the Microsoft of Wargaming companies. CH cannot harm GW sales, in fact, the opposite, its just GW trying to flex their power.

Remember, there is no such thing as bad PR.

**jp400**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
Chapterhouse wrote:For those who swore up and down that GW was going to shut us down, bury us in legal fees and we had no chance to win since we were obviously in the wrong... I think the attorneys thought this was a slam-dunk case for Games Workshop and we had no legal ground to stand on that there would be little chance for us to find such an outstanding firm to help us.

That's fantastic. Now stop talking. The worst thing you can do now is to run around the various big GW sites mouthing off. Any lawyer worth their salt should be telling you to keep your trap shut and let all official statements come from them, and not from you.

+...5 (Think it's up to that now)

Still don't think you are going to win.

My 2 cents.

**blackclaw1**

Good luck guys , genuinely i hope you win or pull through for the better.

'claw