Much has been written on the potential impact of Black & Decker’s sale to Connecticut-based Stanley Works. The deal was announced last fall, but B&D’s shareholders just voted last week to approve it.

What I wondered, though, was how the fact that B&D is no longer headquartered here in Maryland will affect Miles & Stockbridge. B&D has historically been a major client for Baltimore-based Miles. I imagine that from the beginning of negotiations with Stanley until the sale was finalized, the firm was swimming in deal-related work. But now that the company’s gone, how much business will Miles lose?

Miles “will not be discussing this matter,” the firm’s spokeswoman told me.

Happy Monday! Enjoy these law links:

• Miles & Stockbridge keeps its associates informed about firm finances.
• Fired Public Defender Nancy Forster was “totally selfless, devoted, and delightful” when Jon Katz worked with her on an appeal, he writes.
• The Washington Post has a story this morning about an absolutely crazy lawsuit. (HT: Above the Law.)
• Remember the case where the judge referred to a drug defendant’s girlfriend as his “baby mama”? It’s heading to Wisconsin’s top court after another appellate court held that the judge’s comments could create a reasonable perception that the defendant’s sentence had something to do with race.
• What should a law professor wear on the first day of class? Readers, do you remember any profs from your own law school days who made interesting sartorial choices?

Once again, Miles & Stockbridge scored high in the American Lawyer’s survey of midlevel associate satisfaction. Last year, the firm placed second; this year, it’s fifth.

As a whole, though, associate morale nosedived this year, which is no surprise.

Current and former Miles lawyers: what is the firm doing that’s keeping its associates relatively happy?

Some more news on the big-firm salary front: the largest of the truly Maryland-headquartered firms, Miles & Stockbridge, is up to $140,000. The increase, which is as of the new year, is a $15,000 bump from last year’s rate.

That puts Miles at the same salary level as Ballard Spahr’s Baltimore’s office. Both firms are $20,000 lower than the Charm City offices of Venable and DLA Piper, two firms born here but now playing with the big boys on a national level.

Miles chairman John Frisch says the raise doesn’t come with a billable-hour requirement hike. Miles remains at 1850, lower than Piper or Venable.

CARYN TAMBER, Legal Affairs Writer