Milberg Weiss and the two partners, David J. Bershad and Steven G. Schulman, were indicted in May on charges that included mail fraud and conspiracy. Amid its legal troubles, the firm has been trying to hold on to its lawyers. On Monday, the law firm of Epstein Becker & Green said that it had hired Arnold N. Bressler, a former managing partner and head of the corporate department at Milberg Weiss, and two other Milberg Weiss lawyers. A Web site set up to defend the firm, www.milbergweissjustice.com, contends that any payments made to the class-action plaintiffs were ''referral fees'' that are ''an entirely legal, common and efficient way of ensuring that lawyers refer cases to specialists, such as Milberg Weiss, that have the resources and experience to handle complex litigation.''...

Law Firm and 4 Figures in Payments Case Enter Pleas