Briefly

* Comverse Technology Inc.’s former general counsel, William Sorin, pleaded guilty Thursday to taking part in a stock-option backdating scheme that also led to charges against the company’s fugitive chief executive, Jacob Alexander. “I deeply regret my conduct,” Sorin, 57, said in federal court in Brooklyn. His plea had been expected.

* Former Valencia attorneys Martin Arnoldini and Jerrold Boshma were sentenced in federal court in Salt Lake City to 53 months in prison for selling fraudulent “trust” schemes designed to evade income taxes.

* Financial risk management firm RiskMetrics Group said it would buy Institutional Shareholder Services Inc., which advises big investors on how to vote on corporate governance issues.