Amid a landscape of high-profile legal hearings, a seemingly improprietous trend appears to be emerging among conservative court justices, raising eyebrows within the legal fraternity. The issue at hand – Justices, not limited to those within the Supreme Court, receiving complimentary vacation packages. This alarming practice begs the question – what sacrifices to objectivity and…
Smart & Biggar, Canada’s largest intellectual property law boutique, is set to expand its operations through a merger with Ridout & Maybee, another reputable Canadian IP firm. Both firms come with a rich history that extends back to the 1890s. The merger will unfold under the well-established Smart & Biggar brand, which since a year…
The significance of technology in managing human relations in the workplace is undeniable and predicted to continue its exponential growth. This leads to two critical points of discussion, The magnitude of this expanding role of technology The impact it has on the real-time interaction and progression of employees In striving to answer these questions and…
Following a recent indictment in Georgia related to major interference in the 2020 election, several noteworthy motions have been filed. Among them is an attempt by defendant Mark Meadows, former White House Chief of Staff, to transfer his state criminal charges to federal court. This move came less than 24 hours after the indictment and…
As part of the ongoing developments in the investigation into Donald Trump’s activities surrounding the Georgia election case, the Fulton Country District Attorney, Fani Willis, has imposed certain conditions on Trump as the case progresses. These conditions were laid out in a bond agreement, signed by Trump’s legal representatives. In addition to a $200,000 bond,…
Defense attorneys Matt Moffett and Sean Herald of Gray Rust St. Amand Moffett & Brieske recently secured a victory against a plaintiff’s team represented by Morgan & Morgan’s Seth Diamond, Kendall Shortway, and William Degenhart in the State Court of Chatham County in Savannah, Georgia. Moffett and Herald were hired by the insurer to defend…
The State of Washington has sued O’Reilly Automotive under allegations of discriminatory practices against its pregnant employees. The company is accused of refusing reasonable accommodations, including lenient restroom breaks, weight lifting restrictions to 17 pounds or less, and availability of sitting options for the pregnant employees. This complaint was first brought to light by Law.com…
Attending law school is an undeniably tough endeavour, but Boston College Law School student Samantha Perlman proves it doesn’t have to be a barrier to public service. Perlman is not only managing her studies, but she’s also aiming to become mayor of her hometown, Marlborough, Massachusetts. This prominent link between the legal academia and political…
X Corp, formerly known as Twitter, is being sued by its former Vice President of Engineering over an unresolved payment of $1.5 million. According to the lawsuit, the payment was part of an award she was promised in July 2022, in the context of the company’s negotiations for acquisition by Elon Musk. The award was…
In a time when mental health support is deemed essential for workplaces, more than half of managers grapple with achieving the company’s wellbeing targets. Although this statistic—presented in a recent study by Deloitte—may ring alarm bells, Spring Health, a New York City-based digital mental health company has taken strides to address this growing concern. It…
Judicial watchdog group Fix the Court has been conducting a close inspection of federal judicial financial disclosures, ensuring accountability and transparency within the respected lineup of federal judges. In a comprehensive and painstaking effort, the group has discovered that 31 appellate judges have partaken in 76 privately funded luxury trips since 2021. Named as ‘educational…
The Maryland Supreme Court has determined that the state’s waiver of sovereign immunity for tort actions under the Maryland Tort Claims Act (MTCA) does not include federal statutory claims. This conclusion was reached in response to a certifying question from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The root of this decision stems…
Five former employees of media conglomerate Gannett have recently lodged a class action complaint against their former employer, alleging reverse discrimination. The ex-staff members claim that Gannett terminated non-minority staff members and intentionally hired diverse but less-qualified individuals in a bid to meet inclusion quotas. The fresh legal challenge laid against Gannett accuses the company…
The legal industry in the US is still grappling with economic uncertainty, according to a mid-year survey by the Wells Fargo Private Bank Legal Specialty Group. Many big law firms are finding themselves in a limbo, as various economic factors continue to disrupt large-scale transactions. Despite this, law firms have managed to grow their revenue…
In a recent notable decision, a federal judge in Maryland rejected a bid by home health care supplier AdaptHealth to dismiss Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) claims. The defendant allegedly made unsolicited calls and texts to a plaintiff’s cellphone. The judge’s decision is in alignment with a growing consensus in courts that mobile phones should…
Taking into account the shift of the associate market, law firms are increasingly stressing on the regular and timely recording of billable hours. This aggressive approach towards punctual timesheet entries, as noted by Jeffrey Lowe, founder and managing partner of advisory firm Jeffrey Lowe Partners, seems hardly surprising. As Lowe articulated recently in an interview…
Navigating and surviving midlevel positions in Biglaw have been more challenging than ever, with pandemic-related hurdles adding to the equation. Among a variety of outstanding issues, these midlevel associates seem to have become increasingly disgruntled with firm culture and office attendace mandates. Results from a recently conducted survey, released by the American Lawyer, point out…
Two significant Biglaw firms, Perkins Coie and Morrison Foerster, are facing separate lawsuits over their diversity programs, filed by The American Alliance for Equal Rights. The organization is led by Edward Blum, who is also the founder of Students for Fair Admissions. The latter institution was the plaintiff in a recent Supreme Court case that…
We’ve often heard the adage “do it afraid”, a piece of advice aimed at motivating individuals to face challenges head-on, despite their fears. However, when it comes to pressing responsibilities such as reviewing, revising, drafting, negotiating, and managing contracts, can fear be a detrimental factor to in-house lawyers? For many legal professionals, their first in-house…
In 2021, General Motors struck a deal with AT&T with the ambitious goal of using the network’s 5G capabilities to revolutionise the in-car experience. This included significant steps towards the development of fully autonomous vehicles, albeit currently feeling like a distant goal. Notwithstanding, there are numerous advantages to be reaped from enhanced 5G communication technology…
Last month, an attention-grabbing report by the OECD announced that lawyers were at “high risk” of losing their jobs to artificial intelligence (AI). However, a more nuanced view is suggested by a recent international survey conducted by LexisNexis, titled the“International Legal Generative AI Survey”. This survey, which involved feedback from 7,950 legal professionals, law students,…
Former Chief Magistrate Judge Gerald W. Johnson of Habersham County, Georgia, found himself in an unusual position when he came under scrutiny for his reckless handling of a firearm. Firing off an AR-15 in a drunken frenzy, Johnson aimed the gun at a local enforcement officer, urging him to deactivate his recording device. Such grave…
In a significant professional shift, prominent New York attorneys Amy Greer and Jennifer Klass have made a move from Baker McKenzie to K&L Gates. The duo formerly established Baker McKenzie’s North American financial services regulatory group and have now joined K&L Gates as partners in the firm’s white-collar and asset management divisions. This information was…
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is pushing for a federal appeals court to examine a question causing strife in the cryptocurrency industry: should its issuers be obligated to register under federal law? This issue of registration is central to the government’s stance against crypto trading and has been viewed as an enforcement tool…
Herc Rentals, a dominant force in the equipment rental industry, has encountered a severe legal challenge. The company is embroiled in an employment class action lawsuit. The basis of the allegations is the assertion that noncompete provisions in certain employment contracts, as well as nondisparagement provisions in certain severance agreements, are unenforceable in the state…