Nishimura & Asahi, the largest law firm in Japan by headcount, has grown its corporate offering in Thailand. M&A lawyer Christopher Osborne, lately a partner and head of the Thai corporate practice at Watson Farley & Williams in Bangkok, has joined the Big Four Japanese firm as a partner. More information regarding the hire was…
In an unfolding dispute, Starbucks Corp. has accused the union representing its baristas of misappropriating its trademarks, following the union’s tweets in support of Palestine. The allegations have spurred calls for a boycott of the global coffee chain. The accused union has countered, alleging that Starbucks is unjustly associating it with supporting terrorism – a…
In an ongoing legal dispute, Google has requested a California federal judge to dismiss a proposed class action lawsuit, which accuses the company of using private and copyrighted information from hundreds of millions of US citizens for training its generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot named Bard. The plaintiffs, in this case, argue that Google’s actions…
In recent developments, esteemed law firms Davis Polk & Wardwell and Winston & Strawn have revoked job offers for candidates connected to controversial statements on Israel and Hamas. The decision, it appears, is pressing other legal firms to respond promptly and judiciously, be it commenting on international matters, or severing relationships with prospective associates. As…
The owner of a patent pertaining to mobile hotel keys has lodged a complaint with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) against global leader in access solutions, Assa Abloy. The corporation is being accused of attempting to “extort” the complainant into providing them with a free license for their patented intellectual property. In the…
John Eastman, the attorney who advised former Vice President Mike Pence on his ability as the vice president to reject electoral votes, testified in his California disbarment trial on October 18, 2023. According to Law360, Eastman told the court that Pence was mistaken about his authority on January 6, 2021. As testimony reveals, Eastman had…
A number of music publishing companies, led by Universal Publishing Group, filed a lawsuit against artificial intelligence company, Anthropic PBC. The essence of the complaint revolves around allegations of “systematic and widespread infringement” of copyrighted song lyrics. This pertains specifically to Anthropic’s so-called “Claude” series of large language AI models. This case raises key questions…
In an interesting development in the world of trade secrets litigation, a North Carolina federal judge has granted an unprecedented treble damages order. This ruling comes in favor of Transtate Equipment Co., a defendant challenging Philips Medical System. The judge accepted the plea to triple the amount of nearly $850,000 that was initially awarded to…
A businessman, who was involved in a scam with the ‘Lottery Lawyer’, which saw tens of millions of dollars being swindled from unexpectedly affluent families, was sentenced on Wednesday to time served and mandated 300 hours of community service. The sentence was reportedly the result of his comprehensive cooperation with prosecutors. The man and the…
In the recent edition of the Legal Speak podcast, attendees of the event, Women, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL), held in New Orleans, were interviewed. The conversations, organized by Law.com and Corporate Counsel, largely centered around the growth and development of women in the legal industry. Participants discussed the mechanisms, hurdles, and practices that…
National law firm Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP is making significant adjustments to its regional operations. It has been announced that the firm plans to open a new office in Portland, Oregon. In addition to this strategic move, it will also be expanding its pre-existing presence in Seattle. Potentially more consequential, the firm…
In recent courtroom developments, a professor has testified that Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX, a formerly prominent crypto-exchange, mishandled approximately $9 billion of customer funds. This testimony, provided on Oct 18, 2023, is part of a continuing trial whose proceedings are taking place in Manhattan federal court. According to an expert’s insightful analysis of FTX’s financial records,…
In a recent ruling, the Fifth Circuit has declined to examine a lawsuit that disputed a Nasdaq Stock Market rule. This rule mandates that corporations listed on the exchange disclose data illustrating their board’s diversity. The court classified the exchange as a private entity, asserting that it is beyond the reach of constitutional review. These…
The Brazil-drafted UN Security Council resolution advocating a ceasefire in the protracted Israel-Hamas clash was vetoed by the US on Wednesday. The resolution sought a momentary suspension of conflict to facilitate the provision of essential humanitarian aid to distressed civilians caught in the crossfire. Even though the resolution categorically condemned Hamas’s October 7 attacks on…
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), for the second time, has rejected the petition of Vector Flow Inc., seeking a review of a data security patent. This comes after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office director annulled the board’s earlier denial of the institution, this being in response to the board’s Fintiv precedent. Original…
In a recent development, the Ninth Circuit court heard a plea to reboot a child pornography lawsuit tied to the iconic 1991 Nirvana album “Nevermind”. The counsel representing the individual, whose unclothed image as an infant graced the album cover, argued that fresh retail of the album hits the reset button on the statute of…
In a recent decision, The Federal Circuit aligned with a New York federal judge’s ruling to dismiss an inventor’s infringement lawsuit against VeriFone Systems Inc. The case appears to replicate a preceding litigation on the same matter. (Read more)
A patent dispute between two wireless telecom companies in the Federal Circuit was concluded recently. The dispute focused on the definitions of ‘packetizing’ and ‘routing and switching’, terms integral to the telecom sector. The case saw a trio of Federal Circuit judges concur with the explanations provided by a Delaware federal judge for these terms,…
A lawyer from North Carolina, recently disbarred, faces allegations of attempting to shift client funds to her private bank account in the wake of losing her certified legal right to practice. In response to these allegations, a state court injunction has been issued that prevents her from interacting with client funds or assuming any fiduciary…
The Boy Scouts of America’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, spanning for over three and a half years, has come to a resolution. A Delaware bankruptcy judge has sealed the verdict with a final approval of $224 million in professional fees and expenses. This substantial amount includes a hefty sum of $71 million directed towards the…
The United Nations (UN) human rights experts have urged Pakistan to abandon its announced plans to deport a significant number of Afghan individuals. Pressure from human rights entities has escalated since the interior minister of Pakistan, Sarfraz Bugti, publicized the deportation intention on October 3. If executed, this move may lead to the removal of…
The world of law has witnessed a significant development regarding the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). They’ve made the test process more inclusive and less irritating by eliminating the infamous Logic Games section. This should prove beneficial for aspiring law students aiming to take the LSAT soon, as it promises a less strenuous study period….
In an unprecedented move that seeks to eliminate some stress from the law school applications process, one law school has decided to guarantee admission to any state resident who meets or exceeds an LSAT score of 151 and a GPA of 3.4, Above the Law reports. While an enticing proposition for potential law students, the…
Johnson & Johnson is reportedly considering a strategic move to put its talc unit into bankruptcy for a third time. The decision is said to be an effort to progress an $8.9 billion settlement of countless claims professing that J&J’s baby talcum powder caused cancer and mesothelioma, as stated in a recent earnings call by…
A federal magistrate judge recently recommended against the dismissal of a lawsuit accusing the HGTV television series of infringing the “Ugliest House” trademark. The lawsuit, brought by a house-flipping company, alleges that the show confused consumers by using a similarly named property renovation contest. While the television show makers argued for dismissal, the judge sided…