A long-standing litigation concerning trade secrets misappropriation involving Escrow agent SRS Acquiom and PNC Bank has recently been settled. The lawsuit, which started in 2019, was brought forward by SRS Acquiom over allegations that two of their former employees used proprietary information in their new roles to aid PNC Bank in gaining a competitive edge….
In a recent ruling, a split Ninth Circuit panel confirmed a $5.79 million arbitration award for the founders of the now-defunct chemical technology firm Novoform Cos. The panel sided with the founders following allegations that investor and film producer James G. Robinson had engaged in inconsistent practices and litigation gamesmanship. Notably, Robinson was found to…
Grubhub, a popular food delivery service, has agreed to settle a lawsuit by paying over $3.5 million, following allegations by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office of overcharging restaurants beyond the statutory 15% cap amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In the case of Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Grubhub Holdings and Grubhub, both parties have stipulated to a…
On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to consider whether to overturn a doctrine that has prevailed for decades, instructing courts to give the benefit of the doubt to federal agencies when interpreting ambiguous statutes. This complex legal argument could see the Justices utilise their collective body of work, with almost two dozen of…
In a recent development, a discrimination lawsuit lodged by a former federal patent examiner has been dismissed. The legal action was brought to court in Virginia, where the plaintiff alleged that he had been a victim of racial discrimination during his term of employment. The presiding judge, however, ruled otherwise, asserting that the ex-employee did…
In a recent development in the ongoing legal battle over COVID-19 vaccine patents, Pfizer and BioNTech have requested the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) to dismiss Moderna’s arguments that are based on the timing of district court patent litigation. This action has arisen out of Pfizer’s challenges to two of Moderna’s COVID vaccine patents….
Steptoe has launched a Houston office with a team of over 40 lawyers and business personnel originally from Smyser, Kaplan & Veselka (SKV), a move that provides the Washington, DC-based law firm a strategic position in the rich Texas energy market. Jarod Stewart, previously a partner at SKV, has been assigned as the managing partner…
On Tuesday, January 16, 2024, a federal judge in D.C. denied a motion to grant a retrial for former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro. Navarro was seeking to vacate his conviction for contempt of Congress. He argued that his case was prejudiced by public protests, asserting that jury members could have been influenced against…
In a significant decision on Tuesday afternoon, a Texas federal jury concluded that Natera, a genetic testing company, infringed a patent owned by biotech firm Ravgen. The Maryland-based company has won $57 million in damages as a result of the ruling, as stated by both parties. The case highlights ongoing tensions in the highly technical…
In a recent development on DigiMedia’s patent regarding an image compression method, an administrative patent board has reached a decision on two patent claims. One claim from the patent has been nullified by the panel, whereas it found itself unable to make a judgment on the other claim. The panel concurred that the claim they…
In an important development, the Colorado Supreme Court has determined that a family law firm’s agreement, which requires a separating attorney to remunerate a fee for each client they transition with, fails to pass legal muster. The court’s ruling was unanimous, asserting that such an arrangement could unduly restrict an attorney’s practice while motivating attorneys…
As an equity partner vested in a firm, isn’t it your right to understand how compensation is divided amongst you and your peers? The case for transparent partner compensation is powerful enough to uphold time-honoured systems in most of the Am Law 100 firms. However, certain firms are now swaying towards a more concealed or…
In a recent legal development, the Seventh Circuit upheld a decision by an Illinois federal court, ruling out any copyright infringement by financial services company William Blair & Co. over UIRC-GSA Holding’s bond offering documents. The court stated that the paperwork produced by UIRC was ineligible for copyright protection, as it was found that the…
As the legal world evolves and social consciousness takes center stage, it is important to consider how figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) appropriately enter into these conversations. In a recent examination of this topic from Above the Law, the overarching message was to tread carefully when invoking the resonant and significant…
In a recent development in the ongoing Wyndham Vacation Ownership Inc. litigation, a Florida federal magistrate judge has recommended granting a default victory to the firm. The company had brought litigation against multiple entities, accusing them of levying redundant charges on customers seeking to relinquish their timeshares. The judge’s decision has been notably influenced by…
There are indications that France is positioning itself to take advantage of the post-Brexit scenario in a bid to attract more global financial organizations. The government under President Macron has hinted at introducing further reforms designed to make the Paris more attractive to banks, investment funds, and private equities. Following the UK’s departure from the…
As reported by Richard Clough and Mary Schlangenstein for Bloomberg Law, the once highly anticipated $3.8 billion merger between JetBlue Airways Corp. and Spirit Airlines Inc. has transformed into a taxing ordeal for the parties involved. The deal, initially celebrated as a promising consolidation in the low-cost travel world, was halted due to rising anti-trust…
Jackson Walker LLP is set to face fee clawback trials in August due to allegations by the Justice Department that the firm neglected to disclose a supposed romantic relationship between one of its former attorneys and a well-known former Houston bankruptcy judge. The legal proceedings will examine whether award orders—amassing to approximately $1.8 million in…
Apple has called upon the Federal Circuit, urging them to allow the tech company to continue selling Apple Watches. The appeal comes after the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) claimed that the blood oxygen monitor incorporated in the watch infringes on Masimo’s patents. In its appeal, Apple labeled the arguments made by the ITC and…
In a move designed to protect consumers, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently blocked a merger between JetBlue and Spirit airlines. Both airlines, known for their affordable flight options, attempted to unite under claims of saving the consumer money. However, these claims came into question when internal documents revealed that JetBlue intended to increase…
In an unprecedented turn of events, a former U.S. president has faced the grave ignominy of being held in contempt of court. Legal experts and historians may well debate the implications of this outcome within our judicial framework, yet the fact remains that this occurrence speaks volumes about the undeniable intertwining of political office and…
In recent years, the world of commerce has observed a transformative development as Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) have increasingly begun to secure positions as CEOs in major U.S. companies. This shift signifies a growing importance placed not only on a firm grasp of fiscal matters but operational proficiency as well. This trend has been apparent…
The legal landscape is constantly evolving and driving innovation within a law firm or a major legal department is a nuanced and complex process. On this front, professionals like Rachel Dooley, previously at Goodwin Procter and now at Kirkland & Ellis, and Ilona Logvinova, managing counsel and head of innovation for McKinsey Legal, offer some…
Biglaw firms are welcoming a wave of fresh talent in their corridors of leadership. As noted by Kristin Stark, a principal at Fairfax Associates, law firms are increasingly looking to bring business professionals onboard to drive the firms from both a strategic and a financial perspective. Stark shared these insights with the American Lawyer citing…
Horacio Gutierrez, chief legal officer at Walt Disney Co., drew nearly $11.7 million as a total compensation from the media and entertainment establishment last year, as stated in a proxy statement filed a while ago. This compensation marks a 23% reduction from 2022, mainly due to the signing bonus received by Gutierrez. Following a successful…