The Indian Supreme Court dismissed a habeas corpus petition related to the detention of Nikhil Gupta in the Czech Republic, accused of plotting an assassination. The petition was filed by a family member of Gupta, highlighting the legal mechanism of habeas corpus, vital in protecting individuals from unlawful detention or imprisonment. Gupta was accused of…
Hong Kong activist Chu Kai-poon entered guilty pleas on Thursday to two charges of sedition at Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts, as reported by local media. The guilty plea came following Chu’s arrest on November 27 by national security police at the Hong Kong International Airport, where he was detained for wearing a shirt…
A former M&A partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, who had previously won $20,000 in monthly disability benefits from Provident Life & Casualty Insurance Co. is entitled to receive approximately $490,000 in fees, costs, and interest, confirms a recent ruling. Edward Chung, the ex-Simpson Thacher lawyer, was awarded by a Manhattan federal judge all…
Sierra Leone’s former President, Ernest Bai Koroma, was charged with treason and other associated crimes by the country’s prosecutors on Wednesday. The allegations against Koroma pertain to his purported involvement in an unsuccessful military coup that occurred on November 26, 2023. These charges against the ex-president follow in the wake of twelve other individuals being…
Western Digital Corp.’s chief legal officer Michael Ray is stepping away from his role at the corporation as it prepares to subdivide following unsuccessful merger discussions with Kioxia Holdings Corp of Japan. As disclosed in a securities filing on January 4, Ray will officially leave his post on January 12 to pursue another venture. Set…
The Serbian Ministry of Defence recently announced the initiation of an effort to reinstate mandatory military service. Serbia had such a requirement for its male citizens until 2010, with an average period of service being around six months. This move comes after thirteen years of voluntary service following the announcement made by the Deputy Prime…
Massachusetts voters have filed an objection against former US President Donald Trump, seeking to remove him from the state’s 2024 Republican primary ballot. This step mirrors similar actions in other states—namely, Maine and Colorado, where efforts to exclude Trump from their 2024 ballots have already been successful. The objection was made to the Massachusetts Ballot…
If you’re keen to discover the most compelling stories and emerging trends of 2023 in the realm of legal tech and innovation, then you’re in luck. The celebrated Legaltech Week is hosting a year-end review, hosted by an esteemed panel of journalists and bloggers. Whether your interest lies in legaltech software, breakthrough judgments, or any…
Amnesty International recently praised the indictment of three senior commanders of Carabineros de Chile, charged for their alleged involvement in the disproportionate and unlawful response to mass protests in Chile in late 2019. Carabineros de Chile, the nation’s law enforcement responsible for maintaining public order and enforcing laws, has been under scrutiny for quite some…
The property rights battle is again under the spotlight in the United States with the Supreme Court ready to hear a new case concerning traffic impact mitigation fees. This latest dispute began in 2016 when George Sheetz, the owner of a property in California, applied to construct a single-family home. The local county demanded a…
The Supreme Court, a bastion of legal authority, continues to bear significant attention as it faces numerous developing stories and legal enquiries. Legal professionals from across the globe follow these progressions, seeking cutting-edge news and informed commentary. A recent post on SCOTUSblog, by Elise Drucker, brings attention to a collection of relevant news articles and…
David Selden, a legal expert in private investment vehicles, has recently joined Cooley LLP’s fund formation practice group as a partner in New York, a move that adds significant depth to the firm’s capabilities. The addition of Selden, which was announced last Thursday, follows a trend of global law firms expanding their fund formation teams…
In a significant development in human trafficking issues, New York City has filed a lawsuit against bus companies for their alleged involvement in the trafficking operations in Texas. This move has been underplayed in the media as the spotlight continues to shine on the Epstein case. Yet, the issue in NYC is emerging as the…
The Indian government has expressed growing concerns over reports of extortion calls targeting individuals within the Indian community in Canada. This information emerged from a weekly media briefing held by the Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal. Early December saw the initial complaints surfacing from Indian businesses, that resulted in a formal…
Attorney retirement and succession planning have been identified as critical, yet frequently overlooked, issues within law firm management. There seems to be a pivotal question on whether retirement or succession planning should precede the other. Despite their mutually inclusive nature, it appears that numerous firms circumvent them both.As per Law.com, this reticence to address retirement…
During the pandemic, leading law firm Slaughter and May announced a pilot program implementing multiple flexible working schemes. This move, seemingly encouraging better work/life balance, was met with keen interest from across the legal sector, as many, especially junior lawyers, struggled with the blurring boundaries between professional and personal realms. Recognised for its conservatism, Slaughter…
Promoting a healthy work-life balance is more than just “lip service” at Pryor Cashman, a mid-sized AmLaw 200 firm, according to managing partner Ron Shechtman. In light of larger firms boosting bonuses for associates working unsustainable hours, Shechtman has identified this as “a path to burnout”. This drive to prioritize employee wellness stands as an…
In today’s complex legal landscape, defining the cause of employment termination can often become a conundrum. A recurring dilemma that caught our attention circles around discerning if an associate’s departure was due to underperformance or if it was simply a ‘stealth layoff’. Are firms laying off their associates under the guise of ‘inadequate performance’? Or…
Former President Donald Trump’s political campaign and legal battles are converging, leading to a highly peculiar scenario for American politics. On one hand, Trump appears to be on the cusp of a victory in the high profile and politically crucial Iowa caucuses, slated for January 15th. On the other, he is under the scrutiny of…
The commercial landscape of 2024 is projected to see a surge in cross-border and large law mergers, as reported by the New Jersey Law Journal. This forecast is derived based on the recent activities that have transpired within well-established law firms, hinting at an expansive legal collaboration drive ahead. Take Scura Wigfield Heyer Stevens &…
In 2023, a downturn was seen in the Asia Pacific merger and acquisition (M&A) market, while US and Indian firms displayed a strong performance, according to a recent report. The Asia Pacific M&A market dropped 26%, valued at $602.1 billion, marking its lowest point since 2013. The data comes courtesy of LSEG Data & Analytics….
Sidley Austin LLP has once again secured its position as the leading law firm aiding public companies in navigating matters relating to shareholder activism during the last year. According to an analysis conducted by Bloomberg Law, Sidley Austin advised companies on 48 engagements in 2023, with the total shareholder stakes in the firm’s matters estimated…
In a paradigm shift of services strategy, the Big Four accounting firms, known for their revered consulting roles across globe, have been significantly impacted by recent economic fluctuations. With a keen interest in driving revenues, these legal titans have made a pivot into the realm of technology-focused advisory work and data analytics services – areas…
California’s businesses are keeping a close eye on potential regulation changes which could dramatically alter the requirements for warning consumers about the potential risks of chemicals that could cause cancer or harm to the reproductive system. On December 13, 2023, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), responsible for implementing California’s Proposition 65, conducted…
Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on countries endorsing the inaugural UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on “killer robots” to actively support talks for a fresh international treaty. The aim is to prohibit and oversee autonomous weapons systems, designed to identify and engage targets autonomously through sensor processing, side-stepping direct human control or input. The declaration…