Recently, two identical defamation lawsuits filed by Grover Gaming against employees of a competing firm, Powerhouse Gaming Inc., have been allowed to proceed by a federal judge in Virginia. Grover Gaming, an electronic pull tabs provider licensed by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs, alleges that Powerhouse…
In a recent verdict, the Israeli Supreme Court delayed the applicability of Amendment No. 12 to the Basic Law, an enactment that has been seen by many as an amendment for personal motives and an abuse of the Knesset. In the case of Movement for Quality Government in Israel v Knesset, a majority of six…
A Judiciary Rules Panel is currently considering a proposal for creating a more consistent bar admissions process for United States District Courts. As of now, the majority, but not all, of these federal district courts enforce local rules requiring lawyers to attain in-state bar admission to represent litigants or to apply pro hac vice in…
Elon Musk, renowned for his outspoken nature on the value of free speech, is taking heat for what some perceive as hypocritical behavior at his aerospace company, SpaceX. Recently, Musk has been accused of exhibiting authoritarian tendencies, contrary to his vocal stance against curtailment of free speech. The observation that spawned these allegations stemmed from…
As we move deeper into the new year, many in the legal profession would attest to a familiar saga continuing to unfurl within the legal world. The on-going saga of Tom Girardi draws itself into yet another year, with recent developments adding a fresh chapter to this sprawling narrative. With many different concerns and quandaries…
The long-anticipated unsealing of the Jeffrey Epstein files stirred a wave of anticipation among both mainstream and social media, each party expecting to see some significant revelation tipped in their favor. Both Republicans and Democrats believed that the unveiled names connected to Epstein’s notorious federal case would be a gamechanger, with names correlating with political…
In an attempt to end nearly a decade-long Chancery case, TransPerfect Global Inc., represented by Attorney Alan Dershowitz, signaled its readiness to settle the litigation by paying the attorney fees ordered by the Court of Chancery. During a recent court hearing, Dershowitz presented what he declared to be a file containing checks, symbolizing the firm’s…
According to a recent article on Above the Law, law firms are showing a strong inclination towards merging in 2024. This trend has been gradually picking up pace, with interest in growth via mergers seemingly at its highest point in over two decades. The projection for 2024 law firm merger activities is expected to align…
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has announced its plans to open a new office in Wilmington, Delaware. The Am Law 50 firm that specializes in litigation services has already secured a partner from a local firm to lead this forthcoming office. Quinn Emanuel’s decision to establish a presence in Wilmington is in line with the…
Four UN experts have appealed to US officials on Wednesday to halt the scheduled execution of Alabama inmate, Kenneth Smith, by nitrogen hypoxia. Sentenced to life without parole in 1988 after a murder conviction, Smith is set to be executed on January 25, 2024. The UN experts stressed that Smith’s execution would mark the first…
The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled that a trial court judge erroneously voided an arbitration award in a case revolving around the termination of a state trooper accused of sexual harassment. The grievance before the court involved the question of whether the arbitrator’s decree aligned with the terms set forth by the parties’ collective…
In the coming weeks, the Biden administration might support a World Trade Organization (WTO) proposal to waive key intellectual property protections related to COVID-19 tests and diagnostics. This decision is expected to take place at the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference in February. However, according to former U.S. Circuit Judge Paul Michel, this step could have…
An insurance dispute involving Somalian money laundering allegations met its resolution recently, with its fallout pervading even the legal community’s biggest corporations. In a development likely to draw interest from corporate lawyers and law firms alike, AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd. and Sompo International Holdings Ltd. insurance units emerged victorious in a litigation brought forth by…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is set to embrace electronic processing in a new way. Officials from the federal patent authority plan to begin a process of digitally issuing correction notices they make in patents directly to the patent owners. This is yet another step taken by the office in its ongoing integration…
Following an extraordinary career marked by many standout moments, U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Vance is about to embark on her next chapter. Judge Vance, who made history as the first woman to chair the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML), will soon transition to senior status. This development, set to occur on January 16,…
A man from Philadelphia has taken legal action against his former attorney, alleging that his previous workplace injury case was inappropriately used as collateral for litigation funding. The claim further suggests that these high-interest-rate loans were then transferred to cover legal fees. According to the complaint, the plaintiff believes his former lawyer used highly unethical…
McCarter & English LLP, a prestigious US law firm, recently asked a New Jersey state court to reject a plea from a biotech company. The company sought to modify its complaint alleging the legal firm of malpractice. McCarter & English argues that the proposed changes would necessitate new discovery and that the allotted timeline for…
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP has announced plans to launch a new office in Delaware, further strengthening its national presence. Expanding its operations, the firm has hired an attorney who was previously a partner at the boutique firm, Abrams & Bayliss LLP for over seven years. The new hire has additionally held a crucial…
As the recent sexual harassment trial comes to a close, a Massachusetts federal judge expressed skepticism about the veracity of the defense’s arguments. The trial involves a former federal defender for North Carolina’s Western District, who allegedly exhibited hostility towards an attorney claiming she was forced out of her position due to sexual harassment. His…
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman’s Manhattan offices became the site of a protest led by recognizable civil rights activist Al Sharpton this past Thursday. Noted for his controversial and sometimes divisive stance, Ackman’s recent campaign to oust the president of Harvard University has spurred widespread conversation and backlash among industry insiders and public figures alike. Those…
John Bel Edwards, the outgoing Governor of Louisiana, is set to join the New Orleans-based litigation boutique, Fishman Haygood LLP, immediately after concluding his term in office next week. The announcement was made by the firm this Thursday and marks the latest move in the state Governor’s blossoming legal career. Known for his pragmatic leadership…
The unveiling of hundreds of documents related to the enduring tale of financier Jeffrey Epstein has passed with little of the expected surprises, but with valuable glimpses into Epstein’s celebrated circle and lifestyle. Some of the unredacted information released eyed two former presidents, a member of the British royal family and renowned celebrities. These materials,…
The Biden administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) has called on the federal judiciary to put in place a rule to address concerns over “forum shopping”. Defined as the practice wherein lawsuits are strategically filed in courts likely to yield favorable rulings against the federal government, forum shopping has been a long-standing issue in the legal…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced on Thursday the appointment of former Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP partner Sharon Israel as its newest Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs. The role becomes effective from January 8 onwards. This wall street law firm partner will now be taking on a key role…
The former partner of Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP, Sharon Israel, has recently been selected as the newest Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Israel’s position will officially commence from Jan. 8, as was announced by the office on Thursday. During her tenure at Shook Hardy…