Welcome to today’s legal briefing. In the news, a detailed account of Jay Sekulow’s legal and advocacy ventures reveals substantial financial gains for the lawyer and his family. Sekulow, well-known for his involvement in right-wing litigation, along with his family and associated companies, have reportedly funneled over $145 million through these endeavors, according to research…
Slaughter and May’s adoption of a reduced hours policy this week stands as an example of flexibility in an often rigid industry. The measure, initially put in place on an opt-in basis, is gaining traction amongst firms intent on providing work-life balance. Relevant insights on the initiative were provided by Michael Craig, a disputes and…
In a recent development, APA Corp. has announced its decision to acquire the shale oil driller Callon Petroleum Co. The deal is priced at an estimated $4.5 billion, a figure that includes the debt as well. This acquisition beckons as yet another instance of the accumulating wave of buyouts influencing the landscape of US oil…
The National Law Journal announces the commencement of nominations for the 2024 Elite Trial Lawyers awards. The program recognises the exemplary work done by US-based law firms for plaintiffs. Awardees are typically those who have set new standards or introduced novel approaches in their field. In its 2024 installment, the Elite Trial Lawyers awards shall…
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan recently represented the Republic of Tunisia in a high-stakes legal case at an ICSID arbitration matter, denying claims totaling several billion dollars. The claimant was awarded a nominal 0.003% of the amounts it claimed and none its legal fees. The decision from the tribunal in late December dismissed the massive…
The U.S. Supreme Court is about to plunge headfirst into the 2024 presidential election fray due to an appeal linked to former President Donald Trump. This appeal presents the Supreme Court with a significant decision that could chart the country’s political future. The pivotal nature of this case lies in its potential to affect the…
The federal government’s initial strides in making it more accessible for borrowers to discharge their student loan debt while filing for bankruptcy, have seen less potent results than expected by consumers’ advocates after the completion of its first year. The guidance issued by the departments of Justice and Education in November 2022 has the potential…
The late 2023 veto of a bill aimed at banning noncompete clauses in New York by Governor Kathy Hochul has necessitated a return to negotiations in 2024. The vetoed legislation, which sparked heated debate amongst state legislators and influential business groups, sought to propose a carve-out for high-earning workers. The initiative came extraordinarily close to…
After an impressive career spanning four decades, notable IP newsmaker Terry Stanek Rea is leaving her position at Crowell & Moring to commence her own consultancy. Rea has been pioneering in changing the gender disparity within the traditionally male-dominated patent law landscape, not only by being among the first few women in the profession but…
The 340B Drug Pricing Program, established over 30 years ago to afford low-income and uninsured patients discounted drugs, anticipates several significant circuit court decisions this year that may instigate considerable change. The United States Congress developed this program in 1992, enabling covered entities including qualifying safety-net hospitals, clinics, and other providers to purchase outpatient drugs…
Lance Jasper, a senior counsel at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is set to join the Los Angeles team of international law firm, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, bolstering its white collar defense and government investigations practice. Bloomberg Law reported that Jasper was instrumental in heading the SEC investigation into the $650…
In legal developments within the world of professional sports, particularly regarding sports betting, a recent case involving Cincinnati Bengals’ star quarterback, Joe Burrow, and renowned sports enthusiast Dave Portnoy, has triggered a possible reevaluation of the established legal jurisprudence. It is commonly accepted that sports fans, under normal circumstances, lack a “legally cognizable right, interest,…
The OpenAI leadership shakeup has thrown fresh light onto corporate governance structures, in particular on how they are evolving around generative AI technologies. Two main points have emerged from the discussions swirling around this event. Firstly, it is apparent that substantial pressure is exerted on companies to leverage AI to generate profits. Simultaneously, equilibrium has…
Cupertino, a high-wealth city located in California, is currently faced with a budget shortfall amounting to approximately $15 million, which is a significant portion of its $95 million general fund. The city council is mulling over various tax hikes though none seems adequate on their own and all demand a vote by city residents. An…
The Anti-Money Laundering Whistleblower Improvement Act, expected to have an influential role in global anti-corruption initiatives, should start to effectively deliver on its promises in 2024 according to Bloomberg Law. Established by the AML Act of 2020, the AML Whistleblower Program was initially encumbered by loopholes, such as the lack of required whistleblower awards. This…
Law-firms Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), White & Case and Oldham Li & Nie have boosted their respective benches in Hong Kong with the addition of three new partners. Each of these professionals previously held counsel positions at their former firms. This move underscores the sustained interest and investment by global law firms in the Hong…
In a recent trademark infringement case, a Florida federal judge favored online education company Stride Inc., following a dispute over the title of its now-renamed ‘Florida Online School’. The judge criticized the Florida Department of Education sub-agency responsible for the prosecution, condemning their attempt to wield “weak trademarks to bully competitors”. The case is a…
Sam Inohara, the only Mergers and Acquisition (M&A) focused partner at the NRF (Norton Rose Fulbright) firm, has left to open a solo practice in Japan. Inohara’s departure leaves NRF with four partners in Tokyo. While three of them primary deal with projects and financing matters, the remaining partner’s focus lies in antitrust matters. As…
On Wednesday, a Texas federal magistrate judge recommended that electronics giant Samsung’s claims of misconduct against two of its former in-house intellectual property attorneys be resolved through a bench trial. This recommendation comes as Samsung is set to go to court over patent infringement claims brought forth by a company newly formed by those same…
In a harrowing courtroom incident in Nevada, a state judge and a courtroom marshal were injured. The attack took place during the sentencing of a defendant in a battery case, who unexpectedly vaulted over the judge’s bench, knocking her to the ground. In an attempt to protect the judge, a courtroom marshal was also injured…
In a recent development, Revance Therapeutics has been ordered by a Tennessee federal judge to face a trade secrets suit which has been instigated by Botox producer Allergan. The core claims remain undisturbed and assert the biotechnology company of formulating a deceptive operation to sequester proprietary secrets by enticing former employees of Allergan. The case,…
Galderma Laboratories, a leading player in the pharmacological industry, has put forth a request to a Texas federal court to enforce an arbitral award. This request is a part of an ongoing trade secrets dispute with Ipsen Biopharm regarding an application for U.S. government approval of a Botox-like treatment. The two companies are involved in…
In recent legal developments, an Illinois federal judge has ruled that a jury should be the decider in a lawsuit concerning a potential patent infringement case against sporting goods manufacturer Certor Sports. The company is under scrutiny over claims that a brand of their helmets directly infringes a patent duly held by another company. In…
In a significant move to enhance its antitrust and competition practice, DLA Piper has welcomed three new litigation partners. Formerly of Norton Rose Fulbright, Amanda Wait, Victor Domen and Carsten Reichel will now ply their expertise at DLA Piper, as confirmed by the firm on Wednesday. DLA Piper’s decision to incorporate these talented individuals into…
Hyperice, a wellness brand, recently filed a lawsuit against Therabody, their competitor. The lawsuit was filed in Delaware federal court, as Hyperice alleges that a range of Therabody’s massage devices infringes a patent they hold in relation to percussion massage technology. Notably, this patent was obtained by Hyperice just a day prior to filing the…