In a surprising turn of events, former US Bankruptcy Judge David Jones, who resigned in the midst of an ethical probe, is now attempting to quash a lawsuit that previously brought his undisclosed relationship with a bankruptcy attorney to public scrutiny. This relationship, with Elizabeth Freeman, then an attorney at Jackson Walker LLP, created suspicions…
Relations between Greece and Türkiye, two neighboring states with a history of hostility, are seeing a significant thaw following a recent high-level cooperation meeting. Turkish President Erdogan journeyed to Athens on December 7 for the 5th Greece-Türkiye High-Level Cooperation Council, marking Erdogan’s first visit to Greece since 2017. During this meeting, the two nations signed…
As we commence the year 2024, it’s an opportune time to glance back at the significant legal narratives that dominated the previous year across the world. Shared among the top stories from Above The Law, they shaped the legal landscape, generating a substantial portion of coverage in our sector. Of the myriad incidents, job cuts…
In a recent development, an expert from the United Nations has criticized a fresh series of Russian air attacks against Ukraine. The hostilities lead by Russia have targeted a multitude of densely populated towns and cities across Ukraine, resulting in significant destruction and loss of life. UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Denise Brown, released a press statement…
Non-governmental organizations, Transparency International, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Katiba Institute and Africa Center for Open Governance (Africog) filed a petition against prosecutors Geoffrey Obiri and Oliver Mureithi, accusing them of mishandling the Arror and Kimwarer dams case. The petitioners are specifically targeting the prosecutors for their perceived reckless disregard of duty. In December,…
On January 4, 2022, India’s Patiala House Court called upon the Delhi Police to file a response toward the bail plea of Neelam Azad, the sole woman involved in the controversial Parliamentary security breach last month. The deadline set for this filing is January 10. The incident occurred on December 13, coinciding with the anniversary…
As a dramatic plot twist in the merger and acquisition landscape, Chinese technology conglomerate Baidu has decided to abort its $3.6 billion acquisition of YY Live, a video-based entertainment live streaming business under the ownership of social media platform Joyy Inc. The news was revealed via a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, providing…
Edelson PC, a plaintiffs boutique renowned for its focused practice areas, recently added Aaron Colangelo to its legal team. Colangelo, the former chief litigation counsel for the National Resources Defense Council, joins the firm as a partner in Washington, D.C. This strategic move builds on Edelson’s targeted legal capabilities, including its expertise in environmental cases….
The Winter Session of the Indian Parliament that concluded on December 22nd was one among the most turbulent and high-stakes sessions in recent Indian history. The events saw the passage of 18 laws, a controversial mass suspension of 146 Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs)—a move hitherto unheard of—and another Opposition MP’s rare expulsion. The mass…
A labor court in Bangladesh has convicted Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus and three of his associates from Grameen Telecom— a company Yunus founded— for violating national labor laws. In a decision given on Monday, each party was sentenced to a six-month jail term, though bail was immediately granted pending an appeal. Yunus was honored…
Nicole Stanton, former vice president and general counsel for Trulieve Cannabis Corp., has taken a significant step in her legal career, joining Dorsey & Whitney as a partner based in Phoenix. This move was recently announced by the firm in a press release. Stanton comes to the table with a wealth of experience in various…
Legal departments across the globe are bracing for an onslaught of employee-centric laws, according to a report in the New Jersey Law Journal. This changing legal landscape is expected to fundamentally reshape the working environment in many of the world’s largest corporations and law firms. The precise nature of these potential changes is as yet…
Dentons LLP, a multinational law firm well known for its legal services, recently announced a significant addition to their team. Chad Higgins has joined their ranks as a partner in the commercial litigation practice, stationed in their Portland, Maine office according to an announcement made by the firm. With a reputation for representing clients in…
Clifford Thau, former managing partner of Vinson & Elkins’ New York office, has recently joined the ranks of Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt. Thau will be taking up the challenging role as a partner in the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution practice, as confirmed by the firm on Wednesday. The announcement has been met with…
Each year, an extensive compilation of the country’s top law firms is made, a process that entails assessing myriads of factors, not-least the perspectives of the clients that these firms serve. The purpose of this annual compilation is now set to continue, with data for 2024 already being compiled. Indeed, the opinions and sentiments of…
Biglaw firms, known for their demanding workload and unpredictable hours, have a notorious reputation for causing burnout and high associate turnover, resulting in a competitive, lateral job market. In response to this, Slaughter and May, a major law firm, have established an interesting initiative to counterbalance the often intense lifestyle of their attorneys. As discussed…
In the ever-evolving landscape of the legal tech industry, the potential threat of cyber attacks is a pressing concern that persistently lingers. Security teams are continually fending off cyber threats that could potentially lead to significant losses for law firms, compromising their reputation, data, and finances. Potentially worse, firms that are not perceived to be…
With incoming Association of American Law Schools (AALS) President Melanie Wilson at the helm, ‘courage in action’ will define the organisation’s theme for the year. Drawing inspiration from powerful past themes voiced by previous AALS presidents, Melanie Wilson highlights the necessity of bravery when tackling the important work needed in legal education. In a recent…
A recent news story from Bloomberg Law relayed that an attorney from Susman Godfrey LLP and Arendi S.A.R.L. have successfully defended against allegations that they revealed confidential information from Apple Inc. The alleged leak was said to have transpired during a trial where Google LLC was accused of infringing a computer program patent. Notably, Apple…
In its ruling termed Vishal Tiwari v Union of India, the Indian Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to transfer investigations against Indian multinational conglomerate, the Adani Group, to a Special Investigation Team or the Central Bureau of Investigation. The ongoing probe against purported stock manipulation is currently spearheaded by the Securities and Exchange Board of…
The ongoing tug of war between banks and financial technology startups over access to customer data lies at the centre of industry discussions about the forthcoming open banking regulations from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). A key point of contention is whether banks should be able to charge fees for the sharing of data…
Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the son of President Joko Widodo and running mate of leading presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, has been summoned by Indonesia’s election watchdog over alleged campaign violations. These allegations are associated with milk distribution during Jakarta’s car-free day, according to a report by Antara News. The General Election Supervisory Board (BAWASLU) purportedly summoned…
Lawrance M. Smith has recently joined Day Pitney as a partner in the corporate and business law department in their New Jersey office. In his practice, Smith is involved in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and venture capital transactions, as reported by Day Pitney. Notably, his representation extends to automobile dealers involved in acquisition and…
As the new year begins, we’re still hearing about law firms that increased associate salaries just before 2023 ended. One such law firm is King & Spalding, which chose to fill its associates’ holiday stockings by implementing salary increases. A major player amongst Big Law firms, King & Spalding grossed $2,020,354,000 in 2022 landing it…
As 2023 drew to a close, the Am Law 100 firm Cozen O’Connor abstained from distributing year-end bonuses, a move that has sparked notable discord among its associates. Historically, excluding this year, Cozen O’Connor has consistently awarded year-end bonuses annually, often supplementing these with special bonuses. The lack of bonuses this year has left many…