Practicing law is often likened to competing in a marathon – both require endurance, strategy, and resilience. In an intriguing cross-over, attorney Laura Heusel takes this comparison a step further through her participation in triathlons. Balancing the dual demands of triathlon training and an active legal career may seem daunting, but Heusel finds that the…
The U.S Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has recently published a set of guidelines for assessing the enablement requirement in utility applications and patents, pursuant to a ruling by the Supreme Court in Amgen Inc. et al. v. Sanofi et al. Legendary patent law attorney, Ryan Hagglund from Loeb & Loeb, provides his analysis detailing…
Two Pennsylvania law firms, known for offering debt settlement services, have agreed to pay a minimum of $75,000 to former clients. This decision is a part of a settlement with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, concluding accusations of fraudulent advertising and telemarketing tactics. This significant settlement came into light on Wednesday, as announced by the…
Recent legal cases involving firms Troutman Pepper and Davis Polk have highlighted the fine line supervisors must walk when delivering constructive criticism to attorneys whose performance may be lacking. Both incidents exemplify the challenges faced by partners in conducting performance reviews for ascending associates while encouraging professional growth. The lawsuit at Troutman Pepper and the…
The US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals made a landmark ruling against a trailer park’s immigration policy, overturning a lower court’s decision and offering renewed scrutiny on the Fair Housing Act (FHA)’s application. The ruling lies at the intersection of housing, immigration, and corporate responsibility – making it particularly worthy of note for legal professionals…
In a recent development, a Massachusetts federal judge has advised a former attorney of Ropes & Gray LLP and his previous client to settle their ongoing fee dispute. With just a 15% difference to finalising an agreement, he admonished that it would be “crazy” to proceed with a potentially expensive fee arbitration process. The judge’s…
Jeremy Glenn, the Office Managing Partner at Cozen O’Connor, has given some insightful advice for legal professionals, emphasizing the importance of not sacrificing professional growth opportunities for billable hours. In his view, the real significance of a fruitful legal career goes beyond the day-to-day work and delves into meaningful participation in several other activities. Glenn…
In a ruling that could have implications for online legal proceedings, a California appeals court recently nixed a $10,000 sanction against a client whose attorney declined to activate his computer camera during a digital deposition. The sanction had been incorporated into the broader context of the client’s ongoing divorce proceedings. The ruling comes amidst an…
Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP has recently expanded its team by adding a new partner and co-chair to their life sciences patent litigation and intellectual property litigation practices. This new addition carries with him a profound wealth of knowledge garnered from over 30 years of experience working with some of the leading names in the…
Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP, an American law firm known for winning a $189 million trademark case for a home security company, has recently been denied a claim for additional attorney fees amounting to $3 million. The decision came from a federal judge in North Carolina, proclaiming that the law firm is not entitled to…
In joining forces with prominent law firm Dorsey & Whitney, Dana Herberholz and Jordan Stott have expanded the firm’s intellectual property (IP) capabilities. The pair who recently arrived as partners in the IP group will enhance the firm’s service offering from their new base in Boise, Idaho. According to the firm announcement, Dana Herberholz specializes…
In the landscape of increasingly high-stakes and complex intellectual property litigation, an aggressive race among law firms to grab eminent patent lawyers is apparent. Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe is among the law firms that have expanded their IP division amid this demand. As well as Orrick, the past week saw several other firms including Arnold…
On January 24th, Iranian lawyers were recognized by United Nations human rights experts for their “unwavering and courageous commitment” to the rule of law. The commendation comes ahead of the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer, which marks the challenges and dangers faced by legal professionals globally. The Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges…
In a recent escalation of land disputes in southern Brazil, an indigenous Pataxó Hã Hã Hãe leader has lost her life, with her brother, an indigenous chief, also shot but luckily surviving after surgery. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has pledged federal support to the distressed indigenous community of Bahia following the incident. JURIST…
The financial implications of law school can have a lifelong impact, and increasingly, students are questioning the worthiness of this investment. Data from the AccessLex Institute’s Legal Education Data Deck referenced in the ABA Journal states that many law students don’t believe the cost of law school was worth it. Statistics indicate that nearly half…
The UK High Court has reportedly found the Secretary of State for the Home Office guilty of operating an unlawful ‘secret policy’. As a result of this policy, over 1,500 modern slavery victims were denied their right of leave to remain. The claimant, referred to as XY in the lawsuit, was abducted and enslaved by…
Nicole Mann, an accomplished legal professional focused on trusts and estates, has joined Loeb & Loeb as a partner in their Chicago office, according to a recent announcement by the firm. In her new role, Mann will continue to represent individuals, families, and fiduciaries in estate and trust disputes, an area in which she has…
The US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals recently reached a verdict on a Maryland county regulation. According to the ruling, firearm dealers are constitutionally obligated to provide suicide prevention literature at the point of sale in accordance with US Constitution’s First Amendment. In response to the increasing incidence of suicide, Anne Arundel County in Maryland…
The dilemma of who truly owns a social media account, particularly business accounts, has been a recurrent topic of discussion in the legal community. For instance, in JLM Couture, Inc. v. Gutman, the case revolves around creative individual Haley Paige Gutman, who is locked in a dispute over two social media accounts she created under…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is staking a claim in the arena of legal services and procedures. Law firms and legal departments are now embracing AI in an attempt to develop custom solutions for diverse legal arenas including corporate law, intellectual property, and criminal defense.Above the Law recently outlined how specializing AI tools and systems can provide…
The esteemed law firm, WilmerHale, has announced a series of generous raises and bonuses for its associates, according to a report from Above the Law. Operating on the Cravath scale for its compensation increases, the firm’s attorneys will enjoy the following increased salaries, backdated to the start of this year: Class of 2023 – $225,000…
Quarles & Brady announced the recent addition of Mary Kate Hogan as a partner in the business law practice group in their St. Louis, Missouri office; a positive development for the firm’s expanding practice group. This news reflects the ongoing efforts of law firms across the globe to strengthen their teams with experienced legal professionals…
DLA Piper, a multinational law firm, announced the induction of Lily Wound, a seasoned attorney, as a partner in its corporate practice in the New York office, as reported on Bloomberg Law. Wound’s areas of expertise lie in representing pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and other life sciences companies in commercial, corporate, and licensing transactions a statement by…
Following allegations that customer’s personal information was insufficiently protected during a data breach in November 2022, lender Snap Finance LLC has agreed to a settlement of $1.8 million Bloomberg Law reported. The data breach is said to have affected more than 60,000 individuals. The US District Court for the District of Utah granted final approval…
On Tuesday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the seizure of 700 safety deposit boxes through civil asset forfeiture exceeded the provided warrant, infringing on the Fourth Amendment prohibition against unreasonable search and seizure. The case traces back to 2021 when the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) secured a warrant to investigate a…