In a move that further underscores the ongoing evolution of AI inventorship, the U.K. Supreme Court recently ruled in Thaler v. Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks that artificial intelligence systems cannot be credited as inventors in patent applications. The ruling, which echoed earlier interpretations by U.K courts and the U.K. Intellectual Property Office…
In a substantial deal reshaping the landscape of animal health industry, Merck & Co. has announced an agreement to purchase the farmed fish health unit of Elanco Animal Health Inc for a cash transaction valued at $1.3 billion. The acquisition is clearly a significant boost for Merck’s animal health business, projecting the company into the…
Healthcare giant, Novo Nordisk A/S has confirmed the purchase of three manufacturing plants at the cost of 11 billion dollars. The move is aimed at meeting the expanding demand for its obesity medication, Wegovy and diabetes treatment, Ozempic. Bloomberg Law reports that Novo Nordisk procured these production sites from its principal shareholder, Novo Holdings A/S….
Welcome to today’s legal news roundup. We’ve compiled key updates and perspectives from recent cases and events. Roberta Kaplan, a former attorney at Paul Weiss, described an unusual incident that took place during a deposition involving Donald Trump. While representing E. Jean Carroll, Kaplan stated that Trump took a pile of documents and tossed them…
After the Congressional gridlock that seemed never-ending, a bipartisan border deal has been established by the Senate, which addresses Republican demands for newer restrictions on illegal border crossings, provoking resistant pushback from Donald Trump allies and GOP leaders in the House. This deal comes in light of immigration becoming a significant political issue amid the…
In recent news out of London, an ex-Clifford Chance lawyer, who was jointly tried with his former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analyst brother, was found not guilty of all charges in a highly publicized insider trading lawsuit. The acquittal was delivered by a London jury, wrapping up this significant case. Bloomberg Law reported on this…
A historic face-off is unfolding over whether Donald Trump is eligible to regain the presidency, placing strain on the US Supreme Court as the country girds for the potential of a turbulent year. This crucial issue, revolving around Trump’s future political role, places the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the Supreme Court. The court…
Energy giant E.ON has decided to no longer maintain an exclusive contract with Pinsent Masons law firm, opting instead to establish a panel comprising three legal firms. The five-year agreement is expected to offer E.ON a comprehensive range of legal services. This change signifies E.ON’s strategic move towards a broader legal assistance model, potentially catering…
In an uncommon move, Fisher Phillips, an Atlanta-based firm of approximately 500 attorneys, recently announced its acquisition of Blue Pencil Box, a legal technology startup. More frequently, law firms opt to develop their own capabilities and spin them off, or purchase services from external vendor platforms. Blue Pencil Box offers effective tools enabling companies to…
An upcoming proposal from the Biden administration, expected to be finalized later in 2024, has prompted concern among employer advocates and insurance companies who believe it could increase costs and reduce the quality of employer-sponsored mental health coverage. This anticipated decision, which is geared towards prohibiting health plans from implementing coverage restrictions on mental health…
Jon Henes, formerly of Kirkland & Ellis’ coveted restructuring practice, has managed to carve out a niche for himself after leaving the institution in 2021 to establish his advisory firm catering to distressed and bankrupt companies. Recently, Henes’ company C Street Advisory Group announced its first partner-level lawyer addition in the form of Whitney Fogelberg,…
The NextGen bar exam, which more rigorously examines law students’ knowledge of critical lawyering skills, is inspiring law schools to step up and provide students with more practical, real-world experiences. Six schools, in particular, have risen to the challenge, enhancing their offerings to better prepare their students for their legal careers. As part of their…
In an interesting development among top law firms, bankruptcy rate increases have now started to outpace inflation. This has resulted in leading restructuring lawyers charging around $2,500 an hour for their work on complex bankruptcies, as evidenced by the 2024 bankruptcy fee disclosures. These disclosures bring to light the significant amounts these leading lawyers charge,…
Arnold & Porter, a renowned law firm, has announced the reinforcement of its capabilities through the recruitment of a seven-lawyer team that will operate from its offices located in Chicago, Denver, and New York City. This shift, announced on Monday, portrays the ever-shifting landscape of professional legal service provisioning, as the firm prepares to better…
Continuing controversy in the legal industry has placed the spotlight firmly on a new ethics complaint, delving into the courtroom policies of US-based judges. The case in question focuses on the practices deployed by three Illinois district court judges, whose insistence on creating more opportunities for the “newer, female, or minority,” lawyers has been challenged…
Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court held oral arguments reflecting on the possibility of discarding the Chevron doctrine. The result of these discussions could have far-reaching implications for the American legal system. The Chevron doctrine refers to the legal standard used by courts when interpreting unclear legislation that falls under a federal agency’s remit….
The impending real estate dilemma in Chicago and San Francisco sparked by proposed ballot measures demands the undivided attention of the respective cities’ officials. With an unfortunate trend of rising real estate transfer taxes causing significant discomfort among stakeholders in both cities, it is high time for decision-makers to draw insights from the past and…
With another year well underway, the tax season—arguably the financial calendar’s most critical milestone—is upon us once more. As millions of Americans and corporations begin the annual process of preparing their tax returns, notable developments are taking shape at the IRS. The agency’s focus has diverged into three major avenues—improving taxpayer service, elevating compliance, and…
Opportunities to argue before the United States Supreme Court are scarce, with a single digit percent of filed petitions ever getting heard. Consequently, those that do find their way in front of the Supreme Court are frequently helmed by the same pool of attorneys. This limited set of advocates was the subject of a recent…
Elizabeth Robertson, a renowned white-collar partner who exited Skadden in December, has spear-headed a new business crime boutique. In an exclusive interview with Law.com International, Robertson expounds on her new endeavor. Regrettably, full details of the piece are unavailable due to a paywall restriction, and hence, this summary will be succinct. The lauded legal professional…
Mishcon de Reya, a prominent law company, has obtained a majority stake in a Brazilian group actions company. A key achievement for the company founders was initiating the noteworthy £36 billion Mariana dam disaster claim, which is currently progressing through UK courts. With limited access to full details in the paywalled article, included is a…
In a recent development, Geralyn Ritter has been named as the new President and CEO of Crowell & Moring International LLC, as confirmed by the firm earlier this week. Ritter, whose experience spans over a quarter of a century, comes in with a rich background in business, law, and government. Her expertise is notably profound…
In a striking shift within the legal fraternity, two more technology partners have moved from Norton Rose Fulbright to Allen & Overy (A&O), according to the New York Law Journal. This marks a total of four technology partners transitioning from Norton Rose Fulbright to A&O within a relatively short span of time. The specific reasons…
In contemporary discussions on differentiation among elite law firms, concepts like ‘disruption’ are often spoken without a clear understanding of their implications. Recognizing this issue, The Global Lawyer presents an insightful discourse on how law firm leaders perceive and implement differentiation and disruption. The thrust seems to be towards achieving the $3 billion mark—a goal…
A Pakistani court has sentenced the nation’s former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, to seven years in prison each for having breached the marriage law in 2018, according to court officials and the couple’s attorney. This ruling revolves around the violation of the ‘Iddah’ period in Islamic law, which mandates that…