Eleven attorneys have been asked to provide a valid basis for them to avoid potential sanctions following a judicial report that determined they may have engaged in judge-shopping. The sanctions enquiry comes in the light of their challenge towards an Alabama’s law that prohibits certain medical procedures for transgender youth. Notable firms involved are Cooley…
Final approval has been granted to the U.S. government’s $125 million settlement that concludes class action claims regarding excessive fees associated with the PACER records system, a tool utilized by the federal courts. This decision, handed down by a D.C. federal judge this past Wednesday, also establishes almost $23.9 million in fees that will be…
Iowa has followed Texas’s lead in cracking down on undocumented immigration with the recent passage of a state-enforced immigration bill. This legislative move sees Iowa join the ranks of states formulating independent immigration laws, effectively subverting the federal immigration system. According to this new piece of legislation, Senate File 2340, entering Iowa after previous deportation…
Democratic Republic of Congo journalist Stanis Bujakera was released from prison on Wednesday following a six-month sentence for forgery and spreading false rumors regarding the death of political opposition candidate Cherubin Okende. The rumors implied that a government intelligence agency was involved in the politician’s demise. The announcement of Bujakera’s release was made by his…
Leasing activity among U.S. law firms peaked in 2023, marking an increase of over 50% compared to the pandemic-stricken years of 2020 and 2021, according to global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield. Additionally, the surge in new leases significantly outnumbered renewals, indicating a trend towards relocation among firms with expiring leases. Their recent…
Despite seeing a need for long term strategies, midsize law firms are finding it increasingly difficult to encourage attorneys back to the office as employees still remain hesitant due to a myriad of concerns. As reported in a recent study published by Law.com, the return-to-office (RTO) process has been slowed by various factors. One key…
Asia’s legal market presents increasing challenges for law firms seeking to establish a foothold or broaden their presence, characterized by its complexity and maturity. The region is no longer a cheap market to penetrate and this demands substantial due diligence from firms intent on venturing into the Asian markets. These insights are courtesy of Jessica…
Despite a year marked by economic uncertainty in 2023, there are still notable examples of dealmakers rising above the tide, demonstrating resilience through creativity and a tremendous work ethic. This group of exceptional legal professionals in Big Law’s transactional practice continue to set the standard for their peers, affirming that the art of dealmaking, regardless…
In the latest development surrounding a critical intellectual property case, the Federal Circuit has revised certain aspects of a California federal judge’s prior decisions. The case involves CEMCO, a noted metals company, and a smaller competitor. After a jury found the competition guilty of induced infringement on several fireproofing patents, a royalty award was issued…
In a recent development that holds implications for New York City’s real estate taxation system, the city’s highest court has tentatively split on a ruling that could invite a flood of owners registering protests over property valuations, as hinted by one city attorney. The decision came as a result of an appeal led by attorneys…
In a recent case before the U.S. District Court in Southern District of New York, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman ruled that there will be no sanction for Michael Cohen’s attorney, David M. Schwartz, who submitted fake case citations generated by an AI program. The software in question is Google Bard, a generative AI program….
In the ever-changing landscape of the legal industry, last year proved to be a profitable period for Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, with a reported revenue increase of 6.2%. However, the growth of profits surpassed this figure by a significant margin. The most noteworthy aspect of the performance review, from Orrick Chair Mitch Zuklie’s perspective, was…
In a recently concluded class action lawsuit, rideshare service, Uber has agreed to pay $178 million to Australian taxi drivers. The settlement, which comes on the heels of what the plaintiff law firm Maurice Blackburn characterizes as a fierce resistance from the platform, signals a significant payout for aggrieved taxi operators in the country. The…
U.S. District Judge Nancy Maldonado, recognized for having one of the largest case backlogs among federal district judges, has faced criticism regarding her nomination to join the Seventh Circuit. These concerns surfaced specifically from several Republican senators who, during recent discussions, implied that this portfolio may render her an unsuitable nominee by President Joe Biden….
A recent incident has sparked conversation surrounding law school admission processes. A prospective law school student, unable to secure admission to Yale despite scoring 150 on LSAT test, blamed racial bias, attributing his rejection letter to affirmative action. This controversial statement has since been widely discussed on social platforms: a clear instance of this candidate’s…
On Wednesday, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Gonzalez v. Trevino. The case involves an appeal from a Texas councilwoman who contends her arrest was a retaliatory response to her criticism of the city government. The case follows a ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which decided against…
The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has reported a significant shift in their upper management, notably affecting its primary attorney. This move sees the bank’s chief legal officer’s responsibilities broaden as the institution braces for a key strategic executive’s forthcoming departure. This change depicts an alignment in positions and responsibilities, characteristic of trends seen in…
President Joe Biden is planning to nominate Kevin Ritz, a leading federal prosecutor, to the Cincinnati-based US appeals court. This decision marks the ongoing endeavors of the current administration to transform the federal circuit courts. Ritz’s extensive experience and dedication to the legal system equip him for this prestigious nomination. Kevin Ritz is currently the…
Delaware Superior Court Judge Paul R. Wallace has granted a motion for partial summary judgment filed by a California-based biotech company. This decision is greatly relevant to both insurers and companies seeking indemnification from D&O (directors and officers) policies. In the crux of the matter, Gilead Sciences subsidiary Immunomedics found itself in the centre of…
Legal departments within corporations are grappling with negative perceptions from other parts of the business, an issue highlighted in a study recently published by Thomson Reuters. The study, titled “2024 State of the Corporate Law Department”, pinpoints one of the key factors reinforcing this perception as the methods by which these departments measure their performance…
In the vast and evolving landscape of legal tech, careful analysis of new tools and platforms is crucial. A minor oversight by several law firms and tech providers on this front has resulted in unexpected exposure to data confidentiality issues, due to overlooked terms of service within Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service. A number of these…
In recent events, after a long waiting period coupled with some tough selection process, Eumi Lee, a judicial nominee from President Joe Biden’s administration, has been confirmed by the Senate. This administrative win has brought both celebration and contention, as it saw Lee securing her position as a federal trial court judge in San Francisco,…
A federal judge has recently approved a $125 million settlement for specific users of the PACER electronic court records system. The agreement signals an important resolution for individuals involved in the system, many of whom could potentially get reimbursed for the fees they paid. The Bloomberg Law report details how Judge Paul Friedman of the…
The ongoing discourse surrounding affirmative action in law school admissions, often focusing on arguments of entitlement versus merit, has recently taken an unusual – if not perplexing – turn. This contentious topic resurfaced in an incident involving an entitlement-claiming, LSAT-150-scoring law hopeful. Unable to accept rejection letters from sought-after law schools, the student blamed an…
The US Marine Corps has handed lawmakers a funding wish list for next year totaling $2.4 billion, according to a report on Breaking Defense. This list comes on the heels of the White House’s $849.8 billion discretionary spending request for fiscal 2025 presented to Congress last week. The list from the Marine Corp indicates that…