As reported by Law.com, China Resources Beverage Ltd (CR Beverage), a soft drinks division of the state-owned enterprise China Resources Holdings Company Limited, has filed for its initial public offering (IPO) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). Being guided by prestigious law firms Clifford Chance, Jingtian & Gongcheng, and Harneys, the company lodged its…
The US Supreme Court recently held oral arguments on the topic of enforcing public camping ordinances against unhoused people (who don’t have access to adequate shelter), an act that could possibly be deemed as cruel and unusual punishment as prohibited by the Eighth Amendment. The case in question, Grants Pass v. Johnson, came from southern…
Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling, which are expected to finalize their merger next month, are continuing to hire laterally even as some partners depart the firms. Shearman, yesterday announced the addition of Carolyn Stoner, former counsel at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, who will become a partner in the real estate division in New…
An Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) lawsuit has been filed against Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, a leading global law firm, by one of its lawyers. The attorney alleges that her long-term disability benefits were unlawfully and suddenly terminated by the firm’s benefits plan. She further accuses the plan of using criteria that bear…
In a recent development, Singapore’s state-owned marine unit, Seatrium, has been ordered to pay $108 million in an arbitration case to MHWirth while it finds itself simultaneously embroiled in a corruption investigation worth $110 million. Read more. The specific details of the case remain unclear as the original article is paywalled. However, it appears that…
Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly & Co. appealed to the Federal Circuit, urging it to uphold a Massachusetts federal judge’s decision that nullified a $176.5 million verdict against the company. The judgement stemmed from allegations of patent infringement related to Teva’s migraine drug patents. Eli Lilly supported the lower court’s resolution deeming the patent claims invalid….
As corporations deal with balancing risk and opportunity, General Counsels (GCs) often find themselves acting as guides navigating the fine line between being too risk-averse or excessively risk-prone. One such professional adeptly pioneering this delicate path is Theresa Shea, General Counsel of Utz Brands. Shea emphasizes the importance of operating in the grey areas between…
In an intriguing development in the continuing battle over copyright infringement, noted software company Splunk was awarded a mere single dollar in damages by a California federal jury on Monday. This case opened when Splunk lodged a formal complaint against its rival company, Cribl, accusing them of copyright transgression. While the sum of the award…
The ongoing legal dispute between Jack Daniel’s and VIP Products LLC continues to unfurl in the Arizona federal court. The whiskey brand has recently rebuked VIP Products for their contention that the company’s unique dog toys – shaped like whiskey bottles – neither infringe upon nor dilute Jack Daniel’s lucrative brand. Jack Daniel’s argues that…
In a recent twist of professional conduct, the legal representatives for both Elon Musk, the renowned tech magnate, and a plaintiff claiming defamation by Musk had their grievances laid bare in court. This occurred during Monday’s hearing, capturing the focused attention of the presiding judge in Texas. The case, which revolves around alleged defamation of…
In a recent development, Light & Wonder, the successor to Scientific Games, has appealed to an Illinois federal judge not to grant certification to a class of automatic card shuffler buyers. This controversial step comes as riverboat casinos who are accusing the firm of manipulating the patent office to consolidate its shuffler monopoly insist their…
In 2023, the Federal Circuit confirmed Patent Trial and Appeal Board decisions in entirety at a record 83.3%, significantly above the historical average of 74.2%. These figures come from the most recent data compiled by patent attorneys at Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP. These affirmance rates represent a new high for Patent Trial…
In the spirit of Earth Day, it’s time to recognize the contributions of individuals reshaping the legal landscape through their dedication towards the intersection of law and technology. One name that stands out prominently is Olga V. Mack. Currently serving as a Fellow at CodeX, The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics, and a Generative AI…
In a significant legal development, jurors are reportedly leaving due to information leaks from the ongoing Trump trial, allegedly due to presidential intimidation tactics. The case, initially stemming from the infamous ‘Trump secret payment’ scandal, is veering towards the spectacle typically observed in mob trials. Such tactics can, in many scenarios, influence the course of…
In business and legal sectors, efficiency in leveraging time is often gauged by billable hours per attorney. The conversation on the most dedicated, or perhaps demanding, Biglaw firms, measured by their average billable hours, becomes crucial for legal professionals considering their career trajectories or work-life balance. Recent data from American Lawyer presents some interesting insights…
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has elected not to revise the decision made by an administrative law judge in relation to Shoals Technologies Group’s solar technology patent conflict with Voltage LLC. According to the judge’s ruling, Shoals was said to have failed to demonstrate that they have a domestic industry for one of the…
A strong call has been made to Congress by a broad alliance comprising more than 100 immigrant rights groups and multiple local governments. They seek an allocation of funds in the next fiscal year with the aim of augmenting the availability of legal representation for individuals involved in removal proceedings, thereby helping safeguard their right…
The US Supreme Court has recently agreed to hear an appeal concerning an important decision on the rules set by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) aimed at placing limitations on the creation of ghost guns. Ghost guns are essentially weapon parts kits that can be assembled into a fully functioning firearm…
Shade Co., parent company to home lighting fixtures manufacturer Lutron, is currently in an ongoing legal battle with competitor GeigTech. At the heart of this feud lies a recent verdict by a New York federal jury, obliging Lutron to pay GeigTech the significant sum of $34.6 million. This follows a finding that Lutron infringed upon…
When Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was first nominated to the United States Supreme Court, she faced demeaning criticism that was heavily laced with racism. An example occurred when a then-Georgetown instructor described the nominee as a “lesser black woman.” This pattern of unjustifiable attacks against certain candidates reveals that some qualified conservatives are keen not…
Despite the sweeping discourse and tensions surrounding TikTok, it appears ByteDance, the parent company of the popular app, may not be ready to give in without a fight. With Congress considering a potential ban on the dance application as a bid for “protecting the American public,” ByteDance’s plan to respond by taking the matter to…
A recent $45 million talc lawsuit verdict against Johnson & Johnson marked the first victory for a mesothelioma victim following two unsuccessful talc bankruptcies last year. The triumphant party is none other than the renowned Dallas-based firm Dean Omar Branham Shirley. The verdict was delivered by a jury in Chicago’s Cook County Circuit Court, compensating…
As the world continues to grapple with the economic impact of the pandemic, it’s become apparent that law firms are not immune to the pressures. Notably, an interesting trend has emerged within Big Law: leverage is growing. While leverage ratios have traditionally been kept relatively low, several high-profile firms have been subtly changing this balance,…
Despite a noted slowdown in lateral partner and counsel hiring in both international and domestic law firms with operations in Washington D.C. in the first quarter of this year, some firms have managed to buck this trend and continue to strengthen their ranks. Notably, firms such as Foley & Lardner, King & Spalding, Cooley, and…
While 2023 showed promising growth for most Chicago-based law firms, a select handful did not keep pace with the Am Law 100. Six out of the nine Chicago-founded law firms represented in the rankings had lower revenue growth compared to the Am Law 100 overall. Irrespective of their slowed revenue growth, the Chicago firms have…