Global law firm Orrick welcomes Ignacio Sandoval to the Financial and Fintech Advisory Practice. Sandoval, formerly of Morgan Lewis, has joined the Washington, D.C. branch as a partner. Drawing upon his extensive experience advising broker-dealers and securities-related service providers, Sandoval navigates the complex landscape of regulatory challenges emerging in the securities market. He brings to…
The European Patent Office (EPO) has updated its guidelines for examination which recently came into effect. As reported by Sarah Rodriguez, Craig Slater, and Yelena Morozova, the revised guidelines feature significant modifications pertaining to the priority right presumption, the notion of plausibility, and artificial intelligence.These alterations are expected to furnish crucial insights on securing patents…
One simply cannot start Monday without going through the morning read, a selection of fresh articles, commentary, and noteworthy links related to the Supreme Court. This week’s reading, curated by Ellena Erskine, provides a thorough look into some of the pressing matters currently pending before the court. Noteworthy mentions are the fight over Trump’s immunity…
Today, Courtroom Insight released its latest product – Matter Connector – aimed to deliver normalized court docket data from multiple sources to the Litera Foundation knowledge management platform and to other legal firm systems. Matter Connector allows law firms to streamline their operations by centralizing docket data from prominent providers such as LexisNexis, Lex Machina,…
The US Supreme Court is set to review another case regarding the judicial control over visa determinations for spouses of American citizens. The case involves Amina Bouarfa, a US citizen whose husband’s visa was originally approved and later revoked by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DHS made a determination that Bouarfa’s marriage was…
In a recent shift in the real estate legal landscape, Lawrence Simon has taken on a new position as partner in the real estate department at the New York office of Loeb & Loeb. The news was officially announced by the firm on Monday. Simon made the move from Morrison Cohen, where he had developed…
The US Supreme Court has agreed to examine a contentious issue concerning veterans’ rights to appeal the denial of their disability benefits in closely contested cases. This decision arrived in response to requests from US Air Force and Army veterans, who claim their compensation applications had been turned down despite the presence of medical proof…
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to scrutinize whether alterations to a complaint concerning overpriced prescription dog food dismisses the federal courts from adjudicating the dispute. This attempt to contour the jurisdictional boundaries within the legal field carries significant implications for ongoing and future class-action cases. Pet food manufacturers, Royal Canin U.S.A., Inc. and Nestle…
The U.S. Supreme Court has consented to review an appeal by manufacturers of a CBD hemp oil product facing triple damages in a consumer lawsuit. The case was brought forward by an individual claiming the said product caused him to fail a drug test, resulting in him losing his job. The apex court, in its…
On April 29, 2024, around 400 leading lawyers from across the Middle East’s legal industry convened in Dubai for the much-anticipated Middle East Legal Awards. Revealing a vibrant and ever-evolving legal scene in the region, these awards brought together some of the most influential and innovative legal professionals. Unfortunately, the full details of the event…
A lengthy breach of contract and trademark infringement dispute that had pitted investment manager State Street Global Advisors against the artist behind New York City’s well-known “Fearless Girl” bronze sculpture saw resolution this past weekend. The parties reached a settlement Saturday evening, ahead of a scheduled jury trial. The dispute marks another significant event in…
In recent news, former President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed discontent with David Pecker, potentially bringing more drama to the Trump hush-money trial. Details of their fallout are yet to unfold. For the full report, visit Reuters. Meanwhile, an attorney has found himself in the crosshairs of critique for trading legal work with culinary artistry…
Tesla Inc., led by Elon Musk, has received preliminary clearance from Chinese officials to launch its driver-assistance system in the world’s most sizeable auto market. The company’s recent venture into China has thus, proven to be fruitful. As reported by Bloomberg Law, Tesla was granted the approval under certain undefined conditions. Despite the lack of…
In an unexpected development, BHP Group has announced the stepping down of their General Counsel. The high-profile position at the mining company is slated to be filled by a former partner of Herbert Smith Freehills. The reasoning behind this sudden change, potential consequent shifts within the company, or the plans of the outgoing Counsel is…
Tim Gardner, the Hong Kong managing partner and co-head of the Asia private equity practice at Weil Gotshal & Manges, has recently departed the firm. He left to join PAG, an Asian private equity investment firm, taking on his new role as its general counsel. “It has been a privilege to co-head the Weil, Gotshal…
Welcome to another update of significant legal news. This roundup is relevant for lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel. Detroit-based law firm Clark Hill and one of its attorneys are facing serious accusations of having wired $1.1 million to scammers. These individuals allegedly hacked into email accounts to intercept settlement funds. The lawsuit came from…
Pre-pandemic, law firms seldom advertised their work environments to the world. The objective was to maintain an aura of secrecy, something quite synonymous with the field. However, the pandemic and the thrust towards remote work have caused a shift in this discretion. Today, law firms are showcasing their offices that speak volumes of ‘inclusivity’, ‘cutting-edge…
The ever-growing debate over noncompete clauses is set to escalate further due to the US Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent decision to enforce a nationwide ban. As noted in a Bloomberg report, this evolution is predicted to instigate increased state action, designed to limit these restrictive provisions. Noncompete agreements have a long-standing role in the…
Clifford Chance, one of the world’s preeminent law firms, recently announced that it has promoted 29 lawyers to partnership in its most recent round of promotions. Although the firm has seen a slight decrease in the number of promotions from 32 lawyers in 2023 and 37 in 2022, these new promotions further reinforce the firm’s…
The U.S. Labor Department is evidently attempting to combine practical strategy with fair pay in its recent scheme to increase federal overtime pay protections. This initiative is quite interesting because it incoporates Trump-era wage calculations for the initial phase – a move that seems aimed at mitigating potential legal challenges. In a nutshell, the Labor…
A shift in the United States environmental enforcement regime is stirring questions in the legal circles. A new policy by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aims to closer coordinate its civil and criminal enforcement teams. Many corporate attorneys and former federal officials are lauding the move, on the grounds that it will bring about fairer…
A contentious legal case challenging the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) definition of an employment agency is currently underway, as Workday Inc.’s artificial intelligence (AI) hiring tool faces claims of discrimination. The EEOC has submitted an amicus brief in support of the plaintiff who alleges that the AI-based tool discriminated against him and other job…
Williams & Connolly has defied conventional industry practices by adopting an adversarial relation with the Department of Justice (DOJ). Uniquely, the law firm employs a minimal number of former federal prosecutors, who are largely sought after by other top white-collar defense firms for internal DOJ insight. The firm is recognized for its independence and seldom…
The U.S. Labor Department’s recent standard, broadening fiduciary duties to encompass a larger number of retirement advice professionals, is anticipated to face considerable resistance from both Wall Street and Capitol Hill. The rule, which has now been finalized, is under threat due to potential legal challenges and legislative actions. These looming threats could risk the…
The IRS recently unveiled a draft for the first crypto tax reporting form, 1099-DA, following months of collecting input on proposed regulations that would require crypto “brokers” to report customer sales and digital asset exchanges. Scheduled to be implemented in 2025, the form is a signal that finalization of crypto tax regulations is imminent. These…