In this era of heightened scrutiny over antitrust concerns, it is increasingly crucial for in-house lawyers to be vigilant beyond the usual traps. A focus on education is paramount, with considerations around handling subpoenas and depositions becoming more important than ever. These concerns were raised by Erin Shencopp, a senior counsel at Boeing, in a…
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a set of regulations aimed at drastically reducing pollution emitted by power plants. According to the announced plan, a 90% reduction in harmful emissions is anticipated within the next eight years. This goal marks one of the most ambitious environmental endeavors in recent history. Power plants,…
Last April 25, 2024, California’s Attorney General, Rob Bonta, revealed that official charges had been thrust against a senior prosecutor from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for illicitly accessing almost a dozen classified sheriff’s deputy files. The prosecutor is also an adviser to the district attorney, George Gascón. This case adds to the…
An objector has presented his challenge to the $125 million settlement of class action claims that users of PACER, the U.S. federal courts’ electronic records system, are being overcharged. The case is now heading to the Federal Circuit for further evaluation. Details surrounding the nature of the objection or the identity of the objector themselves…
U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea, sitting in the District of Connecticut, has announced that despite previous ties, he will not recuse himself from a significant drug price-fixing lawsuit involving Sandoz Inc. and other pharmaceutical firms. Notably, the defending attorneys from Sandoz are from Day Pitney LLP, where Judge Shea formerly held a partnership position….
After the Senate approved a bill renewing the controversial warrantless foreign surveillance legislation last Saturday, it was sent straight to the President’s desk for ratification. This sparked comments from Oregon Senator and known privacy advocate, Sen. Ron Wyden, who continued to show his fierce opposition to the bill’s passage. He was one of the 34…
In a recent legal development, an New Jersey-based company involved in the sales of nail polish has been unsuccessful in convincing a federal appeals court to proceed with its trade secrets lawsuit in a Chicago federal court against its former Chinese business partners. This verdict has come in the wake of a latent ownership dispute…
In a recent series of events unfolding within the legal industry, an interesting array of developments have occurred, highlighting perhaps some of the unforeseen challenges that legal professionals are currently facing. A lawyer has been disbarred after unsuccessfully attempting to destroy evidence on his computer. The unfortunate failure has marked the end of his career…
In a move to bolster their corporate capabilities, Polish law firm LSW has recently welcomed eight new partners, along with a contingent of associates and business professionals, totaling a team of 15 new members. This move comes at a critical time as foreign investment interest in the Polish market continues to rise. Read more about…
Attentive legal professionals might want to turn their gaze to the recent trend of major law firms utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) in order to gain a competitive edge in the market. This is the implication of a recent article published on Above the Law, which features an interview with a Biglaw leader discussing his firm’s…
In a recent announcement, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative disclosed that it has delisted the Dominican Republic and Uzbekistan from its list of countries that have previously held poor records on intellectual property (IP) protection. However, renowned trade partners such as Mexico and Canada remain on the record. The decision of delisting implies…
Law.com International recently held its annual Middle East Legal Awards on April 25, 2024, in Dubai. A host of law firms and partners were recognized for their exceptional work in various facets of the legal profession at the prestigious event. Unfortunately, detailed information about the awards and the winners is locked behind a paywall, but…
Legal technology sectors brace themselves for an expansion in market value, as an analysis from Gartner Inc. predicts the legal tech market to reach $50 billion by 2027. This is a notable growth, up from around $23 billion in 2022, and is reportedly fueled by the recent generative artificial intelligence boom. Bloomberg Law shared this…
Nikki Stitt Sokol, who has been supervising intra-corporate litigation since shortly after Facebook’s initial public offering, emphasizes on the vital role of comprehending the personas behind a business along with their pivotal missions. As featured in a recent article in Litigation Daily, Sokol’s insights revolve around the core belief that litigation is not just a…
The legal wrangling over a major settlement related to insulin pricing has hit a stumbling block, with lawyers at the forefront of the case pledging to keep fighting. The settlement in question, touted at a sizable $500 million, is intended to resolve allegations over Eli Lilly’s insulin pricing structure. However, complications have arisen after a…
The U.S. federal government’s role in the Larry Nassar case, a sexual abuse scandal involving a former USA Gymnastics doctor, continues to be scrutinized following a $139 million settlement for the victims. This settlement was seen by many as an acknowledgment of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) failure to appropriately handle the victims’ allegations…
In pursuit of effective in-house litigation, Nikki Stitt Sokol of Meta Platforms Inc. has operated under a simple yet profound ethos: litigation, at its core, is always about a story. This perspective has fuelled her efforts since she began managing the company’s litigation shortly after the landmark Facebook IPO. Working in-house at one of the…
The outcome of a complex legal process surrounding a case of patent infringement was revealed last Thursday. It was confirmed that the inventor of a product designed to prevent flooding in New York City’s subway system had come to terms with an individual and two corporations accused of lucratively redirecting funds from the actual infringements….
The last day of court arguments for the 2023-24 term unfolded, drawing broad attention for the significant case, Trump v. United States. This case, seen as perhaps the most significant of the term, focuses on pivotal questions concerning presidential immunity. Prior to this momentous proceeding, Chief Justice John Roberts, attended Georgetown University Law Center’s annual…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently come under fire for a newly imposed rule banning non-compete clauses, asserting that this move would boost business creation, raise worker wages, and fuel innovation. In predictable response, a lawsuit was swiftly filed challenging the FTC’s action as an unwarranted overreach. The lawsuit has been led by the…
For legal professionals who are interested in the capabilities of generative AI but have minimal time for experimentation or lengthy webinars, there are two resources available that can provide useful insights within a ten-minute time frame. The first resource is a summary comparison which presents an evaluation of five generative AI platforms, focusing on their…
In recent years, strategy formation within large law firms has shifted focus from minor, internal concerns to identifying broader opportunities within the rapidly-changing legal landscape. In an environment where Big Law is disrupted by various forces including technology and client demands, strategic foresight has become a vital tool for survival. A major talking point is…
With noncompete agreements increasingly phased out, businesses are exploring alternative strategies to protect intellectual property, including the use of ‘garden leave’ clauses. With less use of noncompete clauses, nonsolicitation agreements may play an increasingly essential role to help private entities manage the market for employment and employment mobility. The vital concern is to keep balance…
In a recent development, TikTok, the globally popular social media platform, has managed a partial victory in a court case lodged by Beijing Meishe Network Technology. The Chinese software company took legal action against TikTok on several intellectual property (IP) counts. A federal judge in California has ruled in TikTok’s favor, dismissing numerous IP claims…
The U.S. Supreme Court seems increasingly wary of a federal appeals court ruling that dismissed former President Donald Trump’s assertion of absolute immunity from criminal charges based on his presidential actions. This key topic was up for scrutinization over a rather intensive period of more than two-and-a-half hours of oral argument. Trump was indicted on…