Welcome to today’s legal news roundup, focusing on news that affects lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel. We will be looking at the crusading FTC chair, the financial woes of the California State Bar, and the evolving landscape of law firms in Hong Kong.
Leading the headlines is the Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan. With a reputation as a legal wunderkind, Khan has emerged as a key figure in a new progressive movement determined to challenge the power of Big Business and Big Tech. Her proactive stance on preventing and breaking up monopolies has ruffled feathers and unsettled the established community of lawyers and economists active in the field of antitrust law.
Moving to state level issues, the California State Bar, which is grappling with a nearly $4 million annual deficit, is planning a total overhaul of its bar exam. Proposals to help alleviate the deficit include alternative test administration arrangements, arguably reducing costs by not hiring large venues for conducting tests.
On the international front, there’s a noteworthy trend in Hong Kong as local law firms increasingly merge with mainland China firms. Given the ongoing scale-back of international law firms in Hong Kong, this suggests that local practices are reassessing their future as independent entities. More details on this developing trend can be found at Law.com.
Lastly, let’s recap on a few of the significant lateral moves in the legal industry. Among those making moves are Adam Rehm and Rhiannon D’Agostin who have joined Norton Rose Fulbright’s intellectual property practice. Jennifer S. O’Connor and Jim H. Pulliam have joined Polsinelli as shareholders in Miami and Raleigh, N.C., respectively. Luke Iovine has joined Seyfarth Shaw’s corporate department in New York, John Saran has joined Holland & Knight’s Chicago office, Alicja Biskupska-Haas has joined Goodwin as a partner in the private investment funds practice, and Charles Carson has joined Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani’s commercial litigation practice group in Phoenix.
These are just some of the latest developments in the global legal landscape. Remember to stay informed and updated on the ongoing changes in the industry. Here’s to a productive day ahead!