Roberta Kaplan, the well-known trial lawyer who successfully represented writer E. Jean Carroll in her high-profile lawsuits against former President Donald Trump, is set to launch a new boutique law firm alongside three former prosecutors. Kaplan is departing Kaplan Hecker & Fink, a firm she co-founded seven years ago, to establish Kaplan Martin. The new…
General counsel (GCs) are increasingly vocal about their frustration with law firms’ persistent lack of transparency, particularly concerning billing practices. This opacity is exacerbating the difficulty of justifying substantial outside counsel expenditures within their companies. Firms’ opaque billing methods, which have long been a sore point, are now reaching a tipping point as legal departments…
As deepfakes evolve alongside generative AI, the need to differentiate them from genuine media is becoming increasingly crucial. This growing challenge has positioned “watermarking” as a potentially effective method for identifying synthetic content. According to a recent report, several types of AI watermarks are at the forefront of these efforts, each presenting its own set…
Last week, the highly anticipated Vault ‘Quality of Life’ Rankings for 2025 were released, offering a comprehensive overview of the best law firms to work for based on associate satisfaction. The rankings are part of Vault’s Annual Associate Survey, which considers various factors such as compensation, firm culture, work-life balance, and career progression opportunities. Unlike…
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s controversial Dobbs decision, which effectively dismantled decades of established precedent regarding abortion rights, a technological mishap on the Court’s website has offered a sliver of hope for proponents of reproductive rights. Earlier today, as reported by Bloomberg Law, the decision in Moyle v. United States, Idaho v. United…
In the arena of legal compensation, summer bonuses have always been an intriguing topic. A few firms have already ventured into the summer bonus pool, as evidenced by McKool Smith’s recent move, but the broader legal landscape has yet to see widespread adoption of this trend. The selective nature of these bonuses raises questions about…
Over the past year, the legal profession has been scrutinizing the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the industry. While some predict that AI will usurp tasks traditionally handled by attorneys, thereby reducing the number of legal jobs, evidence points to the contrary. The legal industry’s adaptability has been key to its resilience in the…
In an unusual judicial interpretation, the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Snyder v. United States has redefined the boundaries of federal bribery laws, focusing on the difference between pre- and post-transactional payments to officials. In a 6-3 ruling, the conservative majority determined that while federal law prohibits public officials from accepting money before taking a…
Investment in intangible assets such as intellectual property, software, and brand recognition expanded at over three times the rate of physical asset investments over the past 15 years, culminating in nearly $6.9 trillion in 2023. The World Intellectual Property Organization highlights that the U.S. and the U.K. have been at the forefront of this surge…
Law.com’s Amanda Bronstad recently highlighted in her weekly briefing, Class Actions: Critical Mass, that multidistrict litigation (MDL) now constitutes 65% of the federal civil caseload. This significant rise has sparked a debate among legal professionals regarding the implications of this trend. Among the pressing issues discussed was the contentious proposed $6.48 billion talc bankruptcy plan…
High Court Lets Slip Order Allowing Idaho Emergency Abortions The U.S. Supreme Court inadvertently released an order on Wednesday permitting emergency abortions in Idaho. The majority opinion indicated that the court considered it premature to address a state challenge at this time. This development, reported by Bloomberg, marks a significant moment in the ongoing legal…
Sergio Jadue, the former president of the National Association of Professional Football of Chile, has initiated a defamation lawsuit against Amazon Studios and additional defendants. The legal action, filed in a federal district court in Miami, centers on the portrayal of Jadue in a streaming drama series, where he is depicted committing various fabricated crimes…
A group of prominent law firms has been tapped to serve on a U.S. government-organized initiative aimed at advancing the safety and deployment of trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI). Among the firms participating are Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, DLA Piper, Clifford Chance, and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. These firms are now members of the AI Safety…
The Supreme Court appears to have leaned towards preserving federal protections for emergency abortions in Idaho, based on information that was inadvertently disclosed online. According to Bloomberg News, a pair of opinions regarding Moyle v. United States and Idaho v. United States were “inadvertently and briefly uploaded” to the Court’s website. Amy Howe of SCOTUSblog…
Generative AI Copyright Infringement Major record labels, including Capitol Records and Sony Music Entertainment, have filed lawsuits against two music-focused generative artificial intelligence companies. These lawsuits accuse the companies, Udio and Suno, of engaging in “willful copyright infringement on an almost unimaginable scale.” The legal actions allege that Udio and Suno copied “decades’ worth of…
Tesla has announced two additional recalls for its Cybertruck, impacting over 11,000 vehicles produced since the model’s debut late last year. Owners are being advised to bring their vehicles in for servicing due to issues with faulty windshield wiper motors and a cosmetic piece that could detach while driving. Earlier this year, Tesla issued recalls…
The Supreme Court of Brazil has ruled by a majority vote to decriminalise the possession of marijuana for personal use, marking a significant shift in the country’s drug policy. According to the official announcement, the judgment does not equate to legalisation, but rather reclassifies possession from a criminal act. The current legal framework will continue…
A significant trend in climate litigation emerged in 2023 with at least 230 new climate-related lawsuits filed globally. This expansion is characterized by strategic litigation aimed at holding companies and governments accountable. Key aspects highlighted by Joana Setzer and Catherine Higham in the Global Trends in Climate Change Litigation report from the London School of…
For many prospective law students, the decision to attend law school is considered a significant investment. This primarily revolves around evaluating the return on investment (ROI) and understanding whether the earning potential post-graduation justifies the often exorbitant tuition fees and associated costs. It’s essential to consider which law schools are most likely to place graduates…
In a strategic expansion to meet the rising demand for employment law, Am Law 200 firm Thompson Hine has established its first West Coast office. The firm has integrated 11 lawyers and 14 staff members from the Southern California-based litigation boutique Conkle, Kremer & Engel. Currently, the newly added team will operate out of Conkle…
Among the nation’s 350 largest law firms by attorney headcount, 223 have reported the number of self-identified LGBTQ+ associates, partners, and attorneys of other ranks at their firms. A new entrant tops the list for LGBTQ+ attorney representation in the latest LGBTQ+ Scorecard. For New York litigation boutique Selendy Gay, just over 15% of attorneys…
Carol Lombardini, JD ’79, might not be a household name, but her influence in Hollywood is substantial. As the president of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), Lombardini has been the force behind many key labor negotiations within the entertainment industry. Her role in finalizing numerous collective bargaining agreements for big studios…
Advances in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) have the potential to significantly affect the practice of law, particularly for junior lawyers. A 2023 Thomson Reuters report forecasts an “immense” impact, noting tools that can draft complaints using factual inputs. In light of the anticipated decline in manual tasks such as due diligence review and routine document…
The U.S. Supreme Court has clarified the limits of a federal bribery law often invoked in public corruption cases. In a 6-3 decision, the justices ruled in favor of a former Indiana mayor, stating that the law only outlaws quid pro quo bribery and does not cover rewards given after an official act. This ruling…
In a case that underscores the imperative for stringent compliance in financial institutions, several current and former bankers are facing trial in Monaco. The legal proceedings target approximately half a dozen bankers, including the local head of Banque Havilland. They are accused of failing to act on significant cash transactions by their clients, totaling around…