The legal industry is bracing itself as the upcoming presidential election remains uncertain. Each week, the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek, highlights the trends, disruptions, and shifts impacting the legal landscape. This coverage is crucial for legal professionals aiming to stay ahead of the curve and be prepared to…
Article In the burgeoning field of legal technology, investment figures are reaching unprecedented heights, showcasing the significant interest and trust investors are placing in these innovations. A recent article by LawNext provides an exhaustive list of the top 25 legal tech investments to date, with figures ranging from $80 million to a staggering $900 million….
In an unusual response to an overdraft notice and disciplinary inquiry, a Connecticut attorney informed officials that addressing the issue was not a priority because he was occupied with fishing. Consequently, the attorney has been placed on interim suspension from practicing law. For further details, the original article provides more context about the incident and…
“`html A State Bar Court judge has recommended that former State Bar Executive Director Joe Dunn be placed on one year of professional probation for allegedly misinforming the agency’s trustees regarding the financial responsibility for his 2014 trip to Mongolia. The trip, which cost over $6,000, became a point of contention when Dunn’s statements on…
FTC Chair Lina Khan Defends Noncompete Rule, Agency’s Assertive Role as Competition Watchdog FTC Chair Lina Khan staunchly defended the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) decision to ban employment noncompete clauses, highlighting the broad-based support the rule has received from both workers and industry sectors. In her remarks to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference in Sacramento,…
On July 24, 2024, a proposed class action lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of New York against Biglaw firm Foley Hoag, as initially reported by Law.com. The complaint was initiated by Gregory Modny, a former IT employee, who alleges that the firm failed to pay him $50,000 in overtime wages accrued over a…
A US appeals court has declared the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Universal Service Fund unconstitutional, labeling the Universal Service fees on phone bills a “misbegotten tax.” The decision jeopardizes the $8 billion-a-year initiative that funds telecom network expansion and makes communication services more affordable through subsidies such as Lifeline discounts and grants for Internet service…
The Seventh Circuit’s recent ruling in Motorola v. Hytera has once again stirred debate over the extraterritorial reach of the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA). The court held that the DTSA applies extraterritorially, yet questions remain regarding whether an act that advances misappropriation must be perpetrated by the defendant to meet the law’s requirements, note…
Reed Smith Adds Jeffrey Stern as Structured Finance Partner Reed Smith has reinforced its financial industry group by welcoming Jeffrey Stern as a partner, the firm announced on Thursday. Stern, who transitioned from Winston & Strawn, is set to bring extensive expertise in structured finance to his new role. Stern’s practice area encompasses asset-backed securities,…
European Commission Annual Rule of Law Report The European Commission (EC) published the 2024 Rule of Law report, highlighting a decline in democratic standards in Hungary, Italy, and Slovakia. This annual report evaluates the state of the rule of law across EU member states, concentrating on judicial independence, anti-corruption efforts, media pluralism, and institutional checks…
Cooley LLP has appointed David Wang as its new Chief Innovation Officer, effective immediately. Based in Palo Alto, California, Wang will spearhead the firm’s efforts to enhance its service offerings through innovative strategies, technologies, and business processes. Wang is tasked with overseeing Cooley’s innovation department and collaborating with the information services teams, firm leadership, and…
7-Eleven Inc. and a Chicago-based law practice called Seven Eleven Law Group have reached a settlement in the trademark complaint that the convenience store chain filed last November. The suit alleged that the law firm was infringing on the company’s trademark and causing consumer confusion. The details of the settlement have not been disclosed. The…
Clark Hill has expanded its team with the addition of Mark Auten, who will serve as a member of the firm’s tax and estate planning practice in Collin County, Texas. In an official announcement by the firm, it was noted that Auten will be assisting business owners with pre-exit planning strategies and offering foundational estate…
Jennifer Becnel-Guzzo has rejoined Saul Ewing LLP as a partner in their higher education and litigation practices, based in Wilmington, Delaware, according to an announcement made on Thursday. Becnel-Guzzo is well-versed in representing academic institutions in various litigation matters, including class action lawsuits and individual claims of discrimination. She also provides advisory services to colleges…
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has sharply criticized the conviction and imprisonment of Bangladeshi protesters by the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal as “unjust” and has called for their immediate release. In a report published on Wednesday, HRW denounced the “arbitrary” detention and conviction of 57 Bangladeshi citizens who participated in the July 19 protests…
Tampa Jury Returns Over $3M in High-Stakes Insurance Brokerage Dispute In a significant legal development, a jury in Tampa has awarded more than $3 million in a contentious dispute involving insurance brokerage firms. The lawsuit primarily centered on allegations that one company had encouraged employees to breach their contractual obligations to a former employer. Matthew…
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), a significant piece of legislation aimed at providing workplace protections for pregnant employees, has encountered yet another legal challenge, casting uncertainty over its future. Attorney Eric Heigis commented on the latest developments, emphasizing, “If the act violated the quorum clause in the way it was passed through Congress, then…
Netflix has recently found itself in hot waters over its black comedy series, Baby Reindeer, which a U.K. resident claims depicts her in a false light. In response to these allegations, Netflix has enlisted the legal expertise of Latham & Watkins to handle their defense. The case, which has stirred considerable interest within the legal…
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled that the criminalization of prostitution in France by Law No. 2016-444 does not violate the right to private life as stipulated under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This decision, rendered in the case of M.A. and Others v France, was unanimous…
In the realm of Big Law, there is a growing trend where nonequity partners often replace counsel roles, a shift driven by evolving business strategies and competitive recruiting dynamics. “For a lot of firms, nonequity partners are replacing counsel to a large degree,” noted one law firm recruiter. This transformation highlights the increasing difficulty in…
Recent developments in Missouri have spotlighted a troubling pattern: state officials and prison authorities continuing to detain individuals despite court orders for their release. This issue has come to the fore with the case of Christopher Dunn, who has been imprisoned for 34 years on a wrongful conviction. Despite two courts, including the St. Louis…
In the evolving landscape of legal practice management, efficient business intelligence (BI) systems can significantly impact a firm’s operational efficiency and strategic decision-making. However, the methods by which law firms gather and utilize BI metrics appear to vary widely. While some firms may still rely on basic solutions like spreadsheets—summed up humorously as “Bob has…
In a notable move within the private equity and educational technology sectors, KKR & Co. has agreed to purchase Instructure Holdings Inc., a provider of educational software, for approximately $4.8 billion. The buyout will see KKR paying $23.60 a share in cash, which translates into about a 4% premium over Instructure’s last closing price. Instructure,…
A Nevada man has been charged with threatening to assault and murder federal judges and other officials. Spencer Christjencody Gear, 32, was arraigned and pleaded not guilty in the US District Court for the District of Nevada. He has been ordered held, with the trial set to begin on September 24, according to court records….
Former Harvard women’s ice hockey coach Katey Stone has filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging gender bias and unfair pay practices. Stone, who led the women’s team for over 25 years, claimed that her compensation was substantially lower—between $50,000 and $100,000 less—than that of her male counterpart, the head coach of the men’s ice…