A bar examinee’s lawsuit against the Connecticut Bar Examining Committee and ExamSoft, centered on an alleged software malfunction that impaired her ability to complete the exam, has hit a procedural snag. According to the committee, the plaintiff failed to file three critical exhibits detailed in her complaint. This omission complicates the committee’s efforts to advance…
After a notable 17-year tenure at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Chief Operating Officer Nolan Kurtz has transitioned to Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath. Kurtz replaces Jane Koehl, who was the COO for Drinker Biddle & Reath prior to its 2020 merger with Faegre Baker Daniels and recently moved to Venable in February. Kurtz’s appointment, which…
In the ever-evolving landscape of corporate law, mergers between law firms are often seen as strategic moves designed to bolster capabilities and expand client bases. Several potential mergers in the legal sector have been suggested, drawing comparisons to the complexities of online dating where the right matches do not always result in a “wedding.” However,…
Council of Europe launches AI Treaty The Council of Europe has initiated the world’s first legally binding global treaty on artificial intelligence (AI), termed the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law (CETS No. 225). Launched at a conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, this agreement aims to ensure that…
Kristin Sverchek, Lyft’s general counsel for most of its 13-year history and recently serving as president, has left the ride-hailing pioneer. This transition, marked on LinkedIn, included reflections on her tenure and expressions of gratitude. Sverchek acknowledged the trials and rewards of the role, stating, “It was a hard run at times, but the toughest…
Faegre Drinker has announced the appointment of Nolan Kurtz as Chief Operating Officer. Kurtz will join the executive leadership team and oversee the firm’s C-suite and global operations. For more details, you can read the firm’s announcement here. The announcement was made on Thursday, September 5, 2024. Kurtz’s role will involve leading key operational aspects…
Holcim, the Swiss construction materials multinational, has announced the promotion of Lukas Studer, its corporate and M&A general counsel, to the role of group general counsel. Studer will succeed Mathias Gaertner, who has accepted a position as group legal chief at ABB. Gaertner, who joined ABB last October, will remain with Holcim until November 1…
The US special counsel investigating Donald Trump is not required to disclose the names of his employees to the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, as per a recent ruling by the US District Court for the District of Columbia. The court determined that the employee rosters of Special Counsel Jack Smith fall under a Freedom…
The California Department of Justice has issued a $3.9 million fine against Robinhood in what marks its first-ever enforcement action targeting a cryptocurrency firm. This penalty is a significant regulatory development, particularly as the company is already under scrutiny by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Despite vows from Robinhood’s legal chief Dan Gallagher to…
Community leadership is a career development and well-being tool sometimes overlooked by attorneys, especially during their early career stages. Engaging in volunteering and nonprofit board service not only complements traditional pro bono work but also benefits lawyers, their firms, and the nonprofit causes they support. According to Katie Beacham at Kilpatrick, these roles can be…
Community leadership presents an often-overlooked opportunity for career development and well-being among attorneys, particularly those in the early stages of their careers. In an article by Katie Beacham, she elaborates on how such roles can complement, but remain distinct from, traditional pro bono work. Beacham emphasizes that volunteering and serving on nonprofit boards can provide…
Veteran patent attorney Michael Kiklis, who has previously held partner positions at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and Oblon McClelland Maier & Neustadt LLP, has embarked on a new venture by establishing a solo patent boutique in Alexandria, Virginia. Kiklis brings with him a wealth of experience, having represented notable companies including SLB,…
Verizon has announced an agreement to acquire Frontier Communications, an Internet service provider with approximately 3 million customers across 25 states. The all-cash transaction is valued at $20 billion. Under the agreement, Verizon will pay $9.6 billion and assume over $10 billion in debt held by Frontier, with the deal subject to regulatory approval and…
Veteran patent attorney Michael Kiklis, who previously held partner positions at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and Oblon McClelland Maier & Neustadt LLP, has launched a new patent boutique in Alexandria, Virginia. Kiklis has represented prominent companies such as SLB, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Life Technologies Corp., and Steuben Foods Inc. More details can…
Legal ethics experts employed by a law firm embroiled in a judicial ethics controversy are facing demands to be deposed over their advice concerning a partner’s romantic relationship with a judge, according to the US Trustee’s office. The lawyers, Peter Jarvis and Jacqueline Harvey, who were hired by Jackson Walker LLP, have been advised to…
Berkeley Law’s New AI LL.M. Program Berkeley Law has announced the launch of an AI-focused Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree, with the program set to commence in the summer of 2025. The creation of this pioneering degree involved significant contributions and consultation from an advisory group and industry leaders. Notable members of this advisory group…
Article Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has made a significant addition to its antitrust practice by bringing on Mark Seidman as a partner in its Washington, D.C., office. The firm’s announcement, made public Wednesday, highlights Seidman’s considerable experience and expertise in the field of antitrust law. Seidman previously headed the Mergers IV Division at the…
Each year, the legal community anticipates the candid insights provided by midlevel associates in Big Law regarding their firms. The 2024 Edition of “Associates Say the Darnedest Things” is no exception, reflecting the voices of over 3,600 associates who share their unfiltered experiences, challenges, and triumphs. To dive deeper into the specifics, including firm rankings…
CasteFiles, a Hindu-American advocacy and educational group, filed a civil rights complaint against New Jersey’s Rutgers University and Professor Audrey Truschke, the group announced Tuesday. CasteFiles asserted that the university has failed to protect students from discrimination as required under Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964. Rutgers University had been advised…
International law firm Ashurst has strengthened its real estate practice with the addition of Alexandra Peace, a real estate partner from Australian firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth. Peace specializes in property capital transactions, development, and general commercial property. Her expertise includes advising on complex structuring, development, acquisition, and leasing matters across office, industrial, and retail sub-sectors….
Ex-Siemens Exec Concedes Trade Secret Caper Merits Prison A former executive of Siemens Energy Inc. has admitted before a Virginia federal judge that a term of incarceration is justified following his guilty plea to charges of stealing trade secrets from General Electric Co. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. The purloined information was reportedly used to…
The Irish government has announced the establishment of a Commission of Investigation to probe allegations of sexual abuse in the nation’s Catholic schools over several decades, following the emergence of nearly 2,400 allegations. The announcement, made by Minister for Education Norma Foley, follows the findings of the Report of the Scoping Inquiry, which documented these…
The US Department of Education’s Civil Rights Office (CRO) has reached a resolution agreement with the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign to address allegations of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate on campus. This agreement, formed in compliance with the Civil Rights Act, establishes seven specific steps the university must take to ensure it addresses discriminatory…
President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has signed a decree pardoning 30 individuals previously convicted of what are classified as “protest-related crimes.” According to the official decree, the pardoned group includes seven women and 23 men. Prosecutor General Andrei Shved stated that these individuals did not commit violent crimes against government representatives; rather, their convictions were…
In a recent court session, the defense team for former President Donald Trump engaged in a heated exchange with the presiding federal judge over the scheduling of the election-interference trial in Washington, D.C. The defense argued that the timing of the trial may adversely affect Trump’s campaign efforts for the upcoming 2024 presidential election. However,…