Victoria Callicott has joined Squire Patton Boggs as a partner in its litigation practice, specifically in Birmingham, U.K., as announced by the firm on Wednesday. Callicott brings a wealth of experience in commercial litigation, focusing on complex and high-value domestic and cross-border corporate, commercial, and contractual disputes. Her expertise extends to key sectors such as…
The Delaware Supreme Court has decided to hear an appeal concerning a May 31 ruling that permitted the testimony of ten plaintiffs’ experts in numerous Zantac lawsuits. This development comes as the legal community closely watches the implications of expert testimonies in mass tort cases. Meanwhile, Tom Girardi, the 85-year-old disbarred attorney, faces the possibility…
The Unified Patent Court (UPC) Central Division in Munich issued its first revocation decision in Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Amgen Inc., determining that the patent held by Amgen lacked an inventive step. This decision comes just over a year after the court commenced operations and presents a clear illustration of the risks patentees face under…
An AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. shareholder has taken the company’s controversial stock conversion to the US Supreme Court, seeking to overturn previous rulings that permitted the action. This development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing struggle between AMC and its passionate group of meme stock investors. Last year, AMC converted its AMC Preferred Equity…
Multiple lawyers who use the payments app Venmo in their law practices are exposing client information to the public — and they may not even know it. These accounts reveal client names and sometimes other details, such as payment amounts, the nature of the representation, or even the client’s financial straits. Model Rule 1.6 of…
On October 17-18, 2024, New York City will host the second-annual KM&I for Legal Conference, a pivotal event for knowledge management (KM) and innovation professionals in the legal industry. The event will feature two luminaries in the field: Patrick DiDomenico, founder and CEO of InspireKM Consulting, and Joshua Fireman, president of Fireman & Company, which…
“`html A boutique Australian M&A firm has recently bolstered its ranks by hiring a partner from KPMG. This strategic move follows previous high-profile hires from PwC earlier this year, signaling the firm’s continued expansion and strengthening of its advisory capabilities. For more detailed information, please refer to the original article here. “`
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has successfully recruited Christopher DeCresce from Paul Hastings, where he served as Vice Chair of Capital Markets and Securities. DeCresce’s expertise spans the financial services, banking, and fintech sectors. This move underscores Freshfields’ strategic focus on strengthening its capital markets practice in the United States. For more detailed information, please refer to…
Chris DeCresce has joined Freshfields as a capital markets partner in New York, the firm announced Wednesday. DeCresce’s legal practice focuses on capital markets, securities and exchanges reporting, and securities law compliance, Freshfields indicated in their announcement. His extensive experience includes representing companies in capital markets transactions, both SEC-registered and exempt equity and debt offerings….
When Andreessen Horowitz, the $43 billion venture capital giant, opened an office in Miami Beach, it was seen as a significant boost to the city’s aspirations of becoming a major tech hub. The firm signed a five-year lease in 2022 for 8,300 square feet in an office building at 2340 Collins Ave, owned by Barry…
Blackstone Inc., a global investment firm, has entered into an agreement to acquire Australian data-center operator AirTrunk for A$24 billion ($16.1 billion), inclusive of debt and capital expenditure for ongoing projects. This transaction marks Blackstone’s most substantial investment in the Asia-Pacific region to date, eclipsing its previous A$8.9 billion acquisition of Crown Resorts Ltd. in…
Recent events have exposed vulnerabilities within the regional banking sector on a global scale, with interest-rate shocks, regulatory burdens, and technological gaps emerging as significant disruptors. As detailed in a recent report by Bloomberg Law, these challenges have placed institutions such as Metro Bank Holdings Plc in the UK, Banaras Mercantile Co-operative Bank in India,…
Barrasso Raises Fears Over AI Risk to Agency Rules From Abroad A top Senate Republican, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), has raised concerns regarding the potential use of AI bots to manipulate the online public comment system managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This concern is particularly relevant as the BLM oversees over 18…
Figure Technology Solutions Inc., the fintech company founded by former SoFi Technologies Inc. co-founder Mike Cagney, has announced the appointment of Ronald Chillemi as its new Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary. This hiring move comes as the company prepares for a potential initial public offering (IPO) valued between $2 billion and $3 billion. Chillemi,…
As the new academic year begins, several universities in the United Kingdom are grappling with the challenge of unmet enrollment quotas for undergraduate law courses. Institutions traditionally esteemed for their law programs, such as Cardiff, Leicester, Keele, and the University of East Anglia, are still actively seeking candidates to fill vacant seats in their law…
Latham & Watkins has announced significant leadership changes at its London office. Effective immediately, the firm has appointed new heads to spearhead operations and strategy in one of its key global hubs. Under the leadership of the outgoing team, the London office saw a substantial 40% increase in partner headcount, highlighting the region’s growing importance…
September’s lateral hire market has taken off with a flurry of activity, including notable moves at DLA Piper and Proskauer Rose. These firms have added partners in a month characterized by numerous high-profile hires across various major law firms in London, such as A&O Shearman, Eversheds Sutherland, and Latham & Watkins. For further details, refer…
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) interior minister Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo Bihango announced on Tuesday that an attempt to escape from Makala Central Prison resulted in the deaths of 129 individuals. According to the minister, 24 individuals were killed by gunfire after allegedly failing to heed warnings, while the remaining fatalities were caused by jostling…
Reed Smith is set to close its Beijing office, with managing partner Eric Lin, partner Barbara Li, and counsel Katherine Yang relocating to the firm’s Shanghai office. Reed Smith informed Law.com International that its remaining Beijing staff, including three associates and a legal consultant, have also been offered positions in Shanghai. This move aligns Reed…
A recent UN report reveals a deteriorating human rights situation in Nicaragua from June 15, 2023, to June 15 this year. The report, issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), compiles evidence from 120 interviews with victims and witnesses as well as 106 meetings with civil society representatives and the…
Hungary has failed to meet the initial deadline to pay a €200 million fine imposed by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for violations of EU asylum laws. The fine stems from a 2020 decision in the case of Commission v. Hungary, where the ECJ found Hungary in non-compliance with EU regulations governing asylum seekers….
“Don’t steal from your clients” seems an obvious principle for lawyers that shouldn’t need deep explanation in professional conduct rules, though it does in multiple places. However, theft within the legal profession unfortunately persists. One recent, high-profile example is the conviction of Thomas Girardi for stealing $15 million from victims and other frauds. This case…
The recent ruling in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo has initiated a seismic shift in how federal courts approach agency regulations. Primarily appointed by Republican administrations, judges have taken an assertive stance against various politically sensitive regulations. This intensified scrutiny has led to a series of defeats for agencies trying to enforce rules on gender…
Mayer Brown defense partner Michael E. Lackey once regarded litigation finance with deep skepticism. “Anything that makes it easier for people to sue my clients is something I don’t want,” he remarked in an interview recently. However, the landscape for funding litigation has changed drastically over the past decade, and now “virtually every large law…
US climate rights watchdog Climate Rights International has issued a report condemning the Kingfisher oil project along Lake Albert, Uganda, for facilitating widespread human rights violations among the local population. The report highlights various offenses, including forced evictions, labor rights abuses, gender-based violence, and significant environmental degradation that threatens the livelihoods of local communities. The…