Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP has expanded its intellectual property practice by acquiring a team of five litigators from Latham & Watkins LLP. This bi-coastal group is renowned for its involvement in leading some of the most significant and intricate patent and trade secrets cases over the past decade. Cleary has expressed enthusiasm over…
A pivotal staffing change is underway in Chicago as one of the government investigations and white-collar practice leaders from Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP is set to return to the U.S. attorney’s office. This appointment marks their new role as northern Illinois’ leading prosecutor. This transition follows approximately a decade in private practice where they…
The Illinois appellate court recently overturned a $43 million jury verdict, calling for a third trial in a couple’s injury case. The decision came after the court criticized the trial judge for not adequately investigating the lawyer’s improper blog and social media posts related to the case. This highlights the increasing importance of monitoring legal…
In a notable move, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP has strengthened its intellectual property litigation team by acquiring a group of five attorneys from Latham & Watkins LLP. This acquisition includes a bi-coastal team known for handling numerous high-profile and complex patent and trade secrets cases over the past decade. Cleary has praised the…
Former head of accounting at Girardi Keese, under scrutiny for his role in a financial scandal, faces a potential decade-long prison sentence, as per discussions in Los Angeles federal court. Federal prosecutors assert that the former CFO, who has pleaded guilty, was instrumental in aiding Tom Girardi in the diversion of clients’ settlement funds. This…
In recent legal developments, a former executive from a biomedical technology company is at the center of a lawsuit concerning the mishandling of trade secrets. A federal judge in Georgia has ruled that the former executive must confront claims alleging she took thousands of internal files laden with valuable product information just before her departure…
Ballard Spahr LLP has recently added a former in-house intellectual property attorney from the nonprofit blood bank Vitalant to its ranks in Phoenix. This attorney is rejoining the firm after having worked there over a decade ago. These kinds of career moves, especially for lawyers with specialized expertise in intellectual property, can be noteworthy for…
Samsung Electronics Co. faced a setback in its attempt to overturn a $192 million patent infringement verdict related to wireless charger technology. U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap, presiding in Texas, clarified his decision to uphold the verdict. The crux of the decision hinges on the role of continuations in patent applications filed by the plaintiff,…
Ian McGinley, former enforcement director at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has joined Sidley Austin as a partner in their New York office. In his new role, McGinley will handle regulatory enforcement and white-collar matters, with a particular emphasis on commodities and securities laws. McGinley’s move to Sidley Austin marks a significant addition…
In a revealing examination of workplace culture within the U.S. judiciary, less than half of surveyed staff express a willingness to report instances of wrongful conduct. This statistic highlights significant concerns regarding confidence in the existing systems designed to address such issues. U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson of Kansas underscores the need for increased participation…
The U.S. House of Representatives is progressing towards a vote on a bill aimed at curbing nationwide injunctions. This legislative move is largely supported by Republicans in response to several federal judges’ rulings against numerous policies from the Trump administration, addressing areas such as immigration, government funding, and the federal workforce. The legislative action underscores…
In a notable decision, a Nevada federal judge has dismissed a patent infringement lawsuit against Salesforce that had been previously revived by the Federal Circuit. The lawsuit accused Salesforce of infringing patents related to database software reprogramming. The dismissal was based on the determination that the transfer of patent rights to the consulting company that…
Intellectual Ventures II LLC is pushing for the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) to reject Tesla’s initiative to scrutinize a certain digital camera patent. The appeal from Intellectual Ventures comes on the heels of a recent memorandum from the acting director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The memo emphasizes that both the…
The Federal Circuit has directed the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) to revisit two gesture-sensing interface patents pertinent to ongoing litigation against Samsung in Texas. This decision was made after Samsung successfully argued that the PTAB had employed an “erroneous” interpretation of a term central to the patents. The smartphone manufacturer is facing infringement…
The U.S. Department of Transportation has engaged the law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan to launch an investigation into the Federal Aviation Administration’s hiring practices. The probe centers on allegations that the FAA continues to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in hiring air traffic controllers, despite the previous administration’s restrictive policies against such…
The amicus brief in support of Perkins Coie’s lawsuit against the Trump administration’s executive order is gaining attention within the legal community. Currently, the brief has attracted approximately 170 signatures. However, it is noteworthy that only a small number of Am Law 100 firms have added their names to this list so far. The brief,…
In a significant move highlighting the stringent application of European privacy regulations, the French competition authority, Autorité de la concurrence, has imposed a fine of $162 million on Apple. This penalty comes in response to Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) tool, which the regulator identified as contravening both French and EU privacy laws by being…
In a significant development, a federal judge has ruled against arbitration in a lawsuit involving Thompson Hine, a prominent law firm. The case, initiated by Rebecca Brazzano, a former partner at the firm’s New York office, centers on allegations of sexual harassment and gender discrimination. Brazzano claims that a ‘toxic boys club locker room’ environment,…
A Connecticut financial firm is currently embroiled in a legal dispute with a former financial adviser, asserting that the ex-adviser cannot pursue arbitration over allegations that he illicitly used trade secrets to establish a rival enterprise. The firm insists that the terms outlined in the employment agreement explicitly preclude arbitration for such claims. This argument…
The ongoing legal battle between a North Carolina-based nut butter company and a California sauce maker highlights crucial issues surrounding trademark infringement. The North Carolina company, known for its “Big Spoon” branded nut butters, has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the California rival is using the same “Big Spoon” name for its products, potentially…
In an ongoing case where Perkins Coie is challenging an executive order by the Trump administration, an amicus brief supporting the firm has garnered approximately 170 signatures. Notably, only a small number of the leading Am Law 100 firms have added their names to this document. The amicus brief is being partially coordinated by Munger…
South Dakota has initiated a legal challenge against the NCAA’s proposed $2.78 billion settlement with athletes concerning name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation. The state’s request for judicial intervention was filed on Monday, aiming to halt the implementation of the settlement. This legal maneuver comes just a week before a federal court in California is…
In a recent decision by the acting director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), reviews of four intellectual property challenges initiated by Motorola against Stellar Inc. will not proceed. The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) had previously decided to review these challenges, which concern patents related to glasses equipped with cameras….
Turning Point Action Inc. has requested that a federal judge reject a motion for sanctions filed by the heirs of Isaac Hayes. The legal maneuver is part of a broader copyright litigation involving the use of the iconic song “Hold On, I’m Coming” at rallies during Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. In court filings submitted on…
Legal professionals traveling to the United States are advised to take extra precautions when it comes to protecting their digital devices and sensitive information. Recent activities at international borders have highlighted increased scrutiny, including searches of electronic devices. To avoid potential delays or complications, experts suggest maintaining clean devices and storing client information securely in…