Hyatt Hotels Corp. has significantly increased its financial engagement with the law firm Latham & Watkins, resulting in a substantial spike in legal fees tied to the hotel chain’s recent acquisition activities. Over the past year, the Chicago-based hotel conglomerate disbursed nearly $23.2 million to Latham & Watkins, marking a 57% increase from the previous…
Ed Martin, the nominee for U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, has taken definitive steps towards his anticipated confirmation by deactivating his law firm and stepping down from various other roles. The decision indicates a focus on his forthcoming duties, pending Senate approval. His actions mark a preparatory phase as he awaits potential confirmation…
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is under scrutiny as the US Copyright Office examines how royalties are distributed to songwriters and music publishers. Clara Kim, ASCAP’s Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Business Affairs Officer, voiced her concerns at the Vanderbilt Music Law Summit. Kim contended that it represents an…
Amid ongoing discussions surrounding the restructuring of the Department of Justice (DOJ), there has been a significant pushback against potential plans to dissolve its Tax Division. Former United States tax officials have stepped forward to emphasize the critical role played by this division in ensuring robust tax law enforcement across the country. They caution that…
Article In an evolving legal landscape, the integration of artificial intelligence into the process of discovery presents both opportunities and challenges. A recent case in the Southern District of New York has brought to light concerns over the dissemination of AI-generated content that may inadvertently contain confidential information. To navigate these complexities and protect sensitive…
“`html Kirkland & Ellis, a major international law firm, has recently come under scrutiny for making access to its U.K. diversity data more difficult. The firm reportedly altered its website in a way that obscures the visibility of mandatory diversity statistics. This change was achieved by modifying the relevant document’s title and relegating it to…
New Jersey’s recently appointed U.S. Attorney, Alina Habba, has decided to dismiss the longstanding bribery case involving former Cognizant executives, including Chief Legal Officer Steven Schwartz and President Gordon Coburn. Habba, who served as Donald Trump’s defense attorney before being appointed to her new position, cited a “recent assessment” of an Executive order as the…
Cummins Engine Co., headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, has made headlines by diverging from the trend of stepping away from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, a stance that aligns with its longstanding commitment to these values. The company, employing 69,000 individuals across 52 countries, emphasizes DEI as “the heart of our culture and cornerstone of…
In 2024, energy companies experienced a notable uptick in federal securities class action complaints, witnessing 15 new cases, according to a report by Baker Botts. This rise indicates the increased scrutiny the sector is facing in light of significant incidents and volatile market conditions. Such litigation frequently follows stock price declines, often triggered by regulatory…
Three months into 2025, the appetite for mergers remains robust in the legal industry as many firms continue to assess their growth strategies. A recent report by Fairfax Associates has documented a slight 5% increase in completed mergers during the first quarter of the year, totaling 22 deals compared to the same period in 2024….
Gregory Kehoe, a seasoned attorney with a lengthy prosecutorial background, has been appointed as the interim U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. Kehoe, a former shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, is noted for his role in the prosecution of Saddam Hussein, an endeavor that took him across various regions and highlighted his extensive legal…
Mayer Brown has reported a 3.9% increase in revenue, reaching over $1.98 billion, alongside a 14.3% rise in profits per partner, which climbed to nearly $2.8 million last year. This growth comes amid a decrease in the firm’s equity partners by nearly 10% and a 6.6% overall reduction in head count. Despite these reductions, the…
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a notable shift in courtroom demeanor has surfaced, with some judges voicing concerns over a perceived decline in professional decorum among litigators. Judges have observed that the transition to virtual courtrooms, necessitated by health precautions during the pandemic, might have contributed to a loss in the traditional art…
More than 360 law professors from institutions such as Columbia Law School, Cornell Law School, Stanford Law School, and the University of Michigan Law School have united to sign an amicus brief in support of Perkins Coie as the firm challenges a controversial executive order issued by former President Donald Trump. This order targets Perkins…
The United States Attorney’s office in New Jersey, led by Alina Habba, has decided to dismiss the bribery case against former Cognizant Technology Solutions Chief Legal Officer Steven Schwartz and former President Gordon Coburn. Alina Habba, who assumed her position last Friday, articulated this decision to Judge Michael Farbiarz in a brief communication. The dismissal…
In the aftermath of the February bar exam in California, which faced numerous technology issues, the State Bar’s board of trustees has opted to delay a proposal for provisional licenses for those affected. This decision follows a March suggestion by the bar examiners’ committee to provisionally license all registrants of the exam. The trustees have…
In an ongoing examination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, with the support of 11 other state attorneys general, has intensified scrutiny towards certain legal practices. The group has dispatched letters to 20 law firms, questioning their DEI employment practices for potential violations of federal anti-discrimination laws and state…
In a significant legal development, a federal judge in New Jersey has dismissed the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) case against two former executives of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. This decision concludes a protracted six-year legal battle characterized by numerous delays and complications. The ex-executives were initially implicated in the case, which revolved around allegations…
The United States Trustee, the watchdog of the Department of Justice’s bankruptcy proceedings, has voiced significant concerns over the efficiency of a Houston bankruptcy court’s approach in handling a contentious fee dispute involving Jackson Walker LLP. The core issue stems from the firm’s alleged failure to disclose a relationship between one of its former partners…
Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC has reinforced its Miami office with the addition of a patent litigator from Goma Law PLLC. This strategic move highlights the firm’s commitment to bolstering its intellectual property practice, particularly in the competitive Miami market. The returning litigator’s expertise is expected to enhance the firm’s litigation capabilities…
The conclusion of the criminal corruption case involving New York City Mayor Eric Adams has generated a significant debate regarding the Southern District of New York (SDNY)’s influential role within the United States Department of Justice. Legal analysts suggest that this case could impact SDNY’s standing as a preferred venue for high-stakes legal proceedings, possibly…
A recent ruling from the Fourth Circuit Court underscores the formidable challenges confronting those attempting to counter Elon Musk’s aggressive strategy to downsize the U.S. federal government. Spearheaded by Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the sweeping initiative aims to significantly reduce the federal workforce, terminate substantial contracts, and potentially shutter entire agencies,…
Fannie Mae, BNY Accused of Inflating Rates on Loan Foreclosures Fannie Mae along with units of the Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BNY) are facing allegations that they have engaged in systematic cheating of homeowners through rate inflation on foreclosed home equity loans. According to recent lawsuits filed in federal court in Brooklyn, New…
A coalition of nonprofits has called on the Supreme Court to uphold a decision by a federal judge in San Francisco mandating the federal government to reinstate over 16,000 probationary employees dismissed by six agencies in February. The group argues that there is no substantial harm in returning the employees to their positions, noting that…
The legal industry is experiencing a rapid transformation, compelling law firm practice group leaders to adopt the role of change agents. This shift is driven by significant developments such as AI-driven automation, changing client expectations, and generational changes within the workforce. These factors demand that legal professionals reassess traditional approaches to profitability, client service, and…