May 2025

Trump Selects Paul Ingrassia to Head Office of Special Counsel amid Calls for Greater Agency Oversight

Pieter Gunst03 mins

In a recent decision, former President Donald Trump announced the appointment of Paul Ingrassia to lead the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). This selection, pending Senate confirmation, places Ingrassia, a respected attorney and governmental liaison, at the helm of an independent agency responsible for investigating political corruption and ensuring governmental integrity, primarily through the administration…

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Supreme Court Rulings Highlight Ongoing Legal Debates on Infrastructure and Environmental Policy

Pieter Gunst02 mins

On May 29, the Supreme Court released its decision on Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, adding further depth to its current docket. This case pertains to significant legal and environmental issues, drawing considerable attention from both industry and environmental advocacy groups. To provide a comprehensive overview for legal professionals, the SCOTUSblog’s morning read…

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Human Rights Watch Urges Thai Separatists to Halt Civilian Attacks Amid Rising Violence

Pieter Gunst03 mins

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a renewed appeal urging separatist insurgents in Thailand’s southern border provinces to end attacks on civilians and adhere to international humanitarian law. This call to action follows accounts of rising violence by separatist groups in the region, despite previous pledges to avoid targeting non-combatants. For more details, visit JURIST….

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Judiciary Faces Unprecedented Threats Amid Calls for Impeachment, Warns Ninth Circuit Judge

Pieter Gunst01 mins

During a recent webinar, Judge M. Margaret McKeown of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit addressed the escalating threats against judges prompted by calls for impeachment based on their rulings. She described these impeachment threats as “unprecedented” and emphasized the associated rise in threats directed towards the judiciary. McKeown’s comments come at…

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European Legal Innovation Awards 2025 Celebrates Advancements at Milan Event

Pieter Gunst01 mins

The European Legal Innovation & Technology Awards 2025 was recently hosted at the Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan. This 11th annual event highlighted advancements in legal innovation within European in-house departments, private practice, and vendor services. The ceremony, which took place in Milan for the first time after a decade in London, was hosted…

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Liberty Justice Center’s Legal Challenge: Reshaping Trump’s Tariff Strategy with Bipartisan Support

Pieter Gunst03 mins

The Liberty Justice Center, a libertarian law firm with ties to influential Trump supporters, played a crucial role in slowing down the implementation of tariffs that were part of Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” trade measures. Supported financially in the past by significant Trump backers such as Robert Mercer and Richard Uihlein, the firm took a stand…

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South Western Railways Enters Public Ownership: A Landmark Step in UK’s Rail Renationalisation Efforts

Pieter Gunst01 mins

Eversheds Sutherland has been instrumental in advising the Department for Transport (DfT) as South Western Railways enters an unprecedented phase by transitioning into public ownership. This development is significant as it represents the first instance of a train operator in the UK going under public control. Occurring on May 25, this move is a key…

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Jonathan Kewley on Legal Innovation: The Intersection of Mental Health, Diversity, and AI

Pieter Gunst01 mins

Clifford Chance’s co-head of tech, Jonathan Kewley, who was recently recognized as Partner of the Year at the 2024 British Legal Awards, engages in a candid discussion exploring several pressing topics for the legal profession. In a Q&A featured on Law.com International, Kewley shares his insights on mental health, diversity, and the influence of artificial…

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UK to Host Inaugural Leadership, Influence, and Inclusivity Conference and Awards in Legal Sector.

Pieter Gunst01 mins

The Leadership, Influence & Inclusivity Conference and Awards, a new event poised to reshape the focus on leadership, influence, and inclusivity within the legal sector, will debut in the UK. Scheduled for December 4, 2025, at the Intercontinental Park Lane in London, this initiative broadens the scope of the former Women, Influence & Power in…

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Harmony Gold Expands Global Footprint with $1 Billion Acquisition of MAC Copper in Australia

Pieter Gunst01 mins

In a significant move within the mining sector, Ashurst is advising South Africa’s Harmony Gold on its $1 billion acquisition of Australia’s MAC Copper. This transaction marks the second Australian mining takeover by a South African company in May. Harmony’s acquisition of the CSA Copper Mine, a well-established underground operation, is set to bolster its…

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U.S. Department of Labor Faces Challenge in Revising ESG Investment Rules for 401(k) Plans

Pieter Gunst03 mins

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is poised to encounter significant challenges as it undertakes the task of revising a Biden-era regulation that favored environmentally sustainable investments in 401(k) plans. This initiative is particularly complex as it attempts to reconcile the conflicting agendas of the Trump administration, which sought to minimize environmental, social, and corporate…

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California’s SB 219: Pioneering Mandatory Climate Risk Reporting for U.S. Businesses

Pieter Gunst04 mins

California’s Senate Bill 219 has set the stage as the first state legislation mandating comprehensive reporting on climate-related financial risk for U.S. companies. Set for initial enforcement by January 1, 2026, corporations are already deep in the process of examining and evaluating their climate-related risks to ensure compliance with this legislation. This push for alignment…

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Mastering Simplicity: How Legal Expertise Enhances Interaction with AI Models

Pieter Gunst03 mins

Albert Einstein once purportedly said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” This statement holds particular relevance for lawyers navigating the realm of generative AI models. A foundational skill taught in legal training is the art of crafting questions. Lawyers are trained to focus on phrasing clear and direct queries,…

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Strategies for Business Law Firms to Achieve Revenue Stability Through Diversified Service Offerings

Pieter Gunst04 mins

In the fluid landscape of business law, predictability in revenue can seem elusive. Unlike other enterprises, many business law firms experience fluctuations in cash flow, which rise and fall depending on the number of active cases, motions to file, or corporate negotiations at hand. As suggested in a recent article from Bloomberg Law, introducing ongoing…

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Navigating Tariff Whiplash: The Challenges of Sales Tax Compliance in a Fluid Trade Environment

Pieter Gunst03 mins

In an era where tariffs remain unpredictable and are subject to frequent shifts, legal professionals in corporate environments must navigate what is increasingly being referred to as “tariff whiplash.” The onus is on tax departments to decide whether to absorb additional costs, apply price hikes, or clearly itemize tariffs separately on invoices for transparency. While…

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Indus Law Partners with CMS in Strategic Alliance to Regain Market Stronghold After Challenging Year

Pieter Gunst01 mins

Indus Law, an Indian firm, is on a “rebuilding path” following a challenging period characterized by the loss of teams to local competitors. In an exclusive interview, Avimukt Dar, co-founder of Indus Law, discusses the strategic rationale behind their recent alliance with CMS, a major international law firm. This partnership appears to be a part…

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Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Allows Bullying Claims Against Court Administrators to Proceed

Pieter Gunst01 mins

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has permitted a former staff attorney to pursue claims of bullying against two state appellate court administrators. The court decided unanimously that the attorney, Kenneth Bresler, presented sufficient allegations suggesting that Lynn Muster and Mary Bowe engaged in actions driven by “actual malice.” Justice Serge Georges Jr. highlighted that Bowe’s…

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AstraZeneca Settles Antitrust Allegations for $51.4 Million Over Seroquel XR Delay

Pieter Gunst01 mins

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, in conjunction with Handa Pharmaceuticals LLC, has reached a settlement agreement to pay a total of $51.4 million. This settlement addresses allegations concerning AstraZeneca’s actions of compensating generic-drug makers, including Handa, to prevent market entry of competing generic versions of its brand-name antipsychotic drug, Seroquel XR. This case was resolved with a…

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Samsung Ends Smartwatch Patent Dispute with U.S. Academics, Paving the Way for Future Tech Collaborations

Pieter Gunst01 mins

Samsung has moved to permanently dismiss its patent litigation in Texas against several academic research institutions. The dispute revolved around allegations that Samsung’s Galaxy smartwatches utilized the institutions’ algorithms to monitor irregular heartbeats and other physiological health indicators. This development was detailed in a joint motion filed recently. This legal turn allows Samsung to redirect…

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Renowned Supreme Court Litigator Kannon Shanmugam Joins Harvard Corporation’s Governing Board

Pieter Gunst01 mins

Kannon Shanmugam, a seasoned U.S. Supreme Court litigator and partner at Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP, has been appointed to the Harvard Corporation governing board. The announcement was made recently, adding Shanmugam’s extensive legal expertise to Harvard’s top governing body. This selection draws attention to Shanmugam’s significant experience in handling high-profile court cases…

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Donald Trump Criticizes Former Federalist Society Leader Over Tariff Ruling Dispute

Pieter Gunst02 mins

“`html In recent developments, former President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Leonard Leo, the ex-leader of the Federalist Society, in response to a recent ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade that opposed his tariff plan. Trump’s remarks were disseminated through a Truth Social post where he expressed his discontent with the Federalist Society’s…

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Connor Raso Appointed as Acting General Counsel at PCAOB, Strengthening Regulatory Oversight

Pieter Gunst01 mins

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) announced that Connor Raso has been appointed as their acting general counsel. Raso steps into this role following his experience within the PCAOB’s office of the general counsel and his tenure at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. For more details on Raso’s appointment, visit the original announcement….

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Judge Rules Epic Games Verdict Renders Patent Claim Invalid in Fortnite Case

Pieter Gunst01 mins

A Washington federal judge recently concluded that a part of a jury’s decision, which cleared Epic Games Inc. of patent infringement involving its Fortnite game platform, consequently led to one of the claims within the patent being deemed ineligible. This decision reflects the complexities and challenges that often accompany patent litigation, especially in the technology…

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