The United States Supreme Court has upheld a decision permitting Texas to enforce a controversial law that mandates age verification for pornography site users. With a 6-3 vote, the ruling aligns with a prior judgment by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, dismissing an earlier district court’s injunction that posed a constitutional…
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to substantially restrict the ability of federal judges to issue injunctions extending beyond the parties involved in a case, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley is preparing new strategies for the legislative session. Grassley aims to leverage the Republicans’ budget bill and propose standalone legislation to…
As we transition into the latter half of 2025, several key corporate enforcement trends have emerged as focal points for general counsel and white-collar lawyers. Recent events underscore the pressing issues, as just before a report by The New York Times revealed the resignation of the University of Virginia’s president amid pressure from the Justice…
In a significant legal development, Cooley LLP, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, and Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP have emerged as the standout firms in Law360’s Legal Lions of the Week. This recognition comes on the heels of a ruling by a federal judge in California, permitting Meta Platforms Inc. to utilize…
A California state appeals court has decided to dismiss the criminal charges brought against former Los Angeles Assistant District Attorney Diana Teran. The allegations centered around her use of files from a public sheriff’s deputy database, which was deemed “confidential”. The panel’s ruling has shifted attention back to ongoing debates about the boundaries and legal…
An ongoing legal conflict between the e-commerce company Storehouse In A Box and its former general counsel has reached the courts in Michigan. The company is seeking a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order to compel the former general counsel and chief operating officer to disclose the password to a company-issued laptop. Storehouse In A…
Willkie Farr & Gallagher recently faced a significant reduction in its litigation team on the West Coast, following the departure of over half of its San Francisco-based litigators to Cooley. With the office now comprised of only three litigation partners and 11 associates, Willkie’s ability to recuperate is brought into question. The mass exit followed…
Florida’s 57th Chief Supreme Court Justice Carlos G. Muñiz delivered the “State of the Judiciary” address at the annual Florida Bar convention on Thursday. Speaking in Boca Raton, Justice Muñiz communicated his vision to hundreds of attending attorneys, with a particular emphasis on three pivotal priorities relevant to the state’s legal community. Justice Muñiz, who…
The U.S. Supreme Court recently handed down several notable decisions that have prompted responses from attorneys general around the country. The rulings involved important issues such as birthright citizenship, the accessibility of LGBTQ+ literature, and a challenge to preventative care access under the Affordable Care Act. In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor expressed her concern…
The legal technology sector continues to advance with notable developments this week. Among the highlights are Harvey’s new feature, allowing self-service AI agent customization, which promises to provide legal professionals with enhanced flexibility in customizing AI tools to better fit their needs. In addition, ProfitSolv has announced a new investment, signalling potential growth and innovation…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has rejected a motion to transfer a breach-of-contract case involving former Judge Richard Posner to another circuit. The appeal concerns a lawsuit accusing Posner of not compensating Brian Vukadinovich for his work with Posner’s pro se legal services organization, an issue further complicated by the potential…
A legal skirmish has surfaced in the boat mooring equipment industry where a manufacturer is taking its rival to task over alleged evidence tampering. The company alleges that its competitor ordered the destruction of documents, which were purportedly crucial in demonstrating customer confusion within an ongoing trademark case. The aggrieved manufacturer has appealed to a…
The arrival of generative artificial intelligence tools is redefining how different generations within the legal profession relate to technology. Baby Boomers and Generation Z exhibit stark contrasts in how they are integrating gen AI into their professional development and skill acquisition. This phenomenon is explored in depth within the Thomson Reuters’ 2025 Future of Professionals…
The US Supreme Court has upheld a Texas statute, HB 1181, mandating age verification for adults accessing pornographic content online. The decision pivots on the principle of intermediate scrutiny, with the Court affirming the law’s constitutionality under the First Amendment rights framework. Texas’ law requires businesses to employ “reasonable age verification methods,” such as digital…
The pro bono participation rate for U.S. attorneys in the Pro Bono Institute’s annual Corporate Pro Bono Challenge experienced a decline to 46% in 2024. Similarly, participation among legal staff dropped to 31%, both figures falling short of the institute’s 50% “aspirational goal.” Although the overall figure indicates reduced engagement, the report highlights that numerous…
In a recent legal development, the Connecticut-based law firm Whitman Breed Abbott & Morgan LLC has secured a favorable ruling in an appeal case involving a former legal assistant. The case stems from the assistant’s claim of wrongful termination after she sought to work entirely from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Friday, a three-judge…
Corporate legal departments are increasingly prioritizing regulatory changes over tariffs as the primary risk to monitor, according to the Q2 Business Risk Index conducted by Corporate Board Member in collaboration with the Diligent Institute. The study highlights that 65% of general counsel, chief legal officers, and corporate secretaries now identify regulatory shifts—especially those related to…
In a recent decision, the US Supreme Court granted a preliminary injunction favoring Maryland parents who objected to a school board’s policy mandating the instruction of LGBTQ+ themed storybooks in elementary schools. The court’s decision addressed the parents’ inability to opt their children out of this curriculum, viewing it as an infringement on their religious…
A recent ruling from a D.C. federal judge has clarified that the executive order at the center of the WilmerHale litigation is beyond the enforcement capabilities of any federal agency. The decision came after internal disagreements, where the judge amended his initial ruling to remove any ambiguities regarding the enforcement scope of the order. This…
A swimming pool design patent owner has petitioned the full Federal Circuit to reconsider a decision by a panel that declined to resurrect claims that Latham Pool Products infringed on its patent. The patent holder is disputing the “problematic” test that was applied in evaluating the case. This call for reconsideration highlights ongoing concerns regarding…
The biotech mergers and acquisitions landscape is currently confronting various hurdles, including frozen capital markets, regulatory uncertainties at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in addition to tariffs. Despite these challenges, there are actionable strategies that biotech boards and management teams can pursue to maximize value when…
The United States Supreme Court has recently delivered a pivotal decision regarding the reach of federal judges in the country. In a contentious 6-3 ruling, the Court curbed the power of judges to issue universal injunctions, which had previously allowed for nationwide halts on government policies. This ruling, rooted in a case involving President Donald…
The United States Supreme Court recently delivered a decision that resonates deeply within the intertwining spheres of public education and religious freedom. By a 6-3 majority, the Court has upheld the claim of a group of parents from Maryland, entitling them to exempt their elementary-aged children from school lessons that incorporate LGBTQ+ themes. This decision…
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has allocated substantial financial resources towards legal fees in the last fiscal year, totaling $28.3 million across five law firms. The expenditure arises as part of ongoing antitrust litigation efforts. Among the top beneficiaries, Wilkinson Stekloff LLP, a prominent Washington-based litigation boutique, secured $11 million in fees, making it…
The United States Supreme Court has favored the Trump administration by approving a partial pause of nationwide injunctions against an executive order terminating birthright citizenship. The decision, made with a 6-3 majority vote, revolved around the scope of judicial discretion rather than addressing the constitutionality of the executive order itself (SCOTUSblog). This ruling challenges the…