December 2025

Navigating Immigration Compliance: Challenges for Corporations Amid Evolving Global Regulations

Pieter Gunst03 mins

The evolving regulatory framework surrounding immigration is presenting new challenges for corporations attempting to maintain compliance. As governments introduce dynamic policies to address economic and social pressures, legal teams face an increasingly complex environment. The recent report by Bloomberg Law highlights the multifaceted issues impacting businesses striving to adhere to updated immigration regulations. One prominent…

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AI Integration in Law Firms: Enhancing Productivity Without Compromising Billable Hours

Pieter Gunst04 mins

In recent years, artificial intelligence has become an indispensable tool in the legal profession, enhancing productivity without dramatically altering the traditional billable hours model. As reported by Bloomberg Law, many law firms have embraced AI to perform tasks such as document review and legal research, thereby freeing up valuable human resources for more nuanced legal…

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Pakistan Supreme Court Enters Turmoil as Judges Resign Over Constitutional Amendment

Pieter Gunst04 mins

Amidst a profound constitutional crisis in Pakistan, two esteemed members of the Supreme Court have taken an unprecedented step by resigning in protest. Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah announced their resignations following the passage of the contentious 27th Constitutional Amendment. This move has drawn significant attention, as these judges have been widely…

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USPTO Director John Squires Initiates Landmark Patent Reviews, Influencing Future Litigation Dynamics

Pieter Gunst03 mins

In a significant move underlining his approach to intellectual property management, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Director John Squires has instituted four inter partes reviews and two post-grant reviews, marking the first procedural interventions under his leadership of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) since assuming responsibility for these decisions. These actions reflect…

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Manhattan U.S. Attorney Advocates for Corporate Cooperation in Criminal Probes, Offers Incentives for Compliance

Pieter Gunst02 mins

In a recent address, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton emphasized the Southern District of New York’s commitment to offering “real benefits” to corporations that promptly cooperate with criminal investigations and take steps to compensate victims. Clayton highlighted the importance of swift cooperation, suggesting that such actions could lead to comprehensive, government-wide resolutions. This approach aligns…

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Former Lawmakers Oppose USPTO’s Proposed Patent Challenge Restrictions, Citing Concerns Over Innovation and Legal Principles

Pieter Gunst03 mins

A significant development in intellectual property law has emerged as fourteen former Congressional members, including a key sponsor of the America Invents Act (AIA), Patrick Leahy, strongly criticized new proposals from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). These proposals, which aim to restrict certain patent challenges, have been denounced as contraventions of both the…

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Navigating the Bench: Rising Threats and Judicial Independence in a Polarized Era

Pieter Gunst03 mins

The task of interpreting law often comes with challenges that extend beyond the courtroom, a reality well-known to U.S. District Judge James Robart. Nearly nine years have passed since Judge Robart became nationally recognized after he halted President Donald Trump’s 2017 executive order, which aimed to ban travel from several Muslim-majority countries. Despite a distinguished…

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California Supreme Court Dismissal Highlights Complexities in International Arbitration and Contingency Fee Disputes

Pieter Gunst03 mins

The California Supreme Court recently dismissed a case involving a former Dentons partner who was embroiled in a financial dispute over a $34 million contingency fee owed by a Chinese client. This development follows the court’s earlier directions for the parties to prepare for oral arguments. The situation originated when the lawyer was discharged over…

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FTC Backs Texas Effort to Reform ABA’s Role in Law School Accreditation Standards

Pieter Gunst03 mins

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has expressed support for a Texas-led initiative seeking to diminish the American Bar Association’s (ABA) influence over law school accreditation standards. This strategic move by Texas challenges the historically predominant role the ABA has played in setting educational criteria for law schools. The FTC’s endorsement is detailed in an article…

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Cher Wins Royalty Dispute Against Sonny Bono’s Estate: A Legal Precedent in Copyright and Estates Law

Pieter Gunst03 mins

Cher, the iconic singer and actress, has emerged victorious in a legal dispute over royalties with the estate of her late ex-husband, Sonny Bono. A federal judge in California has ordered the estate to remit approximately $187,000 in royalties to Cher, finding that the funds had been wrongly withheld. This ruling underscores ongoing complexities in…

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Biopharmaceutical Firms Strengthen Legal Teams Amid Evolving Industry Dynamics

Pieter Gunst03 mins

Recent shifts in the legal teams of major biopharmaceutical companies highlight an evolving landscape in the intersection of law and the healthcare sector. Incyte Corporation, a leading biopharmaceutical company based in Wilmington, Delaware, has welcomed a new addition to its legal team. Benjamin H. Barsky, formerly a partner at Goodwin Procter LLP, has joined Incyte…

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Patent Post-Grant Procedures Overhaul: Navigating the PTAB’s 2025 Reforms

Pieter Gunst04 mins

In 2025, significant changes to the procedures governing post-grant proceedings have emerged as a focal point for stakeholders in the intellectual property landscape. This year’s updates by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) have reshaped the structure of inter partes reviews (IPR), altering the institution procedure, impacting institution rates, and redefining the grounds for…

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FTC’s Heightened Scrutiny on Healthcare Mergers Reflects Global Shift in Antitrust Enforcement

Pieter Gunst03 mins

As the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) intensifies its scrutiny of mergers and acquisitions, its latest efforts have focused on thwarting a transaction involving a novel heart valve treatment. This legal maneuver in a D.C. court signals a pivotal moment following recent setbacks, such as unsuccessful attempts to block Meta’s earlier acquisitions. The FTC’s challenges reflect…

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Illinois Federal Court Advances Patent Infringement Case Against Citadel Securities Amid Ongoing Tech Industry Scrutiny

Pieter Gunst03 mins

In a recent legal development, an Illinois federal judge has denied Citadel Securities’ motion to dismiss patent infringement claims brought by a software company. The claims center around patented technology related to computer microchips, with Citadel arguing that the patents should be deemed too abstract to be considered valid. However, the judge was not persuaded…

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U.S. Solicitor General Backs Monsanto in Supreme Court Petition Over Roundup Cancer Warnings

Pieter Gunst04 mins

The legal landscape surrounding Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer has taken a significant turn as U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer recently aligned with the corporation. On Monday, Sauer filed a brief supporting Monsanto’s petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, which centers on a pivotal legal question: whether federal law preempts claims about the company’s alleged…

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Legal Challenges Mount for DeFi Technologies as Investors File Lawsuit Over Stock Disclosures

Pieter Gunst03 mins

Investors have filed a lawsuit against DeFi Technologies, alleging that the company’s disclosures led to a sudden and substantial plunge in its stock value. The lawsuit highlights increasing scrutiny on market structure risks within decentralized finance, a sector that has seen both rapid growth and regulatory challenges. The stock dropped sharply following the company’s recent…

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Tesla Challenges USPTO’s PTAB Policy Shifts, Citing Fair Evaluation Concerns

Pieter Gunst04 mins

Tesla has recently filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, challenging the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) recent modifications to the institution process at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). The company contends that these changes introduce “arbitrary roadblocks” that hinder the fair evaluation of patent validity….

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Supreme Court Deliberates on Pregnancy Center’s Subpoena Challenge, Examining Privacy and Government Oversight

Pieter Gunst03 mins

The recent deliberations of the Justices in the case involving a pregnancy center’s claim related to subpoenas have caught the attention of legal professionals and advocacy groups alike. As the U.S. Supreme Court examines the arguments, many observers are keenly focused on the implications for privacy protections and the reach of government oversight concerning sensitive…

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Timely Cooperation in Corporate Resolutions Emphasized by Former U.S. Attorney

Pieter Gunst03 mins

During a recent address at the New York City Bar Association’s annual International White Collar Symposium, former U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton emphasized the importance of timely cooperation in corporate resolutions. He highlighted the benefits of swiftly addressing corporate misconduct, underscoring the importance of quickly identifying and turning over wrongdoers within organizations. Clayton assured legal professionals…

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U.S. Appeals Court Rejects BMO Bank’s $3.1 Million Claim in Petters Fraud Case

Pieter Gunst03 mins

BMO Bank’s attempt to recover $3.1 million from the estate of disgraced financier Tom Petters has been quashed by a U.S. federal appeals court, highlighting ongoing complexities in long-running fraud cases. On October 2, 2023, the Eighth Circuit rejected BMO Bank’s request to file a late claim, underscoring the importance of timeliness in such high-profile…

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India’s Controversial App Mandate: Apple and Privacy Advocates Push Back Against Sanchar Saathi

Pieter Gunst03 mins

India’s recent directive for smartphone manufacturers to pre-install a government-operated security application on all devices has sparked significant debate within the tech industry and among privacy advocates. The app, Sanchar Saathi, is touted by the government as a consumer protection measure designed to help users block lost or stolen phones and report fraudulent communications. However,…

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