The practice of serving legal papers has undergone a dramatic transformation since the days of 13th-century English barons serving them on horseback. In a recent novel development, a Texas district court granted Sony Music permission to serve legal papers via direct message (DM) on TikTok, Twitter and SoundCloud. This unprecedented move was made when Sony,…
A former University of Minnesota undergraduate student has initiated a class action lawsuit against the university, claiming it failed to sufficiently protect the private information of over 7.000.000 individuals. The individuals the lawsuit purports were affected encompass a broad range: academic staff, general staff, as well as undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. The data leak…
Traditionally, law firms have relied heavily on contract labor for a range of roles, including positions such as of-counsel attorneys, discovery attorneys, investigators, and a myriad of temporary workers focused on specific casework. These individuals are usually classified as independent contractors, issued a 1099 and thereby omitted from employee benefit programs. However, a shift has…
An exciting industry event is about to kick off as Law.com Pro Mid-Market, ALM’s specialized news and insights platform for midsize law firms, plans to take its show on the road. The roadshow, titled “Is It a Moment of Opportunity for Mid-Market Firms?”, will provide a platform for legal professionals to share their experiences and…
On Tuesday, a significant portion of oral arguments at the Ohio Supreme Court was devoted to pondering Ohio State University’s claim to discretional immunity concerning its decision not to offer full refunds to undergraduates when it had closed the campus due to the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the court’s previously voiced intent…
A federal judge in Massachusetts has dismissed a qui tam action filed by a former Cardinal Health executive, on account of it being too similar to a then-pending complaint against Cardinal by Omni Healthcare. The ‘first-to-file’ rule of the False Claims Act played a pivotal role in this decision. Michael Mullen, the ex-senior vice president…
In what might be regarded as an industry shift away from the traditional on-campus interview (OCI) process, several prominent law firms, including Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and Goodwin Procter, are increasingly favouring the route of early recruitment. Get a detailed overview in this law.com article. The move to pre-OCI recruitment initiatives is mainly driven…
In a recent ruling, the Nevada Supreme Court has determined that actions taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic did not contravene an “ordinary course” covenant within an asset purchase agreement. This decision overturns a previous ruling on summary judgment that favored potential buyer, LGS Casino. Furthermore, the court partially reversed its previous denial of…
The legal landscape recently experienced several key shifts in personnel across major law firms in London. The exodus that caught everyone’s attention was observed at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison’s London operations. In May, the deputy head of the London office, Ramy J. Wahbeh, and partner Kaisa Kuusk made their exit to join Sidley…
In major law firm news, Littler Mendelson recently announced the addition of a new partner in San Diego, Matt Stephens, a prominent figure among the sparse group of openly transgender trial lawyers in California. Recipient of commendations for his contributions to the legal profession and the LGBTQA+ community, Stephens’ decision to join Littler Mendelson at…
As antitrust cases against prominent tech giants continue to shape the forefront of legal discussions, the recently initiated case of the U.S. Department of Justice and multiple states against Google stands out. The tech giant is accused of unlawfully monopolizing the internet search and digital advertising landscapes. The case was opened in Washington on a…
In a key decision made by the U.S. Judicial Conference on Tuesday, audio broadcasting of certain proceedings will be allowed to continue, even post the COVID-19 pandemic. This provision will extend to hearings pertaining to civil and bankruptcy matters and will not include streams for nontrial proceedings involving witness testimonies. The policy will come into…
Legal panels have seen significant changes in recent years, with mounting competition and rigorous standards for selection processes at major firms worldwide. A metamorphosis has occurred with these panels shifting from simple rosters to structures that demand businesses establish their worth and purpose. As such, securing a position on a firm’s roster has never presented…
Law.com’s recent class action briefing, Critical Mass, touched upon significant legal stories of the week, notably the impressive $725 million class action settlement surrounding Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal. The piece, penned by Amanda Bronstad, reported that the case has accumulated over 17 million claims. The astronomical figure clearly left an impact on the presiding federal…
Aimee Williams-Ramey, the chief legal officer for Six Flags Entertainment Corp, has left her position after a mere 15 months of service, leading to a severance package exceeding $1.1 million. Revealed in an Aug. 11 regulatory filing, Six Flags, a theme park operator based in Arlington, Texas, detailed that Williams-Ramey was “terminated without cause” in…
In a recent piece featured on Law.com, Office Managing Partner Lisa Kathumbi of Littler Mendelson, a renowned labor and employment law firm, shared insights into her professional journey, underscoring the notion of trusting the process. The article highlights how each moment and opportunity offers learning potentials, a theme central to Kathumbi’s career evolution and ascendance…
The world of finance and technology is constantly colliding and producing new financial instruments. One such development is the rising trend of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), a form of cryptographic token that represents a unique item or piece of content on a blockchain. A recent lawsuit involving basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal is drawing attention to the…
In a recent decision, the Massachusetts Appellate Court vacated a grant of summary judgment in favor of an employer, contending that a class action lawsuit — filed by employees alleging failure to receive ‘Sunday pay’ — was improperly dismissed. The plaintiffs are employees from Bella Sante, a local spa and salon. Their claim is primarily…
“Force majeure” is a contractual provision that explains events agreed upon by the parties as unforeseen, unavoidable, and beyond the control of either. These events triggering force majeure are encompassing and may include natural cataclysms, political unrest, labor disturbances, or acts of God – essentially any event that allows a party to fail in their…
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has alleged that Verizon Maryland violated federal law. The telecom giant purportedly refused to allow a disabled employee the opportunity to apply for the company’s vacant positions; a conciliatory move to find work that would be compatible with his disability. This claim is made apparent in a filing…
In an emerging trend within the digital assets law arena, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) may be underpinning the next wave of lawsuits seeking their classification as a security. Miami attorney Adam Moscowitz, from the Moscowitz Law Firm, has expanded on a class action against NBA star Shaquille O’Neal and entities under Astrals LLC. The lawsuit centres…
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz has petitioned a California court to compel arbitration in a suit raised by Twitter’s parent company, X Corp, which disputes a reported $90 million in legal fees. The fee controversy stems from Wachtell’s role in defending Twitter in merger and acquisition litigation against Elon Musk. The motion to compel arbitration…
Highly esteemed attorney Gabriel Yomi Dabiri, having taken up the position of Office Managing Partner at international law firm Polsinelli, shares his insights into effective leadership in the legal industry. Dabiri asserts that the finest leaders he has encountered exhibit a quality of curiosity and the illness of presumption. Specifically, he warns against assuming greater…
In the past year, several federal appellate courts have breathed new life into lawsuits accusing universities of contract breaches with students. These institutions made the switch to remote learning amidst the COVID-19 pandemic’s peak, a decision that left students grappling with unchanged tuition and fees despite the altered learning format. Among these is a class-action…
Three leading law schools that had previously been found out of compliance by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (ABA) have now successfully rectified their cited issues and are back in compliance. In March of this year, Baylor Law School and the University…