In recent legal developments, Dentons – a heavyweight in the world of law firms – has ceased operations in China, triggering speculation about how other Western firms might respond to this decision. According to Kent Zimmermann, a U.S.-based principal at Zeughauser Group, Dentons’ withdrawal could herald wider trends as the stringent conditions for the practice…
During his tenure, esteemed former Fourth Circuit judge Michael Luttig supervised 47 law clerks. An impressive number of these clerks carried on to clerk for Supreme Court justices. This testament to Luttig’s guidance and mentorship has significantly contributed to establishing his renowned reputation as a respected ‘feeder judge’ within legal circles.[1] Indeed, the term feeder…
Major law firm Vinson & Elkins have decided to make it mandatory for its workforce to spend a minimum of four days a week in the office. The policy appears to be a widespread movement and is not only limited to the firm’s New York office but is also implemented across its international offices, including…
In the complex world of law, associates can often find themselves responsible for managing a varying number of legal files. In the large law firms – the so-called ‘Biglaw’ – associates usually find themselves working on a handful of large matters, with these significant legal disputes or transactions providing enough work to keep many lawyers…
In a potentially controversial move, Southwest Airlines has pledged to contest a recent ruling by Judge Brantley Starr of the Northern District of Texas, which mandates that three of the company’s top attorneys undertake a “religious liberty training”. According to law.com, this order was exacted as a penalty against the Dallas-based airline for contravening an…
The advent of readily accessible artificial intelligence (AI), and particularly generative AI (GAI), has transformed key aspects of business operations ranging from crafting slogans to creating music and art. Alone, these uses represent an exciting frontier in technological capability, but practitioners must be mindful of considerable, still-evolving, legal risks. Specifically, businesses employing GAI for public-facing…
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is currently under fire for suspending Orlando prosecutor Monique Worrell, a Democratically elected official. This marks the second such instance where DeSantis has taken similar actions, leading many to suggest his moves are politically driven. DeSantis, during a press conference, articulated the reasoning behind his decision, citing the prosecutor’s duty to…
Despite the broader downturn experienced by the book publishing industry, Simon & Schuster seems to be defying the odds and remain a valuable asset. In November 2021, the Justice Department intervened to prevent publishing industry behemoth Penguin Random House from acquiring its competitor Simon & Schuster. Proving the claim of Attorney General Merrick Garland, a…
Amid the new age of remote work, corporate legal teams are grappling with the challenge of demonstrating their value and building strong, trustful relationships whilst out of the office, as highlighted in the recent ALM General Counsel Summit in Sydney. According to several statements articulated by prominent general counsels, remote working setups are likely to…
The anticipated challenge posed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to the sizable $25 billion merger between supermarket chains, Kroger and Albertsons, is casting a spotlight on the FTC’s newly established, yet controversial, merger guidelines. Experts from the mergers and acquisitions sector are closely monitoring this situation, considering the implications it might hold for future…
In an effort to cultivate the next wave of leadership within its ranks, Norton Rose Fulbright has selected 26 high-performing non-managerial employees from its U.S. offices for a senior-level mentorship academy. This new initiative evidences the firm’s increased emphasis on internal talent development and succession planning in various departments, including information technology, development, client value,…
As generative AI establishes an enduring stance in the legal industry, prompt engineering is fast becoming a valued skill for the future of legal practice. It’s seen by some as a science and art, with its primary purpose being the creation, curating, and refining of inputs for a generative AI application to achieve the ideal…
The legal industry is undergoing a period of change and administrative adjustment. While demand for legal services is on a steady rise across the board, strategies for growth vary considerably between larger firms and their smaller, midsize counterparts, according to the recent Law Firm Financial Index report from Thomson Reuters. Distinguished firms within the Am…
According to recent developments, California employers must brace for a significant regulatory change. Starting from October 1, 2023, alterations to the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) regulations governing the utilization of criminal history in employment decisions will come into effect. This is a modification of the California Code of Regulations Title 2, Section 11017.1….
In an unexpected turn of events, Anthony Niedwiecki, the president and dean of Mitchell Hamline School of Law, has announced he will be stepping down from his role nearly a year earlier than originally anticipated. Initially, Niedwieki was set to commence his sabbatical in 2024, but it appears that these plans have been brought forward…
In an interview, Latham & Watkins’ Michelle Kelban and Michael Haas shared their insights on effective leadership in law firms. Kelban and Haas emphasized the importance of early involvement and strategic forecasting in their journey to becoming significant figures in the law firm. They underlined that early involvement in the dynamic landscape of legal practice…
In a recent case before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, claims of negligence, assault, battery, and defamation against a Virginia attorney, Charles “Van” Hardenbaugh, and his wife have been allowed to proceed. This ruling was made in response to Hardenbaugh’s motion to dismiss these allegations, which had been raised by…