Big law firms are continuously bolstering their energy, regulatory and renewables practices through the addition of new partners to their teams, a development driven by recent federal legislation and regulatory alterations. Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and Vinson & Elkins, for instance, have recently brought on board energy partners in Washington, D.C. Pillsbury has recruited tax…
In a recent article appearing in The Intellectual Property Strategist, valuable insights were shed on the importance of maintaining a diversified patent portfolio to better protect artificial intelligence (AI) technology inventions. The article is part of a two-part series focusing on the legal and strategic intricacies faced in safeguarding AI technologies. The first portion of…
With the widespread use of social media platforms, the legal profession doesn’t remain untouched. Many lawyers have taken to these platforms and carved out a niche for themselves as influencers. However, they often face criticism and judgement from their peers in the profession. Ana Juneja, a Chicago-based intellectual property attorney with a significant social media…
Last week, U.S. District Chief Judge David C. Nye of the District of Idaho granted a temporary restraining order against a contentious state bill, Idaho Senate Bill 1100. This bill had proposed that public school students should use the bathroom or changing room corresponding with their biological sex. Judge Nye opted to put the controversial…
In a notable development, Chief Judge Laura Taylor Swain of the Southern District of New York ruled against former Allianz Global Investors executive, Gregoire Tournant’s motion to dismiss his securities fraud indictment. Concluding that Tournant renounced attorney-client privilege with his erstwhile legal counsel, Sullivan & Cromwell, she unsealed a 40-page opinion to dismiss his request….
Honeywell, the global conglomerate company, allegedly faces a negligence lawsuit for its purported failure to recall malfunctioning fire sprinkler devices. According to a report, details of the lawsuit first came to light via Law.com Radar, indicating that the suit cites negligence on Honeywell’s part in connection with their fire sprinkler devices, which potentially poses severe…
In a recent legal development, the Virginia Court of Appeals overturned a prior circuit court ruling against the Navy Federal Credit Union. The matter pertained to an elderly woman who was tricked into sending $134,500 through fraudulent wire transfers. Despite the plaintiff, Delores B. Lentz, claiming the credit union should have intervened, the appeals court…
With the rise of generative artificial intelligence technologies, the legal landscape is undergoing rapid and significant changes. This tech tumult has introduced sophisticated yet disruptive phenomena such as ‘deepfakes’, fabricated media so realistic that it can be difficult to distinguish from the real thing. Legal professionals find themselves on the front line of these developments,…
The vacancy for Chief Legal Officer (CLO) at Fox presents potential candidates with a tantalising yet deeply challenging prospect. This vacancy is brought about amidst a backdrop of mounting legal threats and the notorious influence of the Murdoch family. The intimidating task of stepping into a fraught environment such as this, inherently represent a gamble….
Legal technology software startup, Robin AI, has developed a new feature for its generative artificial intelligence assistant, Robin. This new feature is expected to provide legal teams with time-saving advantages by swiftly and efficiently exploring an entire contract repository using a large language model (LLM). This advanced tool represents a significant advancement in AI applications…
In late July and early August, two prominent law firms, Dentons and Clyde & Co, were accused by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) of allegedly breaching money laundering regulations. The size of the two firms involved and the closely-timed allegations have drawn considerable attention from the legal industry and beyond. The allegations are understood as…
Former Wall Street Journal reporter, Jay Solomon, has dropped all claims against Dechert, a globally recognised law firm, and two of its former partners. The dismissal comes after a 10-month long litigation process in a D.C. federal court. Solomon, now an editor at Semafor, had filed a suit against Dechert, accusing the firm and its…
Tile Inc. and its parent company, Life360, alongside Amazon, are currently faced with a consumer class action lawsuit regarding Tile’s location-tracking device. Representing victims of stalking, who claim to have been unknowingly tracked by the gadget without their agreement, this complaint marks a significant turn of events for the location tracking industry. The case caught…
In the wake of tightened attendance policies and a trend of integrating previously remote attorneys back into physical offices, the recruitment of fully remote lawyers by Big Law firms is seen as uncommon, according to industry analysts. “[I’ve worked with several attorneys recently making lateral moves to large global law firms, and none were given…
Ten future law school students have elected to defer the commencement of their J.D. path to initially engage in a year of public service work at one of the Am Law 50 law firms, Weil, Gotshal & Manges. This is part of the Weil Legal Innovators Program (WLI), a public service initiative which is currently…
In this week’s legal news, at least three lawsuits, two of which are class action suits, have been filed against Hawaiian Electric Co. in the wake of this month’s devastating wildfires in Maui. These developments come amidst growing concerns surrounding multinational conglomerate 3M’s settlement resolving PFAS contamination in sources of drinking water, which is now…
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) has become a key focus for stakeholders of all stripes, from corporations and employees to regulators and NGOs. The EY US CEO Survey confirms this growing trend, with 82% of US CEOs considering ESG a key driver of value for their businesses. This has led to increased efforts by professional…
In the ever-evolving legal landscape, it is crucial to stay informed about unfolding cases and their potential implications. Of current note is a series of lawsuits aimed at an electric utility company in connection with incidences of wildfires in Hawaii, a subject matter covered in detail in a recent article by Law.com. Unfortunately, full access…
The increasing use of social media and artificial intelligence by lawyers is igniting a debate as to whether the decades-old professional conduct rules are in sync with current technological advancements. As the American Bar Association puts it, these rules are designed to offer direction to lawyers and a regulatory framework for disciplinary boards. However, some…
Following a 15-year long survey of Am Law 200 firms, the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) shifted its focus onto conducting a ‘Listening Tour.’ Now, the organization is zeroing in on the lived experiences of women attorneys. This move follows a recognition of the persistent and sizeable decline of women in law firms relative…
Ahead of this year’s academic year, a pipeline program, created by retired federal judge and current Jones Day lawyer, Ann Claire Williams, has dutifully prepared 91 first-years (1Ls) for law school in Illinois. The initiative, aptly named “Jumpstart”, aims to equip students, particularly those with little or no exposure to the legal profession, with the…
Mary L. Smith has made history becoming the first Native American female president of the American Bar Association (ABA), the largest voluntary bar association across the globe. Smith, who is also vice chair of the VENG Group—a national consulting firm—and a remarkable figure in healthcare executive leadership, assumed her new role at the ABA on…
In a unique turn of events, Kirkland & Ellis, a Chicago-born firm, currently holds the record as the law firm with the largest New York office, surpassing the likes of Davis, Polk & Wardwell; and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. According to the latest data rankings released by the New York Law Journal 100,…
Two months ago, we only witnessed West Coast law firms deferring their summer classes. Today, large legal firms rooted in the East Coast and Midwest, including Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, Katten Muchin Rosenman, and Dechert, have reportedly joined the trend as well. Dechert, for instance, offers deferrals for its 2024 class until 2025. Reported by…
The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy plan, a matter that has stirred substantial controversy within the legal community. The plan, previously greenlit by the Second Circuit, has been criticized by the federal government as manipulative behavior of the bankruptcy system. Read more This development prompts questions…