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…
President Joe Biden’s nominee, Kalpana Kotagal, was sworn into the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Wednesday. Kotagal’s background in civil rights litigation, including experience with Title VII, the Equal Pay Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act, is considered central to the agency’s draft enforcement plan that was…
On July 28th, the Illinois Governor, J.B. Pritzker, decided to update the state’s law against revenge pornography – which refers to sexually explicit content shared online without the subject’s consent – to include a new category of content known as deepfakes: digitally manipulated or fabricated pornographic content. Under this recently established measure, individuals depicted in…
Associates appear to be remaining at their respective firms for longer durations than traditionally expected, prompting law firms to downsize in response to a precarious job market for junior lawyers. This anomaly is challenging expectations of normal employee turnover in these firms. Read more. In an effort to retain their associate talent once the lateral…
In an $8.5 billion deal that elevates the landscape of the luxury fashion industry, elite law firms Latham & Watkins and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz have advised on a revolutionary acquisition. This venture gathers several celebrated luxury brands including Versace, Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors, Coach, and Kate Spade under a single entity. This epic…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently ruled that Hawaii’s ban on “butterfly knives” is a violation of the Second Amendment. They found that the knife, resembling a folding pocketknife, qualifies as an “arm” under the amendment’s terminology. A district court’s previous summary judgment in favor of Hawaiian officials was overturned by…
Ramada Worldwide Inc. is facing legal scrutiny following a lawsuit filed by two former employees of their Tennessee guest lodge. The mother and daughter duo have filed an employment discrimination, hostile work environment, and constructive discharge complaint against the widely known hotel chain. The allegation pivots on the company’s apathy towards disciplining an employee accused…
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has recently taken legal action against a former hedge fund manager, alleging defraudulence of investors in a scheme that reportedly took in excess of $5M. The case bears the hallmarks of a ‘Ponzi-like’ structure. Currently, the scale of the fallout, the details of the purported victims, as well…
As corporations around the globe continue to intensify their focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, Big Law firms are increasingly stepping in to provide critical guidance. The growing scrutiny of these programs has created a demand for assured legal advice to ensure DEI initiatives are effective, sustainable, and lawful. Though much about the…
The ever-evolving landscape of the legal industry has witnessed numerous ebbs and flows. A case in point is the Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis law firm, which has a 90-year legacy, that is gracefully bowing out, making efforts to steer clear of bankruptcy court during its wind down process. Known for excelling in a broad…
With the burgeoning adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across numerous sectors, even seemingly impervious legal professionals are feeling a sense of being overwhelmed. One of the primary concerns highlighted by Law.com’s Greg Andrews is the advent of generative AI, a technology anticipated to introduce efficiency in the long run, but is adding to the pressure…
The dwindling caseload at the U.S. Supreme Court has seen lawyers at major law firms increasingly shift their focus to federal circuit courts. The past term at the Supreme Court saw just 59 cases, a mere fraction of which consisted of the business disputes underpinning the primary revenues for Supreme Court practices at leading firms….
In a recent interview with the National Law Journal, retired federal appellate Judge Joseph A. Greenaway Jr. shared his thoughts on diverse aspects of the legal profession. Judge Greenaway, who recently retired, is joining Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer next month. Appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in 2010 by…
Legal professionals and executives from renowned corporations are increasingly showing interest in the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Despite the enthusiasm, however, many choose to approach with a measure of caution. As chief legal officer of Twilio, Dana Wagner particularly noted the significant potential of generative AI. Wagner believes that this technology could radically impact…
Corporate lawyers have indicated that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is refocusing its efforts to enforce the False Claims Act (FCA) within the health care industry. Previously, the DOJ’s focus was primarily on hospitals and traditional medical practices, but lawyers now suggest that the focus has shifted towards fraudulent reimbursement claims in telehealth. The…
Law firms including Baker & Hostetler, Seyfarth Shaw, and Shook, Hardy & Bacon have been dealing with a surge in disability suits related to website accessibility, a situation necessitated by a perceived regulatory vacuum. Critics have frequently urged the Department of Justice to enforce technical standards, facilitating website usage for visually impaired individuals who rely…
A lawsuit has been launched against retail giant Target that challenges the company’s ESG priorities, marking a potent new angle from anti-ESG proponenets. The plaintiff believes that Target’s ESG practices, which includes support for diversity and LGBTQ+ communities, align heavily with left-leaning politics. While shareholder lawsuits concerning corporate ESG practices have increased in recent years,…
A New York judge is expected to hear preliminary arguments in a unique case that has been brought forward by disabled veterans. The case, which challenges New York’s approach to distributing cannabis licenses, will examine whether the current licensing program is equitable and accessible. While detailed information is behind a paywall, legal professionals engaged in…
Chicago has seen a rapid influx of lateral partner additions to Big Law this year. Recruiters and analysts suggest the uptick in demand signals an accelerated lateral activity across the industry according to law.com. However, partner moves throughout the first two quarters of 2023 are reportedly down compared to the same period last year. Despite…
Law firm Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian has announced the launch of ChatGD, its internally developed generative AI chat application, intended to facilitate its attorneys in their practice. The firm’s chief innovation officer, Joe Green, describes the tool as “an accelerant for subject matter expertise,” that will help attorneys perform their roles more…