The producer of a Kim Kardashian-themed energy drink has raised allegations of copyright infringement against a competitor in the beverage industry, along with a social media influencer. This battle over image rights was ignited after the rival company used an image strongly resembling the copyrighted, Kardashian-endorsed visual to hawk its own pink-hued beverage on Instagram….
Once upon a time, the only lawyers who were familiar with and concerned about antitrust laws were those who specialized in the area. Times have changed. In an era of hypercompetitive global commerce and governments that seem increasingly interested in regulating business, antitrust laws have come to affect a wide array of professionals throughout the…
The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) has determined that a cap exists on the number of counterarguments permitted in response to expert reports. This resolution is a recent occurrence in a trademark case initiated by Monster Energy. The energy drink behemoth is opposing a fitness equipment manufacturer’s attempt to register the term “Monster Lite”…
In a recent legal development, the Massachusetts Court of Appeals has clarified a nuance in homestead exemptions in relation to atypical forms of child support. The court’s decision expands the child support order exemption under G. L. c. 188, § 3 (b) (4) to encompass orders of support that divert from the traditional format of…
Major law firms in Washington, D.C. like Baker Botts, K&L Gates, Sidley Austin, and Thompson Hine are in a race to bolster their litigation and dispute teams, as client demand in such practices is helping to balance out slowdowns in transactional work. This wave of recruitment is a response to a robust Q2 for countercyclical…
Leading Canadian news groups have requested that the country’s Competition Bureau investigate tech giant Meta for potentially prohibiting news content from being shared on Facebook and Instagram. Coincidingly, News Media Canada, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) associated to release a joint statement. The conglomerate’s urgent appeal for an investigation…
The legal counsel representing students and their families in a class-action lawsuit against the Fairfax County schools and the Virginia Department of Education (DOE) are gearing up to appeal a district court’s dismissal. The dismissal is based on a new precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court. Concurrently, these representatives are calling for an investigation…
Earlier this month, international law firm Dentons launched FleetAI, its proprietary version of ChatGPT, for its United Kingdom, Ireland and Middle East offices (UKIME). FleetAI currently features two distinct chatbots, each designed with specific functions tailored towards boosting productivity and efficiency in legal procedures. One chatbot is tasked with assisting lawyers with legal research and…
ALM recently confirmed that the acclaimed actor, producer, and director Bryan Cranston will be one of the main attractions at Legalweek 2024. Cranston is set to take the main stage for the morning headline session on Tuesday, January 30. The interview, fittingly titled “Breaking Boundaries: The Transformative Power of Perseverance and Hard Work” promises to…
Since the introduction of ChatGPT in November 2022, generative AI (GAI) has advanced significantly within the legal field. Many current applications focus on enhancing legal research and extraction of data, but the potential reach and impact is much broader, with the capacity to reform legal tech. Whilst GAI acceptance is growing in the legal industry,…
A changing landscape in Washington D.C. may thrust law firms into a predicament over office return policies. This shift, fueled by the city’s already flexible work environment and compounded by governmental attorneys’ experiences over the last three years, stands to make it exceedingly difficult for Washington firms to mandate employees’ physical presence more than three…
ALM recently confirmed that award-winning actor, producer, and director Bryan Cranston will serve as the featured speaker for the morning headline session at Legalweek 2024 on Tuesday, January 30. Cranston, renowned for his work in critically acclaimed television shows such as “Breaking Bad” and “Malcolm in the Middle,” in addition to his performances on Broadway…
According to a new survey, a substantial 70% of Black women lawyers have reported facing discrimination or bias in their workplace, or personally witnessed this being directed at others. This study, known as the State of Black Women in the Law 2023 DEIB Assessment Report, also revealed that nearly 47% of the participating previously felt…
In a recent ruling, the Seventh Circuit upheld the conviction of a Southern Illinois University math professor tied up in charges related to false tax returns and breach of foreign bank reporting regulations. The court decision reaffirms his sentence, which has resulted from him concealing an undisclosed Chinese bank account. Law360 reports that the provost…
In continuing with their expansion plans on the West Coast, Duane Morris LLP recently announced a new addition to their team. They are adding a seasoned white-collar lawyer and Intellectual Property (IP) attorney to their San Francisco team, reinforcing their litigation capability in the region. The attorney, formerly associated with DLA Piper, is set to…
The Israeli government’s proposed overhaul of the country’s judicial system is reportedly causing unease within the nation’s legal community. Lawyers and legal experts are preparing themselves for the potential implications of these changes on the practice of law, and the broader reputational impact on the nation’s stability and transparency. Although it is currently unclear if…
The American Bar Association (ABA) has begun a new era under the leadership of president-elect, Thompson Coburn LLP partner, Bill Bay. During his early tenure, Bay has made it his mission to transform the ABA into a more inclusive and welcoming institution for all lawyers. This transformation, he believes, is a necessary step towards growth…
As the professional world gears up to reconcile remote work protocols with a return to on-site operations, law firms are especially confronted with the challenge of preserving the fundamental aspects of associate development integral to their trade. The law industry, renowned for its reliance on the practical training and experiential learning offered by the apprenticeship…
Former Fisher Phillips partner Claud Lee “Tex” McIver III is once again seeking a bond from an Atlanta judge ahead of a retrial slated for October, over allegations concerning the fatal shooting of his wife. According to McIver, he has now procured a local apartment for living arrangements. Fisher Phillips, an internationally recognized law firm,…
As law firms worldwide try to frame return-to-work strategies encompassing flexible working models, the significance of in-office engagement in the development of associate skills often seems to get overlooked. A typical characteristic of law firms, more than most other professional services firms, is their strong fidelity to the apprenticeship model for career development. In this…
Evidence before a Minnesota federal court this week revealed that food distribution giant, Sysco, and legal investment firm, Burford Capital, settled a dispute over control of settlement approval. However, this dispute has been dismissed as irrelevant to a request to replace the plaintiff in a pork price-fixing lawsuit with a Burford-affiliated entity. As Law360 reports,…
In a recent precedential opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit clarified the original patent requirement invoking Title 35 of the U.S. Code, Section 251, in correlation to reissue applications. The case in point In re: Float’N’Grill LLC. The Federal Circuit’s decision rejected the patent reissue request from the floating grill company,…
Pauline Newman, a highly respected name in intellectual property law, has found herself under scrutiny from colleagues and subjected to a ruling by a Federal Circuit panel recommending a year-long suspension from judging. The crux of their claim lies in questioning her mental and physical health. The panel has pointed to supposed deficiencies in Newman’s…
Internationally renowned law firm, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, announced on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, that it is initiating a specialized team directed towards scrutinizing how its clientele manages aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This prominent move towards advancing social justice on the legal scene substantiates the growing importance of advocating for civil rights…
In a recent judicial development, the Northern District of Texas Judge Brantley Starr, who is known internally as the nephew of Ken Starr, ordered Southwest Airlines’ in-house legal team to participate in “religious freedom” training offered by a Southern Poverty Law Center designated hate group, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). ADF is recognized for its support…