In a recent announcement, Quarles & Brady LLP disclosed the addition of four attorneys to its Phoenix office. These new team members originally practiced at Jennings Strouss & Salmon PLC. With their inclusion, the firm bolsters its core competencies in the field of commercial litigation and intellectual property. The detailed account can be read here….
Legal professionals, particularly those involved in patent dispute cases, may find the recent development in the Incept LLC vs. Palette Life Sciences, Inc. case both interesting and potentially significant. The premise of the case revolved around the principles of “teaching away” and how the notion of “commercial success” is discerned in the patent law context….
With an increment in office vacancies, a significant depreciation has been observed in the value of Bay Area’s commercial real estate in 2022. This downward trend will likely have implications on the property tax evaluation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, which is determined based on the real property’s value as of January 1, 2023. Introduced…
Despite the substantial amount of reading required in day-to-day legal work, some lawyers struggle to find the same enjoyment in reading outside of work, according to a recent editorial on Above The Law. Before entering the law profession, many found joy in novels and various non-fiction topics, relishing the opportunities to delve into an intriguing…
The discussions, policies, and reforms in the North Carolina General Assembly are perpetually shaping the face of various industries in the state. According to the most recent update from Jad Supra, there are new developments of interest for legal professionals working within corporate entities, law firms, statewide associations, government vendors, Fortune 500 companies, and others…
In a significant move declared on July 19, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee ruled that the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) rebuttable presumption of social disadvantage had violated the equal protection rights of a government contractor. The court ruled against SBA’s use of the rebuttable presumption in administering the 8(a)…
In a recent decision that resonates with environmentalists and legal professionals alike, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia addressed a critical aspect of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The judgment dealt with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services’ refusal to designate a critical habitat for the endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee….
On August 23, 2023, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued its final guidance, a noteworthy shift in policy that endeavors to implement the Build America, Buy America (BABA) provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Hogan Lovells, a multinational legal practice, delivered a detailed examination of these developments. The…
When it comes to contractual agreements, clarity is key. One area where this is particularly essential is in the drafting of indemnity provisions. An indemnification provision is a legally binding agreement between two parties. It specifies that one party, known as the indemnitor, will compensate the other party, the indemnitee, for any losses or damages…
Requests for the adoption of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools continue to surge within numerous organizations across the world. These compelling technological developments, such as ChatGPT, presents a potential game-changer in how corporations and law firms conduct their business operations. Uniquely designed to brainstorm ideas and generate content quickly, GenAI tools could play an integral…
Legal powerhouses Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling have found themselves losing their competitive edge over the past two decades. A recent analysis from industry observer Hugh A. Simons reveals that both firms have significantly dropped in rankings, with Allen & Overy falling from the 6th to 11th position, and Shearman & Sterling tumbling…
The Vermont Supreme Court has recently revived a claim under the state’s Consumer Protection Act, alleging a law firm misrepresented the level of involvement a partner would have in a client’s case. This decision, detailed in an August 18 opinion, authored by Justice Harold E. Eaton, has both affirmed and reversed elements of a lower…
We’ve often heard the adage “do it afraid”, a piece of advice aimed at motivating individuals to face challenges head-on, despite their fears. However, when it comes to pressing responsibilities such as reviewing, revising, drafting, negotiating, and managing contracts, can fear be a detrimental factor to in-house lawyers? For many legal professionals, their first in-house…
Each year, numerous bright individuals begin their journey into the world of law by attending law school. This journey, starting with the 1L (first-year law student) experience, can be quite daunting due to the rigor of classes and the immense pressure to succeed. Because of this, the following tips, originally penned by an anonymous author…
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is anticipated to fundamentally change the job landscape in leading commercial law firms. At least one in four large law firms believes generative artificial intelligence will supplant some positions within their respective companies in the next five years, according to a recent survey. The study, which involved 24 major legal institutions…
Axiom Ince, the established buyers of U.K. law firms Ince and Plexus Law, has recently requested the help of prominent accounting firm BDO to conduct an essential internal investigation. This follows the recent suspension of three of its leaders over allegations of financial mismanagement, creating a sense of unease amid client concerns. The firm aims…
Kirkland & Ellis, a titan in the commercial legal industry, has a reputation paralleling that of industry giants like Real Madrid in football, Disney in animation, or Apple in software development. Their innovative strategies have brought them to the fore, bypassing competition in terms of revenue, profits, and reputation. Yet, the question arises, why would…
In a recent development at The Contact Network, a company led by CEO Jim Wagner, the legal tech firm has reported an initial fundraising of $8M. The funds are aimed at enhancing the development of their AI-powered contract collaboration platform. The aforementioned round was headed by Tusk Venture Partners with contributions from Andrew Sieja, founder…
In an era characterized by rapid technological advancement and ever-evolving global regulatory landscapes, the legal sector finds itself at the crossroads. As corporations and law firms expand their activities across multiple jurisdictions, they face increasingly complex legal challenges, some of which have global implications. Take, for instance, the impact of the European Union’s General Data…
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…
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has recently released its statutory annual report for the calendar year 2022. This unclassified edition of the report – issued on July 31, 2023 – offers an overview of crucial trends within the realm of inbound foreign investment reviews by the U.S. government. The report…
In the constantly evolving field of ecommerce, businesses are often confronted with numerous challenges in maintaining control over their distribution and ensuring brand integrity while addressing antitrust law compliance. This complex landscape raises two critical aspects: the creation of do not sell lists often alternately termed as restricted distribution lists or prohibited customer lists, and…
In a bid toward sustainable housing, the City of Los Angeles’s Planning Department is proposing an expansion of the city’s adaptive reuse policies. The proposal is a revision and an expansion of Sections 12.03, 12.22 A.26, 12.24 X and 16.05 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) and the Adaptive Reuse Incentive Areas Specific Plan…
Intellectual property rights are increasingly pivotal in the modern world, symbolic of stature and power for numerous corporations and brands. One company at the forefront of leveraging Intellectual Property (IP) rights is Mattel, Inc. The world-renowned toy manufacturing company has embarked on a path that places its iconic Barbie brand at the center of an…
In recent times, the Cayman Islands have become a hub for schemes of arrangement and restructuring, a process made critical due to the widespread economic instability caused by the global pandemic. Navigating such turbulent times has become a key concern for big businesses and law firms alike across the globe. Conyers, a prominent law firm…