Irony isn’t dead. Not according to the recent actions of freshman senator J.D. Vance, a Yale Law alumnus, who found himself embarked on an effort to block the nominations of four U.S. attorneys last week. It’s an action that appears to be more of a bid to align himself with the far-right and display his…
Canada announced additional sanctions on three prominent Haitian businessmen on Thursday, reportedly in response to corruption and other destabilizing factors in Haiti. The Canadian Foreign Ministry issued a statement outlining the sanctions on Marc Antoine Acra, Carl Braun and Jean-Marie Vorbe. These individuals, in addition to their business roles, have alleged links to corruption that…
In a significant change in policy, the UK Government is looking to increase the scope of the Serious Fraud Office’s (SFO) power to order individuals and companies to provide information before resorting to a formal investigation. As it stands, such power can only be invoked in international bribery and corruption matters. However, the forthcoming modifications…
Former special counsel John Durham’s deputy, Nora Dannehy, testified recently that the Trump Justice Department was deployed to protect Donald Trump’s electoral prospects. This controversial claim further confirms suspicions of bias within the Trump era DOJ. The Republicans had spent a considerable amount of time accusing Merrick Garland, the current Attorney General, of weaponizing the…
Former federal prosecutor and ex-Polsinelli shareholder, George Jackson III, has seen his privileges as a legal professional placed into serious jeopardy. Reprimanded for a string of violations during his brother’s legal defense, Jackson has not only been temporarily prohibited from entering a Chicago criminal courthouse independently, but he’s also facing the likelihood of professional suspension….
In a realm where tales of attorneys exiting law practice to helm legal technology enterprises are commonplace, certain individuals stand out with their noteworthy entrepreneurial success. Among such individuals is Matt Spiegel. Originally a criminal defense lawyer, Spiegel ventured into the legal tech field in 2009, establishing MyCase, an early champion of cloud-based law practice…
The Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) on Wednesday released a report which highlighted the challenges many nations face in their efforts to address drug trafficking and addiction issues. The report emphasized the difficulties permeating the current approach towards drug criminalization. While acknowledging that the drug problem is quite significant, the OHCHR…
In recent developments around eDiscovery, the founder and chair of the eDiscovery Practice Group at Kutak Rock, Robin Perkins, sat down with Kaylee and Mary on the Illumination Zone podcast for an enriching conversation about her journey within the realm of eDiscovery and her dedication for the National eDiscovery Leadership Institute (NeLI) conference. The conference,…
The Swiss National Council has approved the contentious Federal Law on the Prohibition of Concealing the Face with a vote of 151-29. This law was established in response to a referendum passed in March 2021, with 51% of Swiss voters in favor of prohibiting the concealing of faces in public spaces. The initiative, led by…
The UK’s Crown Prosecision Service (CPS) announced that five Bulgarian nationals have been arrested under suspicion of spying for Russia. According to the CPS, the quintet will face charges of “conspiring to collect information intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy for a purpose prejudicial to the safety and interest of the…
In an unexpected shift, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recommended that marijuana be rescheduled from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The recommendation was presented in a letter sent on August 29, 2023, to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). In the world of federal…
Two former investment managers have appealed to a New York federal court on Wednesday, requesting reconsideration of a magistrate judge’s ruling. The disputed ruling has declared that leading law firm Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP does not have to relinquish files from the time it represented the investment managers. According to the investors, these requested…
As part of their ongoing commitment to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), the Holland & Knight Diversity and Inclusion Committee is following and studying normative and jurisprudential changes. This includes a focus on ‘acciones afirmativas para mujeres en materia penal’ or affirmative actions for women in criminal matters in Colombia. The firm’s global…
In a recent testimony, US Attorney General Merrick Garland held firm in his declaration of independence from both the presidency and congressional influence. Speaking before the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, Garland said, “Our job is not to take orders from the president, from Congress, or from anyone else, about who or what to criminally…
The UK High Court on Wednesday started to examine a total of 16 legal challenges leveled against the newly enacted Northern Ireland (Troubles & Reconciliation) Act. Largely issued by relatives of victims, these revendications come in the wake of the Act achieving legal status on Tuesday, post gaining official Royal Assent. Gavin Booth, a legal…
The rapidly evolving landscape of legal technology has given rise to numerous enterprising individuals leaving their law practice to venture into legal tech start-ups. Notably, Matt Spiegel, a former criminal defense lawyer, founded MyCase, an early cloud-based law practice management firm. In 2012, he successfully sold the company to AppFolio. Departing the company in 2015,…
Recent reports have revealed that HWL Ebsworth, one of Australia’s top law firms, has been heavily consumed dealing with a cyberattack. The magnitude of the cyberattack, as alluded to by the firm’s Cyber Chief, highlights the growing span and intensity of cyber threats faced by legal establishments worldwide. The impact of this cyberattack on HWL…
In a move that reflects consistently rigorous scrutiny of suspect contractual joint ventures, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) has provided further guidance for the IONM industry. On August 18, OIG published Advisory Opinion 23-05, which concluded that an entity’s proposal to aid referring surgeons’ ownership of self-contained…
The disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh became a hotspot of military activities earlier this week when troops from Azerbaijan launched a military operation there. This move by Azerbaijan has sparked humanitarian concerns globally, especially from the notable International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) . Although Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally acknowledged as part of Azerbaijan, the region…
Rudy Giuliani’s legal woes have piled up even further with another adversary appearing. Giuliani’s ex-lawyer, Robert Costello, has filed a collections suit against him for almost $1.4 million in unpaid bills. Giuliani’s financial problems were exacerbated by his association with former President Donald Trump. Despite guiding him through multiple impeachment processes, Giuliani was left empty-handed…
Rudy Giuliani, former New York City Mayor and personal lawyer to ex-President Donald Trump, is facing a claim of over $1.36 million in unpaid legal bills. This claim arises as a result of outstanding invoices from his legal representation during the criminal probe into the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and other…
Unrest unraveled near an Eritrean cultural festival in Stuttgart, Germany, culminating in the arrest of 228 individuals. The arrests were made after rioters reportedly assaulted festivalgoers and police officers, an episode that left 27 officers injured as law enforcement attempted to disperse the violent outbreak. Local authorities confirmed these details. The festival was hosted by…
Criminal justice officials across the country have recently exhorted the Florida Supreme Court to reinstate a prosecutor suspended by Governor Ron DeSantis, alleging that the governor has overreached his authority. They argue that such action represents a perilous precedent, indicating that future measures will offer no protections against the undemocratic removal of elected leaders. The…
In a recent move, the European Parliament has passed a resolution against the decriminalization of prostitution. The decision to pass the resolution titled ‘Resolution of 14 September 2023 on the Regulation of Prostitution in the EU: its cross-border implications and impact on gender equality and women’s rights’ is seen as an extension of the member…
Nine members of the California legislature recently issued a letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. They are requesting an official court opinion on the constitutionality of Donald Trump’s potential 2024 presidential run, under the stipulations of the Fourteenth Amendment. This constitutional amendment prohibits any individual who has instigated “insurrection or rebellion” against the United…