Following recent developments in the New York litigation landscape, the source-of-income antidiscrimination statute in the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) has been declared unconstitutional. Lend focus to the ruling presided over by New York State Supreme Court Judge Mark G. Masler in Cortland County, in which the contentious ruling was passed. The case…
Running a law firm takes expertise and acumen both in legal practice and business operations. Among these ancillary skills, digital marketing stands out as a vital tool for corporate growth, particularly within highly competitive markets. However, as many legal professionals have found, oftentimes even the most diligently planned and executed digital marketing strategies may not…
July 2023 marked a period of heightened enforcement activity for the Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General. Legal professionals, particularly those working with corporations and law firms closely entwined with the healthcare industry, would want to follow these recent developments closely. The comprehensive shifts in the enforcement guidelines affect various elements of…
In the world of corporate law, July 2023 saw quite a number of substantial regulatory developments, particularly with respect to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors. The most significant was the European Commission’s adoption of the Commission Delegated Regulation. This introduced the initial set of European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), alongside a related Q&A as…
The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) of the United States issued a report titled: The EPA Should Determine What Interim Actions Can Be Taken to Immediately Notify the Public When Lead in Drinking Water Exceeds the Agency’s Action Level. This was disseminated on July 20th, raising serious implications for public health…
Every summer, the Pennsylvania State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) announces the Common Level Ratios (CLR) for each county. These ratios are critical in the calculation of real estate evaluations in tax appeal processes. STEB’s recent CLR announcement, applicable from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, suggests commercial property owners in select counties may have…
The world of consumer finance has experienced notable tremors with the recent key departures from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a situation that has raised intriguing questions within the legal circles. In a significant shift within the FTC, Commissioner Christine Wilson has recently stepped down, hot on the heels of the resignation of Commissioner Noah…
While a four-day in-office work week appears to be gaining popularity among some of the most prestigious Biglaw firms, including Skadden, Davis Polk, Weil Gotshal, Ropes & Gray, and Vinson & Elkins, not all firms are eager to make the shift. Indeed, some resistances come from unexpected corners. Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft—a firm that generated…
For legal professionals entrenched within the world of corporate law, the recent agreement reached between the Teamsters Union and UPS presents significant implications for the broader automotive industry. As discussed in an article by Foley & Lardner LLP, there are several elements to unpack in terms of the impact of this settlement. Firstly, the agreement…
In recent news, the issuance of new cannabis retail licenses in New York has been halted yet again by a court order, casting further uncertainties for those seeking to enter the burgeoning market. An unexpected temporary restraining order was handed down by New York Supreme Court Justice Kevin Bryant. This decision was precipitated by a…
In a competitive business landscape, the art of staying ahead often folds into the legal realm. Corporations and law firms the world over are increasingly finding themselves drawn to the complexities of unfair competition litigation. This paradigm has become more evident in the era of the “great resignation.” As originally reported on Arkansas Business by…
Yet another slew of undisclosed gifts for Justice Clarence Thomas have been reported, racking up to several hundred thousand dollars in value. These dealings have raised serious ethical concerns over conflicts of interests within the judiciary. ProPublica delve further into the specifics. In efforts to diversify the legal field, the American Bar Association (ABA) is…
In a digital era where information dissemination has been perpetually accelerated, it remains paramount for law firms to maintain lasting legacies through effective succession planning, a factor that often gets sidelined due to immediate stressors and profit-oriented operational approaches. According to JD Supra, many firms require far more formal strategies linked to succession. Ill-prepared leadership…
Four leading law firms, Reed Smith, Addleshaw Goddard, Osborne Clarke, and Ashurst have announced their interest in the generative artificial intelligence Chat-GPT style platform, Harvey, a technology originally developed by Allen & Overy. The platform, which is endorsed by the OpenAI Startup Fund, employs GPT-4 technology to put together large language models (LLMs) for legal…
Mishcon de Reya has announced the addition of Liz Hunter, a non-lawyer partner and expert in incentives, to its London incentives practice. Hunter joins the firm after nearly five years with the international accountancy firm KPMG, where she served as director of equity reward and tax. With experience at several international accountancy firms, including Mazars,…
According to a recent article on law.com, law firms of varying sizes are innovating unique growth strategies. The details offer a fascinating look at the diversification of approaches within the legal sector. Readers, please note that this article is behind a paywall and we have limited information. The depth of the specifics are not available…
With increasing debates on attorney’s fees, one judge’s approach, dissecting the relevance of legal terminology is deemed an interesting read. Delving into how crucial wording can be in this profession, the judge’s unique approaches are worthy of your attention. Full story here. In the world of celebrity court cases, Tory Lanez has been sentenced, a…
In recent legal developments, Dentons – a heavyweight in the world of law firms – has ceased operations in China, triggering speculation about how other Western firms might respond to this decision. According to Kent Zimmermann, a U.S.-based principal at Zeughauser Group, Dentons’ withdrawal could herald wider trends as the stringent conditions for the practice…
During his tenure, esteemed former Fourth Circuit judge Michael Luttig supervised 47 law clerks. An impressive number of these clerks carried on to clerk for Supreme Court justices. This testament to Luttig’s guidance and mentorship has significantly contributed to establishing his renowned reputation as a respected ‘feeder judge’ within legal circles.[1] Indeed, the term feeder…
Earning the highly coveted spots in leadership ranks at law firms, several diligent attorneys have recently moved up the ranks, displaying their commitment and excellence in the legal field, according to Law360. Ascension to roles such as partner or practice group chair not only signifies numerous new responsibilities but also brings a great deal of…
Vinson & Elkins LLP is the latest of a growing number of large law firms encouraging their attorneys to return to in-office work for, at least, four days every week. As reported in an internal email made public on August 9, 2023, this move comes amid continued shifts in work policies initially liberalized during the…
Major law firm Vinson & Elkins have decided to make it mandatory for its workforce to spend a minimum of four days a week in the office. The policy appears to be a widespread movement and is not only limited to the firm’s New York office but is also implemented across its international offices, including…
In the complex world of law, associates can often find themselves responsible for managing a varying number of legal files. In the large law firms – the so-called ‘Biglaw’ – associates usually find themselves working on a handful of large matters, with these significant legal disputes or transactions providing enough work to keep many lawyers…
The advent of readily accessible artificial intelligence (AI), and particularly generative AI (GAI), has transformed key aspects of business operations ranging from crafting slogans to creating music and art. Alone, these uses represent an exciting frontier in technological capability, but practitioners must be mindful of considerable, still-evolving, legal risks. Specifically, businesses employing GAI for public-facing…
In a pioneering legal move for freelance workers across the country, Illinois recently became the first state to enact far-reaching protections for this often under-served portion of the workforce. On August 4, 2023, Governor JB Pritzker solidified the state’s commitment to supporting and safeguarding the rights of freelance individuals by signing the Freelance Worker Protection…