Ivy A. Wang, previously an Assistant US Attorney for the Central District of California, has officially joined Greenberg Traurig. The firm announced on Thursday that Wang will serve as a shareholder, focusing her efforts on the white-collar defense and investigations and litigation practices based in Los Angeles. During her tenure as an Assistant US Attorney,…
In a challenging case currently being argued in the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, the question posed is whether a McDonald’s franchisee can be held vicariously liable for an employee’s offensive interaction while performing their job at the drive-thru window. The incident occurred while the employee was at work, whereby the offensive remark was targeted at…
In legal news today, an originalist group is set to interpret the Fourteenth Amendment bar on insurrectionists, passed post-Civil War, as purely advisory. This could potentially reshape our understanding of the historical intent behind the Amendment. More on this event can be found on SCOTUSBlog. On the corporate front, Paul Hastings echoes the steps of…
In a move that adds momentum for a potential ban on noncompete clauses, Jennifer Abruzzo, the general counsel of the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), has urged companies to “reconsider” their use of noncompete provisions in employment contracts. These stipulations often prevent employees from moving to positions within the same industry after leaving a…
The prestigious law firm, Paul Hastings, has reportedly seen a surge in its revenue, hitting a new high of $1.8 billion. The Big Law Business column by veteran journalist Roy Strom sheds light on the firm’s financial results from 2023. After the boom of the 2000s, many legal giants struggled to maintain growth rates, with…
The rise of mass arbitrations, which some commentators are celebrating, is not necessarily a cause for celebration. As a result of this trend, it appears that the primary beneficiaries are plaintiffs’ attorneys who reap substantial fees from settlements. Often, these settlement amounts are wholly unrelated to the merits of the underlying claims. This poses a…
Florida lawmakers are making progress on an important effort to regulate the litigation finance industry. This comes amid arguments asserting that investor participation in lawsuits could potentially expose the country’s courts to domestic or foreign manipulation. A bill proposed by Senator Jay Collins received favorable votes from a state Senate committee, necessitating litigants to reveal…
In an unexpected development in the entertainment law scene, the former Mandalorian actress Gina Carano has lodged a lawsuit against Disney for wrongful termination and sex discrimination. A surprise factor in this case is tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who is financing Carano’s legal action. According to reports, Musk has developed a penchant for abusive litigation…
A decision put forth by a New Jersey Supreme Court committee has rejected a proposal for compulsory disclosure of third-party litigation funding agreements in civil cases. The committee pointed to the potential complexity in drafting such a rule as the primary reason for its denial. It was suggested that imposing a requirement for the public…
In a recent, notable career move, Claudia Wilson Frost, a litigation partner at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, took her talents to Steptoe’s Houston office. She was drawn to the opportunity in part due to the large team of trial lawyers there. Transitioning from one well-known law firm to another, Frost affirmed her decision, expressing it…
In a significant legal shakeup for one of the world’s largest online retail platforms, Shein has unexpectedly lost its US General Counsel amidst a flurry of legal battles. Valerie Ho, who played a key role in shaping the company’s global legal and compliance structure, has parted ways with the company. Her departure comes at a…
Georgia Senator Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, has described a new tort reform bill as a compromise, citing its potential to not necessarily please everyone. Commenting on the bill, Tillery said, “I wish I could tell you it’s a bill that, when I bring it up here, everybody’s gonna sing ‘Kumbaya’ and tell you that it’s great….
In a long-lasting legal saga, Chanel has come out victorious in a trademark infringement case against the second-hand luxury retailer, What Goes Around Comes Around (WGACA). This court battle, which has stretched for six years, resulted in a significant verdict awarding Chanel $4 million in damages. The prestigious fashion behemoth and WGACA were entangled in…
Experienced barrister Max Hill has joined the ranks of King & Spalding’s London team, the law firm announced on Monday. Hill’s impressive career includes serving as the director of public prosecutions, a role he recently left behind to bring his expertise to advising clients on legal issues relating to international investigations and litigation as part…
Shein, the leading online fast-fashion retailer, has suffered a significant loss as its U.S. General Counsel, Valerie Ho, resigns amidst a number of lawsuits and preparations for an Initial Public Offering (IPO). Valerie Ho was influential in crafting Shein’s global legal and compliance framework, and she was instrumental in addressing concerns regarding its intellectual property…
Baker Botts has expanded their intellectual property department by welcoming Robert Benson and Jeffrey Johnson as new partners in San Francisco and Houston. The details of the partnership were announced on Wednesday and first reported by Bloomberg Law Automation. Having led the Taiwan practice for Orrick, Benson is well-versed in the handling of commercial and…
Renowned lawyer David Edwards has been named as a new partner at Simpson Thacher, according to the firm’s announcement on Wednesday. In his role, Edwards will be stationed in the litigation department in London. More significantly, Edwards is set to take on the major responsibility of co-leading the firm’s European disputes practice. Edwards is recognized…
Yesterday, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey nominated Gabrielle Wolohojian, a former WilmerHale partner and current Appeals Court Justice, for a position on the state’s highest court. The nomination comes with the intention to fill a vacancy on the bench. Wolohojian’s forthcoming appointment will add a layer of diversity to the Massachusetts Supreme Court, with her previous…
In a recent communication, President Joe Biden disclosed plans to put forward two candidates for South Dakota’s district court vacancies, a move that confirms the Democratic president’s collaboration with Republicans to occupy vacancies in majority-conservative states. The two nominees, Camela Theeler and Eric Schulte, come with highly regarded background from their respective fields in the…
A North Dakota tribal court judge stands accused of unlawfully asserting jurisdiction in a dispute between tribal members and a non-Indian energy company, as first highlighted by Law.com. The specifics of the dispute are not entirely clear, however, the crux of the argument appears to revolve around the tribal court’s jurisdiction over legal disagreements between…
As lawyers gear up for another Roundup trial, now set to commence in Delaware, they are simultaneously grappling with last-minute challenges in the proposed Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) rule. The Trial is the latest in a series of major lawsuits surrounding the Roundup weed killer made by agribusiness giant Monsanto, now a unit of German chemical…
Polsinelli, a well-known law firm, recently expanded their team in the rapidly evolving fields of cybersecurity and privacy. They added ten new members, each proficient in these particular legal territories, as announced on Tuesday. The new roster includes a mix of four shareholders, one counsel, four associates, along with one technology consultant. This assemblage of…
Amid challenging economic conditions, distressed French companies carrying substantial debt and navigating tight financing markets are becoming attractive targets for merger and acquisition (M&A) activities. These circumstances, often necessitating a change of corporate control or major carve-outs, provide firms a considerable boost in M&A and litigation work. As these high-value distressed companies become part of…
Tuesday saw public comments presented to the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules regarding its Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16.1 proposal, which could potentially become the first rule governing multidistrict litigation. A significant move in the arena of multidistrict litigation, this shift could bring about major changes in its application. The Central District of New…
The proposed rule change designed to streamline discovery disputes in civil cases has garnered a significant amount of support, particularly from plaintiffs’ attorneys. However, some have voiced concerns regarding the language accompanying the change, indicating that it could potentially favor the party producing the documents. The overall purpose of the amendment, which has been debated…