In an unprecedented move, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has offered to accept contested facts to conclude a whistleblower lawsuit leveled against him. The complaint alleges that Paxton had terminated and retaliated against former high-ranking staff members who had threatened to unveil his financial ties with Nate Paul, a real estate developer based in Austin,…
In an interesting shift of gears, Alina Habba recently initiated a move for a mistrial relating to the second E. Jean Carroll defamation case. This move centered around the notion that plaintiff Carroll spoliated evidence by erasing threats against her life. This is not the first time Habba has taken such a course of action….
Renowned mass torts attorney Mikal Watts announced on Monday that he is restructuring his partnership at Watts Guerra, the well-known firm that frequently tackles large mass tort litigation. This decision was made together with his partner Frank Guerra. Mikal Watts expressed his honor at having worked with Frank Guerra for over two decades. “We have…
In a notable legal event this week, Desmarais LLP and The Dacus Firm PC reached a significant victory, securing a $57 million trial verdict for their client Ravgen, a genetic testing company. The trial, which has drawn considerable attention, was centered around a case of infringement. The win has elevated Desmarais LLP and The Dacus…
Proskauer Rose, a renowned international law firm, announced the election of Timothy Mungovan as its new chair. Mungovan, who is the current chair of the firm’s securities litigation group, will officially assume his new role in April 2024. Mungovan takes over from Steven Ellis, who revealed last December that he would prematurely end his tenure…
Amid recent departures within its management structure, Norton Rose Fulbright confirms the addition of fresh litigation leaders in their Chicago office. The new heads of litigation signal bolstered dispute practices, an area of practice that is currently experiencing high demand in the realm of Big Law. Norton Rose Fulbright, currently ranked 16 in the Am…
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows appealed a court ruling that delayed a judgement on the validity of former president Donald Trump’s removal from the 2024 primary ballot under the US Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment. Much earlier, Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy had delayed ruling on the case, pending the final decision of the US Supreme…
McElroy Deutsch Mulvaney & Carpenter LLP, a multistate law firm headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey, secured a favorable ruling on Friday from a New Jersey state court. The ruling dismissed subpoenas that were served by a former firm executive who stands accused of stealing over $3 million during his tenure at the firm. The subpoenas…
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has recently filed a lawsuit against the cryptocurrency platform, Debiex, and one Chinese national. The charges allege that they carried out fraudulent operations by misappropriating at least $2.3 million from customers across the country in a so-called “pig butchering” scheme, which involved sales of Bitcoin and Ether. The information…
Sanaz Rafailzadeh, the former chief of staff at Legal Soft Inc., alleges that she was terminated without notice in retaliation for voicing concerns about potentially illegal labor practices. Legal Soft Inc., a virtual staffing and marketing service for law firms and legal professionals, has come under question for allegedly misclassifying workers as independent contractors, thus…
Welcome to another weekly roundup of significant legal happenings. This week, we explore appellate litigation from various angles, from the Supreme Court’s alleged complicity in the armed Texas standoff with the Feds, to understanding the federal law central to the latest Supreme Court abortion case. Let’s delve deeper into the week that was in law…
Amidst rising demand, government attorneys have found increased career prospects within major law firms. The transition to the private sector, however, requires a strategic approach. The right focus can ensure the successful leveraging of their unique backgrounds to elevate their candidacy. Developing high-level expertise is a prime factor in this equation. Government attorneys are often…
In a recent development at acclaimed law firm Gordon Rees, Eric A. Howard has been recruited as a partner in their Boston office. The firm officially announced his joining on Friday [Gordon Rees]. A seasoned legal professional, Howard is expected to fortify Gordon Rees’s commercial, construction, and professional liability practice groups. Throughout his career, Howard…
In a unanimous decision, the California Supreme court announced that the state’s trial courts lack the inherent authority to dismiss abstruse Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims perceived as unwieldy or time-consuming. The ruling extends a friendly hand to employees across the state. The verdict, handed down in the case of Estrada v. Royalty Carpet…
Greenberg Traurig’s Los Angeles branch is augmenting its litigation and white-collar defense practice with the addition of former U.S. attorney, Thomas O’Brien. With three decades of experience, O’Brien brings a wealth of knowledge to the firm, previously hailing from the California-based boutique Ellis George. Throughout his career, O’Brien has worked both as a prosecutor and…
Leading law firm Clifford Chance has been engaged in an extended legal dispute to defend the trademark of ‘Halloumi’, the eminent Cypriot cheese. The firm represents the ‘Foundation for the Protection of the Traditional Cheese of Cyprus named Halloumi’ in this ongoing litigation. The dispute is primarily against the Swedish food entity, Fontana Foods. The…
Welcome to today’s legal news rundown, bringing you the most pertinent headlines from the law world. According to recent records, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton paid lawyers and law firms $3.2 million from his campaign funds over the past six months to defend him during his impeachment trial. Payments were made to lead defender, Anthony…
Recent industry trends indicate that a lack of confidence in fees and the impact of ‘subtle psychology’ may pose significant obstacles to profitability within the legal sector. These findings present some crucial insights for legal professionals, especially those operating in large corporations and global law firms. One indication of this trend is evident in the…
Over the past 25 years, the push toward mandatory carbon reporting requirements has intensified. However, the lack of a solid carbon accounting ecosystem leaves too much room for misinformation and fraud. A strong carbon accounting ecosystem necessitates bold standards for measuring progress, plain reporting language, and independent professionals who can verify the information. Current carbon…
Rudolph Giuliani’s creditors are pushing back against his attempts to leverage bankruptcy protections for his benefit. The former New York City mayor is under pressure for a $148 million judgment connected to his unsuccessful campaign to retain former President Donald Trump in office. Giuliani had positioned his bankruptcy filing as a means to halt debt…
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is considering legal action against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over its proposed climate disclosure rules. The trade association has concerns regarding the costs involved for companies and the agency’s power to enforce such rules. Charles Crain, the vice president for domestic policy at the NAM, voiced…
New York-based social justice law firm Sanford Heisler Sharp recently made an internal shift by naming David Tracey as its new managing partner. Tracey will work alongside firm chairman David Sanford and co-vice chairmen Jeremy Heisler and Kevin Sharp. As managing partner, Tracey will play a critical role in “establishing firm-wide policies and office culture,”…
Kirkland & Ellis, a global law firm heralded for its top-notch legal services, is expected to clear more than $120 million for its legal expertise rendered to three major cryptocurrency exchanges that underwent Chapter 11 filings amidst severe cryptocurrency losses in 2022. The firm represented BlockFi Inc., Celsius Network LLC, and Voyager Digital Holdings Inc.,…
In a recent case involving ex-president Donald Trump, lawyers John Lauro and Todd Blanche filed a motion demanding the court to hold Special Counsel Jack Smith and his deputies Molly Gaston and Thomas Windom in contempt of court. They argued that, as the case is currently under appeal, the prosecutors should not be adhering to…
For professionals seeking to broaden their insight into the legal tech landscape, the last week of January offers a wealth of opportunities. Namely, three separate legal tech conferences showcasing new developments, trends, and the interplay of technology and legal practice. Legalweek, previously known as Legaltech New York before its rebranding in 2017, is considered the…