Longtime Fried Frank real estate practice chair Jon Mechanic has become a highly influential figure within Manhattan’s property world. His formidable reputation as a ‘fixer’ stems from his pivotal role in expanding the real estate team from only a few attorneys to over 100. His impact on the scene has been substantial, even if he…
The complex geopolitical dynamics underpinning the recent deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas is impacting the global workplace. Employers are being pressured to take a definitive stance on the issue, which invites the potential for workplace discord and possible litigation. Employees and supporters on both sides of the conflict have criticized companies for maintaining silence…
Leigh M. Rothschild, an individual with more than 130 patents to his name, enjoys occupying a controversial space within the legal sphere. Having nuanced perspectives surrounding his persona, some regard him as among the most innovative inventors of his generation, while others label him a patent troll. A title of ‘patent troll’ is often given…
Today, established attorney Kenneth Chesebro pled guilty to a single felony count of conspiracy to file false documents at Fulton County Superior Court. The plea represents the conclusion to a months-long standoff with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Once a prominent appellate lawyer, Chesebro was involved in an elaborate design to replace legitimate electors…
For the third consecutive quarter, Brownstein Hyatt Faber Schreck topped the charts in Washington’s lobbying sector, pulling in a robust $15.1 million in federal lobbying revenue – a point of pause for corporate legal professionals looking to navigate the nation’s capital’s power corridors. The firm’s impressive client list includes primary players such as Apollo Global…
The U.S. Supreme Court has recently declined a request from Missouri to reinstate a state law barring law enforcement from enforcing federal restrictions on gun sales and ownership that Missouri deems at odds with the Second Amendment. The original appeal was in light of a judgement passed earlier this year by a federal judge, who…
U.S. District Senior Judge Rebecca Beach Smith of the Eastern District of Virginia recently approved a $70 million settlement agreement between a class of drug purchasers and pharmaceutical giants, Merck & Co. and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. This resolution came following allegations that these manufacturers deliberately delayed the arrival of a less costly generic counterpart of Zetia,…
A pair of highly-esteemed legal professionals, encompassing both the realms of practice and academia, have been officially nominated by Gov. Maura Healey to fill critical judicial vacancies in Massachusetts. Treading the path from litigation and education to the mantle of judgeship, these individuals are set to bring their diverse experience and profound expertise to the…
In a pivotal legal development, California has ceased the practice of automatically staying litigation when orders denying motions to compel arbitration are appealed. This change that came into effect on October 10, 2023, is due to the signing into law of California Senate Bill No. 365 (SB365) by Governor Newsom. As outlined by Ballard Spahr…
As companies enact measures to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in their workplaces, they face a growing new risk: shareholder activism. This activism, it seems, is evolving into a noteworthy tool employed in ever-increasing challenges to DEI policies. The activist measures appear in various forms – shareholder proposals, demands for books and records, and…
A consolidated shareholder derivative lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories has been filed in federal court, as a result of concerns over contamination at the company’s infant formula manufacturing facility in Michigan. This wide-ranging litigation, spanning 181 pages, was initiated by court-appointed lead plaintiffs, following the factory’s closure, which was deemed necessary after investigations by the Food…
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), known as the Commission, has implemented changes to Rule 35d-1 under the Investment Company Act, which oversees naming conventions for registered funds. These changes, commonly referred to as the Names Rule, have been enacted with the intention of modernising the rule and endorsing investor protection objectives. The key…
On 6th October 2023, Mints v. PJSC National Bank Trust and PJSC Bank Otkritie saw a critical affirmation by the UK Court of Appeal. It accentuated that English courts have the authority to rule in favor of individuals or entities subject to financial sanctions. Furthermore, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), acting as the…
As part of our ongoing effort to keep legal professionals up to date, this article presents a concise weekly roundup of key points from Howard Bashman’s How Appealing blog, a pioneer in web-based reporting on appellate litigation. In US legal news, a recent development signifies a step back from a proposal to limit midnight court…
In a recent case, the Kentucky Supreme Court underscored the importance of the “Judicial Statements Privilege” in protecting participants in court proceedings from defamation lawsuits related to their statements made during such proceedings. This ruling sets a significant precedent and reinforces the jurisdiction’s commitment to uphold the rights of parties within court-ordered arbitrations. The lawsuit…
In recent years, a surge in demand for job listings, company reviews, and employment data is observed. This vital information is aggressively sought by recruiters, consultants, analysts, and employment-related service providers, among others. To obtain this, they often resort to web scraping – the method of extracting bulk data from websites. An example of such…
Diane E. Vuocolo, an accomplished bankruptcy attorney, has recently joined Ballard Spahr as a partner in the litigation department and bankruptcy and restructuring group. Prior to joining Ballard Spahr, Vuocolo was associated with Greenberg Traurig, where she offered her expertise to clients in a range of legal matters such as corporate workouts, business reorganization, loan…
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued a consent order against fintech firm Chime, Inc., also known under the operation of Sendwave. The sanction is in connection with allegations that the company violated the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) and associated regulations. The CFPB also alleges violations of the Consumer Protection Act of 2010….
A recent patent litigation case highlighted key challenges faced by patent owners while seeking inventorship amendments. As per a Jones Day report, a Patent Owner attempted to solidify its patent position during an Inter Partes review trial by attempting to backtrack the primary prior art reference of the Petitioner. To do this, they tried to…
In a recent case centred on computer-implemented means-plus-function limitations, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reiterated an important judgement criterion. The said criterion dictates that if the specification discloses some arguable algorithm, its sufficiency including any allegations of inadequacy must be evaluated under the purview of the knowledge possessed by those skilled…
In a recent development that has attracted substantial attention in the legal industry, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit endorsed an obviousness ruling made by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The ruling underscored the fact that petitioners are not under any compulsion to categorize a prior art reference as a “primary…
Fox Rothschild and Susman Godfrey have joined the lists of firms receiving warning letters from Edward Blum about their diversity programs. These letters indicate that the American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) is contemplating lawsuits. In the last quarter, Blum and the AAER have issued numerous letters and initiated litigation against Perkins Coie and Morrison…
In a welcome new development, a major retailer has agreed to pay $10 million in settlement of a lawsuit contesting its sale practices. This settlement follows a series of rising lawsuits in the current year disputing companies’ sales advertising methods. Previous cases brought into question staple grocery store ‘Buy One Get One free’ (BOGO) promotions,…
In legal fields, there is a phenomenon where numerous lawsuits settle right before trial begins. This includes settlements occurring right before the commencement of jury selection or other preliminary stages of trial proceedings. This long-running tendency warrants comprehensive understanding and analysis. After all, considering the substantial time and financial investments spent on months or years…
The legal and financial risks inherent in litigation require meticulous planning and strategic decision-making – one such crucial consideration pertains to the inclusion of a prevailing party attorneys’ fee provision in a contract. Such provisions, indeed, carry meaningful risk and cost implications of litigation, influencing whether a party will decide to bring a case to…