In a clear sign of the continued ascendancy of litigation finance, a new firm, Arcadia Finance, has emerged with over $100 million in capital, aiming to invest in a diverse array of legal ventures. This launch reinforces the robust health of a sector that has grown significantly over the past decade, helping level the playing…
In an increasingly intricate legal landscape, the intersection between private equity and mass torts is being explored by prominent law firms. Notably, renowned law firm Skadden faced a unique situation as it served as deal counsel for an investment titan, while simultaneously dealing with claims funded against a firm client by the same investor. The…
Class actions and mass tort claims are increasingly falling prey to fraud, regardless of whether they’re paid via digital payment or paper checks, according to a report by Western Alliance Bank and its wholly owned digital payments platform, Digital Disbursements. This surge in fraudulent claims comes as digital payments rise in prevalence, a reality that…
In a move signifying growth and expansion, Morgan Lewis has added three notable additions to its consumer class action and product liability team – April Nelson Ross, Rachel Raphael, and Mohamed Awan. This hiring spree signals the global law firm’s increased emphasis on bolstering its capabilities to handle major class actions and product-liability cases, especially…
In an impressive development, Sidley Austin’s UK revenue saw a surge by 12.4% in 2023, reaching nearly $210 million. The significant increase is primarily due to its private capital efforts made for football team owners. Boasting about 210 practicing lawyers in London, the firm notably advised Clearlake, the investment group which acquired the famous Chelsea…
The legal landscape is ever-evolving, and a major point of focus in the industry today is the necessity of robust succession planning within law firms. Experts have repeatedly advised senior lawyers, particularly those within the septuagenarian demographic, to develop sound leadership succession plans. This has prompted a contrasting response from the older practitioners, suggesting the…
In recent legal news, significant changes are anticipated as White House special counsel, Richard Sauber, is expected to once again become a part of the private practice sector by May. Prior to his engagement with the Biden administration, Sauber was a reputable partner with Robbins Russell and later with Fried Frank after Robbins Russell merged…
In a latest development, three experienced legal professionals have transitioned to Venable, further strengthening the firm’s product liability and mass torts group. The trio, Derek Smith, Jeremy Goldkind, and Joo Cha Webb, previously offered their services at Steptoe, as indicated by the announcement made by Venable. Derek Smith is set to operate from the firm’s…
For discerning general counsils, there is a new strategy on the horizon: tracking television legal advertisements. Originally used to solicit plaintiffs for mass torts, these ads are beginning to serve a dual purpose. Not only are they tools for recruitment, but they are also becoming indicative of nascent trends in product litigation categories and are…
The ongoing trend of Am Law firms expanding in Los Angeles has been bolstered by the recent addition of litigation leader to the Shook, Hardy & Bacon line-up. The Missouri-founded firm announced this week the appointment of Alycia Degen, former co-leader of Sidley Austin’s product liability and mass torts practice. Described as a “natural fit”…
Disputes in bankruptcy court cases have traditionally been a challenging terrain for judges. Particularly, post the Johnson & Johnson talc bankruptcy filing in 2021, US Bankruptcy Court Judge Michael Kaplan bore witness to numerous disagreements ranging from issues concerning discovery, the administration of tens of thousands of individual claims, to vehement conflict over the overall…
High-profile lawyer Mikal Watts, known for his mass tort cases and partner of Watts Guerra, has announced the closing of his firm’s office in Puerto Rico. This move has resulted in the layoff of at least 50 employees, as evidenced in emails obtained and reviewed by Bloomberg Law. Watts, who has been considered a significant…
In a recent move, experienced lawyer Sunni P. Beville has transitioned from Brown Rudnick to Otterbourg P.C., according to an announcement made by the latter firm. Beville now holds a partner position within Otterbourg’s restructuring and bankruptcy department. Furthermore, she serves as a co-leader of their mass torts bankruptcy practice group. Within the realm of…
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…
The year 2024 promises to be a decisive one for bankruptcy cases dealing with mass torts. Recently, judges have shown a lack of enthusiasm for tactical maneuvers presented in such cases. Notable instances include the dismissals of bankruptcies in cases involving Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder and 3M’s combat earplugs, where the desired level of…
In what may be viewed as a significant shift, Monsanto recently broke a string of costly legal defeats as it secured a defense verdict in a California courtroom on December 18. This verdict disrupted a trend that saw five juries previously awarding Roundup plaintiffs in excess of $2 billion. As reported by Law.com in their…
At the edge of Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, nearly 40 years after the leukemia-related death of his daughter Janey, Jerry Ensminger returns often. Since Congress last year agreed to compensate veterans, workers, or their relatives who contracted diseases such as cancer or Parkinson’s from toxic water exposure at the base, more than 129,000 claims…
As Purdue Pharma seeks an exit from bankruptcy, the U.S. Supreme Court is now reflecting on a pivotal component of the pharmaceutical giant’s reorganization plan. This element of the plan involves an arrangement in which the Sackler family would disburse $6 billion to acquire sanctuary from future opioid litigations. Such an unprecedented legal outcome could…
The bankruptcy deal of Purdue Pharma, emblematic of an unorthodox maneuver in civil procedure, will soon come under review by the Supreme Court. The case, presenting as another instance of public harms litigation, is akin to other such cases that have recently permeated diverse sectors, from the Catholic Diocese and Boy Scouts grappling with abuse…
The question of resolving mass torts remains a persistent hurdle for today’s commercial litigators. This complex challenge encompasses a variety of legal specialisms and infiltrates nearly every business sector, not just in the US, but also in the UK. Whether these mass torts involve personal injury incidents or the mis-selling of financial products, finding an…
On November 22, 2023, an astonishing update hit the global law scene. In an unprecedented move, the plaintiffs’ lawyers involved in the notorious Roundup verdict engineered a $1.56 billion win. The identity of those ingenious legal minds is certainly a point of keen interest; unfortunately, the specifics remain shrouded in mystery. The intricate details behind…
A recent development underlines the ongoing legal saga of Monsanto and its product Roundup. Another trial dealing with the pesticide commenced in Philadelphia, accompanied by Monsanto’s challenge to the $175 million verdict determined during the previous month. The arguments around the notorious product continue to garner attention from legal professionals around the globe. Details regarding…
In recent legal personnel news, Greenberg Traurig has announced the addition of a new member to their global litigation practice based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Laura Hammargren, a seasoned legal expert, is set to take her place in the litigation team. The news was reported by Bloomberg Law. Before joining Greenberg Traurig, Hammargren served as assistant…
Several trends are emerging in the legal landscape as a tension point for various stakeholders, be they therapy dogs in courts to ease jurist stress, controversial remarks around abortion, or a push for the digitalization of court payments. Legal professionals must apprehend these changes and tailor their practices accordingly. According to a report by Bloomberg…
The paper cheque, once the mainstay of receiving settlement funds in class actions and mass torts, is giving way to digital payments. A majority of class members now express a preference for their settlement payments to be directly deposited into their digital wallets such as PayPal, according to the recent findings. In the inaugural “Digital…