In a strategic move that signals its continued expansion in the private equity sector, law firm Cooley LLP has announced the addition of former Silver Lake leader, Robert Van Buskirk, to its team. Van Buskirk, who served as the general counsel of Silver Lake, one of the largest tech-focused private equity firms globally, brings a…
The University of Michigan Law School has established an AI Advisory Council, comprising 24 distinguished alumni and leaders from the legal profession, technology sector, and academia. This initiative underscores the school’s commitment to integrating artificial intelligence into legal education and practice. Building upon existing AI-focused courses and research, the council aims to provide strategic guidance…
Peloton’s Safety Program Lead has taken a new role at the Potomac Law Group, marking a significant transition in the legal landscape surrounding product safety in the fitness tech industry. The move underscores a broader trend among legal professionals as they navigate the evolving demands in tech-forward industries. With an increasing focus on compliance and…
In a significant development within the legal industry, partners at Ashurst and Perkins Coie have voted in favor of a merger, a move that is set to create a global firm with revenues of approximately $2.8 billion and a workforce of around 3,000 lawyers. This decision marks a notable trans-Atlantic expansion, reflecting both firms’ ambitions…
In a notable development in the legal industry, the merger of Ashurst and Perkins Coie has successfully passed the partner vote, paving the way for the formal integration of the two firms. This strategic move is set to create a formidable global legal entity with enhanced capabilities and geographic reach. The merger underscores a growing…
The integration of artificial intelligence in the legal arena is a topic that continues to evolve, yet state bar associations have been slow to provide detailed guidance on the confidentiality issues this technology presents. With AI tools increasingly being employed in legal practices, from document review to predictive analytics, the importance of robust professional guidelines…
The integration of artificial intelligence into legal practice is ushering in a new era that requires heightened scrutiny of confidentiality protocols by state bars. Recent discussions highlight the urgent need for bar associations to delineate specific guidelines concerning AI and client confidentiality. As legal professionals increasingly rely on AI-driven tools, the nuances of safeguarding sensitive…
During a unique interaction with technology, Georgia products liability attorney Rebekah Cooper shared insights after experiencing a ride in a Waymo self-driving vehicle in Atlanta. Accompanied by Cedra Mayfield, a senior litigation reporter and Legal Speak podcast co-host, Cooper’s perspective illuminated the intersection of law and autonomous vehicle technology. The journey underscored the complexities of…
Covington & Burling LLP has made a strategic addition to its Palo Alto office by hiring Nithya Kailasanath as a part of its life sciences team. This move signals the firm’s intent to bolster its capabilities in the highly competitive life sciences sector. Kailasanath, who previously served as an IP litigator, brings extensive experience in…
The California legislature is scrutinizing the financial implications of data center development, as evidenced by recent legislative proposals aimed at ensuring transparency and fiscal responsibility. The proposed bill seeks to address concerns over hidden costs and the economic impact of these large-scale projects. This push reflects the state’s growing skepticism towards the rapid expansion of…
In a recent gathering of intellectual property judges from around the globe, discussions centered on the dynamics of courtroom interactions across borders, highlighting both collaborative efforts and emerging challenges. This conference saw over a dozen judges delve into how courts can effectively engage with each other internationally, a subject that has grown in complexity alongside…
The Federal Circuit recently upheld a ruling by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), affirming the invalidity of claims within a contested video-decoding patent. This decision came after the patent holder argued against the restrictions on presenting written description support during the proceedings. This verdict impacts the domain of intellectual property, reinforcing the standards…
Winston & Strawn, the prominent American law firm, has demonstrated significant financial growth as it approaches a notable merger with Taylor Wessing. The firm reported an 8% increase in revenue alongside a 15% rise in profits. These gains come at a pivotal moment as the merger secures regulatory approvals and edges closer to a formal…
The rise of generative AI tools in the tech industry is reshaping the development of software code, with companies increasingly relying on these tools to boost productivity and innovation. However, this shift is revealing potential vulnerabilities in copyright protection. As organizations depend more on AI to generate code, challenges emerge regarding the exclusivity of intellectual…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced a pilot program that hopes to streamline the patent examination process, addressing long-standing concerns over examination backlogs. The program, revealed on April 10, 2026, introduces a new requirement for certain applicants in the national stage to actively request the examination of their patent applications, a move…
In a significant decision for intellectual property and technology law, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s (PTAB) ruling, affirming that Microsoft Corporation successfully demonstrated the invalidity of claims from Lemko Corp.’s distributed mobile architecture patent. This comes as an important development in the ongoing interplay…
Oracle Corporation has brought a case to a North Carolina federal court, alleging that a former sales employee, recently laid off, is threatening to expose sensitive business information unless compensated with what the company claims is an “unreasonable and outsized fee.” The employee is accused of attempting to sell Oracle’s trade secrets to the highest…
This week in corporate legal news, several developments have caught the attention of general counsels across major corporations. In a significant move, California is setting a trend by diverging from former President Donald Trump’s policies. The state is imposing stricter regulatory frameworks for state agencies in their dealings with artificial intelligence companies. This shift may…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently upheld a decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), which invalidated certain patent claims related to remote-control technology asserted against Roku Inc. The affirmation on Friday further cements Roku’s legal standing in a protracted battle over the intellectual property rights associated with its…
Beyond Meat’s top legal executive, Teri Loxam, accrued a total compensation of $5.7 million in the last fiscal year, highlighting a growing trend of substantial remuneration packages for legal chiefs in the corporate sector. This figure reflects both direct salary components and additional compensation forms such as stock options, bonuses, and other incentives designed to…
In an intriguing development within the legal community, a California attorney has managed to escape sanctions despite using artificial intelligence to file erroneous citations in a civil rights case. This incident highlights the growing complexities and challenges associated with the integration of AI in legal practices. The attorney’s reliance on AI technology for legal research…
Clifford Chance has emerged as a frontrunner in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape, successfully navigating a busy start to the year fueled by a surge in mega deals. Recent figures from the London Stock Exchange Group indicate a notable increase in total deal values compared to the same period last year, even though the…
Cisco Systems Inc. has made a significant legal move by requesting that a federal judge declare it has not infringed upon two patents related to managing parts of computer chips. This request came in light of the patent owner, who had initially filed the allegations, deciding to drop the claims just before the trial was…
In a landmark decision, a Los Angeles jury has found Meta and YouTube liable for negligently designing their platforms in ways that contributed to a young woman’s social media addiction and subsequent mental health issues. The verdict marks a significant moment in the ongoing scrutiny of social media companies and their impact on users, particularly…
During a recent appearance at a law school, Justice Sonia Sotomayor addressed the growing influence of artificial intelligence, emphasizing both its potential benefits and inherent risks. Highlighting the dual nature of AI, she remarked, “It has the potential to perpetuate the very best in us and the very worst of us.” Her remarks serve as…