Aerospace & Defense

  • March 06, 2024

    Ex-Google Software Engineer Stole AI Secrets, Feds Say

    A former Google software engineer was arrested Wednesday on accusations he illegally downloaded alleged trade secrets involving machine learning and taking them to startups he was involved with in China, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

  • March 06, 2024

    Treasury Sanctions Ship Owners It Says Enable Houthi Attacks

    The Department of Treasury says it's taking new action against Iranian commodity shipments, targeting ship owners in Hong Kong and the Marshall Islands with sanctions for moving Iranian goods that officials say help to fund Houthi attacks on container ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

  • March 06, 2024

    DOJ Says Another Korean Co., Officer Behind Bid-Rig Scheme

    A second South Korean company and its CEO allegedly defrauded the Pentagon in a scheme to rig bids and fix prices for subcontract work on U.S. military installations in South Korea, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

  • March 06, 2024

    Experts Urge 'Transformational' Change To DOD Budgeting

    An expert panel urged the U.S. Department of Defense on Wednesday to make a "transformational change" to its budgeting and resource allocation processes, saying the DOD's current processes limit effective and timely responses to changing needs and technologies.

  • March 06, 2024

    Judge Rejects Equity Challenge To Virgin Orbit Ch. 11

    A Delaware bankruptcy judge on Wednesday told Virgin Orbit LLC shareholders that she wouldn't retract confirmation of the satellite launch company's Chapter 11 liquidation plan, because Virgin Orbit appropriately sought approval even if the scheme left equity holders without hope of recoveries.

  • March 06, 2024

    Sidley Adds 11-Year Wiley Rein Leaders To DC Group

    Sidley Austin LLP has hired two members of Wiley Rein LLP's leadership, one of whom joins to help co-lead its global arbitration, trade and advocacy practice, the firm announced Wednesday.

  • March 06, 2024

    L3Harris Deal For DE Shaw Board Seats Prompts Suit In Del.

    An L3Harris Technologies Inc. stockholder has sued the aerospace and defense company in Delaware's Court of Chancery, challenging an agreement obliging it to recommend the election of two activist investor-backed board candidates.

  • March 05, 2024

    Claims Court Won't Block Radio Deliveries Bought Under Nixed Deal

    The U.S. Court of Federal Claims refused to block the U.S. Navy from receiving radio management systems development work that was completed before it canceled the underlying contract, saying official actions after the contract's termination were outside its purview.

  • March 05, 2024

    'Secret Informant Love' Accused Of Divulging Classified Info

    A retired U.S. Army officer arrested for allegedly divulging classified defense information on a dating website gave secret information on Russia's war against Ukraine to a woman who called him her "secret informant love," according to a newly unsealed indictment.

  • March 05, 2024

    Look At Settlement, Atty Tells 5th Circ. In Arguing For $1M Cut

    The attorney representing a KBR Inc. whistleblower countered the federal government's assertion that his client should not benefit from a $13.7 million settlement stemming from kickback allegations, telling the Fifth Circuit on Tuesday to look at the deal's terms.

  • March 05, 2024

    Gibson Dunn AI Leader On Weathering The AI Policy Blizzard

    Like a mountaineer leading a team through a snowstorm, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP's artificial intelligence co-chair Cassandra L. Gaedt-Sheckter is guiding companies developing and using artificial intelligence through a blizzard of new laws and regulations coming online in Europe and the U.S., saying that assessing AI risks is the North Star to mitigating them.

  • March 05, 2024

    Amazon Workers Push For Class Status In Military Leave Suit

    Current and former Amazon employees urged a Washington federal court to grant them class status in their lawsuit accusing the company of demoting or firing workers who took time off for military leave, saying the 15,000 members of the proposed class have plenty in common.

  • March 05, 2024

    Feds Say Sen. Menendez Knew 'Loans' Were Bribes

    U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and his wife were charged with obstruction of justice in a superseding indictment unsealed Tuesday in New York federal court, raising the stakes in the corruption trial facing the New Jersey Democrat.

  • March 05, 2024

    ADI Can't Recoup Full Quinn Emanuel Bill In IP Theft Case

    A Massachusetts federal judge on Tuesday compared Analog Devices Inc.'s pricey hiring of a Quinn Emanuel attorney to monitor its former engineer's trade secrets trial in person to paying "a brain surgeon to pop a pimple" in an order denying restitution for those costs.

  • March 04, 2024

    Camp Lejeune Plaintiffs Say Specific Illness Link Is Not Required

    Litigants in the Camp Lejeune contaminated-water litigation on Sunday told a North Carolina federal court that Congress set a unique standard to show that their illnesses were caused by exposure to the water at the Marine base, given that it's been decades since some veterans were first exposed.

  • March 04, 2024

    Army Corps Says It Considered Dredged Waste Plan Correctly

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has urged an Illinois federal judge to reject environmental claims targeting dredged sediment it is storing on part of Lake Michigan's shoreline, arguing the Corps' "robust" public interest study proves its decision-making process followed all statutory and regulatory requirements.

  • March 04, 2024

    Feds Urged Not To Let Mobile Cos. 'Centralize' Airwaves

    Mobile networks should not be allowed to amass so much of the airwaves that they inadvertently crowd out national security technologies or sideline shared spectrum models, a group of experts told the U.S. Commerce Department.

  • March 04, 2024

    FAA Audit Flags Boeing 737 Max 9 Production Lapses

    Boeing and its key supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements across several departments, according to findings from a Federal Aviation Administration audit of the 737 Max 9 jets after January's harrowing Alaska Airlines midair panel blowout.

  • March 04, 2024

    Appeal Of $20.5M Terminated Deal Too Late, Says Fed. Circ.

    The Federal Circuit on Monday declined to revive a construction company's untimely challenge over the termination of a $20.5 million National Guard contract, saying the company had enough information to be aware of the deadline to appeal.

  • March 04, 2024

    US Ends Old Curbs On Zimbabwe, But Sanctions Its President

    The Biden administration on Monday ended more than two decades of U.S. economic sanctions on Zimbabwe in an apparent pivot toward a program covering "clear and specific targets," including the country's current president, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

  • March 04, 2024

    Vista Outdoor Rejects $2B Takeover Bid From MNC Capital

    Vista Outdoor Inc. has rejected a $2 billion takeover bid from MNC Capital Partners LP, saying the proposal does not take into account increased earnings the company will see when it separates its outdoor and sporting goods divisions.

  • March 04, 2024

    Menendez Loses Bid To Suppress Gold Bars In Bribery Case

    A New York federal judge on Monday refused to suppress explosive evidence — including gold bars, cash and an engagement ring — the federal government unearthed in its second bribery case against U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and his associates, reasoning that the omissions the embattled New Jersey Democrat targeted in prosecutors' affidavits weren't material.

  • March 04, 2024

    L3Harris Agrees To Pay $650K To Wrap 401(k) Class Action

    Defense contractor L3Harris will pay $650,000 to end a class action accusing it of running afoul of federal benefits law by saddling retirement plan participants with high fees and expensive investment options, according to a Florida federal court filing.

  • March 04, 2024

    Pentagon Leaker Faces Lengthy Prison Term After Plea

    Jack Teixeira, the 22-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guardsman charged with one of the most significant military intelligence leaks in U.S. history, is facing more than a decade in prison after pleading guilty Monday to multiple violations of the Espionage Act.

  • March 01, 2024

    Ga. Tech Prof Gets Most China-Tied Fraud Charges Tossed

    A Georgia federal judge on Friday overruled a federal magistrate in dismissing nine of 10 criminal charges against a former Georgia Institute of Technology professor who was accused of using his post to help bring foreign nationals into the U.S. to covertly work for Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE.

Expert Analysis

  • How Law Firms Can Use Account-Based Marketing Strategies

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    Amid several evolving legal industry trends, account-based marketing can help law firms uncover additional revenue-generating opportunities with existing clients, with key considerations ranging from data analytics to relationship building, say Jennifer Ramsey at stage LLC and consultant Gina Sponzilli.

  • Strategic Succession Planning At Law Firms Is Crucial

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    Senior partners' reluctance to retire, the rise of the nonequity partner tier and generational differences in expectations are all contributing to an increasing number of departures from BigLaw, making it imperative for firms to encourage retirement among senior ranks and provide clearer leadership pathways to junior attorneys, says Laura Leopard at Leopard Solutions.

  • Maximizing Law Firm Profitability In Uncertain Times

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    As threats of an economic downturn loom, firms can boost profits by embracing the power of bottom-line management and creating an ecosystem where strategic financial oversight and robust timekeeping practices meet evolved client relations, says Shireen Hilal at Maior Strategic Consulting.

  • Steps For Gov't Contractors On The OFCCP's Audit List

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    Federal contractors on the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' most recent list of firms flagged for potential audit should take certain steps now in light of the agency’s new scheduling letter, which significantly increases the burden and potential risks for contractors, say Andrew Turnbull and Sadé Tidwell at MoFo.

  • 5 DOJ Enforcement Priorities To Note From Recent Remarks

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    Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Marshall Miller’s recent speech provided a glimpse into the U.S. Department of Justice’s corporate criminal enforcement priorities — from national security concerns to mergers and acquisitions — with takeaways for companies’ compliance programs, say Joseph Jay and Jennifer Le at Sheppard Mullin.

  • 5th Circ. Ruling Reminds Attys That CBP Can Search Devices

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    The Fifth Circuit’s recent Malik v. Department of Homeland Security decision adds to the chorus of federal courts holding that border agents don’t need a warrant to search travelers’ electronic devices, so attorneys should consider certain special precautions to secure privileged information when reentering the U.S., says Jennifer Freel at Jackson Walker.

  • Series

    ESG Around The World: European Union

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    As the EU makes ESG regulation a priority, companies — both those based in the EU and others just doing business there — need to keep abreast of myriad new legislation that has either already taken effect or will in the near future, as noncompliance could result in fines, damages and director liability, say attorneys at Steptoe & Johnson.

  • Avoiding The Ethical Pitfalls Of Crowdfunded Legal Fees

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    The crowdfunding of legal fees has become increasingly common, providing a new way for people to afford legal services, but attorneys who accept crowdsourced funds must remember several key ethical obligations to mitigate their risks, say Hilary Gerzhoy and Julienne Pasichow at HWG.

  • Tornado Cash Saga Presents Thorny Issues For Fintechs

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    A recent Texas federal court ruling and a U.S. Department of Justice indictment concerning the cryptocurrency mixer service Tornado Cash raise novel and important issues regarding smart contracts that could complicate the development and nature of decentralized crypto projects, as well as the future of fintech business models, say attorneys at Venable.

  • 3 Action Items For Contractors Facing A Gov't Shutdown

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    Federal contractors can help ensure they are well situated to endure a potential government shutdown by reviewing project funding levels and contractual stop-work clauses, and communicating with contracting officers and subcontractors about their respective obligations, says Derek Mullins at Butzel Long.

  • Bracing For Regulatory Delays As Shutdown Looms

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    As a government shutdown looms, stakeholders should plan for regulatory delays and note that more regulations could become vulnerable to congressional disapproval under the Congressional Review Act, say Matthew Shapanka and Holly Fechner at Covington.

  • What Large Language Models Mean For Document Review

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    Courts often subject parties using technology assisted review to greater scrutiny than parties conducting linear, manual document review, so parties using large language models for document review should expect even more attention, along with a corresponding need for quality control and validation, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • Checking In On How SuperValu Has Altered FCA Litigation

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    Four months after the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in U.S. ex rel. Chutte v. SuperValu, the decision's reach may be more limited than initially anticipated, with the expansion of the scienter standard counterbalanced by some potential defense tools for defendants, say Elena Quattrone and Olivia Plinio at Epstein Becker.

  • Tips For Camp Lejeune Attorneys To Mitigate TCPA Suit Risks

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    To retain and assist Camp Lejeune clients, it is vital to understand best practices to avoid violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which has been at the center of recent lawsuits against attorneys seeking to reach veterans and their families affected by the toxic water exposure at the Marine Corps base, says Libby Vish at SimplyConvert.

  • Series

    Participating In Living History Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    My role as a baron in a living history group, and my work as volunteer corporate counsel for a book series fan association, has provided me several opportunities to practice in unexpected areas of law — opening doors to experiences that have nurtured invaluable personal and professional skills, says Matthew Parker at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

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