Legal Ethics

  • September 10, 2025

    Conn. Firm Escapes Claims Over Alleged Payout Delays

    A couple who alleged that two law firms misused the legal system by delaying payouts from a property owner they represented has dropped claims against Neubert Pepe & Monteith PC without explanation.

  • September 10, 2025

    Medical Equipment Co. Settles County Claims In Opioid MDL

    Medical equipment company Henry Schein Inc. and its related entities have settled claims by Virginia counties brought against it in the sprawling national opioid litigation, according to a notice filed Wednesday.

  • September 10, 2025

    Wis. Judicial Commission Sued Over Confidentiality Rules

    Two conservative groups have sued the Wisconsin Judicial Commission over its policy of keeping all judicial misconduct complaints strictly confidential, claiming the policy violates the First Amendment and has stymied discussion of a complaint against a sitting state judge.

  • September 10, 2025

    Guo Trustee, Law Firms Get OK For Deals On $4.4M Disputes

    A Connecticut bankruptcy judge has approved deals between Chinese exile Miles Guo's Chapter 11 trustee and the law firm McDermott Will & Schulte, four other law firms and one consulting firm, ending $4.4 million in potential clawback claims without formal litigation.

  • September 10, 2025

    Privilege Bars Ex-Holland & Knight Atty's Defamation Claim

    A former Holland & Knight attorney's counterclaim against Philadelphia personal injury firm Fritz & Bianculli LLC has been dismissed from Pennsylvania federal court after a judge ruled that statements made in the firm's complaint accusing the attorney of unauthorized access to confidential files could not be used to allege defamation.

  • September 10, 2025

    McCarter & English Atty Admitted Breaches, Insurers Claim

    Two insurance companies have asked a Connecticut Superior Court judge's permission to file a late request for a quick win on two breach of contract claims against McCarter & English LLP and one of its attorneys, saying the lawyer's deposition left no facts in dispute on those specific counts.

  • September 10, 2025

    Firm Seeks To Toss Lowenstein Sandler Claims Over Affidavit

    Trif & Modugno LLC has reiterated to the Essex County Superior Court in New Jersey that part of a malpractice suit filed against it by Lowenstein Sandler LLP must be dismissed because the national firm did not file an affidavit of merit within the time limit.

  • September 09, 2025

    Barrett Says High Court Must 'Show Its Work' To Gain Trust

    U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett suggested Tuesday the best way for the court to respond to charges that it's issuing politically motivated rulings is by showing its work, adding that displaying an honest effort to follow the law could help revive the public's trust in the institution.

  • September 09, 2025

    Calif. Bar Seeks Justices' Clarity In Eastman Disbarment Case

    The State Bar of California asked the state's justices to affirm recommendations to disbar Donald Trump's onetime attorney John Eastman, who helped plan and promote the then-presidential candidate's strategy to overturn the 2020 election, but also review what it says are two legal errors that could "significantly impact future cases."

  • September 09, 2025

    Omni Must Pay Atty Fees Over 'Troubling' Conduct In FCA Suit

    A Massachusetts federal judge has ordered a medical practice to pay legal fees to a lab it accused of False Claims Act violations, ruling its claims were "clearly vexatious" because the provider knowingly ordered medically unnecessary tests to support its suit.

  • September 09, 2025

    'Open Questions' Raised About Live Nation Arbitrator

    The Ninth Circuit rebuke of Live Nation's chosen consumer complaint arbitrator was raised in a New York federal court with an order calling for discovery into the arbitrator and its relationship to the company's Latham & Watkins LLP attorneys.

  • September 09, 2025

    DA Willis, Lawmakers Cite Novel Fight In Constitutional Clash

    A Georgia Senate committee investigating Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her prosecution of President Donald Trump and others in an election interference case and Willis stressed to the state Supreme Court the novel nature of their dispute over a subpoena ordering her to testify, while they took competing sides on the constitutional issues at stake.

  • September 09, 2025

    Judge Warns Fake AI Cites May Need 'Eye-Catching Sanction'

    A Connecticut federal judge on Tuesday warned a multistate solo practitioner that an "eye-catching sanction" may be necessary to stop attorneys from filing briefs rife with fake case law generated by artificial intelligence systems, while the lawyer bemoaned the fact that he'd "trusted a tool."

  • September 09, 2025

    Lambda Legal Attorney Indicted Over Judge Shopping Probe

    An attorney with LGBTQ rights nonprofit Lambda Legal has been charged in Alabama federal court in connection with an alleged judge-shopping scandal in Alabama, with prosecutors claiming he lied to a panel of federal judges investigating the episode.

  • September 09, 2025

    Franchise Law Firm Can't Dump Trash Co.'s Malpractice Suit

    A Charlotte, North Carolina-based law firm can't escape a trash compactor company's claims that it botched franchise agreements in 2019 and 2020, after a federal judge said it was too early for a final ruling on a statute of limitations defense.

  • September 09, 2025

    Contractors Settle Hartford Apartment Construction Suit

    A subcontractor and general contractor litigating federal claims over a Hartford, Connecticut, apartment construction project have reached a settlement in the case ahead of a trial, following a conference Monday.

  • September 09, 2025

    Quinn Emanuel Fights DQ Bid In Trade Secrets Fight

    Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP-represented Rippling is urging a Delaware state court to reject a bid to disqualify the firm from representing the human resources and payroll company in an ongoing trade secrets fight with competitor Deel Inc., saying the request is a misguided tactical move.

  • September 09, 2025

    Expedia Wants $2.75M Sanction For 'Lies' In Cuba Land Suit

    A family descended from Cuban landowners and its counsel in a suit over property seized by the Cuban government should face seven-figure sanctions for knowingly bringing bogus Helms-Burton Act claims against travel company Expedia, the company has told a Delaware federal judge following its win in a jury trial.

  • September 09, 2025

    NY AG James Hires Munger Tolles For Federal Probes

    New York Attorney General Letitia James recently retained top attorneys at Munger Tolles & Olson LLP amid ongoing federal investigations related to her office's past cases against the Trump Organization and the National Rifle Association.

  • September 09, 2025

    Feds, State Push Fla. Justices To Reject Bondi Ethics Probe

    The federal government and the state of Florida both threw their support behind the Florida Bar and its decision not to investigate U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi for alleged unethical conduct, calling a Sunshine State lawyer's attempt to force an investigation "lawfare."

  • September 09, 2025

    2nd Circ. Allows NY AG To Curb Nonprofit's Debtor Coaching

    The Second Circuit vacated a lower court order that prevented New York Attorney General Letitia James from stopping a bankruptcy education nonprofit from advising low-income debtors Tuesday, saying that while the state's unauthorized practice of law statutes regulate speech, they are content neutral and should be reviewed under intermediate scrutiny.

  • September 09, 2025

    'Whiz Honor' Judge Accused Of Trying To Sway Sentencing

    A Philadelphia judge under investigation for ethics violations related to the promotion of his wife's cheesesteak shop faces new disciplinary charges over allegations that he attempted to influence a fellow judge's sentencing decision for an associate of rapper Meek Mill.

  • September 09, 2025

    US Atty Habba Seeks To Nix NJ Mayor's False Arrest Suit

    New Jersey's acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba told a federal judge Tuesday that Newark Mayor Ras Baraka's lawsuit over his arrest outside an immigration detention center should be tossed since both the government and Habba are immune from suit, and the court cannot impose a damages remedy under U.S. Supreme Court precedent.

  • September 08, 2025

    Litigation Funder Says Ex-GC Stole Secrets To Launch Rival

    A Houston-based litigation funding company has hauled its former general counsel into Texas state court, accusing him of diverting its business opportunities and using confidential business information when secretly forming a new rival litigation funder.

  • September 08, 2025

    Split Colo. Justices Back DA's Disbarment Over Judge Probe

    The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday ruled to uphold a disciplinary board's disbarment of former 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley in a split 4-2 decision that found the issue of whether the presiding disciplinary judge should have recused himself a "close call."

Expert Analysis

  • 5 Tips To Succeed In A Master Of Laws Program And Beyond

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    As lawyers and recent law school graduates begin their Master of Laws coursework across the country, they should keep a few pointers in mind to get the most out of their programs and kick-start successful careers in their practice areas, says Kelley Miller at Reed Smith.

  • Series

    Being An Opera Singer Made Me A Better Lawyer

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    My journey from the stage to the courtroom has shown that the skills I honed as an opera singer – punctuality, memorization, creativity and more – have all played a vital role in my success as an attorney, says Gerard D'Emilio at GableGotwals.

  • How Law Firms Can Avoid 'Collaboration Drag'

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    Law firm decision making can be stifled by “collaboration drag” — characterized by too many pointless meetings, too much peer feedback and too little dissent — but a few strategies can help stakeholders improve decision-making processes and build consensus, says Steve Groom at Miles Mediation.

  • Opinion

    Litigation Funding Disclosure Key To Open, Impartial Process

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    Blanket investor and funding agreement disclosures should be required in all civil cases where the investor has a financial interest in the outcome in order to address issues ranging from potential conflicts of interest to national security concerns, says Bob Goodlatte, former U.S. House Representative for Virginia.

  • The Ethics of Using Generative AI In Environmental Law

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    The rapid emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools is challenging environmental lawyers, consultants and government agencies to determine when and how these tools can be responsibly, ethically and productively integrated into their practices to streamline research, predictive analytics and regulatory compliance, say Ahlia Bethea and Pamela Esterman at Sive Paget.

  • What NFL Draft Picks Have In Common With Lateral Law Hires

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    Nearly half of law firm lateral hires leave within a few years — a failure rate that is strikingly similar to the performance of NFL quarterbacks drafted in the first round — in part because evaluators focus too heavily on quantifiable metrics and not enough on a prospect's character traits, says Howard Rosenberg at Baretz+Brunelle.

  • Replacing The Stigma Of Menopause With Law Firm Support

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    A large proportion of the workforce is forced to pull the brakes on their career aspirations because of the taboo surrounding menopause and a lack of consistent support, but law firms can initiate the cultural shift needed by formulating thoughtful workplace policies, says Barbara Hamilton-Bruce at Simmons & Simmons.

  • Class Actions At The Circuit Courts: August Lessons

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    In this month's review of class action appeals, Mitchell Engel at Shook Hardy considers certification cases touching on classwide evidence of injury from debt collection practices, defining coupon settlements under the Class Action Fairness Act, proper approaches for evaluating attorney fee awards in class action settlements, and more.

  • Planning Law Firm Content Calendars: What, When, Where

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    During the slower month of August, law firms should begin working on their 2025 content calendars, planning out a content creation and distribution framework that aligns with the firm’s objectives and maintains audience engagement throughout the year, says Jessica Kaplan at Legally Penned.

  • Crypto Gatekeepers May Be The Next Front Of Enforcement

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    Lawyers and other professionals who advise cryptocurrency companies should beware regulators' increasing focus on gatekeeper accountability, and should take several measures to fulfill their ethical and legal obligations, including implementing a robust vetting mechanism when representing crypto clients, say Temidayo Aganga-Williams and Xinchen Li at Selendy Gay.

  • Series

    Playing Golf Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Golf can positively affect your personal and professional life well beyond the final putt, and it’s helped enrich my legal practice by improving my ability to build lasting relationships, study and apply the rules, face adversity with grace, and maintain my mental and physical well-being, says Adam Kelly at Venable.

  • Law Firms Should Move From Reactive To Proactive Marketing

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    Most law firm marketing and business development teams operate in silos, leading to an ad hoc, reactive approach, but shifting to a culture of proactive planning — beginning with comprehensive campaigns — can help firms effectively execute their broader business strategy, says Paul Manuele at PR Manuele Consulting.

  • Opinion

    The Big Issues A BigLaw Associates' Union Could Address

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    A BigLaw associates’ union could address a number of issues that have the potential to meaningfully improve working conditions, diversity and attorney well-being — from restructured billable hour requirements to origination credit allocation, return-to-office mandates and more, says Tara Rhoades at The Sanity Plea.

  • Opinion

    It's Time For A BigLaw Associates' Union

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    As BigLaw faces a steady stream of criticism about its employment policies and practices, an associates union could effect real change — and it could start with law students organizing around opposition to recent recruiting trends, says Tara Rhoades at The Sanity Plea.

  • How Justices Upended The Administrative Procedure Act

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    In its recent Loper Bright, Corner Post and Jarkesy decisions, the U.S. Supreme Court fundamentally changed the Administrative Procedure Act in ways that undermine Congress and the executive branch, shift power to the judiciary, curtail public and business input, and create great uncertainty, say Alene Taber and Beth Hummer at Hanson Bridgett.

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