Legal Ethics

  • September 12, 2024

    Beasley Sues Fellow Talc Firms Over Joint Venture Gone Awry

    Beasley Allen is going after its law firm partner in a joint venture that has represented thousands in talcum powder litigation against Johnson & Johnson, claiming in a new federal lawsuit that the firm is partially responsible for more than $1 million in owed expenses and, driven by its own financial woes, has unilaterally been negotiating with the pharmaceutical giant to the detriment of clients.

  • September 12, 2024

    NY Top Court Rejects Trump's Latest Challenge To Gag Order

    New York's highest court on Thursday rebuffed Donald Trump's latest effort to strike down a gag order in his hush money case, saying the appeal didn't involve a "substantial constitutional question."

  • September 12, 2024

    Slater & Gordon Beats Former Analyst's Redundancy Appeal

    Slater & Gordon has defeated a cost analyst's appeal against the firm's decision to make him redundant, persuading a London judge on Thursday that a lower tribunal did not botch its investigation into the factors leading to his dismissal.

  • September 12, 2024

    Barrister Cleared Of Misconduct Over Touching Paralegal

    A One Essex Court barrister accused of touching a paralegal's thigh during a dinner has been cleared of misconduct, as a tribunal found on Thursday that he genuinely believed he was reciprocating her flirtation.

  • September 11, 2024

    Litigation Spending To Rise As Cases Grow More Aggressive

    A substantial number of large companies are expecting to increase their litigation spending by double digits next year in the face of more complex and hard-fought cases — and they are more open to bringing in new legal talent to navigate the matters, according to a report released Thursday. 

  • September 11, 2024

    Norfolk Southern Fires CEO, CLO Over Relationship

    Norfolk Southern Corp. fired CEO Alan Shaw and chief legal officer Nabanita Nag after it found in an investigation that they'd had a consensual relationship that violated company policy, the Atlanta-based transportation giant said Wednesday evening.

  • September 11, 2024

    5th Circ. To Rethink Houston Firm's Poaching Suit Removal

    The Fifth Circuit agreed on Wednesday to rethink its decision not to touch a dispute between Abraham Watkins Nichols Agosto Aziz & Stogner and one of its former attorneys over whether the ex-employee waived his right to remove the firm's poaching suit to federal court.

  • September 11, 2024

    Kirkland Can't Shake Former Associate's Bias Suit

    A California federal judge has mostly rejected efforts by Kirkland & Ellis to pare down the discrimination suit of a former intellectual property associate, while also backing a prior order that prevented the firm from subpoenaing her former BigLaw employers for confidential personnel information.

  • September 11, 2024

    Calif. Judge Admonished For Silencing Harassment Defendant

    A California state judicial ethics watchdog publicly reprimanded a San Mateo County judge on Tuesday over her refusal to hear evidence from a defendant who had failed to show up to a previously scheduled civil restraining order proceeding in the judge's court.

  • September 11, 2024

    Barrister Accused Of Groping Paralegal At Work Dinner

    A barrister with One Essex Court groped a legal assistant during a work dinner, the Bar Standards Board told a tribunal Wednesday.

  • September 10, 2024

    SEC Files New Insider Case Tied To Stolen Covington Info

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday brought a new insider trading case tied to the theft of confidential merger information from a Covington & Burling LLP lawyer, suing the cousin of a former FBI trainee who was sentenced to prison for filching the Merck & Co. deal info at the heart of the case and then tipping off others.

  • September 10, 2024

    Colo. DA Faces Disbarment After Probe Of Murder Case Judge

    A split Colorado disciplinary board on Tuesday ordered the disbarment of an elected local prosecutor who directed an investigation into the background of a judge who had sanctioned her office for discovery violations, ruling that the investigation and other ethical violations warranted taking away her law license.

  • September 10, 2024

    Philly Firm Says It's Owed Referral Fee On Injury Case

    The Rothenberg Law Firm LLP is going after a fellow personal injury firm in Pennsylvania for alleged breach of contract, contending it has refused to pay referral fees on a civil rights case against the city of Scranton that was settled for $900,000.

  • September 10, 2024

    Ex-Conn. Town Atty Slams Official's Defamation Suit Defense

    The former attorney for Newington, Connecticut, and the town's tax assessor bickered over whether the latter's allegedly defamatory sentiments linked to now-dismissed ethics complaints were made publicly, with the lawyer insisting the statements were made to select groups of individuals and therefore weren't motivated by concern for the municipality's citizens.

  • September 10, 2024

    Will Tom Girardi's Age Impact His Sentence?

    Disbarred attorney Tom Girardi's age and mental decline did not help him avoid conviction last month on charges that he stole millions in client funds, but it's an open question how much these factors will affect his sentencing, set for December.

  • September 10, 2024

    Symbion Claims 'Serious Defects' In Power Plant Arbitration

    A U.S. power engineering company has urged a New York federal court to rip up an arbitral award issued over a sourced project in Madagascar, arguing that the process was tainted by "a myriad of serious defects" that led to an unfair decision.

  • September 10, 2024

    Fulton County Tries To Chop Court Staffer's Harassment Suit

    A Georgia county this week fired back against a former courts employee's claims she was disciplined, passed over for promotion and threatened with a longer commute for speaking out about a supervisor's sexual abuse, contending her lawsuit is missing key supporting facts.

  • September 10, 2024

    Philips Balks At Dentons' Request To Exit IP Case

    Dutch health technology conglomerate Philips Medical Systems Nederland BV is balking at Dentons US LLP's request to withdraw as counsel for Transtate Equipment Co. Inc. in a wide-ranging copyright and unfair competition case, insinuating that the move is a stalling tactic to avoid a final judgment.

  • September 10, 2024

    FAMU Must Face Law Professor's Race Bias Claims

    A Florida federal judge won't toss a Florida A&M University College of Law professor's suit claiming that she was subjected to race-based discrimination, ruling that although her latest complaint could benefit from "significant refinement," it properly alleges her claims.

  • September 09, 2024

    Klayman's PGA Tour Antitrust Case Tossed By Fla. Court

    Conservative legal firebrand Larry Klayman said Friday he will appeal a Florida court's decision to dismiss his lawsuit accusing the PGA Tour of colluding with the Official World Golf Ranking and others to kill the LIV Golf tour and overcharging spectators.

  • September 09, 2024

    Spain Hit With $18B Claim Over Massive Malaysia Award

    Spain is facing an $18 billion claim asserted by a group of Filipinos who accuse the country of stymying their efforts to enforce a $14.9 billion arbitral award against Malaysia, which they won following a land use dispute over a portion of territory along the northern coast of Borneo.

  • September 09, 2024

    Lewis Brisbois Denied Early Win In Real Estate Broker's Suit

    A Los Angeles judge on Monday declined to dismiss a breach of contract suit brought against Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP by a real estate broker, saying that although he has some problems with the pleadings, they meet the standard to survive the law firm's demurrer. 

  • September 09, 2024

    Wash. Justices Disbar Atty For Theft From Cannabis Investors

    Washington state's high court has ordered an attorney be disbarred for mishandling client funds, lying to investors who poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into a cannabis venture and failing to disclose conflicts of interest, adopting the state bar association's disciplinary recommendations despite objections from the lawyer.

  • September 09, 2024

    NY Courts' Limits On Ethics Data Broke Law, Watchdog Says

    In a rebuke to the New York state court system, an official transparency watchdog has said current restrictions on public access to judges' financial disclosures violate the state's Freedom of Information Law.

  • September 09, 2024

    Durbin Calls For Justice Thomas To Recuse Over Wife's Email

    A top Democratic lawmaker called on U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to bow out of cases involving a conservative Christian legal organization following reports his wife praised the group for fighting court reform efforts, saying Monday her comments create a "clear appearance" of partiality requiring the justice's recusal.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Boxing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Boxing has influenced my legal work by enabling me to confidently hone the skills I've learned from the sport, like the ability to remain calm under pressure, evaluate an opponent's weaknesses and recognize when to seize an important opportunity, says Kirsten Soto at Clyde & Co.

  • Opinion

    Industry Self-Regulation Will Shine Post-Chevron

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's Loper decision will shape the contours of industry self-regulation in the years to come, providing opportunities for this often-misunderstood practice, says Eric Reicin at BBB National Programs.

  • 3 Ways Agencies Will Keep Making Law After Chevron

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    The U.S. Supreme Court clearly thinks it has done something big in overturning the Chevron precedent that had given deference to agencies' statutory interpretations, but regulated parties have to consider how agencies retain significant power to shape the law and its meaning, say attorneys at K&L Gates.

  • Roundup

    After Chevron

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    In the month since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Chevron deference standard, this Expert Analysis series has featured attorneys discussing the potential impact across 26 different rulemaking and litigation areas.

  • Opinion

    Atty Well-Being Efforts Ignore Root Causes Of The Problem

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    The legal industry is engaged in a critical conversation about lawyers' mental health, but current attorney well-being programs primarily focus on helping lawyers cope with the stress of excessive workloads, instead of examining whether this work culture is even fundamentally compatible with lawyer well-being, says Jonathan Baum at Avenir Guild.

  • Series

    Skiing And Surfing Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    The skills I’ve learned while riding waves in the ocean and slopes in the mountains have translated to my legal career — developing strong mentor relationships, remaining calm in difficult situations, and being prepared and able to move to a backup plan when needed, says Brian Claassen at Knobbe Martens.

  • Class Actions At The Circuit Courts: June Lessons

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    In this month's review of class action appeals, Mitchell Engel at Shook Hardy considers two recent decisions from the Third and Tenth Circuits, and identifies practice tips around class action settlements and standing in securities litigation.

  • Unpacking The Circuit Split Over A Federal Atty Fee Rule

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    Federal circuit courts that have addressed Rule 41(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are split as to whether attorney fees are included as part of the costs of a previously dismissed action, so practitioners aiming to recover or avoid fees should tailor arguments to the appropriate court, says Joseph Myles and Lionel Lavenue at Finnegan.

  • After A Brief Hiccup, The 'Rocket Docket' Soars Back To No. 1

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    The Eastern District of Virginia’s precipitous 2022 fall from its storied rocket docket status appears to have been a temporary aberration, as recent statistics reveal that the court is once again back on top as the fastest federal civil trial court in the nation, says Robert Tata at Hunton.

  • Recruitment Trends In Emerging Law Firm Frontiers

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    BigLaw firms are facing local recruitment challenges as they increasingly establish offices in cities outside of the major legal hubs, requiring them to weigh various strategies for attracting talent that present different risks and benefits, says Tom Hanlon at Buchanan Law.

  • Series

    Glassblowing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    I never expected that glassblowing would strongly influence my work as an attorney, but it has taught me the importance of building a solid foundation for your work, learning from others and committing to a lifetime of practice, says Margaret House at Kalijarvi Chuzi.

  • Money, Money, Money: Limiting White Collar Wealth Evidence

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    As courts increasingly recognize that allowing unfettered evidence of wealth could prejudice a jury against a defendant, white collar defense counsel should consider several avenues for excluding visual evidence of a lavish lifestyle at trial, says Jonathan Porter at Husch Blackwell.

  • How Associates Can Build A Professional Image

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    As hybrid work arrangements become the norm in the legal industry, early-career attorneys must be proactive in building and maintaining a professional presence in both physical and digital settings, ensuring that their image aligns with their long-term career goals, say Lana Manganiello at Equinox Strategy Partners and Estelle Winsett at Estelle Winsett Professional Image Consulting.

  • Firms Must Rethink How They Train New Lawyers In AI Age

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    As law firms begin to use generative artificial intelligence to complete lower-level legal tasks, they’ll need to consider new ways to train summer associates and early-career attorneys, keeping in mind the five stages of skill acquisition, says Liisa Thomas at Sheppard Mullin.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Always Be Closing

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    When a lawyer presents their case with the right propulsive structure throughout trial, there is little need for further argument after the close of evidence — and in fact, rehashing it all may test jurors’ patience — so attorneys should consider other strategies for closing arguments, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

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