Legal Ethics

  • October 22, 2025

    NY Atty Shouldn't Bring FCA Suit Against Ex-Client, Bar Says

    A New York attorney has been cautioned that, in most cases, it is unethical to act as a relator in a qui tam False Claims Act suit against his former client, with new guidance warning against using information gained during representation to later bring such claims against former clients.

  • October 22, 2025

    Calif. Judge Censured For Delayed Rulings, Lying About Them

    A California state judge has been publicly censured for taking more than six months to issue some decisions and lying about those delays on his salary affidavits, according to the state's judicial ethics body.

  • October 22, 2025

    Ex-NY AGs Say James Case Will Rally Office: 'Fuel To The Fire'

    New York Attorney General Letitia James' criminal prosecution is unlikely to have any significant effect on the day-to-day operations of her office, including its suits against the federal government and an appeal in President Donald Trump's nearly $500 million civil fraud case, but former leaders of the office say it could strengthen the resolve of her staff.

  • October 21, 2025

    Apple Slams 'Fatally Broad' App Store Injunction At 9th Circ.

    Apple urged the Ninth Circuit Tuesday to scrap a mandate blocking it from charging any commission on iPhone app purchases made outside its systems, slamming the district court's "fatally broad" injunction and arguing that the court's zero-commission rule is "the antithesis of a proper civil contempt remedy."

  • October 21, 2025

    Uber MDL Judge Sets Litigation Funding Disclosure Deadline

    A California federal judge ruled Tuesday in multidistrict litigation accusing Uber Technologies Inc. of failing to prevent drivers from sexually assaulting passengers that plaintiffs' counsel must disclose any ties to third-party litigation funding companies by next week, but stopped short of ordering all plaintiffs' counsel to affirmatively deny any connection.

  • October 21, 2025

    Baker McKenzie Can't Get Illinois Malpractice Suit Tossed

    An Illinois state judge has refused to dismiss a private equity firm's malpractice suit accusing Baker McKenzie of botching a client's bid to reacquire a Russian coal mine, saying the plaintiffs have sufficiently pled claims sustainable under both Illinois and Russian law at this stage of the case.

  • October 21, 2025

    NY Courts Can't Shield Memos To State Judges

    The New York State Office of Court Administration may have to finally turn over a batch of "secret memos" that instruct state judges on how to interpret the law, the state's highest court ruled Tuesday.

  • October 21, 2025

    Cybersecurity Co. Wants Sanctions For 'Frivolous' Patent Suit

    A Georgia-based cybersecurity firm facing allegations that it ripped off a software developer's patent called for sanctions Tuesday against the developer for his "frivolous" lawsuit, arguing his complaint misrepresents the "clear and unmistakable" language of a deal to give the company use of the technology.

  • October 21, 2025

    Colo. Federal Courts Halt Atty Discipline For Shutdown

    The U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado has suspended all attorney discipline investigations in light of the government shutdown.

  • October 21, 2025

    Fla. Investor Sues NY Atty Over Litigation Funding 'Scheme'

    A New York lawyer is facing state court claims alleging he scammed a Florida investor out of more than $2.5 million by "effectively running a Ponzi scheme" under the guise of a litigation finance investment.

  • October 21, 2025

    Georgia Atty Can't Shake Contempt Conviction For Tardiness

    An attorney who was hours late for jury selection in a felony case in Georgia received adequate notice that the matter was set for trial and cannot avoid a judge's criminal contempt finding, a state appellate panel ruled Tuesday.

  • October 21, 2025

    Connell Foley Hit With $40M Suit Over NJ Hotel Project

    A hotel developer is mounting a $40 million malpractice lawsuit against Connell Foley LLP in New Jersey state court, alleging the firm steered it into costly arbitration with a contractor on a hotel construction project.

  • October 21, 2025

    NJ Attys Face Greater Transparency For Client Testimonials

    New Jersey lawyers must follow new transparency requirements in using client testimonials in their advertising, according to a new opinion published on Tuesday.

  • October 21, 2025

    NY Atty Blames Another Lawyer For AI-Faked Case Citations

    A New York attorney on Tuesday denied ever having used artificial intelligence in his law practice and said the fake, AI-hallucinated cases cited in a motion to dismiss a case against his client were prepared by another attorney.

  • October 21, 2025

    Judge Won't Rush Ruling On Proposed Comey 'Filter Team'

    A Virginia federal judge rejected prosecutors' request for him to quickly rule on a proposed "filter team" to review potentially privileged evidence in their case against James Comey on Monday, ruling that the standard 14-day period for the former FBI director's team to fully respond to the proposal balances speed and fairness.

  • October 20, 2025

    'Unacceptable': NC DOJ Rebuked For Repeat Rule Violations

    A Raleigh, North Carolina, federal judge has sanctioned the state's Department of Justice, accusing one of its prosecutors of filing a frivolous motion in order to delay trial in an illegal detention lawsuit, while noting this isn't the first time the office has "tested the patience" of the federal judiciary.

  • October 20, 2025

    Miami Atty Accused Of Defamation For False Media Campaign

    A Miami luxury homebuilder is suing attorney Javier Lopez and his former firm Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton PA for defamation, claiming he made false statements to the press and to third parties calling the homebuilder a criminal who was under FBI investigation.

  • October 20, 2025

    IT Company Says Plaintiff In Contract Suit Threatened Worker

    An information technology company defending against claims that it committed fraud while performing a contract for online retailer Wayfair LLC told a Texas federal court the plaintiff who brought the suit should be sanctioned for threatening an employee.

  • October 20, 2025

    DA Willis' Subpoena Appeal On Hold After Testimony Deal

    Georgia's highest court agreed Monday to put off hearing a fight over whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis can be brought before a legislative committee investigating her handling of the election interference case against President Donald Trump after Willis agreed to appear before the lawmakers next month.

  • October 20, 2025

    Reggaeton Copyright Clash Sparks Dueling Sanctions Bids

    Attorneys in a copyright lawsuit about the origins of Reggaeton are embroiled in competing motions for sanctions, with lawyers representing Jamaican musicians — who accuse the genre's leading stars of infringement — arguing that the court's ire should be directed at opposing counsel's recent sanctions request over allegedly fabricated quotes.

  • October 20, 2025

    Trump Media Aims To DQ Gunster In Fight With Investors

    Trump Media & Technology Group, which owns President Donald Trump's Truth Social platform, is fighting with investors over whether Gunster should be allowed to represent them against the company's lawsuit over taking the business public in light of a Florida state judge's ties to the firm.

  • October 20, 2025

    Suspended Pa. Atty Admits To Crypto Scam Role With Brother

    A suspended Pennsylvania attorney pled guilty in federal court Monday to conspiracy and wire fraud, after prosecutors say he and his brother diverted funds that investors intended for cryptocurrency investment fund High Street Capital Fund USA LP into their personal accounts or another entity they controlled, Hvizdzak Capital Management.

  • October 20, 2025

    Conn. Firm, Former Client End Cybersecurity Dispute

    A Connecticut personal injury firm and its former client have reached a joint stipulation of dismissal in a federal court dispute over the firm's hacked email system and a fraudulent email that resulted in the wiring of nearly $730,000 in closing costs on a residential property.

  • October 20, 2025

    3rd Circ. Suspects Process 'Circumvention' In US Atty Role

    The Third Circuit on Monday seemed inclined to back a district court's finding that the U.S. Department of Justice's designation of President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor violated federal law, with one jurist suggesting the appointment raised "serious constitutional implications."

  • October 20, 2025

    Spiro Can't Be Witness And Musk Atty, Twitter Investors Say

    Elon Musk's informed written consent does not mean that Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP partner Alex Spiro can serve as both his lead counsel and witness in the trial over a class of investors' allegations that Musk tried to tank Twitter's stock, those investors told a California federal judge on Friday.

Expert Analysis

  • Exploring Venue Strategy For Trump-Era Regulatory Litigation

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    Litigation will likely play a prominent role in shaping policy outcomes during the second Trump administration, and stakeholders have several tools at their disposal to steer regulatory litigation toward more favorable venues, say attorneys at Covington.

  • Series

    Playing Esports Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Competing in a global esports tournament at Wimbledon last year not only fulfilled my childhood dream, but also sharpened skills that are essential to my day job, including strategic thinking, confidence and networking, says AJ Schuyler at Jackson Lewis.

  • An Associate's Guide To Career Development In 2025

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    As the new year begins, associates at all levels should consider establishing career metrics, fostering key relationships and employing other specific strategies to help move through the complexities of the legal profession with confidence and emerge as trailblazers, say EJ Stern and Amanda George at Fractional Law Firm.

  • Series

    Fixing Up Cars Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    From problem-solving to patience and adaptability to organization, the skills developed working under the hood of a car directly translate to being a more effective lawyer, says Christopher Mdeway at Kaufman Dolowich.

  • Making The Pitch To Grow Your Company's Legal Team

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    In a compressed economy, convincing the C-suite to invest in additional legal talent can be a herculean task, but a convincing pitch — supported by metrics and cost analyses — may help in-house counsel justify the growth of their team, say Elizabeth Smith and Roger Garceau at Major Lindsey.

  • The Implications Of 2024's AI Rules And Regs For Patent Attys

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    Christina Huang, John Smith and Devin Stein at Faegre Drinker review this year's new rules and regulations on the development and use of artificial intelligence — from the Biden administration, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the American Bar Association and various states — as they apply to patent attorneys.

  • When US Privilege Law Applies To Docs Made Outside The US

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    As globalization manifests itself in disputes over foreign-created documents, a California federal court’s recent trademark decision illustrates nuances of both U.S. privilege frameworks and foreign evidentiary protections that attorneys must increasingly bear in mind, say attorneys at Hunton.

  • What 2024 Trends In Marketing, Comms Hiring Mean For 2025

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    The state of hiring in legal industry marketing, business development and communications over the past 12 months was marked by a number of trends — from changes in the C-suite to lateral move challenges — providing clues for what’s to come in the year ahead, says Ben Curle at Ambition.

  • Series

    Group Running Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    The combination of physical fitness and community connection derived from running with a group of business leaders has, among other things, helped me to stay grounded, improve my communication skills, and develop a deeper empathy for clients and colleagues, says Jessica Shpall Rosen at Greenwald Doherty.

  • How White Collar Defense Attys Can Use Summary Witnesses

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    Few criminal defense attorneys have successfully utilized summary witnesses in the past, but several recent success stories show that it can be a worthwhile trial tactic to help juries understand the complex decision-making at issue, says Jonathan Porter at Husch Blackwell.

  • Opinion

    6 Changes I Would Make If I Ran A Law School

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    Reuben Guttman at Guttman Buschner identifies several key issues plaguing law schools and discusses potential solutions, such as opting out of the rankings game and mandating courses in basic writing skills.

  • Firms Still Have The Edge In Lateral Hiring, But Buyer Beware

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    Partner mobility data suggests that the third quarter of this year continued to be a buyer’s market, with the average candidate demanding less compensation for a larger book of business — but moving into the fourth quarter, firms should slow down their hiring process to minimize risks, say officers at Decipher Investigative Intelligence.

  • Top 10 Legal Malpractice Defenses As Claims Tick Up

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    As legal malpractice claims and payouts increase, law firms should remember certain time-tested defenses, such as asserting no duty to nonclients, omissions beyond the scope of engagement or lack of proximate cause, say attorneys at Goulston & Storrs.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: 1 Type Of Case Complexity Stands Out

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    In contrast to some cases that appear complex due to voluminous evidence or esoteric subject matter, a different kind of complexity involves tangled legal and factual questions, each with a range of possible outcomes, which require a “sliding scale” approach instead of syllogistic reasoning, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • Immigration Atty Tips For Avoiding Prosecution Under Trump

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    Under the incoming Trump administration, immigration attorneys may need to protect themselves from prosecution when advising clients who may not qualify for relief sought by choosing their words carefully and keeping other key factors in mind, says Michele Carney at Carney & Marchi.

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