Legal Ethics

  • September 13, 2024

    Trio Of BigLaw Mergers Expected To Drive More Deal Talks

    After months of a relatively steady pace of law firm mergers and acquisitions, the trio of proposed BigLaw tie-ups announced in recent days will likely spur more firms toward entertaining similar deal talks, experts say. Here, Law360 offers a snapshot of the proposed deals.

  • September 13, 2024

    Doctor Charged In DOJ Fraud Suit Gets 6 Months Probation

    One of the defendants accused in a healthcare fraud suit that ended in a mistrial in 2022 was sentenced Thursday to six months of probation after pleading guilty in June to one count of aiding and abetting the conversion of public money in connection with the alleged fraud.

  • September 13, 2024

    Ga. Lawyers Group Blast 'Chill' Of Young Thug Atty Contempt

    A Georgia criminal defense lawyers group has called on the state Supreme Court to erase the contempt conviction of an attorney representing rapper Young Thug for the lawyer's refusal to reveal how he learned about a judge's closed-door meeting with prosecutors and a witness, saying the sanction could have a chilling effect on attorneys' ability to represent criminal defendants.

  • September 13, 2024

    Lawyers To Face Tribunal Over Allegations Of Asylum Lies

    Two more solicitors must face a London disciplinary tribunal over allegations they advised clients to provide fake stories in their asylum claims following an undercover Daily Mail investigation into bogus asylum applications.

  • September 13, 2024

    Ex-Fla. Law Prof's Retaliation Suit Moved North To Tallahassee

    A central Florida federal judge has transferred a retaliation and breach of contract case brought by a former law professor at Florida A&M University College of Law to another Florida federal district court, finding that the dispute's ties to the Tallahassee area overcame arguments for keeping the case in Orlando.

  • September 12, 2024

    Trump Gets Counts Cut From Ga. Election Interference Case

    Donald Trump and his co-defendants in the sprawling Georgia election interference case scored a partial victory Thursday when a judge dismissed three charges from the 41-count indictment, pointing to a 134-year-old U.S. Supreme Court holding that states can't pursue criminal conduct in connection with federal matters.

  • September 12, 2024

    2nd Circ. Rejects Another Trump Bid To Halt Hush Money Case

    The Second Circuit on Thursday rejected former President Donald Trump's request for an emergency order pausing his criminal hush money case, citing New York state court Justice Juan M. Merchan's decision to push his sentencing hearing from Sept. 18 until after the election.

  • September 12, 2024

    Senate Preps Vote On 6th Circ. Nom Opposed By Tenn. GOP

    The U.S. Senate is set to vote Monday on the nomination of Kevin Ritz to join the Sixth Circuit bench despite strong objection from the senior senator from Tennessee, one of the circuit's four states.

  • September 12, 2024

    Paxton Deputy Says Ethics Claim Is Dangerous To Other Attys

    The Texas attorney general's office told the Texas Supreme Court Thursday that the State Bar of Texas had "transgressed the Constitution" by filing an ethics charge against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's first assistant, warning that allowing him to face action would put every attorney who files civil suits in danger.

  • September 12, 2024

    Jones Foster Defeats Bid To Revive Fla. Malpractice Suit

    A Florida federal judge on Thursday shot down a bid from onetime clients of Jones Foster PA to revive their malpractice lawsuit against the firm over its handling of trust litigation and ordered them to pay the firm more than $140,000 for unpaid legal fees. 

  • September 12, 2024

    Feds Eye Nixing Girardi's Ill. Case After Calif. Theft Conviction

    The federal government might drop its criminal charges in Illinois against disbarred attorney Tom Girardi following his recent conviction in California on similar charges of stealing millions from clients, a prosecutor indicated Thursday during a status hearing in the Prairie State matter.

  • September 12, 2024

    Ex-CBA Chief Jo Sidhu KC Accused Of Sexual Harrassment

    A former chair of the Criminal Bar Association is reportedly facing allegations of sexual harassment before a professional tribunal.

  • 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.

Expert Analysis

  • 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.

  • Series

    Playing Chess Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    There are many ways that chess skills translate directly into lawyer skills, but for me, the bigger career lessons go beyond the direct parallels — playing chess has shown me the value of seeing gradual improvement in and focusing deep concentration on a nonwork endeavor, says attorney Steven Fink.

  • Litigation Inspiration: Attys Can Be Heroic Like Olympians

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    Although litigation won’t earn anyone an Olympic medal in Paris this summer, it can be worthy of the same lasting honor if attorneys exercise focused restraint — seeking both their clients’ interests and those of the court — instead of merely pursuing every advantage short of sanctionable conduct, says Bennett Rawicki at Hilgers Graben.

  • Lean Into The 'Great Restoration' To Retain Legal Talent

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    As the “great resignation,” in which employees voluntarily left their jobs in droves, has largely dissipated, legal employers should now work toward the idea of a “great restoration,” adopting strategies to effectively hire, onboard and retain top legal talent, says Molly McGrath at Hiring & Empowering Solutions.

  • Series

    Fishing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Atop the list of ways fishing makes me a better lawyer is the relief it offers from the chronic stress of a demanding caseload, but it has also improved my listening skills and patience, and has served as an exceptional setting for building earnest relationships, says Steven DeGeorge​​​​​​​ at Robinson Bradshaw.

  • A Healthier Legal Industry Starts With Emotional Intelligence

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    The legal profession has long been plagued by high rates of mental health issues, in part due to attorneys’ early training and broader societal stereotypes — but developing one’s emotional intelligence is one way to foster positive change, collectively and individually, says attorney Esperanza Franco.

  • To Make Your Legal Writing Clear, Emulate A Master Chef

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    To deliver clear and effective written advocacy, lawyers should follow the model of a fine dining chef — seasoning a foundation of pure facts with punchy descriptors, spicing it up with analogies, refining the recipe and trimming the fat — thus catering to a sophisticated audience of decision-makers, says Reuben Guttman at Guttman Buschner.

  • Circuit Judge Writes An Opinion, AI Helps: What Now?

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    Last week's Eleventh Circuit opinion in Snell v. United Specialty Insurance, notable for a concurrence outlining the use of artificial intelligence to evaluate a term's common meaning, is hopefully the first step toward developing a coherent basis for the judiciary's generative AI use, says David Zaslowsky at Baker McKenzie.

  • Perspectives

    Trauma-Informed Legal Approaches For Pro Bono Attorneys

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    As National Trauma Awareness Month ends, pro bono attorneys should nevertheless continue to acknowledge the mental and physical effects of trauma, allowing them to better represent clients, and protect themselves from compassion fatigue and burnout, say Katherine Cronin at Stinson and Katharine Manning at Blackbird.

  • Opinion

    NY Should Pass Litigation Funding Bill To Protect Plaintiffs

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    New York state should embrace the regulatory framework proposed in the Consumer Litigation Funding Act, which would suppress the unregulated predatory lenders that currently prey on vulnerable litigants but preserve a funding option that helps personal injury plaintiffs stand up to deep-pocketed corporate defendants, says Alan Ripka at Alan Ripka & Associates.

  • Series

    Playing Music Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    My deep and passionate involvement in playing, writing and producing music equipped me with skills — like creativity, improvisation and problem-solving — that contribute to the success of my legal career, says attorney Kenneth Greene.

  • How Attys Can Avoid Pitfalls When Withdrawing From A Case

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    The Trump campaign's recent scuffle over its bid to replace its counsel in a pregnancy retaliation suit offers a chance to remind attorneys that many troubles inherent in withdrawing from a case can be mitigated or entirely avoided by communicating with clients openly and frequently, says Christopher Konneker at Orsinger Nelson.

  • High Court Injunction Case Could Shake Up Fee-Shifting Rules

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    In agreeing to review a Virginia case rendered statutorily moot before final judgment, the U.S. Supreme Court could finally settle the question of if — and when — a preliminary injunction can win attorney fees for a prevailing party, but all possible answers could disrupt fee-shifting schemes written into major laws, says Laurens Wilkes at Winston & Strawn.

  • Using A Children's Book Approach In Firm Marketing Content

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    From “The Giving Tree” to “Where the Wild Things Are,” most children’s books are easy to remember because they use simple words and numbers to tell stories with a human impact — a formula law firms should emulate in their marketing content to stay front of mind for potential clients, says Seema Desai Maglio at The Found Word.

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