Business of Law

  • September 05, 2024

    Hunter Biden Pleads Guilty To Tax Charges In Surprise Move

    Hunter Biden entered a surprise guilty plea to nine criminal tax charges in California federal court on Thursday, bringing a dramatic conclusion to the case following a dizzying series of events on what was set to be the first day of his trial.

  • September 12, 2024

    Bird & Bird Recruits M&A Partner In Frankfurt Amid Growth

    Bird & Bird LLP has hired a business expert as a partner in Frankfurt as the firm bolsters its growing corporate practice internationally, with a keen eye on its new office in Japan.

  • September 04, 2024

    Leech Tishman Combines With Calif. Firm Nelson Hardiman

    Leech Tishman is set to add California-based healthcare and life science law firm Nelson Hardiman's 17 attorneys to its Los Angeles office this fall and will do business in the Golden State under the combined name Leech Tishman Nelson Hardiman, the firm announced Tuesday.

  • September 04, 2024

    2nd Circ. Hears Unvaxxed NY Judge's 'Exile' Challenge

    A Second Circuit panel on Wednesday voiced some skepticism of a bid to revive a New York state judge's lawsuit over his "exile" after he failed to get a religious exemption from the court system's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

  • September 04, 2024

    Conn. Man Charged With Threatening To Assassinate Judge

    A Connecticut man has been charged with threatening to assassinate a judge during a call to the state judicial branch requesting body and vehicle camera recordings of his recent arrest in a separate matter, the Connecticut State Police said on Wednesday.

  • September 04, 2024

    Texas Justices OK Some Online Learning For Bar Admission

    The Texas Supreme Court has announced rule changes that would allow certain online degree programs to qualify for admission to the State Bar of Texas.

  • September 04, 2024

    Feds Say Litigation Funding Co. Was A $10M Ponzi Scheme

    A purported investment company's owner faces criminal charges and a suit from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission after she allegedly made false claims to investors that she would lend their money to personal injury attorneys but instead used the money for a Ponzi-like scheme and personal expenses.

  • September 04, 2024

    McElroy Deutsch's Former CFO Fights Bid To Sink Ch. 11 Case

    The currently incarcerated former chief financial officer for McElroy Deutsch Mulvaney & Carpenter LLP denied that his Chapter 11 filing was a bad faith maneuver meant to stall ongoing civil litigation, claiming instead that the bankruptcy will allow for the liquidation of property for the benefit of creditors.

  • September 04, 2024

    A Federal Judge On Being Married To A Congresswoman

    U.S. District Judge Michael Simon, on the bench in the District of Oregon since 2011, is married to U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., and says "good faith and transparency" are key to avoiding conflicts of interest when both sides of a marriage work in legal affairs and lawmaking.

  • September 04, 2024

    Feds Say Ex-Judge's Misconduct Does Not Warrant New Trial

    "Troubling" allegations that a former Alaska federal judge engaged in sexual misconduct should not open the door for a new trial in one of his cases where a man was convicted of cyberstalking, federal prosecutors argued in a court filing.

  • September 04, 2024

    Chief Justice Brister To Bring 20 Years' Wisdom To 15th Court

    For newly appointed Chief Justice Scott A. Brister of the Fifteenth Court of Appeals of Texas, the creation of a new statewide appeals court came at the perfect time.

  • September 04, 2024

    Election Year Surprise? GOP Judges Opening Seats For Biden

    Well ahead of fall elections that could flip the White House and U.S. Senate to Republicans, many GOP-appointed judges are retiring and giving Democrats opportunities to fill key seats before Republicans can capitalize on any wins at the polls, and several of the judges discussed the political backdrop with Law360.

  • September 04, 2024

    Fla. Judge Won't Delay Trial In Judge's Blackmail Suit

    A Florida judge refused Wednesday to hear a summary judgment motion from an attorney accused by a Palm Beach County judge of trying to blackmail her with nude photographs, calling it untimely because it would need to be heard on the first day of trial set for later this month.

  • September 04, 2024

    Reed Smith Is Latest Firm To Wind Down Operations In Beijing

    Sixteen years after expanding into Asia, Reed Smith LLP said it will be consolidating its work in China in its Shanghai office and, according to a source familiar with the matter, closing its Beijing office.

  • September 03, 2024

    Dave's Killer Bread Judge Rips Attys For 'Flooding' Docket

    A California federal judge admonished attorneys for both parties in a proposed class action alleging Dave's Killer "Good Seed" bread deceptively advertises the loafs as containing 5 grams of protein, slamming counsel for "flooding" the docket with "entirely unnecessary" motions and warning she'll sanction them if their conduct continues.

  • September 03, 2024

    Construction Disputes Mark Opening Of Texas Biz Court

    The first cases were filed in the Texas Business Court on Tuesday, setting the stage for a new era of litigation in the Lone Star State.

  • September 03, 2024

    Seattle Court Accused Of Fostering Racist, Hostile Workplace

    An African American former employee at the Seattle Municipal Court has alleged that she was the target of racist and sexist comments and that a court administrator falsely claimed in a courtwide email that she had been arrested and charged with a serious crime when she was on sick leave.

  • September 03, 2024

    Ch. 11 Bankruptcy Trustee Says Firm Charged Excessive Fees

    The Chapter 11 trustee overseeing collapsed debt relief law firm Litigation Practice Group has accused a New York law firm of charging excessive fees while defending the California firm from lawsuits from merchant cash advance companies.

  • September 03, 2024

    Split 5th Circ. Dissolves La. Voting Consent Decree

    An 11-member majority of the Fifth Circuit dissolved a 30-year-old voting consent decree over how justices are elected to Louisiana's highest court, finding in a split en banc opinion that the state has "satisfied its obligations."

  • September 03, 2024

    USPTO Launches PTAB Clinic With Ex-Judges

    The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday rolled out a new free initiative in which former judges from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board will answer questions and offer guidance on proceedings before the board in one-on-one meetings with members of the public.

  • September 03, 2024

    Former Partner Of Bankrupt NC Firm Settles With Trustee

    A former member of bankrupt North Carolina-based real estate law firm Washburn Law PLLC, which is being investigated by the FBI for millions of dollars in pilfered client money, has reached a settlement agreement with a court-appointed bankruptcy trustee.

  • September 03, 2024

    NJ Judiciary Expands Public Access To Briefs, Hearings

    The New Jersey judiciary will begin livestreaming oral arguments before the Superior Court's Appellate Division and posting briefs for the Appellate Division and the state Supreme Court online in September, according to an announcement Tuesday.

  • September 03, 2024

    Duane Morris Wants Bulk Of Atty's Equal Pay Suit Tossed

    Duane Morris LLP is asking a California federal court to toss most of the claims in a proposed class action alleging the firm systemically underpaid female and nonwhite attorneys, saying the attorney who filed the complaint has been fairly treated and compensated and her claims lack validity.

  • September 03, 2024

    Cozen O'Connor Adds 13 Clark Wilson Lawyers In Vancouver

    Cozen O'Connor announced on Tuesday that it has expanded its Canadian presence by adding a team of 22 legal professionals, including 13 lawyers and nine support staff, from Clark Wilson LLP to its fast-growing Vancouver office.

  • September 03, 2024

    Atty Claims Pa. Firm Breached Merger, Payment Agreement

    An attorney with a Pittsburgh-area law firm that merged with Cafardi Ferguson + Wyrick says in a lawsuit that his new firm has breached his compensation agreement and now owes him nearly $94,000.

Expert Analysis

  • 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.

  • Series

    After Chevron: Expect Few Changes In ITC Rulemaking

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's opinion overruling the Chevron doctrine will have less impact on the U.S. International Trade Commission than other agencies administering trade statutes, given that the commission exercises its congressionally granted authority in a manner that allows for consistent decision making at both agency and judicial levels, say attorneys at Polsinelli.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Confronting The Psychological Toll Of Personal Injury Law

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    Personal injury lawyers advocate for clients who have experienced trauma, loss and life-altering injuries, but these cases can have an emotional impact on attorneys themselves — so it is crucial to address these challenges proactively and openly, and normalize the conversation around mental health in the legal profession, says Lisa Lanier at Lanier Law Group.

  • 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.

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