Business of Law

  • September 05, 2024

    Texas Could Be Next Delaware, Attys Say As Biz Court Opens

    Law firms have been preparing for the upcoming Texas Business Court since the state announced that it wanted to compete with the Delaware Court of Chancery, but many have adopted a wait-and-see approach to the Lone Star State's newest venue, which opened for cases this week.

  • September 05, 2024

    LA Courts Expand Recordings, Citing Court Reporter Shortage

    Los Angeles County Superior Court's presiding judge issued an order Thursday expanding the use of electronic recordings in certain civil proceedings due to a "chronic" lack of court reporters, drawing concerns the recordings violate state law and threaten quality transcripts.

  • September 05, 2024

    Wash. Bar Backs Experiment For Nonlawyers To Practice

    The Washington State Bar wants to relax the rules on who can practice law, in what it hopes will allow businesses not run by lawyers the chance to innovate how the industry provides legal services and expand who is able to afford them.

  • September 05, 2024

    Troutman Pepper, Locke Lord Announce Megamerger

    Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP and Locke Lord LLP will merge in January 2025 to create a combined firm with more than 1,600 attorneys across 33 offices in the United States and two in Europe, the law firms announced Thursday.

  • September 05, 2024

    Panel Finds Colo. Attys Can't Poach From Current Employers

    A Colorado Court of Appeals panel on Thursday upheld a $4,000 verdict and $1.2 million in fee awards against an attorney who violated an employment contract when she tried to lure colleagues away from a prominent regional personal injury firm, finding the firm's contract was valid and enforceable.

  • September 05, 2024

    Judge Sharp No Stranger To Complex Cases Biz Court To See

    Business Court Judge Stacy Sharp says that most of the cases she's litigated across her career would have been a perfect fit for the state's newest venue.

  • September 05, 2024

    Mass. Bar Association Prez Aims To Keep New Attys In State

    With so many top law schools in Massachusetts, the state has no problem attracting aspiring attorneys, but keeping them in the state is another matter, said new Massachusetts Bar Association president Victoria "Tori" Santoro, who spoke to Law360 about her plans for her tenure.

  • September 05, 2024

    DA Pans Trump Maneuvering On Hush Money Case Removal

    Attorneys in the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told the Second Circuit in a letter Thursday that Donald Trump is mischaracterizing a federal judge's recent order to further his baseless bid to move his hush money case to U.S. district court.

  • September 05, 2024

    Colo. Election Denier Hit With $1K-A-Day Contempt Fine

    A Colorado federal judge held a prominent 2020 election denier in contempt Wednesday for refusing to answer key questions during a deposition in a defamation suit brought by a former Dominion Voting Systems executive and then walking out in defiance, hitting the conspiracy theorist with a $1,000-per-day fine until he coughs up requested information.

  • September 05, 2024

    Norton, Quinn Emanuel Decry $600M Patent, Contempt Ruling

    NortonLifeLock and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP again urged the Federal Circuit to overturn a $600 million patent infringement verdict against the company that was in part based on the firm's being held in contempt, with both saying the holding has serious flaws.

  • September 05, 2024

    Lloyd's Looks To Ditch Cadwalader's Coverage Suit In NC

    A Lloyd's of London syndicate is urging the North Carolina Business Court to toss a Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP lawsuit seeking coverage for a 2022 data breach, saying the law firm failed to include three other carriers included on the insurance policy at issue.

  • September 05, 2024

    11th Circ. Urged To Boot Fla. Judge From Trump Docs Case

    The nonprofit organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a former federal judge and law professors have called on the Eleventh Circuit to reinstate the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump and remove U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon from the matter because she appears biased toward Trump.

  • September 05, 2024

    Conn. Bar Says Woman Owes Exhibits In Suit Over Exam Tech

    A bar examinee suing the Connecticut Bar Examining Committee and ExamSoft over an alleged software crash that hindered her ability to complete the exam has failed to file three exhibits referenced in her complaint, which the committee said Thursday makes it difficult to move to dismiss the matter.

  • September 05, 2024

    New Weinstein Charges Loom In NY As Women Step Forward

    A New York state grand jury may indict Harvey Weinstein for additional sex crimes as soon as Friday based on allegations from three new complaining witnesses, a source familiar with the proceedings told Law360.

  • September 05, 2024

    Veteran Atty Launches Solo Patent Boutique In Va.

    Longtime patent attorney Michael Kiklis — a former partner at both Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and Oblon McClelland Maier & Neustadt LLP who has represented companies including SLB, Thermo Fisher Scientific's Life Technologies Corp. and Steuben Foods Inc. — has launched his own patent boutique in Alexandria, Virginia.

  • September 05, 2024

    Chutkan Rejects Trump's Evidentiary Delay Request

    A D.C. federal judge said she wanted to see "forward motion" in former President Donald Trump's election case now that it's back in her courtroom, rejecting Trump's attorneys' calls for delay and clearing the way for prosecutors to present a trove of evidence by the end of the month.

  • 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.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Being An EMT Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    While some of my experiences as an emergency medical technician have been unusually painful and searing, the skills I’ve learned — such as triage, empathy and preparedness — are just as useful in my work as a restructuring lawyer, says Marshall Huebner at Davis Polk.

  • Exploring An Alternative Model Of Litigation Finance

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    A new model of litigation finance, most aptly described as insurance-backed litigation funding, differs from traditional funding in two key ways, and the process of securing it involves three primary steps, say Bob Koneck, Christopher Le Neve Foster and Richard Butters at Atlantic Global Risk LLC.

  • Series

    Teaching Yoga Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Being a yoga instructor has helped me develop my confidence and authenticity, as well as stress management and people skills — all of which have crossed over into my career as an attorney, says Laura Gongaware at Clyde & Co.

  • A Vision For Economic Clerkships In The Legal System

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    As courts handle increasingly complex damages analyses involving vast amounts of data, an economic clerkship program — integrating early-career economists into the judicial system — could improve legal outcomes and provide essential training to clerks, say Mona Birjandi at Data for Decisions and Matt Farber at Secretariat.

  • E-Discovery Quarterly: Recent Rulings On Text Message Data

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    Electronically stored information on cellphones, and in particular text messages, can present unique litigation challenges, and recent court decisions demonstrate that counsel must carefully balance what data should be preserved, collected, reviewed and produced, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • Series

    Swimming Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Years of participation in swimming events, especially in the open water, have proven to be ideal preparation for appellate arguments in court — just as you must put your trust in the ocean when competing in a swim event, you must do the same with the judicial process, says John Kulewicz at Vorys.

  • Don't Use The Same Template For Every Client Alert

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    As the old marketing adage goes, consistency is key, but law firm style guides need consistency that contemplates variety when it comes to client alert formats, allowing attorneys to tailor alerts to best fit the audience and subject matter, says Jessica Kaplan at Legally Penned.

  • Series

    Walking With My Dog Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Thanks to my dog Birdie, I've learned that carving out an activity different from the practice of law — like daily outdoor walks that allow you to interact with new people — can contribute to professional success by boosting creativity and mental acuity, as well as expanding your social network, says Sarah Petrie at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Follow The Iron Rule Of Trial Logic

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    Many diligent and eager attorneys include every good fact, point and rule in their trial narratives — spurred by the gnawing fear they’ll be second-guessed for leaving something out — but this approach ignores a fundamental principle of successful trial lawyering, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • The Art Of Asking: Leveraging Your Contacts For Referrals

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    Though attorneys may hesitate to ask for referral recommendations to generate new business, research shows that people want to help others they know, like and trust, so consider who in your network you should approach and how to make the ask, says Rebecca Hnatowski at Edwards Advisory.

  • Series

    Being An Equestrian Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Beyond getting experience thinking on my feet and tackling stressful situations, the skills I've gained from horseback riding have considerable overlap with the skills used to practice law, particularly in terms of team building, continuing education, and making an effort to reset and recharge, says Kerry Irwin at Moore & Van Allen.

  • 4 Ways To Refresh Your Law Firm's Marketing Strategy

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    With many BigLaw firms relying on an increasingly obsolete marketing approach that prioritizes stiff professionalism over authentic connection, adopting a few key communications strategies to better connect with today's clients and prospects can make all the difference, say Eric Pacifici and Kevin Henderson at SMB Law.

  • Series

    Whitewater Kayaking Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Whether it's seeing clients and their issues from a new perspective, or staying nimble in a moment of intense challenge, the lessons learned from whitewater kayaking transcend the rapids of a river and prepare attorneys for the courtroom and beyond, says Matthew Kent at Alston & Bird.

  • This Earth Day, Consider How Your Firm Can Go Greener

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    As Earth Day approaches, law firms and attorneys should consider adopting more sustainable practices to reduce their carbon footprint — from minimizing single-use plastics to purchasing carbon offsets for air travel — which ultimately can also reduce costs for clients, say M’Lynn Phillips and Lisa Walters at IMS Legal Strategies.

  • Practicing Law With Parkinson's Disease

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    This Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Adam Siegler at Greenberg Traurig discusses his experience working as a lawyer with Parkinson’s disease, sharing both lessons on how to cope with a diagnosis and advice for supporting colleagues who live with the disease.

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