Expert Analysis

• Avoiding The Ethical Pitfalls Of Crowdfunded Legal Fees

  

  The crowdfunding of legal fees has become increasingly common, providing a new way for people to afford legal services, but attorneys who accept crowdsourced funds must remember several key ethical obligations to mitigate their risks, say Hilary Gerzhoy and Julienne Pasichow at HWG.

• Fed. Circ. In September: The Scope Of Analogous Prior Art

  

  The Federal Circuit's recent decision in Netflix v. DivX turned on the often-overlooked requirement that any prior art must be analogous art, explaining that the art available to a person of ordinary skill in the art is limited to only the artisan's field of endeavor at the time the invention was made, says Jeremiah Helm at Knobbe Martens.

• What SEC Actions Against NFTs May Mean For Issuers

  

  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s recent charges against two non-fungible token issuers, Impact Theory and Stoner Cats, suggests that there could be additional SEC scrutiny of NFTs down the line, and that issuers should consider whether their assets might create an investment contract regulated under federal securities laws, say attorneys at Wilson Sonsini.

• A Breakdown Of The New Florida Digital Privacy Law

  

  The recently signed Florida Digital Bill of Rights has higher jurisdictional thresholds than other state data privacy laws, and incorporates unique provisions that expand opt-out rights, protect children online and prohibit government officials from moderating content, say attorneys at White & Case.

• What Large Language Models Mean For Document Review

  

  Courts often subject parties using technology assisted review to greater scrutiny than parties conducting linear, manual document review, so parties using large language models for document review should expect even more attention, along with a corresponding need for quality control and validation, say attorneys at Sidley.

• Tossed FIFA Bribery Convictions May Spur New DOJ Offense

  

  After a New York federal court vacated the bribery convictions of two defendants in the U.S. Department of Justice’s sprawling FIFA probe, prosecutors may continue to pursue foreign commercial corruption through other means, albeit with some limitations, say attorneys at Cleary.

• Tips For Camp Lejeune Attorneys To Mitigate TCPA Suit Risks

  

  To retain and assist Camp Lejeune clients, it is vital to understand best practices to avoid violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which has been at the center of recent lawsuits against attorneys seeking to reach veterans and their families affected by the toxic water exposure at the Marine Corps base, says Libby Vish at SimplyConvert.

• Series

  Participating In Living History Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  My role as a baron in a living history group, and my work as volunteer corporate counsel for a book series fan association, has provided me several opportunities to practice in unexpected areas of law — opening doors to experiences that have nurtured invaluable personal and professional skills, says Matthew Parker at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

• Opinion

  Private Equity Owners Can Remedy Law Firms' Agency Issues

  

  Nonlawyer, private-equity ownership of law firms can benefit shareholders and others vulnerable to governance issues such as disparate interests, and can in turn help resolve agency problems, says Michael Di Gennaro at The Law Practice Exchange.

• What Cos. Must Know About New Ore. Consumer Privacy Law

  

  Oregon was recently the 12th state to enact a comprehensive consumer data privacy law, but its one-year effective date delay is only applicable to certain nonprofits — so entities in the state should review their data inventory, collection and sharing practices to comply by July 1, 2024, say Neeka Hodaie and Lisa Schaures at Seyfarth.

• New FCC Broadband Label Rules Should Be Read Carefully

  

  A recent order from the Federal Communications Commission clarifies standardized broadband label requirements that are pending final approval — and while compliance should be manageable, the rules impose new risk, particularly with regard to speed and latency disclosures, say Craig Gilley and Laura Stefani at Venable.

• Cases, Issues That May Shape The Intersection Of AI And IP

  

  Courts dealing with the current, and likely growing, onslaught of intellectual property litigation concerning artificial intelligence will determine whether certain common forms of AI training constitute IP violations, while the government works to determine whether AI-generated output is itself protectable under the law, say Robert Hill and Kathryn Keating at Holland & Knight and Meghan Ryan at Southern Methodist University.

• How To Protect Atty-Client Privilege While Using Generative AI

  

  When using generative artificial intelligence tools, attorneys should consider several safeguards to avoid breaches or complications in attorney-client privilege, say Antonious Sadek and Christopher Campbell at DLA Piper.

• How New Lawyers Can Leverage Feedback For Growth

  

  Embracing constructive criticism as a tool for success can help new lawyers accelerate their professional growth and law firms build a culture of continuous improvement, says Katie Aldrich at Fringe Professional Development.

• Series

  In A 'Barbie' World: Boosting IP Value With Publicity Machines

  

  Mattel's history of intellectual property monitoring, including its recent challenge against Burberry over the "BRBY" trademark ahead of the "Barbie" film, shows how IP enforcement strategies can be used as publicity to increase brand value and inform potential collaborations, says Carly Duckett at Shepherd and Wedderburn.