Expert Analysis

• AG Watch: Oregon's Strategic Civil Enforcement Approach

  

  Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield’s recent antitrust litigation activity and proposed staffing increase are the latest in a series of structural and policy changes that signal that the state Department of Justice is taking a more aggressive approach to civil enforcement, says Keturah Taylor at Cozen O'Connor.

• The Paradoxical Duty To Adopt AI When You Can't Bill For It

  

  Both billing for hours saved using artificial intelligence and preserving billable time by not adopting AI may violate rules of professional conduct, but until bar associations' ethics rules catch up to this emerging economic dilemma, firms must decide how to adjust fee structures themselves, says Ines Lassalle at Peyrot & Associates.

• Meta's AI Deals Test Scope Of China M&A Scrutiny

  

  The Chinese government's recent approval of Meta's purchase of an AI and robotics company, shortly after blocking a similar deal, raises questions about how far China's legal authority extends over foreign companies connected to China, and highlights the regulatory and compliance risks involved in cross-border acquisitions of AI businesses, says Minda Huang at TsingLaw Partners.

• 7 Key Questions About SEC's Faster Tender Offer Path

  

  Following the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent order permitting an accelerated offering period for certain tender offers, attorneys at Wilson Sonsini discuss key considerations for M&A transactions, addressing eligibility, pros and cons, and how a minimum offering period as short as 10 days may operate in practice.

• Del. Ruling Cautions Against Expanding Expert Authority

  

  The Delaware Chancery Court's determination that an accountant acted as an expert rather than an arbitrator in the Driven Intermediate Holdings post-closing purchase price adjustment lawsuit helped lead to a dismissal, and demonstrated not only how such a determination can factor into a dispute's resolution, but also whether a court has jurisdiction to hear it, say attorneys at Reed Smith.

• USTR Forced Labor Tariff Plan Pushes Trade Recourse Limits

  

  Tariffs recently proposed by the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office, which determined that 60 countries failed to implement adequate forced labor protections, expand the use of existing trade remedies to address global supply chain labor standards, potentially inviting both practical adjustments by businesses and careful legal scrutiny, says attorney Sohan Dasgupta.

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  Cow Horse Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  Moving an unwilling 800-pound cow while riding a horse at high speed is exhilarating, a little unhinged and, at least for me, a surprisingly effective training ground for litigation — both demand focus, preparation over rigid planning and the willingness to act despite fear, says Ashley Zitrin at Glenn Agre.

• PowerSchool Data Breach Ruling Underscores PE Liability

  

  The recent California federal court decision in PowerSchool, where Bain Capital was unable to dismiss claims relating to a data breach based in part on Bain's preinvestment activities, is an important addition to the line of cases addressing investor liability for acts of a portfolio company, says Mark Kelley at MoloLamken.

• A Look At The Court's Next Steps In Live Nation Antitrust Case

  

  Following a recent jury verdict that Live Nation and Ticketmaster operated as a monopoly to fix ticket prices, a New York federal court stands to weigh Live Nation's bid for a new trial, approve the U.S. Department of Justice's March settlement with the defendants, and impose remedies that include full structural separation, say attorneys at Crowell.

• Checking For AI Errors Is Now A Two-Way Street

  

  A handful of recent federal and state cases demonstrate the importance of checking for errors generated by artificial intelligence not only in your own court submissions, but also your opponent's, as well as when catching opposing counsel's AI mistakes could result in an award for attorney fees, says Tamara Barago at Hollingsworth.

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  The Biz Court Digest: Shoring Up Corporate Law In Maryland

  

  Launched more than 20 years ago to improve complex corporate adjudication, Maryland's Business and Technology Case Management Program has been a solid success in some areas, but there always is room for improvement, says Bill Krulak at Miles & Stockbridge.

• Del. Chancery Has Signaled Decreased Use Of Its Blue Pencil

  

  The Delaware Chancery Court's decision in BluSky Restoration Contractors v. Robbins not to enforce or rewrite overbroad language, known as blue-penciling, in key covenants shows that the sale of a business context no longer insulates these restrictive measures from judicial scrutiny, affecting transactions and litigation, says Aylin Daldal at Kleinbard.

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  Competing At Poker Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  Playing poker in male-dominated rooms taught me to treat skepticism as background noise when my opponents seem to underestimate me, to apply pressure when it matters and to adapt without losing strategic discipline — skills that are all indispensable in restructuring and insolvency matters, says Alexis Gambale at Pashman Stein.

• 5 Things Associates Must Ask About Their Firm's Merger Plan

  

  The associates who navigate law firm mergers best ask the right questions early, such as inquiring about partners' plans, to assess how the merger could affect their workflow and career path, says Jackie Bokser-LeFebvre at Major Lindsey.

• 2 'Rocket Dockets' And The Rules That Propel Them

  

  The fastest civil trial courts in the country are currently in the Eastern District of Virginia and the Southern District of Florida, and their chief judges provide insights into the court rules that keep them ahead, says Robert Tata at Hunton.