Analysis

4 Executive Pay Trends Attorneys Will Be Watching In 2026

By Kellie Mejdrich

A potentially sweeping overhaul simplifying the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's disclosure regime for public company executive compensation will be top of mind for executive pay practitioners as they look for new developments in the coming year. Here's a look at this and three other areas they'll be keeping an eye on.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

9th Circ. Redo Raises New Issues On Abortion Coverage Law

By Rachel Riley

A Ninth Circuit panel that previously sided with Washington in a church's challenge to a state law mandating employer health coverage of abortion services voiced fresh concerns about both sides' positions when revisiting the case Thursday, roughly six months after rescinding the initial opinion without explanation.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Weyerhaeuser Says $1.5B Pension Move Didn't Harm Retirees

By Ben Adlin

Lawyers for timber producer Weyerhaeuser and State Street Global Advisors urged a Washington federal judge at a hearing Thursday to throw out a proposed class action from retired workers over Weyerhaeuser's transfer of $1.5 billion in pension obligations to a private equity-backed insurance company, arguing that the retirees have failed to establish the deal actually harmed them.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

New Assistant AG For Fraud Will Report To White House

By Courtney Bublé

Vice President JD Vance announced on Thursday the creation of a new assistant attorney general role for fraud, which will be overseen by him and the president.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Delaware Judge Sends Employee Stock Dispute To Trial

By Jarek Rutz

The Delaware Chancery Court has refused to let either side bypass an upcoming trial in a dispute between autonomous-robotics company Seegrid Corp. and former employees over the forced repurchase of stock options, concluding that the case is too fact-intensive for summary judgment and should instead be resolved through live testimony.

Decision attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Aetna Must Cover Gender-Affirming Surgery, Conn. Court Told

By Aaron Keller

Two individuals from a proposed class of transgender women on Thursday urged a Connecticut federal judge to stop Aetna from refusing to cover gender-affirming facial reconstruction to treat severe depression, anxiety and, in one case, suicidal thoughts, saying the insurer committed sex discrimination while claiming the surgeries were purely cosmetic.

5 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Union Says Construction Co. Must Pay Under Grievance Deal

By Katherine Smith

A construction industry union asked an Illinois federal court to enforce the terms of its settlement agreement with a construction company, claiming that the company and its president have failed to make more than $87,000 in required payments to workers and benefit funds.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

11th Circ. Asked To Undo 'Deeply Flawed' Securities Ruling

By Emilie Ruscoe

Florida-based energy company NextEra Energy Inc. wants the full Eleventh Circuit to reconsider a panel decision to revive an investor lawsuit against the utility operator, asserting that unless undone, the decision would leave the circuit with "the nation's most permissive loss-causation standard."

Petition attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Brief

Opendoor Investors Get Final OK For $39M Deal, Atty Fees

By Katryna Perera

An Arizona federal judge has granted final approval of a $39 million settlement between real estate firm Opendoor Technologies Inc. and its shareholders to resolve their claims that the company overhyped its pricing algorithm software, closing out the litigation that began in 2022.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Haynes Boone Adds Perkins Coie Employment Pro In Dallas

By Lynn LaRowe

Haynes Boone has bolstered its labor and employment practice with the addition of an experienced Dallas-based partner who came aboard after more than a decade with Perkins Coie LLP.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Series

Muay Thai Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Muay Thai kickboxing has taught me that in order to win, one must stick to one's game plan and adapt under pressure, just as when facing challenges by opposing counsel or judges, says Mark Schork at Feldman Shepherd.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

ERISA Litigation Trends To Watch With 2025 In The Rearview

There were significant developments in Employee Retirement Income Security Act litigation in 2025, including plaintiffs pushing the bounds of sponsor and fiduciary liability and defendants scoring district court wins, and although the types of claims might change, ERISA litigation will likely be just as active in 2026, say attorneys at Groom Law.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

US Atty In NY Northern District Serving Unlawfully, Judge Says

By Stewart Bishop

A Manhattan federal judge on Thursday held that the acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York is unlawfully serving in his position, the latest in a string of rulings disqualifying prosecutors appointed by President Donald Trump.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Calif. Judge Will Resign, Cop To Workers' Comp Fraud

By Lauren Berg

A California state judge has agreed to resign and plead guilty to a felony fraud charge after prosecutors alleged he knowingly hired a physician previously convicted of healthcare fraud to prepare medical reports to submit to the state's workers' compensation program, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Alito Recuses From Chevron, Exxon Coastal Pollution Case

By Keith Goldberg

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito on Thursday recused himself from considering Chevron and ExxonMobil's effort to place Louisiana pollution lawsuits stemming from the companies' World War II-era production in federal court, just days before the justices hear oral arguments in the case.

Letter attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Brief

House OKs $540M For Imperiled Legal Services Corp.

By Emily Sawicki

The "minibus" appropriations bill that the U.S. House of Representatives passed on Thursday includes a lifeline $540 million allocated toward the nonprofit Legal Services Corp. — representing a reduction of $10 million, or 3.6%, compared to fiscal year 2025's budget — whose funding the White House previously suggested should be slashed.

Bill attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

La. Judge Is Senate's 1st Judicial Confirmation Of 2026

By Courtney Bublé

The Senate voted 53-40 on Thursday to confirm former acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook to be a district judge in the Western District of Louisiana.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »