9th Circ. Says Species' Competing Interests Impact ESA Cases

By Juan-Carlos Rodriguez

The Ninth Circuit has ruled that when a court-ordered injunction would protect one animal or plant covered by the Endangered Species Act but harm another, the court must weigh their "competing" interests before taking action.

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Environmental Groups Sue EPA Over Methane Rule Delay

By Tom Lotshaw

Environmental groups are challenging a final rule the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published Wednesday to extend a number of compliance deadlines for methane pollution control requirements, calling it an unlawful handout for oil and gas companies.

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DC Circ. Wary Of Russia's Immunity Claim In $250M Award Fight

By Caroline Simson

A D.C. Circuit panel expressed skepticism during oral arguments Thursday that Russia can avoid paying more than $250 million in arbitral awards owed to Ukrainian power and gas companies after the seizing of Crimea based on an argument that an exception to sovereign immunity doesn't apply.

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MVP: Sidley's Justin Savage

By Juan-Carlos Rodriguez

Sidley Austin LLP partner and environmental practice group co-leader Justin Savage's recent accomplishments include the pro bono defense of a client accused by the federal government of installing devices in vehicles meant to defeat emission control laws and helping an Ohio petroleum refiner resolve pollution allegations, earning him a spot among the 2025 Law360 Environmental MVPs.

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US, Tribes Ask High Court To Uphold Michigan Fishing Pact

By Crystal Owens

Four Michigan tribes and the federal government are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reject a petition by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians to overturn a decision to uphold a 2023 Great Lakes fishing compact, telling the justices that the case is not "the stuff of certiorari."

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KKR-Led Group Sells Stake In Tokyo Hotel, Plus More Rumors

By Jade Martinez-Pogue

A group led by private equity behemoth KKR sold its stake in a luxury Tokyo hotel for $800 million, Blackstone is considering dropping its bid for British self-storage company Big Yellow Group, and Australian metals and mining company BHP Group offered to buy British mining company Anglo American for £40 billion ($53 billion) before nixing its offer.

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Opinion

California Vapor Intrusion Policy Should Focus On Site Risks

As California environmental regulators consider whether to change the attenuation factor used in screenings for vapor intrusion, the most prudent path forward is to keep the current value for screening purposes, while using site-specific, risk-based numbers for cleanup and closure targets, says Thierry Montoya at Frost Brown.

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Series

Preaching Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Becoming a Gospel preacher has enhanced my success as a trial lawyer by teaching me the importance of credibility, relatability, persuasiveness and thorough preparation for my congregants, the same skills needed with judges and juries in the courtroom, says Reginald Harris at Stinson.

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Bonus Spotlight

Cahill Gordon Offers Associates 'Super Bonus' Of Up To $200K

By Anna Sanders

Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP won't just match BigLaw's prevailing scale for year-end bonuses — the firm will also reportedly offer outsized special bonuses, or super bonuses, up to $200,000 for high-performing associates.

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Analysis

Appeal Of US Atty Invalidations May Be 'Devastating' To DOJ

By Phillip Bantz

As the list of interim and acting U.S. attorneys found to be unlawfully appointed under President Donald Trump grows, so too does the pressure on his administration to make the next move, which could force a risky strategic decision on whether to push the issue up to the U.S. Supreme Court, experts said.

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Judge Nixes Hagens Berman's Recusal Bid After DOJ Referral

By Emma Cueto

Two days after referring powerhouse plaintiffs firm Hagens Berman to the U.S. Department of Justice for alleged misconduct, a Pennsylvania federal judge on Thursday dismissed the firm's request that he recuse himself from the long-running product liability suit, calling the firm's arguments "absurd."

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Senate Impeachment Hearing On Judges Likely In January

By Courtney Bublé

The Senate hearing on impeachment of "rogue" judges is likely going to be rescheduled for January, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who will be chairing the hearing, told Law360 on Thursday.  

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SDNY Judge Unsure Of Jurisdiction In Maurene Comey Suit

By Pete Brush

A Manhattan federal judge said Thursday he may not have jurisdiction over former prosecutor Maurene Comey's suit claiming President Donald Trump's rivalry with her father, former FBI Director James Comey, led to her firing.

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Analysis

Wheeling & Appealing: The Latest Must-Know Appellate Action

By Jeff Overley

Is the False Claims Act constitutional? Will Mark Zuckerberg be deposed in high-profile privacy litigation? Did a major drugmaker's shenanigans cost investors nearly $7 billion? That's a small sample of the intriguing legal questions we're exploring in this preview of December's top appellate action.

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NY AG Applauds Reports Grand Jury Declined To Reindict

By Lauren Berg

New York Attorney General Letitia James Thursday hailed reports that a Norfolk, Virginia, federal grand jury had declined to reindict her on charges of mortgage fraud, refusing to revive a case that President Donald Trump had pushed prosecutors to pursue against his "guilty as hell" political opponent.

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NY Law Firm Files Ch. 11 After Hostile Takeover Allegations

By Ben Zigterman

A New York law firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy relief a week after its creditors filed involuntary Chapter 7 liquidation petitions and more than a month after the firm's founder accused the creditors of a hostile takeover of his firm.

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Google Fights Unlockd's Judge Recusal Bid In Antitrust Case

By Christine DeRosa

Google is opposing a move by Unlockd Media seeking the recusal of U.S. District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr. in an antitrust lawsuit in California federal court, arguing that the judge's close relationship with Google's vice president for litigation and discovery doesn't require him to step away from the case.

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Brief

Senate Confirms 4th NC Federal Judge This Week

By Courtney Bublé

The Senate on Thursday confirmed its fourth federal judge this week for North Carolina.

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Fla. Judge Admits To Ethics Breach Over Bogus Recording

By Madison Arnold

A Florida state judge has admitted to an unintentional violation of the state's judicial ethics code over her publicly sharing a fabricated recording of a chief judge disparaging another judge during her 2024 election campaign.

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SEC Investor Panel Presses For Corporate AI Disclosures

By Jessica Corso

A U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission working group is urging the agency to adopt regulations that could standardize the way publicly traded companies report the way they use artificial intelligence, arguing Thursday that investors are not always being kept informed about the risks of the technology.

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