Expert Analysis

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  Playing Softball Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  My time on the softball field has taught me lessons that also apply to success in legal work — on effective preparation, flexibility, communication and teamwork, says Sarah Abrams at Baleen Specialty.

• USPTO's Track One A Reliable Patent Pathway Amid Backlog

  

  As the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office faces a backlog of unexamined utility, plant and reissue patent applications, patent applicants should consider utilizing the USPTO's Track One Program, which not only expedites the process but also increases the likelihood of working with more senior examiners, says Ryan Schermerhorn at Marshall Gerstein.

• Analyzing AI's Evolving Role In Class Action Claims Admin

  

  Artificial intelligence is becoming a strategic asset in the hands of skilled litigators, reshaping everything from class certification strategy to claims analysis — and now, the nuts and bolts of settlement administration, with synthetic fraud, algorithmic review and ethical tension emerging as central concerns, says Dominique Fite at CPT Group.

• 11th Circ.'s FCRA Standing Ruling Offers Compliance Lessons

  

  The Eleventh Circuit's recent decision in Nelson v. Experian on establishing Article III standing under the Fair Credit Reporting Act should prompt businesses to survey FCRA compliance programs, review open matters for standing defenses and refresh training materials, say attorneys at Nixon Peabody.

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  Law School's Missed Lessons: Mastering Time Management

  

  Law students typically have weeks or months to prepare for any given deadline, but the unpredictability of practicing in the real world means that lawyers must become time-management pros, ready to adapt to scheduling conflicts and unexpected assignments at any given moment, says David Thomas at Honigman.

• Privacy Policy Lessons After Google App Data Verdict

  

  In Rodriguez v. Google, a California federal jury recently found that Google unlawfully invaded app users' privacy by collecting, using and disclosing pseudonymized data, highlighting the complex interplay between nonpersonalized data and customers' understanding of privacy policy choices, says Beth Waller at Woods Rogers.

• How Hyperlinks Are Changing E-Discovery Responsibilities

  

  A recent e-discovery dispute over hyperlinked data in Hubbard v. Crow shows how courts have increasingly broadened the definition of control to account for cloud-based evidence, and why organizations must rethink preservation practices to avoid spoliation risks, says Bree Murphy at Exterro.

• Recent Precedent May Aid In Defending Ad Tech Class Actions

  

  An emergent line of appellate court precedent regarding the indecipherability of anonymized advertising technology transmissions can be used as a powerful tool to counteract the explosion of advertising technology class actions under myriad statutory theories, say attorneys at Duane Morris.

• Beaming Up Lessons From William Shatner's Failed Patent Bid

  

  In a tale that boldly goes where few celebrity inventors have gone before, William Shatner's unsuccessful attempt to patent a smartphone file organization system offers insights about potential pitfalls to avoid in patent applications, say attorneys at King & Spalding.

• Assessing Potential Ad Tech Remedies Ahead Of Google Trial

  

  The Virginia federal judge tasked with prying open Google’s digital advertising monopoly faces a smorgasbord of potential remedies, all with different implications for competition, government control and consumers' internet experience, but compromises reached in the parallel Google search monopoly litigation may point a way forward, say attorneys at MoloLamken.

• Earned Wage Access Providers Face State Law Labyrinth

  

  At least 12 states have established laws or rules regulating services that allow employees to access earned wages before payday, with more laws potentially to follow suit, creating an evolving state licensing maze even for fintech providers that partner with banks, say attorneys at Venable.

• The Pros And Cons Of Levying Value-Based Fees On Patents

  

  The potential for a recurring, value-based maintenance fee on patents, while offering some benefits, raises several complications, including that it would likely exceed the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's statutory authority and reduce research and development activities in the U.S., says Sandip Patel at Marshall Gerstein.

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  Writing Musicals Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  My experiences with writing musicals and practicing law have shown that the building blocks for both endeavors are one and the same, because drama is necessary for the law to exist, says Addison O’Donnell at LOIS Law.

• Between The Lines Of EPO's Adoption Of Color Drawings

  

  The European Patent Office's decision to accept patent drawings in color starting in October may enhance clarity in technical disclosures and streamline the examination process, and could also enable new patent filing strategies for international applicants, say attorneys at Miller Canfield.

• How Fashion, Tech Can Maximize New Small Biz Tax Breaks

  

  Fashion and technology companies, which invest heavily in innovation, should consider taking advantage of provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that favor small businesses, restructuing if necessary to become eligible for expanded research and experimental expenditure credits and qualified small business stock incentives, says Aime Salazar at Olshan Frome.