Legal Ethics

  • February 18, 2025

    Adams, Feds Ordered To Explain Dismissal Bid At Hearing

    A Manhattan federal judge demanded details Tuesday and scheduled a hearing after the Justice Department asked to dismiss criminal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, signaling that the court would not rubber-stamp the request following allegations of a corrupt bargain and mass resignations of prosecutors in protest.

  • February 14, 2025

    DaBaby Gets Fla. Atty Sanctioned For 'Frivolous' Claims

    A Florida federal judge has sanctioned a Florida lawyer for "objectively frivolous" civil conspiracy claims brought against rapper DaBaby following an alleged altercation that happened before a scheduled performance, saying that his conduct "causes the court to question whether [he] should be appearing before any court in our district or state."

  • February 14, 2025

    Almost Everyone Hates The Judiciary's Amicus Rule Revamp

    Policymakers for the federal judiciary Friday did what often seems impossible in a polarized nation, uniting powerful advocates for defense counsel, trial lawyers, corporations and consumers on a controversial issue. Unfortunately for the policymakers, those advocates were united by antipathy for major rule changes affecting amicus brief filers.

  • February 14, 2025

    FTC Political Appointees Told To Break Up With 'Leftist' ABA

    Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew N. Ferguson told agency staff in a letter that political appointees cannot hold leadership positions in the American Bar Association, attend its events or renew their memberships, citing the ABA's "leftist advocacy and its recent attacks" on the Trump administration's agenda.

  • February 14, 2025

    NJ Appeals Court Confirms Officials' Votes Were Conflicted

    A New Jersey state appeals court on Friday ruled a trial court was right to find local officials were in conflict when they voted to terminate an attorney because the trio had defamed him during their campaigns.

  • February 14, 2025

    Pa. Injury Firm Botched Burger King Suit Service, Suit Says

    A Pennsylvania woman has sued the law firm previously representing her in a slip-and-fall case against a local Burger King for legal malpractice after the state Supreme Court held that her former attorneys' attempts to have the complaint served were insufficient.

  • February 14, 2025

    Fla. Criminal Defense Atty Accused Of Bribing DEA Agent

    New York federal prosecutors have charged a Florida criminal defense attorney with a scheme to bribe a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent in exchange for nonpublic law enforcement information, which the lawyer used to recruit and represent clients, in an indictment unsealed on Friday.

  • February 14, 2025

    Diddy, Jay-Z Rape Lawsuit Dropped Amid Legal Ethics Battle

    An anonymous woman dropped her New York federal court lawsuit accusing Sean "Diddy" Combs and Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter of raping a teenager together, claims that launched a bitter ethics feud between personal injury attorney Tony Buzbee and Jay-Z's lawyers at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP.

  • February 14, 2025

    House Dems Amplify ABA Decision On High Court Ethics

    Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee's courts panel urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday to adopt a binding and enforceable code of ethics after the American Bar Association's policy-making body advocated for such.

  • February 14, 2025

    Feds Hit With Brady Claims As Implant Kickback Trial Looms

    Two defendants nearing trial on medical device kickback claims say Boston federal prosecutors are begrudgingly sharing mountains of exculpatory materials they should have provided years ago.

  • February 14, 2025

    Buchalter, Parker Milliken Get Stay In $19M Theft Suit

    A California judge on Friday granted a stay to Buchalter PC and Parker Milliken Clark O'Hara & Samuelian APC while the law firms appeal a decision denying their bid to arbitrate a lawsuit accusing them of conspiring to help their client bilk nearly $20 million from some trusts in a Ponzi scheme.

  • February 14, 2025

    Tulsa County 'On Notice' In Jurisdiction Dispute, Suit Says

    The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is asking a federal district court to block Tulsa County, Oklahoma, its sheriff and a district attorney from asserting criminal jurisdiction on its reservation, arguing they continue to defy a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that held that they lack such authority.

  • February 14, 2025

    House Judiciary Courts Chair Previews 'Rogue' Judges Bill

    The chair of the House Judiciary Committee's courts panel is working on legislation to prevent "rogue rulings" by federal judges, which he plans to introduce on Tuesday, following adverse rulings for the Trump administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.

  • February 14, 2025

    Adams Case Careens Toward 'Messy' Hearing, Experts Say

    The Manhattan federal judge overseeing the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams is unlikely to rubber stamp a request from the U.S. Department of Justice to toss the case and may instead hold a hearing on the matter, which could get "messy" and "embarrassing," experts say.

  • February 14, 2025

    Adams Case Fiasco 'Unparalleled' In Modern US History

    The mass resignation of federal prosecutors refusing to obey a Trump administration directive to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams is "unprecedented," "crazy" and "very troubling," according to law professors and former prosecutors.

  • February 14, 2025

    Off The Bench: Trans EO, Cards Arbitration, NASCAR Revs Up

    In this week's Off The Bench, litigation begins over President Donald Trump's executive order banning transgender individuals from competing in women's sports, a former Arizona Cardinals executive's defamation suit against the team is shuffled to arbitration, and NASCAR asks an appeals panel to reverse wins handed to two teams in their antitrust suit.

  • February 14, 2025

    BakerHostetler Can't Keep Ga. Malpractice Suit In Fed. Court

    BakerHostetler lost its bid Friday to keep a former client's suit alleging the firm botched its legal representation of its patent applications for a smart wardrobe system in federal court, with a Georgia federal judge rejecting the firm's argument that the claims involve patent law.

  • February 14, 2025

    Pashman Stein Gets Arbitration Award Against Atty Confirmed

    Pashman Stein Walder Hayden PC on Friday won confirmation for an $88,000 award against an intellectual property attorney and former client it sued over unpaid legal fees in New Jersey state court.

  • February 14, 2025

    Fla. Atty Disbarred After 'Serious Pattern Of Neglect'

    The Florida Supreme Court has permanently yanked the law license of former Sunshine State attorney Danialle Riggins for demonstrating a "serious pattern of neglect" with clients and other misconduct, including yelling at a judge during court.

  • February 14, 2025

    Rewarding Ex-Atty For Killing Wife Is Unjust, Ga. Court Told

    The administrator of the estate of the wife of a former BigLaw attorney urged a Georgia state court to block the husband's bid to designate the settlement proceeds of a wrongful death suit, arguing that it "does not seem just to reward" him after he "did, in fact, shoot and kill his wife."

  • February 14, 2025

    Texas Justices End Election Ethics Suit Against AG Paxton

    Texas justices on Friday granted the state Commission for Lawyer Discipline's motion to drop the commission's ethics complaint against Attorney General Ken Paxton, citing its decision last month in a "nearly identical" suit against Paxton's first assistant.

  • February 14, 2025

    DOJ Files Motion To Drop Adams Case After Prosecutors Exit

    The U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, following a flood of resignations by government lawyers who defied a top DOJ official's orders to drop the charges for political reasons.

  • February 14, 2025

    Ex-JPMorgan Atty Pleads Guilty To NYC Housing Fraud

    A one-time Bronx, New York, prosecutor and former JPMorgan Chase & Co. assistant general counsel pled guilty along with two relatives to a scheme to fraudulently obtain affordable housing units and benefits, state investigators announced Friday.

  • February 13, 2025

    After Winning $18M, ASUSTek Foe Asks For New Patent Trial

    A patent litigation company that obtained a nearly $18 million award from a federal jury in Waco, Texas, against Taiwanese computer manufacturer ASUSTeK says it wants to try winning some more money at a new trial, though the company admitted it "recognizes the extraordinary nature of the relief it is requesting."

  • February 13, 2025

    PQA Loses Bid To Fight VLSI's Extortion Claims In Fed. Court

    Patent Quality Assurance LLC must return to state court to face a suit claiming it had extortionary intent when challenging VLSI Technology's chip patent, a Virginia federal judge held Thursday.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Playing Competitive Tennis Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    My experience playing competitive tennis has highlighted why prioritizing exercise and stress relief, maintaining perspective under pressure, and supporting colleagues in pursuit of a common goal are all key aspects of championing a successful legal career, says Madhumita Datta at Lowenstein Sandler.

  • Series

    The Pop Culture Docket: Judge Djerassi On Super Bowl 52

    Author Photo

    Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Ramy Djerassi discusses how Super Bowl 52, in which the Philadelphia Eagles prevailed over the New England Patriots, provides an apt metaphor for alternative dispute resolution processes in commercial business cases.

  • Considerations For Lawyer Witnesses After FTX Trial

    Author Photo

    Sam Bankman-Fried's recent trial testimony about his lawyers' involvement in FTX's business highlights the need for attorney-witnesses to understand privilege issues in order to avoid costly discovery disputes and, potentially, uncover critical evidence an adversary might seek to conceal, says Lawrence Bluestone at Genova Burns.

  • Employee Experience Strategy Can Boost Law Firm Success

    Author Photo

    Amid continuing business uncertainty, law firms should consider adopting a holistic employee experience strategy — prioritizing consistency, targeting signature moments and leveraging measurement tools — to maximize productivity and profitability, says Haley Revel at Calibrate Consulting.

  • Series

    Competing In Triathlons Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    While practicing law and competing in long-distance triathlons can make work and life feel unbalanced at times, participating in the sport has revealed important lessons about versatility, self-care and perseverance that apply to the office as much as they do the racecourse, says Laura Heusel at Butler Snow.

  • Opinion

    History Reveals Folly Of Absolute Presidential Immunity

    Author Photo

    As a federal appeals court grapples with former President Donald Trump’s claims that he’s immune from prosecution on election interference charges, it’s a fitting time for lawyers to reflect on the rule of law — from 13th century jurisprudence to Watergate and the Clinton impeachment — and how the idea of absolute presidential immunity is unwise, says attorney Steven Reske.

  • Where Justices Stand On Chevron Doctrine Post-Argument

    Author Photo

    Following recent oral argument at the U.S. Supreme Court, at least four justices appear to be in favor of overturning the long-standing Chevron deference, and three justices seem ready to uphold it, which means the ultimate decision may rest on Chief Justice John Roberts' vote, say Wayne D'Angelo and Zachary Lee at Kelley Drye.

  • Perspectives

    6 Practice Pointers For Pro Bono Immigration Practice

    Author Photo

    An attorney taking on their first pro bono immigration matter may find the law and procedures beguiling, but understanding key deadlines, the significance of individual immigration judges' rules and specialized aspects of the practice can help avoid common missteps, says Steven Malm at Haynes Boone.

  • Lessons From Country Singer's Personal Service Saga

    Author Photo

    Recent reports that country singer Luke Combs won a judgment against a Florida woman who didn’t receive notice of the counterfeit suit against her should serve as a reminder for attorneys on best practices for effectuating service by electronic means, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.

  • Series

    Baking Bread Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    After many years practicing law, and a few years baking bread, I have learned that there are a few keys to success in both endeavors, including the assembly of a nourishing and resilient culture, and the ability to learn from failure and exercise patience, says Rick Robinson at Reed Smith.

  • Federal Courts And AI Standing Orders: Safety Or Overkill?

    Author Photo

    Several district court judges have issued standing orders regulating the use of artificial intelligence in their courts, but courts should consider following ordinary notice and comment procedures before implementing sweeping mandates that could be unnecessarily burdensome and counterproductive, say attorneys at Curtis.

  • Wachtell-X Ruling Highlights Trend On Arbitrability Question

    Author Photo

    A growing body of case law, including a California state court's recent decision in X Corp. v. Wachtell, holds that incorporation of specific arbitral body rules in an arbitration provision may in and of itself constitute clear and unmistakable evidence of delegation of arbitrability to an arbitrator, and thus such clauses should be drafted carefully, say attorneys at Norton Rose.

  • 7 E-Discovery Predictions For 2024 And Beyond

    Author Photo

    The legal and technical issues of e-discovery now affect virtually every lawsuit, and in the year to come, practitioners can expect practices and policies to evolve in a number of ways, from the expanded use of relevancy redactions to mandated information security provisions in protective orders, say attorneys at Littler.

  • On The Edge: Lessons In Patent Litigation Financing

    Author Photo

    A federal judge's recent request that the U.S. Department of Justice look into IP Edge patent litigation, and that counsel be disciplined, serves as a reminder for parties asserting intellectual property rights — and their attorneys — to exercise caution when structuring a litigation financing agreement, say Samuel Habein and James De Vellis at Foley & Lardner.

  • 5 Litigation Funding Trends To Note In 2024

    Author Photo

    Over the next year and beyond, litigation funding will continue to evolve in ways that affect attorneys and the larger litigation landscape, from the growth of a secondary market for funded claims, to rising interest rates restricting the availability of capital, says Jeffery Lula at GLS Capital.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the Legal Ethics archive.
Hello! I'm Law360's automated support bot.

How can I help you today?

For example, you can type:
  • I forgot my password
  • I took a free trial but didn't get a verification email
  • How do I sign up for a newsletter?
Ask a question!