Legal Ethics

  • August 09, 2024

    Morgan Law Group Can't Escape Ex-Law Partners' Spat

    The Morgan Law Group PA can't escape a $20 million dispute between former law partners after a Florida state judge ruled Friday that all but one of the claims against the firm, which now employs one of the partners involved, can proceed.

  • August 09, 2024

    Vidal's Sanctions Make It Clear: Don't Mess With The PTAB

    The Patent Trial and Appeal Board has only faced a handful of instances where sanctions took center stage, but the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office director's rulings have made attorneys increasingly aware that pushing ethical boundaries at the board could put their cases and their careers at risk.

  • August 09, 2024

    NJ Paralegal Resolves Suit Over Firing After Broken Foot

    A former paralegal for the Law Offices of Geoffrey D. Mueller LLC has resolved her lawsuit against the Westwood, New Jersey, office after accusing it last year of firing her in violation of state anti-discrimination law after she asked for a leave of absence to recover from a broken foot, according to a notice of settlement filed in Bergen County Superior Court.

  • August 09, 2024

    Judge Nixes Ex-Defender's Bias Suit, But Calls For Reform

    A former public defender in North Carolina failed to show how her equal protection and due process rights were violated during an allegedly botched internal investigation of her sexual harassment claim, a federal judge ruled Friday in a candid opinion that nevertheless called out what he described as a "flawed" dispute resolution process for judiciary employees.

  • August 09, 2024

    Eckert Seamans Sued Over New Jersey Condo Development

    Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott LLC simultaneously represented a real estate development company and two of its former managers, and also improperly took compensation for its work before company debts were satisfied, according to a legal malpractice lawsuit filed this week in New Jersey state court.

  • August 09, 2024

    DOJ, Watchdog Agree To End Dispute Over Justices' Travel Docs

    The U.S. Department of Justice and judicial watchdog group Fix the Court said in a Friday filing that they have agreed to dismiss a complaint accusing the department of failing to deliver on requests for reports about travel by U.S. Supreme Court justices.

  • August 09, 2024

    Cordell & Cordell Can't Escape Ex-Paralegal's Discrimination Suit

    A Kansas federal judge ruled Friday that Cordell & Cordell PC must face claims in a discrimination suit brought by a former paralegal at the firm, including an assertion she was fired in retaliation for reporting mistreatment and sexual harassment.

  • August 09, 2024

    Ex-DOJ Atty Clark Appeals After Suspension Recommendation

    Former U.S. Department of Justice official Jeffrey Clark has asked the D.C. Court of Appeals to review orders from his disciplinary case after an ethics committee recommended he face suspension, arguing new precedent set in Trump v. United States grants him immunity, though disciplinary counsel said the appeal was improper.

  • August 09, 2024

    Ex-Boston U Law Instructor Sues Over Course Materials

    A former Boston University Law School instructor has sued the university, accusing it of copyright infringement through use of course materials he developed, in violation of a prior settlement agreement.

  • August 08, 2024

    Investors, Banks Pitch Next Steps In Saved Bond-Rigging Suit

    Investors accusing major banks of conspiring to rig corporate bonds have told a New York federal court they want to file a new complaint after the Second Circuit revived the suit last month over a potential conflict with the previous judge, while the defendants say this would take the case "back to square one."

  • August 08, 2024

    Mass. Atty, 2 Others Settle SEC Insider Trading Claims

    A Massachusetts business lawyer, his friend and his friend's father have agreed to collectively pay more than $230,000 to settle the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's allegations they used intel to trade ahead of an announcement made by the biotechnology company Frequency Therapeutics Inc., the SEC said Thursday.

  • August 08, 2024

    Posner's Ex-Staffer Blasts 'Judicial Thuggery' In DQ Bid

    The so-called pro se litigation expert suing retired Seventh Circuit Judge Richard Posner for $170,000 argued Wednesday that the magistrate judge handling the parties' discovery should be removed from the case because he has proven to be biased in Posner's favor.

  • August 08, 2024

    Ex-Girardi Keese Atty Tearfully Recalls Withheld Client Funds

    A former Girardi Keese attorney shed tears Thursday as she testified in Tom Girardi's California federal criminal trial, recalling that she became increasingly confused over several months about why he did not issue a settlement check to her client, saying his excuses for withholding the money made no sense.

  • August 08, 2024

    Judge Cites 'Evasive Tactics' In Axing Suit For Lost Evidence

    An Illinois federal judge agreed Wednesday to permanently toss a former Chicago Transit Authority employee's retaliation suit and order him and his lawyer to split more than $75,000 in fees and costs for spoiling electronic phone evidence relevant to his case.

  • August 08, 2024

    Maynard Nexsen Says No DQ Needed In Contractor Bias Case

    A former engineer suing defense contractor Parsons Corp. for discrimination pushed back Thursday against the company's bid to disqualify his counsel, Maynard Nexsen PC, for allegedly representing both parties at the same time, saying the firm did not actually represent Parsons.

  • August 08, 2024

    Mich. Judicial Watchdog Counsel Fight To Save Ethics Probe

    Disciplinary counsel claiming a Michigan state judge lied under oath about her account of another judge's alleged misconduct urged the state's judicial watchdog not to toss an ethics complaint, saying the master who recommended the case be dismissed disregarded key evidence.

  • August 08, 2024

    Valve Says 'Enough Is Enough,' Seeks Patent Suit Sanctions

    Video game maker and online game store operator Valve Corp. urged a Texas federal judge to punish a Texas company that Valve called a "patent troll" in its sanctions motion for allegedly re-arguing "frivolous" legal theories and purposely taking its barcode patent infringement suit to an allegedly improper venue.

  • August 08, 2024

    Wash. Firm, Atty Say Rehashed $20M Con Claims Can't Stick

    A Washington attorney and her former law firm have urged a Washington judge to toss a lawsuit alleging they were part of a scheme to con an asset management company out of $20 million, arguing that they were following instructions as escrow agents making sure funds were disbursed.

  • August 08, 2024

    Cooley Hit With Fla. Malpractice Suit Over Financial Docs

    Genetic Networks LLC has sued California-based Cooley LLP in Florida state court, alleging the law firm failed to file documentation needed to secure a lien when preparing loan papers for $1.2 million lent to ECI Pharmaceuticals.

  • August 08, 2024

    Fla. Judge Dismisses Sex Abuse Suit, Blaming Lies By Atty

    A Florida state judge has thrown out a suit by a Palm Beach real estate developer's daughter who alleges her father sexually abused her, ruling that her attorney's misrepresentations about an expert and why he withdrew from the case are fraud against the court.

  • August 08, 2024

    Judge Won't Fully Seal Atty's Trial Transcript In Contempt Bid

    A group of families that secured a $42 million settlement against a North Carolina county over coercive child custody agreements can't have state trial transcripts sealed that allegedly reveal how much money certain minors got — at least not in their entirety, a federal judge has ruled.

  • August 08, 2024

    Calif. Atty Says Lending Groups Illegally Threatened Fee Suit

    A California attorney is accusing his former clients of illegally threatening a lawsuit over a $91,000 invoice, according to a suit filed in a Texas federal court.

  • August 08, 2024

    Suspension Recommended For Ex-Calif. Bar Prosecutor

    A California State Bar Court judge this week has recommended suspension for a former State Bar prosecutor who failed to disclose that he was moonlighting in private practice alongside disgraced attorney Tom Girardi's son-in-law.

  • August 08, 2024

    Ga. Appeals Court Candidate Loses Election Challenge

    A Georgia superior court judge has rejected an attorney's bid to overturn the results of a state appeals court election she lost, saying her claims were already resolved when the secretary of state made a preelection decision that her opponent was qualified to run and her subsequent appeal of that ruling was denied.

  • August 08, 2024

    Wood's Ex-Partners Seek 'Judgment Day' For 'Lin Almighty'

    Thursday, as counsel for the former law partners of controversial ex-attorney Lin Wood put it to a Georgia federal jury, was an auspicious day, as it was a "judgment day" and a chance to "bring down a judgment on a monster" who slandered the three attorneys who for years helped him build a successful law practice.

Expert Analysis

  • Opinion

    Atty Well-Being Efforts Ignore Root Causes Of The Problem

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    The legal industry is engaged in a critical conversation about lawyers' mental health, but current attorney well-being programs primarily focus on helping lawyers cope with the stress of excessive workloads, instead of examining whether this work culture is even fundamentally compatible with lawyer well-being, says Jonathan Baum at Avenir Guild.

  • Series

    Skiing And Surfing Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    The skills I’ve learned while riding waves in the ocean and slopes in the mountains have translated to my legal career — developing strong mentor relationships, remaining calm in difficult situations, and being prepared and able to move to a backup plan when needed, says Brian Claassen at Knobbe Martens.

  • Class Actions At The Circuit Courts: June Lessons

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    In this month's review of class action appeals, Mitchell Engel at Shook Hardy considers two recent decisions from the Third and Tenth Circuits, and identifies practice tips around class action settlements and standing in securities litigation.

  • Unpacking The Circuit Split Over A Federal Atty Fee Rule

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    Federal circuit courts that have addressed Rule 41(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are split as to whether attorney fees are included as part of the costs of a previously dismissed action, so practitioners aiming to recover or avoid fees should tailor arguments to the appropriate court, says Joseph Myles and Lionel Lavenue at Finnegan.

  • After A Brief Hiccup, The 'Rocket Docket' Soars Back To No. 1

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    The Eastern District of Virginia’s precipitous 2022 fall from its storied rocket docket status appears to have been a temporary aberration, as recent statistics reveal that the court is once again back on top as the fastest federal civil trial court in the nation, says Robert Tata at Hunton.

  • Recruitment Trends In Emerging Law Firm Frontiers

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    BigLaw firms are facing local recruitment challenges as they increasingly establish offices in cities outside of the major legal hubs, requiring them to weigh various strategies for attracting talent that present different risks and benefits, says Tom Hanlon at Buchanan Law.

  • Series

    Glassblowing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    I never expected that glassblowing would strongly influence my work as an attorney, but it has taught me the importance of building a solid foundation for your work, learning from others and committing to a lifetime of practice, says Margaret House at Kalijarvi Chuzi.

  • Money, Money, Money: Limiting White Collar Wealth Evidence

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    As courts increasingly recognize that allowing unfettered evidence of wealth could prejudice a jury against a defendant, white collar defense counsel should consider several avenues for excluding visual evidence of a lavish lifestyle at trial, says Jonathan Porter at Husch Blackwell.

  • How Associates Can Build A Professional Image

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    As hybrid work arrangements become the norm in the legal industry, early-career attorneys must be proactive in building and maintaining a professional presence in both physical and digital settings, ensuring that their image aligns with their long-term career goals, say Lana Manganiello at Equinox Strategy Partners and Estelle Winsett at Estelle Winsett Professional Image Consulting.

  • Firms Must Rethink How They Train New Lawyers In AI Age

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    As law firms begin to use generative artificial intelligence to complete lower-level legal tasks, they’ll need to consider new ways to train summer associates and early-career attorneys, keeping in mind the five stages of skill acquisition, says Liisa Thomas at Sheppard Mullin.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Always Be Closing

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    When a lawyer presents their case with the right propulsive structure throughout trial, there is little need for further argument after the close of evidence — and in fact, rehashing it all may test jurors’ patience — so attorneys should consider other strategies for closing arguments, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • Series

    Playing Chess Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    There are many ways that chess skills translate directly into lawyer skills, but for me, the bigger career lessons go beyond the direct parallels — playing chess has shown me the value of seeing gradual improvement in and focusing deep concentration on a nonwork endeavor, says attorney Steven Fink.

  • Litigation Inspiration: Attys Can Be Heroic Like Olympians

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    Although litigation won’t earn anyone an Olympic medal in Paris this summer, it can be worthy of the same lasting honor if attorneys exercise focused restraint — seeking both their clients’ interests and those of the court — instead of merely pursuing every advantage short of sanctionable conduct, says Bennett Rawicki at Hilgers Graben.

  • Lean Into The 'Great Restoration' To Retain Legal Talent

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    As the “great resignation,” in which employees voluntarily left their jobs in droves, has largely dissipated, legal employers should now work toward the idea of a “great restoration,” adopting strategies to effectively hire, onboard and retain top legal talent, says Molly McGrath at Hiring & Empowering Solutions.

  • Series

    Fishing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Atop the list of ways fishing makes me a better lawyer is the relief it offers from the chronic stress of a demanding caseload, but it has also improved my listening skills and patience, and has served as an exceptional setting for building earnest relationships, says Steven DeGeorge​​​​​​​ at Robinson Bradshaw.

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