Legal Ethics

  • February 05, 2025

    Berger Singerman Aims To Sink Hurricane Malpractice Suit

    Berger Singerman LLP and one of its attorneys are hoping to escape a malpractice lawsuit related to hurricane damages brought by former client ARC Resorts LLC, saying its decision to list only the name of a property on particular notices was tactical and not negligent.

  • February 05, 2025

    Proskauer Fights Another DQ Bid In NJ Hospital Antitrust Suit

    A New Jersey federal magistrate judge was right to allow Proskauer Rose LLP to continue as counsel for RWJBarnabas Health Inc. since the firm's prior advice to CarePoint Health on its use of COVID-19 relief funds is unrelated to the antitrust lawsuit currently playing out between the two companies, according to the firm.

  • February 05, 2025

    Calif. Panel Revives Malpractice Suit Against Insurer Attys

    A California state appeals court revived an Allstate policyholder's legal malpractice suit against his insurer-appointed attorney, saying the policyholder sufficiently alleged the attorney's drafting of an underlying settlement in a wrongful death suit caused him damages.

  • February 05, 2025

    NC Software Co. Says DQ Of Rival's Atty Shouldn't Stall Trial

    An attorney being kicked off a bitter copyright case over source code shouldn't delay the fast-approaching trial, a U.S. software company told a North Carolina federal judge, arguing that its Dutch rival is trying to use the loss of its preferred counsel as a stalling tactic.

  • February 05, 2025

    Ex-CBD Co. Franchisee Says Magistrate Can't Rule On DQ Bid

    A former franchisee for CBD company American Shaman Franchise System LLC on Wednesday objected to an order from a magistrate judge rejecting his bid to disqualify her, saying that a magistrate judge has no authority to decide on a posttrial motion.

  • February 05, 2025

    As Adams Case Teeters, A DOJ 'Ideal' Hangs In The Balance

    The public courtship between New York City Mayor Eric Adams and President Donald Trump is worrying some white collar legal experts, who say that Trump influencing the U.S. Department of Justice to drop Adams' corruption case would depart from over 40 years of policies aimed at keeping politics out of prosecutorial decisions.

  • February 04, 2025

    OpenSky Defends Patent Challenge After Verdict Against Intel

    A company found using the patent review process to try to extort money from VLSI Technology LLC and Intel Corp. after a $2.18 billion jury verdict against the chipmaking giant is arguing it shouldn't have to pay legal fees, saying its efforts to revive a meritorious patent challenge is simply part of a "potentially profitable business model."

  • February 04, 2025

    Dems Call For Another Hearing For Patel Over FBI Upheaval

    Kash Patel had his nomination hearing to be FBI director less than a week ago, but Democrats and outside groups want him to appear before lawmakers again due to the agency officials fired and sidelined in recent days, and questions raised about Patel's past consulting work, according to letters written to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

  • February 04, 2025

    Ex-NY Real Estate Atty Gets 4½ Years For $3.3M Client Con

    A former New York City attorney on Tuesday was sentenced to over four years in prison, following his admission to stealing $3.3 million in client funds for purported real estate deals.

  • February 04, 2025

    Colorado Atty Says She's Blameless For Divorce Money Hack

    A Colorado divorce attorney wants out of a tangle of lawsuits that have sprung up since conservative radio personality and lawyer Randy Corporon mistakenly wired a client's $375,000 divorce settlement to Hong Kong, arguing that the claims are premature and statutorily barred, and that her malpractice insurer already covered damages.

  • February 04, 2025

    DLA Piper Partner To Testify At Cognizant Evidence Hearing

    Prosecutors told a New Jersey federal judge Tuesday that the managing partner of DLA Piper's Houston office will testify at a Feb. 18 evidentiary hearing in a criminal bribery case against two former executives of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., which tapped the law firm for an internal investigation into the alleged corrupt scheme in India.

  • February 04, 2025

    SEC Receiver, Atty Agree To Settle Fraud Transfer Claims

    A court-appointed receiver for a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission case has reached a settlement with parties who allegedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of transfers from a fraudulent foreign exchange trading scheme, including the attorney and family of a convicted executive.

  • February 04, 2025

    Exploration Co. Wants Sanctions Over Atty DQ Attempt

    An exploration company being sued by ocean salvage operation Maritime Research and Recovery LLC over a sunken Spanish galleon asked a Florida federal court on Tuesday to end the suit as a sanction for Maritime's "egregious misconduct," including trying to disqualify its counsel and filing frivolous motions.

  • February 04, 2025

    Guo Trustee Gets OK To Keep Law Firm Deal Sealed For Now

    The Chapter 11 trustee overseeing convicted Chinese fraudster Miles Guo's bankruptcy estate can keep secret for 180 days an adversary proceeding settlement with a New York law firm because similar clawback cases should proceed without being impacted by the terms of the deal, a Connecticut bankruptcy judge has ruled.

  • February 04, 2025

    Philly Firm Seeks $1.5M Fee, Denies 'Explosive' Malpractice

    Philadelphia firm Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC told a Philadelphia County jury on Tuesday that it was owed $1.5 million by metal fabricator M. Cohen & Sons Inc. for legal work, urging the jurors to reject allegations that the firm had a conflict of interest resulting in what the fabricator's lawyer called "explosive" consequences.

  • February 04, 2025

    Conn. Atty Sues Client, Lawyer Over State Farm Settlement

    A small Connecticut personal injury firm has sued a Bloomfield personal injury attorney and a former client in state court for breach of contract and unjust enrichment, accusing them of failing to hand over a one-third fee from a $35,000 State Farm insurance settlement.

  • February 04, 2025

    'Is This A Joke?' Judge Denies Atty Fees For Grocery Patrons

    A California federal judge had so little tolerance for shoppers claiming victory and seeking attorney fees from the abandoned Kroger-Albertsons merger that in tossing their motion and underlying lawsuit he noted with incredulity, "Plaintiffs are actually making these arguments."

  • February 04, 2025

    NJ Atty Avoids Disbarment After Bank Fraud Conviction

    A New Jersey attorney who was disbarred in New York and Colorado after copping to participating in a bank fraud conspiracy in 2017 has been handed a three-year license suspension in the Garden State, retroactive to the date of her guilty plea.

  • February 04, 2025

    Javice's Texts About Elizabeth Holmes Not Fair Game For Trial

    Frank founder Charlie Javice's sympathetic texts about healthcare-sector fraudster Elizabeth Holmes won't be seen by the jury hearing charges that the education startup executive faked data to dupe JPMorgan into a $175 million acquisition, a Manhattan federal judge said Tuesday.

  • February 03, 2025

    Gilstrap Tells Patent Atty To 'Relearn The Fundamentals'

    U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap has decided that a "public admonition" is a more appropriate punishment than legal fines for a lawyer whose client was called a "patent troll" by opponents, ordering the attorney to "relearn the fundamentals of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure."

  • February 03, 2025

    Yacht Building Co. Faces Sanctions For Hiding Hoist Failure

    A Washington federal judge has said yacht builder Delta Marine Industries owed sanctions over its failure to provide access to parts related to a boat hoist that failed during the launch of a yacht in a $3.4 million dispute between Lloyd's syndicates, underwriters and a Seattle boat builder.

  • February 03, 2025

    DC Circ. Rejects Newman's Bid To Unseal Suspension Docs

    The D.C. Circuit on Monday denied U.S. Circuit Judge Pauline Newman's request to unseal documents about her suspension for refusing to participate in an investigation into her fitness, saying such documents are confidential unless both the judge under investigation and the chief judge agree to release them.

  • February 03, 2025

    Utah Court Urged To Preserve $8.3M In Messner Reeves Funds

    Several companies from Florida, New York and Utah have urged a Utah federal court to order Messner Reeves LLP to preserve $8.3 million purportedly locked away in an escrow fund, saying the law firm appears to be breaking a business loan agreement by dissipating the funds to unknown entities.

  • February 03, 2025

    Jackson Walker Ethics Case Shelved Over Lack Of Authority

    A Houston federal judge on Monday recommended closing an ethics case against Jackson Walker LLP over its supposed knowledge of a firm attorney's relationship with a judge, finding the court lacked the authority to pursue sanctions against a law firm.

  • February 03, 2025

    Tesla Says Judge DQ Bid In Crash Suit Arrived On Time

    Tesla Inc. has doubled down on its bid to disqualify a California federal judge from an accident case over his prior law firm's work, rejecting the plaintiff's argument that the automaker filed the motion too late.

Expert Analysis

  • Breaking Down High Court's New Code Of Conduct

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    The U.S. Supreme Court recently adopted its first-ever code of conduct, and counsel will need to work closely with clients in navigating its provisions, from gift-giving to recusal bids, say Phillip Gordon and Mateo Forero at Holtzman Vogel.

  • Opinion

    Legal Profession Gender Parity Requires Equal Parental Leave

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    To truly foster equity in the legal profession and to promote attorney retention, workplaces need to better support all parents, regardless of gender — starting by offering equal and robust parental leave to both birthing and non-birthing parents, says Ali Spindler at Irwin Fritchie.

  • Series

    Writing Thriller Novels Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Authoring several thriller novels has enriched my work by providing a fresh perspective on my privacy practice, expanding my knowledge, and keeping me alert to the next wave of issues in an increasingly complex space — a reminder to all lawyers that extracurricular activities can help sharpen professional instincts, says Reece Hirsch at Morgan Lewis.

  • What Lawyers Must Know About Calif. State Bar's AI Guidance

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    Initial recommendations from the State Bar of California regarding use of generative artificial intelligence by lawyers have the potential to become a useful set of guidelines in the industry, covering confidentiality, supervision and training, communications, discrimination and more, say attorneys at Debevoise.

  • Industry Must Elevate Native American Women Attys' Stories

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    The American Bar Association's recent research study into Native American women attorneys' experiences in the legal industry reveals the glacial pace of progress, and should inform efforts to amplify Native voices in the field, says Mary Smith, president of the ABA.

  • Understanding Discovery Obligations In Era Of Generative AI

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Attorneys and businesses must adapt to the unique discovery challenges presented by generative artificial intelligence, such as chatbot content and prompts, while upholding the principles of fairness, transparency and compliance with legal obligations in federal civil litigation, say attorneys at King & Spalding.

  • Asserting 'Presence-Of-Counsel' Defense In Securities Trials

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    As illustrated by the fraud trial of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, defense attorneys in securities trials might consider arguing that counsel had some involvement in the conduct at issue — if the more formal advice-of-counsel defense is unavailable and circumstances allow for a privilege waiver, say Joseph Dever and Matthew Elkin at Cozen O'Connor.

  • Key Takeaways From DOJ's Recent FARA Advisory Opinions

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    The U.S. Department of Justice recently published several redacted advisory opinions on the Foreign Agents Registration Act, clarifying its current thinking on when a person or entity is required to register as a foreign agent under the statute, and when they may qualify for an exemption, says Tessa Capeloto at Wiley Rein.

  • The Case For Post-Bar Clerk Training Programs At Law Firms

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    In today's competitive legal hiring market, an intentionally designed training program for law school graduates awaiting bar admission can be an effective way of creating a pipeline of qualified candidates, says Brent Daub at Gilson Daub.

  • Attorneys Have An Ethical Duty To Protect The Judiciary

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    The tenor of public disagreement and debate has become increasingly hostile against judges, and though the legislative branch is trying to ameliorate this safety gap, lawyers have a moral imperative and professional requirement to stand with judges in defusing attacks against them and their rulings, says Deborah Winokur at Cozen O'Connor.

  • AI Can Help Lawyers Overcome The Programming Barrier

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    Legal professionals without programming expertise can use generative artificial intelligence to harness the power of automation and other technology solutions to streamline their work, without the steep learning curve traditionally associated with coding, says George Zalepa at Greenberg Traurig.

  • Preparing Law Students For A New, AI-Assisted Legal World

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    As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms the legal landscape, law schools must integrate technology and curricula that address AI’s innate challenges — from ethics to data security — to help students stay ahead of the curve, say Daniel Garrie at Law & Forensics, Ryan Abbott at JAMS and Karen Silverman at Cantellus Group.

  • General Counsel Need Data Literacy To Keep Up With AI

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    With the rise of accessible and powerful generative artificial intelligence solutions, it is imperative for general counsel to understand the use and application of data for myriad important activities, from evaluating the e-discovery process to monitoring compliance analytics and more, says Colin Levy at Malbek.

  • Navigating Discovery Of Generative AI Information

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    As generative artificial intelligence tools become increasingly ubiquitous, companies must make sure to preserve generative AI data when there is reasonable expectation of litigation, and to include transcripts in litigation hold notices, as they may be relevant to discovery requests, say Nick Peterson and Corey Hauser at Wiley.

  • Finding Focus: Strategies For Attorneys With ADHD

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    Given the prevalence of ADHD among attorneys, it is imperative that the legal community gain a better understanding of how ADHD affects well-being, and that resources and strategies exist for attorneys with this disability to manage their symptoms and achieve success, say Casey Dixon at Dixon Life Coaching and Krista Larson at Stinson.

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