Legal Ethics

  • February 20, 2025

    Baker Donelson Fights Docs Request In Ponzi Scheme Suit

    Baker Donelson is pushing back on a request for documents in a lawsuit alleging the firm allowed a timber company's $164.5 million Ponzi scheme to unfold.

  • February 20, 2025

    'Lawsuit Protection' Co. Fined In Ohio For Unlicensed Practice

    A legal consulting firm that markets itself as a "comprehensive lawsuit protection company" serving medical practices was hit with a fine on Thursday by the Ohio Supreme Court for practicing law in the state without a license for more than a decade.

  • February 20, 2025

    Ex-Heritage Pharma CEO Disciplined Over Price-Fixing Case

    The New Jersey Supreme Court has retroactively suspended the former chief executive of Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. from the state bar for three years over his role in a price-fixing conspiracy.

  • February 20, 2025

    Texas Bar Forbids Revenue Sharing With Non-Atty Companies

    In a new opinion, the State Bar of Texas' ethics watchdog said lawyers shouldn't pay revenue percentages to nonlawyer-owned businesses that provide legal support services, though attorneys may own equity interests in such companies under certain conditions.

  • February 19, 2025

    'Convict My Ass': Judge Admits Killing Wife In Police Video

    Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson's trial for allegedly murdering his wife opened Wednesday with shocking video footage of the judge sitting alone, handcuffed in a police station interrogation room, muttering to himself "I killed her. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, convict my ass. I did it."

  • February 19, 2025

    Savannah Officials Rip 'Prejudice' From Attys' Press Briefing

    Savannah, Georgia, officials have doubled down on their bid to sanction Claiborne Firm PC attorneys for allegedly mischaracterizing facts during a press conference related to the fatal police shooting of a Black man in 2022.

  • February 19, 2025

    Netflix Wants IP Atty Sanctioned Over Alleged Doc Sharing

    Netflix urged a California judge Tuesday to require a prolific patent plaintiff's former counsel to explain why they shouldn't be held in civil contempt and sanctioned for allegedly giving Netflix's confidential financial information to nonparty AiPi LLC, arguing discovery in another patent case has revealed AiPi is "shadow lead counsel."

  • February 19, 2025

    Walgreens Says $1B COVID Testing Award Must Be Nixed

    Walgreens is urging a Delaware federal judge to rethink his decision enforcing a $987 million arbitral award to a lab testing and diagnostics company in a dispute over COVID-19 tests, arguing Tuesday that he ignored that the arbitrator "invented" language in the contract to arrive at his conclusion.

  • February 19, 2025

    Detroit Judge May Be Immune Despite 'Outrageous' Fake Trial

    A Michigan federal judge on Wednesday said that while a Detroit judge's decision to put a teen through a "judicial-like" proceeding for falling asleep in his courtroom while on a field trip may have been "outrageous," it may not strip his ability to claim he is immune from her lawsuit.

  • February 19, 2025

    Amazon Drivers Deny Discovery Lapses In Yearslong Pay Suit

    Ten former Amazon Flex delivery drivers are pushing back against the e-commerce giant's bid to disqualify them as plaintiffs in an eight-year-old collective wage action, contending they have "gone above and beyond" in their efforts to comply with the company's document demands.

  • February 19, 2025

    NJ Lawyer Sanctioned, Barred From New SDNY Petitions

    A New Jersey lawyer is blocked from filing new petitions in Southern District of New York bankruptcy court and must pay a $2,000 fine to a local Legal Aid Society following an alleged pattern of filing and then abandoning bankruptcy cases, according to a Wednesday sanctions order.

  • February 19, 2025

    GOP Reps Move To Impeach SDNY Judge, Threaten More

    Republican House members have introduced an article of impeachment against U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York, following conservative backlash to him and others who have ruled against the Trump administration's early moves to assert control over the executive branch and federal programs.

  • February 19, 2025

    Silver Point Knocks SEC Suit Over Attorney Info Access Rules

    Investment adviser Silver Point Capital LP said it did not need to write special rules banning a now-deceased former BigLaw bankruptcy attorney from sharing information between its business units, accusing the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of filing a "farfetched theory of noncompliance" in a Connecticut enforcement action.

  • February 19, 2025

    Franchise Group Gets Tentative Deal On Ch. 11 Voting Process

    Retail chain operator Franchise Group Inc. and a group of lenders told a Delaware bankruptcy judge on Wednesday they were close to agreeing on a disclosure statement for Franchise Group's Chapter 11 plan that will let the debtor take votes on the proposed debt-for-equity and liquidation deal.

  • February 19, 2025

    Ga. Judge Faces Another Round Of Misconduct Charges

    A Georgia state judge is facing a new set of ethics violation charges ahead of her ethics case trial next month and is now accused of improperly helping her uncle seek an extension to file an answer in a matter and locking up a woman during her parents' divorce hearing without justification.

  • February 19, 2025

    McCarter & English Says 'Offensive' Post Backs Atty's Firing

    McCarter & English LLP has moved to dismiss a fired ex-associate's suit alleging discrimination based on his status as a veteran, telling a New Jersey state court that it had the right to terminate the at-will attorney for an allegedly offensive LinkedIn post.

  • February 19, 2025

    3rd Circ. Hints County's Probation Detainers Need Scrutiny

    Civil rights advocates told the Third Circuit that Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, is jailing defendants for probation violations too hastily, and the panel appeared open Wednesday to reviving a lawsuit against several county judges for more developments.

  • February 19, 2025

    Adams, DOJ Quizzed On Dismissal Bid By Wary Judge

    A Manhattan federal judge on Wednesday scrutinized the U.S. Department of Justice's motion to dismiss corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, rankling attorneys on both sides as he declined to "shoot from the hip" and immediately rule.

  • February 19, 2025

    Jay-Z's Roc Nation Aims To Exit Buzbee Conspiracy Suits

    Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter's company Roc Nation has asked a Texas federal court to let it escape two lawsuits against it and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP alleging that they recruited former clients to bring malpractice claims against the Buzbee Law Firm in retaliation for accusing the rap star of rape.

  • February 19, 2025

    Ex-Defender Again Tries To Revive Sex Bias Suit At 4th Circ.

    A former assistant public defender in North Carolina is urging the Fourth Circuit to reverse a bench ruling that dashed her long-running bias suit against the federal judiciary, saying the indifference she allegedly endured after she reported being sexually harassed proves her case.

  • February 19, 2025

    Trump Media Co. Sues Brazilian Supreme Court Justice

    President Donald Trump's media company and online video sharing platform Rumble Inc. filed suit Wednesday, accusing a Brazilian Supreme Federal Court justice of illegally suppressing political speech in the United States by ordering X and other social media platforms to block accounts spreading disinformation.

  • February 18, 2025

    Law Schools, Attys Defend Judiciary Amid Gov't Attacks

    More alarm bells rang Tuesday over the Trump administration's recent remarks questioning the judiciary's authority to keep the executive branch's power in check, as more than 2,000 American lawyers and a group representing U.S. law schools voiced concern about the need to uphold the country's constitutional democracy.

  • February 18, 2025

    Jury Won't Tour Living Room Where Calif. Judge Shot Wife

    A California state judge facing trial this week on charges of murdering his wife lost his bid to have jurors tour the living room of the house where she was shot to death, after a Los Angeles County judge ruled Tuesday that there's sufficient photographic evidence of the scene.

  • February 18, 2025

    Reed Smith Removed In $102M Shipping Group Award Fight

    A New York federal judge granted a request by the purported new owners of Eletson Holdings Inc. and removed Reed Smith LLP as counsel in a $102 million breach of contract suit the firm brought on behalf of the international shipping group in 2023.

  • February 18, 2025

    Car Dealer Can't Depose Government In 'Deceptive' Price Suit

    A Nissan dealer cannot depose the Federal Trade Commission or the state of Connecticut in a dual enforcement action alleging that it charged consumers "deceptive" price add-ons, a federal magistrate judge has ruled, agreeing that the government had already provided all relevant discovery or was planning to do so.

Expert Analysis

  • 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.

  • A Healthier Legal Industry Starts With Emotional Intelligence

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    The legal profession has long been plagued by high rates of mental health issues, in part due to attorneys’ early training and broader societal stereotypes — but developing one’s emotional intelligence is one way to foster positive change, collectively and individually, says attorney Esperanza Franco.

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