Legal Ethics

  • April 04, 2025

    Musk Atty Objects To 'Outrageous' Deposition Request

    Elon Musk's attorney has said it's "outrageous" that a class of former Twitter investors is trying to depose the attorney in a case accusing Musk of intentionally tanking the social media platform's stock price, telling a California federal judge the move threatens to undermine his attorney-client relationship.

  • April 04, 2025

    Boston Bomber Asks 1st Circ. To Oust Judge Amid Bias Probe

    Convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on Friday asked the First Circuit to remove the Massachusetts federal judge who presided over his 2015 trial from conducting an inquiry into potential juror bias, after the jurist declined to recuse himself.

  • April 04, 2025

    Fla. Court Sanctions Man For Made-Up Lowe's Injury

    A Florida appeals court on Friday sanctioned a man who a trial judge found concocted a story about being injured by falling garbage can lids at a Lowe's store.

  • April 04, 2025

    Death Row Case May Test Limits Of Federal Habeas Review

    Michael Wayne Reynolds, who was convicted of a triple murder in 2007, maintains his innocence and is asking the U.S. Supreme Court for another chance to argue that his prosecution in his trial hid potentially exculpatory evidence — in a case that strikes at the core of the ability of prisoners to bring habeas corpus challenges.

  • April 04, 2025

    Ex-NJ Prosecutor Rips AG's Use Of Gov.'s Text In Firing Suit

    A former New Jersey county prosecutor has urged a state court to reject Attorney General Matt Platkin's bid to whittle down a lawsuit over the county enforcer's exit, blasting the office's reliance on a text message with the governor to argue the governor had accepted his resignation.

  • April 04, 2025

    Wash. Justices Disbar Atty Who Stole From Client Trust Fund

    The Washington Supreme Court has found that an attorney who used a client's trust fund as a "piggy bank" to steal thousands of dollars should be disbarred, rejecting his request to set aside its usual framework for determining discipline and "make up their own mind."

  • April 04, 2025

    Retired Calif. Judge Admonished For Use Of Racial Slur

    A now-retired California state court judge has been censured by an ethics panel for "undignified, discourteous, and offensive" comments it said "could reasonably be perceived as bias."

  • April 04, 2025

    11th Circ. Tosses Former Atty's Extortion Conviction

    The Eleventh Circuit on Friday overturned the conviction of a former criminal defense attorney for extorting a client for cash, finding in a published opinion that there was insufficient evidence.

  • April 04, 2025

    Female Public Defenders Settle Bias Case With Pa. County

    A proposed class of unionized female public defenders on Friday settled civil rights claims against Delaware County, Pennsylvania, nearly three years after suing their employer for alleged "systemic, enduring and continuing wage disparity" between male and female attorneys in suburban Philadelphia.

  • April 04, 2025

    Discipline Looms For Conn. Atty Convicted In Shooting

    After his conviction on a manslaughter charge for shooting an attacker, Cramer & Anderson LLP partner Robert L. Fisher Jr. is facing potential discipline from Connecticut's attorney misconduct watchdog.

  • April 04, 2025

    More Than 500 Law Firms Sign Onto Perkins Coie Amicus

    A group of 507 law firms, including Munger Tolles & Olson LLP and Covington & Burling LLP, have signed onto an amicus brief filed Friday supporting Perkins Coie LLP's challenge to President Donald Trump's executive order targeting the law firm.

  • April 03, 2025

    Benesch Escapes Claims It Fumbled Ex-Client's IP Theft Probe

    An Illinois federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit from a woman who alleged that a firm she hired botched a potential trade secrets case involving a spill-proof children's lid she claims she created, saying the plaintiff failed to show that Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP permanently damaged her ability to pursue her underlying legal claims.

  • April 03, 2025

    US Trustee Wants Jackson Walker Cases In District Court

    The U.S. Trustee's Office has renewed its call for a district court trial over whether Jackson Walker LLP should return millions in fees for failing to disclose an ex-partner's romance with a bankruptcy judge, saying all the questions in the case should be tried in one venue.

  • April 03, 2025

    ATM Company Sanctioned For 'Objectively Frivolous' Claim

    A Georgia federal judge on Wednesday tossed an attempt to relitigate a patent infringement suit brought by an ATM technology company against a competitor, and sanctioned its attorneys for bringing the "objectively frivolous" claim that the competitor defrauded the court in a previous suit.

  • April 03, 2025

    Fla. Atty Cites Law School Debt In Bid To Skip Conn. Oral Args

    A Florida employment attorney embroiled in state and federal proceedings over a judgment requiring him to repay his ex's $30,000 contribution toward his law school loans says he can't afford to travel to Connecticut to argue an appeal because his debts and lack of income while traveling make in-person attendance difficult.

  • April 03, 2025

    Law Firm Says Insurer Shorted On Defense Of Blackmail Suit

    A law firm accused by a Florida state judge of causing her emotional distress via blackmail is suing its insurer, alleging the insurer underpaid the firm's defense counsel by nearly $600,000 in connection with the settled underlying lawsuit she filed.

  • April 03, 2025

    Baltimore Atty Avoids Prison After $25M Extortion Conviction

    A Baltimore attorney has been sentenced to three years of probation with six months of home confinement after being convicted of trying to extort $25 million from the University of Maryland Medical System.

  • April 03, 2025

    Law Firm Fights Ex-Paralegal's Anonymity Bid In Bias Suit

    A former paralegal at a Pennsylvania law firm made speculative and illogical arguments to take her identity away from her overtime and retaliation suit, the firm said Thursday, urging a federal court to keep her name known.

  • April 03, 2025

    Pick For DC's US Atty Exits Roles To Prepare For Confirmation

    The nominee for U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Ed Martin, has made his law firm inactive and resigned from other roles in preparation for his confirmation.

  • April 03, 2025

    Atty Suspended Over Billing Lapses In State Street Case

    The former managing partner of Thornton Law Firm LLP has received a 30-day license suspension for his decision to sign an inaccurate billing declaration to a federal judge in an investor action against State Street Bank.

  • April 03, 2025

    Ex-JPMorgan Atty Gets Probation For NYC Housing Fraud

    A former Bronx prosecutor and JPMorgan attorney was sentenced in New York state court Thursday to probation and community service for fraud and grand larceny, after she pled guilty to using forged records to obtain low-rent apartments.

  • April 03, 2025

    Adams Case Threatens NY Southern District's 'Supremacy'

    The controversial end to New York City Mayor Eric Adams' historic criminal corruption prosecution could threaten the Southern District of New York's privileged status within the Justice Department and its leverage over other districts when it comes to vying for the lead on high-profile cases, experts say.

  • April 02, 2025

    5 Fed. Circ. Clashes To Watch This Month

    The Federal Circuit will hear arguments this month in patent cases involving Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine and a blockbuster Johnson & Johnson schizophrenia drug, and the court will itself be the subject of a case at another appeals court as Judge Pauline Newman seeks to end her suspension.

  • April 02, 2025

    Perkins Coie Urges Court To End Trump's 'Assault' On Firm

    Perkins Coie LLP on Wednesday asked a D.C. federal judge to permanently block enforcement of President Donald Trump's "unconstitutional assault" on the firm and the rule of law, filing a summary judgment bid the same day the federal government pushed for the firm's suit to be tossed.

  • April 02, 2025

    'Zero Support In The Bar': Judiciary Downsizes Amicus Project

    Faced with wide-ranging opposition and potential constitutional challenges, federal judiciary advisers Wednesday sharply scaled back plans to strengthen scrutiny of amicus briefs, a retreat that won praise from disparate corners of the legal industry.

Expert Analysis

  • Trump Faces Uphill Battle If He Tries To Target Prosecutors

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    On the campaign trail, President-elect Donald Trump promised to go after the state and federal prosecutors who had investigated and prosecuted him, but few criminal statutes would be applicable — to say nothing of the evidence required to substantiate any charges against prosecutors, says William Johnston at Bird Marella.

  • Series

    Being A Navy Reservist Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Serving this country in uniform has not only been one of the greatest honors of my life, but it has also provided me with opportunities to broaden my legal acumen and interpersonal skills in ways that have indelibly contributed to my civilian practice, says Phillip Smith at Weinberg Wheeler.

  • So You Want To Move Your Law Practice To Canada, Eh?

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    Google searches for how to move to Canada have surged in the wake of the U.S. presidential election, and if you’re an attorney considering a move to the Great White North, you’ll need to understand how the practice of law differs across the border, says David Postel at Henein Hutchison.

  • Promoting Diversity In The Selection Of ADR Neutrals

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Choosing neutrals from diverse backgrounds is an important step in promoting inclusion in the legal profession, and it can enhance the legitimacy and public perception of alternative dispute resolution proceedings, say attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler.

  • Series

    Playing Ultimate Makes Us Better Lawyers

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    In addition to being fun, ultimate Frisbee has improved our legal careers by emphasizing the importance of professionalism, teamwork, perseverance, enthusiasm and vulnerability, say Arunabha Bhoumik and Adam Bernstein at Regeneron. 

  • E-Discovery Quarterly: Recent Rulings On Metadata

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    Several recent rulings reflect the competing considerations that arise when parties dispute the form of production for electronically stored information, underscoring that counsel must carefully consider how to produce and request reasonably usable data, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • Striking A Balance Between AI Use And Attorney Well-Being

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    As the legal industry increasingly adopts generative artificial intelligence tools to boost efficiency, leaders must note the hidden costs of increased productivity, and work to protect attorneys’ well-being while unlocking AI’s full potential, says Ed Sohn at Factor.

  • Empathy In Mediation Offers A Soft Landing For Disputes

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    Experiencing a crash-landing on a recent flight underscored to me how much difference empathy makes in times of crisis or stress, including during mediation, says Eydith Kaufman at Alternative Resolution Centers.

  • Series

    Being An Artist Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    My work as an artist has highlighted how using creativity and precision together — qualities that are equally essential in both art and law — not only improves outcomes, but also leads to more innovative and thoughtful work, says Sarah La Pearl at Segal McCambridge.

  • How Judiciary Can Minimize AI Risks In Secondary Sources

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    Because courts’ standing orders on generative artificial intelligence and other safeguards do not address the risk of hallucinations in secondary source materials, the judiciary should consider enlisting legal publishers and database hosts to protect against AI-generated inaccuracies, say attorneys at Lankler Siffert & Wohl.

  • How Attorneys Can Break Free From Career Enmeshment

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    Ambitious attorneys can sometimes experience career enmeshment — when your sense of self-worth becomes unhealthily tangled up in your legal vocation — but taking the time to discover and realign with your core personal values can help you recover your identity, says Janna Koretz at Azimuth Psychological.

  • Ex-Chicago Politician's Case May Further Curb Fraud Theories

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    The U.S. Supreme Court recently agreed to hear Thompson v. U.S. to determine whether a statement that is misleading but not false still violates federal law, potentially heralding the court’s largest check yet on prosecutors’ expansive fraud theories, with significant implications for sentencing, say attorneys at the Law Offices of Alan Ellis.

  • Lawyers With Disabilities Are Seeking Equity, Not Pity

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    Attorneys living with disabilities face extra challenges — including the need for special accommodations, the fear of stigmatization and the risk of being tokenized — but if given equitable opportunities, they can still rise to the top of their field, says Kate Reder Sheikh, a former attorney and legal recruiter at Major Lindsey & Africa.

  • Opinion

    Judicial Committee Best Venue For Litigation Funding Rules

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    The Advisory Committee on Civil Rules' recent decision to consider developing a rule for litigation funding disclosure is a welcome development, ensuring that the result will be the product of a thorough, inclusive and deliberative process that appropriately balances all interests, says Stewart Ackerly at Statera Capital.

  • The Strategic Advantages Of Appointing A Law Firm CEO

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    The impact on law firms of the recent CrowdStrike outage underscores that the business of law is no longer merely about providing supplemental support for legal practice — and helps explain why some law firms are appointing dedicated, full-time CEOs to navigate the challenges of the modern legal landscape, says Jennifer Johnson at Calibrate Strategies.

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