Legal Ethics

  • March 10, 2025

    Gaming Websites Can't Stop Law Firms' Arbitrations

    A D.C. federal judge has nixed a lawsuit by two online "social casino" websites that accuse two law firms of filing meritless arbitration against them, finding that his court doesn't have jurisdiction over the firms.

  • March 10, 2025

    GOP Sens. Escalate Fight With ABA Over 'Leftist' Statements

    A group of Senate Republicans are once again going after the American Bar Association, which they claim has become a "leftist" organization, and announced Monday they will disregard ABA ratings on judicial nominees and encouraged the Trump administration and their colleagues to do the same.

  • March 10, 2025

    Split 5th Circ. Vacates Death Sentence Over Brady Violations

    A split Fifth Circuit has reversed and vacated a Texas woman's murder conviction and death sentence after 27 years, having determined that prosecutors failed to properly disclose evidence in accordance with U.S. Supreme Court precedent, and remanded the case to Amarillo, Texas, federal court.

  • March 10, 2025

    Accused Fraudster An Innocent 'Jailhouse Lawyer,' Jury Told

    A Long Island man charged with posing as an attorney to defraud families of inmates is really an innocent "jailhouse lawyer" who continued to help people after serving his own fraud sentence, his counsel told a Manhattan federal jury Monday.

  • March 10, 2025

    2 Firms Sued After Cyber Thief Steals $442K From Estate

    Law firms SutterWilliams LLC and Allender & Allender PA were hit with a negligence and malpractice suit after a cybercriminal allegedly used spoofed email accounts to trick an attorney at the latter firm into handing over $442,600 from the sale of a late Pennsylvania sheriff's deputy's house in Florida.

  • March 10, 2025

    DC Ethics Hearing Over Anti-Trump Protest Arrests To Kick Off

    A former federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., is set to face an attorney ethics panel Tuesday in disciplinary proceedings that could shed new light on how the government handled key evidence in cases against hundreds of people arrested at protests of President Donald Trump's first inauguration in 2017.

  • March 10, 2025

    Hagens Berman Comms With Ghosting Client Kept Privileged

    Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP doesn't have to turn over texts and emails with a client who disappeared from a putative class action against Apple and Amazon, a Washington federal judge has ruled, despite the tech giants' accusations that the firm lied about those communications.

  • March 10, 2025

    Texas Atty Wants Allstate Sanctioned Over 'Dead' Expert Claim

    A prominent Houston lawyer has denied filing a document purportedly signed by a long-dead expert witness and urged a Texas federal judge to sanction Allstate for accusing him of doing so, saying the signature actually belonged to the deceased expert's similarly named son.

  • March 10, 2025

    Patent Exec Seeks Defamation Win Over Atty's Statements

    A patent-licensing company executive has asked a Florida federal court to rule in his favor on a defamation claim against a Baker Botts LLP attorney representing Starbucks in a Texas patent case and toss a counterclaim from the attorney, saying her abuse-of-process allegation "reads like a failed exercise in ontological gymnastics."

  • March 10, 2025

    Fla. Judge Won't Exit DaBaby Suit Over Sanctions, Comments

    A Florida federal judge will not step aside from a lawsuit against rapper DaBaby over an altercation before a scheduled performance, saying his imposition of sanctions on the plaintiffs' attorney and statements during trial do not amount to bias.

  • March 10, 2025

    Clerks May Seek Political Jobs On 'Case-By-Case Basis'

    Individual federal judges may determine whether their clerks may seek political posts while employed by the judiciary, the Judicial Conference of the United States' Committee on Codes of Conduct now recommends, months after issuing guidance advising clerks to hold off seeking such roles until their clerkships end.

  • March 10, 2025

    NJ Judge Ousted For Clerk Thigh Touch On Boozy Beach Day

    The New Jersey Supreme Court on Monday ordered the removal of a municipal judge accused of inappropriately touching the thigh of a law clerk in a day of drinking at his summer home, saying his ouster is warranted due to the "blatant and serious" nature of the misconduct. 

  • March 07, 2025

    Photographer Sanctioned For Skipping Deposition In IP Case

    A federal judge in the Southern District of New York has issued sanctions over skipped depositions, among other conduct, by the plaintiff in a copyright lawsuit over a photo of actor Jonah Hill that appeared on a fashion retail website. 

  • March 07, 2025

    ByteDance Wants Sanctions For Attys After Client's Perjury

    TikTok's parent company ByteDance has urged a California court to sanction Nassiri & Jung LLP attorneys it says "enabled" a former engineer's perjury in a suit alleging he was wrongly fired, arguing that the lawyers should've prevented their client's "abuse of the justice system."

  • March 07, 2025

    Feds Say NJ Atty Smuggled Drugs, Phone To Pa. Prison Inmate

    A New Jersey criminal defense attorney allegedly snuck drugs and a cell phone into a federal detention center during a purported legal visit to an inmate, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Friday in Pennsylvania federal court.

  • March 07, 2025

    Ga. PFAS Liability, DEI Bills Among Those To Not 'Crossover'

    Georgia lawmakers failed to push forward legislation that would have reduced corporate liability for PFAS contamination, would have given voters a say on whether to legalize sports betting and curbed diversity initiatives in schools, after having previously passed bills to advance the governor's tort reform agenda.

  • March 07, 2025

    Ex-Kirkland IP Atty Can't Fire Her Bias Suit Atty 'For Cause'

    A former Kirkland & Ellis LLP intellectual property associate suing the firm over bias claims cannot fire her counsel at Filippatos PLLC over professional misconduct allegations, a California federal judge ruled Thursday while allowing Filippatos to withdraw as her counsel.

  • March 07, 2025

    MGM Scraps Suit After FTC Withdraws Cybersecurity Probe

    MGM Resorts International on Friday dismissed its D.C. federal court lawsuit against the Federal Trade Commission after the agency dropped its investigation into the hospitality giant's data security practices.

  • March 07, 2025

    DOJ Cites SDNY Prosecutors' Texts In Bid To End Adams Case

    President Donald Trump's Justice Department doubled down Friday on its bid to toss the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, citing newly released internal correspondence showing "troubling conduct" by Southern District of New York prosecutors the agency criticized as "careerist" and insubordinate.

  • March 07, 2025

    'Exhausted' Jury To Deliberate 3rd Week In Judge Murder Trial

    A California state jury was told to come back Monday for a third calendar week of deliberations over whether Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson intentionally shot his wife in 2023, after reporting that they were "exhausted" but had "further movement" toward a verdict.

  • March 07, 2025

    Judicial Impeachment Calls Could Drive Anger At Bench

    Twenty-nine years ago, then-U.S. Chief Justice William Rehnquist laid out a cautionary tale on impeachments of judges.

  • March 07, 2025

    Calif. Atty, Reality TV Hopeful Gets 5 Years For Client Theft

    A California lawyer who claimed to be developing a Bravo TV show about himself has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for looting his firm's client trust accounts, an offense that appears to be only one tentacle of "a larger criminal scheme."

  • March 07, 2025

    Ex-Client Wants $150K To End Estate Suit Against Conn. Atty

    A Connecticut woman who sued her attorney alleging the lawyer failed to communicate with her, neglected to file documents and delayed the sale of her home amid in the handling of her late husband's estate has asked the lawyer for $150,000 to settle the matter.

  • March 07, 2025

    Judge Slams 'Unreasonable' Atty Fee Request in FOIA Case

    A D.C. federal judge rejected an asylum-seeker's request for more than $130,000 in attorney fees in a successful Freedom of Information Act case against the federal government, saying "serious deficiencies" in her attorney's billing practices render the request "patently unreasonable."

  • March 07, 2025

    Atty Fights $190K Demand After Malicious Litigation Trial Loss

    A lawyer who recently lost her malicious prosecution lawsuit against three Blank Rome attorneys and an aviation parts company is fighting their demand that she pay $190,000 in costs stemming from the litigation, arguing the amount is excessive and otherwise unrecoverable.

Expert Analysis

  • The Legal Industry Needs A Cybersecurity Paradigm Shift

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    As law firms face ever-increasing risks of cyberattacks and ransomware incidents, the legal industry must implement robust cybersecurity measures and privacy-centric practices to preserve attorney-client privilege, safeguard client trust and uphold the profession’s integrity, says Ryan Paterson at Unplugged.

  • 5 Reasons Associates Shouldn't Take A Job Just For Money

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    As a number of BigLaw firms increase salary scales for early-career attorneys, law students and lateral associates considering new job offers should weigh several key factors that may matter more than financial compensation, say Albert Tawil at Lateral Hub and Ruvin Levavi at Power Forward.

  • Series

    Playing Competitive Tennis Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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?

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    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

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    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

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    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.

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