Legal Ethics

  • April 02, 2025

    When Can Attys Decide To Drop Clients? ABA Says It Depends

    Lawyers can drop clients at will as long as doing so won't harm the client's legal objectives or needlessly drive up costs, according to new guidance by the American Bar Association — but the guidance also notes that "getting out of a matter can be a lot harder than getting in."

  • April 02, 2025

    Trump Can't Dodge Suit Over Use Of Isaac Hayes Song

    President Donald Trump and his 2024 campaign on Wednesday were denied an early exit from a suit over their use of the 1966 song "Hold On, I'm Coming," as a Georgia federal judge ruled that the estate of soul artist Isaac Hayes plausibly alleged it held the rights to the song he co-authored.

  • April 02, 2025

    Forum Shopping Debated At Nationwide Injunctions Hearing

    Legal experts gave varying testimony at a Senate hearing on Wednesday about how addressing forum shopping would remedy issues related to nationwide injunctions, which Republicans have been highly critical of due to the vast number issued against President Donald Trump's policies since he came into office.

  • April 02, 2025

    Fla. Litigation Funder Must Face NJ Lawyer's Counterclaim

    A Florida-based litigation funder pursuing an $18 million breach of contract suit against a New Jersey lawyer must face the bulk of a countersuit alleging the business reneged on an agreement to secure funding for nationwide personal injury cases.

  • April 02, 2025

    Eric Adams Case Dismissed As Judge Rebukes DOJ 'Bargain'

    A Manhattan federal judge on Wednesday permanently dismissed corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, heeding advice from court-appointed counsel Paul Clement even as he gave credence to district prosecutors' claims of a quid pro quo between Adams and Trump administration officials in the Justice Department.

  • April 01, 2025

    Schiff Says He'll Hold On Trump's Pick For DC US Attorney

    Senate Judiciary Committee member Adam Schiff announced Tuesday he will hold on President Donald Trump's nomination of Ed Martin to be the top prosecutor in Washington, D.C., calling Martin a "one-man wrecking ball" demolishing the wall between the White House and the U.S. Department of Justice.

  • April 01, 2025

    AG Paxton Objects To Whistleblowers' $2.4M Fee Award

    The Texas attorney general's office color-coded over 100 pages of billing records provided by attorneys for its former deputies, telling an Austin court that eight categories of their work should be subtracted from a proposed $2.4 million fee award.

  • April 01, 2025

    Pork Price-Fixing Fight Over Sales Data Swap Heads To Trial

    A Minnesota federal court mostly denied Monday a slew of summary judgment motions from Tyson and other pork producers seeking wins in an antitrust suit alleging they conspired with data firm Agri Stats to fix pork prices and reduce supply, teeing up the high-stakes multidistrict litigation for a June trial.

  • April 01, 2025

    Fed. Circ. Won't Review Reviving Medical Device Patent Suit

    A Federal Circuit panel on Tuesday declined to reconsider a decision reviving a patent infringement suit against a medical device manufacturer, letting stand its holding ordering a new trial in the case.

  • April 01, 2025

    Insurer Can't Escape Aerospace Co.'s $3.3M Claim Denial Suit

    An insurer for an aerospace products manufacturer can't escape claims that it wrongfully denied coverage of an approximately $3.3 million loss from fund mismanagement after years of delay, an Oregon federal court ruled.

  • April 01, 2025

    No Inequitable Conduct From Fresenius Foe, Judge Says

    German medical giant Fresenius has failed to convince a Delaware federal judge that any foul play could be found in the prosecution of a patent involved in a fight over selling IV bags filled with calcium supplements, used to treat hypocalcemia. 

  • April 01, 2025

    Willkie Becomes 3rd Firm To Reach Deal With Trump

    After issuing a string of executive orders in recent weeks targeting BigLaw firms, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP had agreed to provide $100 million in pro bono legal services for certain causes and to refrain from what Trump has called discriminatory diversity hiring practices.

  • April 01, 2025

    Sanctioned Firm Ordered To Pay Fees In California Patent Row

    Days after attorneys from Texas patent firm Ramey LLP were ordered to pay over $60,000 for practicing in California without a license, a San Francisco federal magistrate judge has ordered them to pay attorney fees in a pair of suits deemed to have been litigated in bad faith. 

  • April 01, 2025

    Ex-Speaker Gingrich Lends Support To Limited Injunctions Bill

    Former GOP Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich on Tuesday endorsed the idea behind Republican legislation that would require nationwide injunctions imposed by lower courts against White House policies to be quickly brought before the U.S. Supreme Court. 

  • April 01, 2025

    Ex-Manager Asks To Toss Remainder Of Singer's Contract Suit

    The former manager for the Season 18 "American Idol" contestant behind the 2022 hit "Fingers Crossed" is hoping to toss what remains of her New York federal lawsuit against him, accusing the artist of trying to stop him from collecting his firm's entitlements under their agreement.

  • April 01, 2025

    Atty's Fraud Sentence Upheld In Long-Delayed Ruling

    A California lawyer who was convicted for his role in a pump-and-dump scheme has lost a motion filed in Massachusetts federal court in 2018 seeking to vacate a four-year prison term.

  • April 01, 2025

    Hunter Biden Agrees To Disbarment In District of Columbia

    Hunter Biden has agreed to give up his license to practice law in Washington, D.C., according to an attorney disciplinary board's report issued Tuesday.

  • April 01, 2025

    Counterclaim Against Paralegal Must Proceed, Firm Says

    A counterclaim accusing a paralegal of bringing an unpaid overtime wages suit against an El Paso law firm in order to extort it for money should stay in play, the firm told a Texas federal court, saying its counterclaim is sufficiently linked to the former employee's litigation.

  • April 01, 2025

    NJ Fraudster Found Guilty After Earlier Sentence Commuted

    A New Jersey federal jury found fraudster Eliyahu Weinstein guilty of orchestrating a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme while he was on supervised release following a previous fraud sentence that drew clemency from Donald Trump at the end of his first presidential term.

  • March 31, 2025

    Law Firm's Blog Post Unwinds $43M Ill. Injury Retrial Verdict

    An Illinois appellate court wiped out a couple's $43 million jury verdict and ordered a third trial in their injury case Monday, saying the trial judge should have done a better job probing their attorney's highly improper blog and social media posts.

  • March 31, 2025

    Conn. Law Firm Hit With Class Action Data Breach Suit

    A 26-attorney Connecticut business litigation, intellectual property and employment law firm waited 16 months to notify potentially thousands of current and former clients of an alleged 2023 data breach that may have left sensitive personal information exposed to cybercriminals, a Monday lawsuit alleged

  • March 31, 2025

    NY Law Allows Ex-Thompson Hine Atty's Harassment Suit

    A former Thompson Hine LLP income partner who accused the firm of allowing a "toxic boys club" to flourish at its New York office may continue to pursue the bulk of her harassment claims, a federal judge ruled Monday, finding that a New York law ending forced arbitration of sexual harassment claims invalidates an arbitration agreement.

  • March 31, 2025

    Feds Seek $3M From Ex-Ill. Speaker, Who Wants New Trial

    Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan urged an Illinois federal judge to acquit him of bribery and wire fraud, or at least order a new trial, due to "numerous" jury instruction and evidentiary errors that confused and prejudiced the jury, on the same day prosecutors filed a motion for him to forfeit more than $3 million in the wake of his partial conviction.

  • March 31, 2025

    'Unprofessional' Pro Se Atty Can't Get 2nd Extortion Trial

    A medical malpractice attorney was denied a new trial by a Maryland federal judge who said prosecutors presented sufficient evidence that he tried to extort $25 million from the University of Maryland Medical System, and called out the lawyer for "inappropriate, unprofessional, and unbecoming" behavior while representing himself at trial.

  • March 31, 2025

    Trump EOs And Skadden Face Pushback At Law Schools

    President Donald Trump's executive orders targeting law firms, and one firm's attempt to avoid a directive, have each received pushback at top law schools, with more than 90 Harvard faculty members objecting to the measures' effect on the rule of law and Georgetown students blasting Skadden's deal with Trump as a second firm associate publicly resigned.

Expert Analysis

  • 4 Ways Women Attorneys Can Build A Legal Legacy

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    This Women’s History Month, women attorneys should consider what small, day-to-day actions they can take to help leave a lasting impact for future generations, even if it means mentoring one person or taking 10 minutes to make a plan, says Jackie Prester, a former shareholder at Baker Donelson.

  • Why A Rare SEC Dismissal May Not Reflect A New Approach

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    While the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's pending dismissal of its case against Silver Point is remarkable to the extent that it reflects a novel repudiation of a decision made during the prior commission, a deeper look suggests it may not represent a shift in policy approach, say attorneys at Weil.

  • A Judge's Pointers For Adding Spice To Dry Legal Writing

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    U.S. District Judge Fred Biery shares a few key lessons about how to go against the grain of the legal writing tradition by adding color to bland judicial opinions, such as by telling a human story and injecting literary devices where possible.

  • 9 Considerations For Orgs Using AI Meeting Assistants

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    When deciding to use artificial intelligence meeting assistants, organizations must create and implement a written corporate policy that establishes the do's and don'ts for these assistants, taking into account individualized business operations, industry standards and legal and regulatory requirements, say attorneys at Faegre Drinker.

  • A Reminder On Avoiding Improper Venues In Patent Cases

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    A Texas federal court's recent decision in the Symbology and Quantum cases shows that baseless patent venue allegations may be subject to serious Rule 11 sanctions, providing venue-vetting takeaways for plaintiffs and defendants, say attorneys at Bond Schoeneck.

  • 7 Tips For Associates To Thrive In Hybrid Work Environments

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    As the vast majority of law firms have embraced some type of hybrid work policy, associates should consider a few strategies to get the most out of both their in-person and remote workdays, says James Argionis at Cozen O’Connor.

  • Series

    Playing Beach Volleyball Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    My commitment to beach volleyball has become integral to my performance as an attorney, with the sport continually reminding me that teamwork, perseverance, professionalism and stress management are essential to both undertakings, says Amy Drushal at Trenam.

  • How Law Firms Can Counteract The Loneliness Epidemic

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    The legal industry is facing an urgent epidemic of loneliness, affecting lawyer well-being, productivity, retention and profitability, and law firm leaders should take concrete steps to encourage the development of genuine workplace connections, says Michelle Gomez at Littler and Gwen Mellor Romans at Herald Talent.

  • 5 Keys To Building Stronger Attorney-Client Relationships

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    Attorneys are often focused on being seen as the expert, but bonding with clients and prospects by sharing a few key personal details provides the basis for a caring, trusted and profoundly deeper business relationship, says Deb Feder at Feder Development.

  • What SDNY Judge Can And Can't Do In Adams Case

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    The federal judge in the Southern District of New York overseeing the criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams deferred making a decision on the government's motion to dismiss the indictment, and while he does have limited authority to deny the motion, that would ultimately be a futile gesture, says Ethan Greenberg at Anderson Kill.

  • Series

    Racing Corvettes Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    The skills I use when racing Corvettes have enhanced my legal practice in several ways, because driving, like practicing law, requires precision, awareness and a good set of brakes — complete with the wisdom to know how and when to use them, says Kat Mateo at Olshan Frome.

  • Opinion

    Attorneys Must Act Now To Protect Judicial Independence

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    Given the Trump administration's recent moves threatening the independence of the judiciary, including efforts to impeach judges who ruled against executive actions, lawyers must protect the rule of law and resist attempts to dilute the judicial branch’s authority, says attorney Bhavleen Sabharwal.

  • Rethinking 'No Comment' For Clients Facing Public Crises

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    “No comment” is no longer a cost-free or even a viable public communications strategy for companies in crisis, and counsel must tailor their guidance based on a variety of competing factors to help clients emerge successfully, says Robert Bowers at Moore & Van Allen.

  • How Design Thinking Can Help Lawyers Find Purpose In Work

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    Lawyers everywhere are feeling overwhelmed amid mass government layoffs, increasing political instability and a justice system stretched to its limits — but a design-thinking framework can help attorneys navigate this uncertainty and find meaning in their work, say law professors at the University of Michigan.

  • Series

    Competitive Weightlifting Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    The parallels between the core principles required for competitive weightlifting and practicing law have helped me to excel in both endeavors, with each holding important lessons about discipline, dedication, drive and failure, says Damien Bielli at VF Law.

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