Expert Analysis

• How AI Can Transform Crisis Management In Litigation

  

  Attorneys should understand how to use rapidly advancing artificial intelligence technology to help clients prepare for potential catastrophic events and the inevitable litigation arising from them, from predicting crises before they occur to testing legal theories once they arise, say Stratton Horres at Wilson Elser and David Steiger.

• Takeaways From 6th Circ.'s RE Tax Foreclosure Ruling

  

  The Sixth Circuit's recent decision in Lowry v. Southfield sheds light on when exactly real estate tax foreclosures can be avoided as fraudulent transfers, and could potentially impede municipalities' ability to collect unpaid property taxes through tax sales, says Scott Bernstein at Skolnick Legal Group.

• Supervisor Relationships Are Key To Beating Atty Burnout

  

  In order to combat record attorney turnover and high levels of burnout, law firm partners and leaders must build engaging relationships with supervisees, fostering autonomy and control, enabling expression of values, and building a sense of community and belonging, says Anne Brafford at the Institute for Well-Being in Law.

• Make-Whole Claim Lessons From Hertz Bankruptcy Ruling

  

  After the Delaware bankruptcy court's recent decision in Wells Fargo v. Hertz, courts may continue to hear the assertion that early payoff premiums constitute unmatured interest, which could shape best practices in formulating make-whole clauses to avoid such arguments, say attorneys at Mayer Brown.

• The Rising Demand For Commercial Litigators In 2022

  

  Amid broken supply chains, pandemic-induced bankruptcies and a rise in regulation by litigation, strong commercial litigators — strategists who are adept in trying a range of tortious and contractual disputes — are becoming a must-have for many law firms, making this year an opportune moment to make the career switch, say Michael Ascher and Kimberly Donlon at Major Lindsey.

• Evaluating Director Protections After Del. Bankruptcy Ruling

  

  The Delaware Bankruptcy Court's recent decision in Friedman v. Wellspring Capital, outlining the conditions under which an alleged duty of loyalty breach can survive a motion to dismiss, may undermine corporate decision makers' ability to negotiate for what are customary and necessary protections as they manage distressed entity transactions, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

• Exculpation Ruling Shows Danger Of Overbroad Clauses

  

  A New Jersey bankruptcy court’s recent decision in BAK Advisors v. Sax, holding that an accounting firm’s exculpation clause was too broad and contrary to public policy, should urge accountants and advisers to narrow and specify liability limitation language in agreements, and to carefully consider the timing of dismissal motions, says Kenneth Rosen at Lowenstein Sandler.

• How In-House Counsel Can Make The Case For Settling Early

  

  Following the recent settlement in McDonald's v. Easterbrook, in-house counsel should consider decision-tree analyses and values-driven communications plans to secure effective, early resolutions in litigation, saving time and money and moving the company mission forward, say Ronald Levine at Herrick Feinstein and Richard Torrenzano at The Torrenzano Group.

• To Retain Talent, GCs Should Prioritize Mission Statements

  

  With greater legal demands and an increasing number of workers resigning during the pandemic, general counsel should take steps to articulate their teams' values in departmental mission statements, which will help them better prioritize corporate values and attract and retain talent, says Catherine Kemnitz at Axiom.

• Recent Bias Suits Against Law Firms And Lessons For 2022

  

  2021 employment discrimination case filings and developments show that law firms big and small are not immune from claims, and should serve as a reminder that the start of a new year is a good time to review and update salary, promotion and leave policies to mitigate litigation risks, says Hope Comisky at Griesing Law.

• Associate Hiring Outlook At Law Firms Is Bright For 2022

  

  After a year of extraordinary signing bonuses, nearly instantaneous offers and flexible work arrangements, strong demand for talented law firm associates will continue into 2022 — with some differences between East and West Coast markets — and junior attorneys should take steps to capitalize on the opportunity, say Ru Bhatt and Summer Eberhard at Major Lindsey.

• Roundup

  The Most-Read Legal Industry Guest Articles Of 2021

  

  Popular legal industry guest articles this year included commentary on the admissibility of video depositions, an unusual U.S. Supreme Court citation, the perils of lawyer perfectionism, and more.

• A Law Firm Leader's Guide To Seeking Effective Feedback

  

  Law firm leaders often claim to have their fingers on the pulse of the people in their firms, but perspectives can be heavily weighted toward certain partners, so leaders should take certain steps to ensure they receive well-rounded feedback that helps them make more informed decisions, says Jennifer Johnson at Calibrate Legal.

• 8th Circ. Ruling Clarifies Bankruptcy Rent Cap Guidance

  

  The Eighth Circuit in Lariat Cos. Inc. v. Wigley resolved a rarely addressed question of whether the balance of a landlord's state law claim is viable against other entities outside of bankruptcy after the application of a statutory rent cap, providing valuable guidance for debtor-tenant counsel, says Brian Shaw at Cozen O'Connor.

• Early Asset Forfeiture Is Key Part Of Criminal Defense Plans

  

  In light of the U.S. Department of Justice's increased scrutiny of cryptocurrency and the flow of money, it is important for counsel to focus on asset forfeiture and financial penalties early in a criminal defense to have the most significant impact on sentencing and defendants' financial future, says David Lazarus at Verrill Dana.