California

  • January 27, 2026

    Judge Asks If Jurisdiction Exists To Cancel 'Perplexity' TM

    A California federal judge has ordered artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI to explain why she has jurisdiction to cancel a trademark for a similarly named company after vacating a default judgment that was issued due to that company failing to secure a lawyer.

  • January 27, 2026

    SF Giants Accused Of Charging 'Junk Fees' On MLB Tickets

    The San Francisco Giants for years lured consumers into buying tickets to ball games by unlawfully charging undisclosed "junk fees" that aren't revealed until checkout, after pressuring them with a countdown clock, alleges a proposed class action filed Monday in California federal court.

  • January 27, 2026

    Kirkland-Led Leonard Green Gets $3.6B For Single-Asset Fund

    Leonard Green & Partners LP, advised by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, has announced it closed its inaugural investment program focused on single-asset continuation funds sponsored by third-party private equity managers, with $3.6 billion of commitments.

  • January 27, 2026

    Willkie Adds Private Equity Pro From Sidley Austin In LA

    Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP has added a partner from Sidley Austin LLP to strengthen its capacity to advise private equity funds, asset managers and other clients about corporate transactions.

  • January 27, 2026

    Kratom Buyers Call Co.'s Products Addictive, Dangerous

    A group of kratom product buyers is suing 7Tabz Retail LLC in California federal court, launching the latest suit alleging kratom companies are pushing an addictive drug without warning buyers about the danger.

  • January 27, 2026

    3 Firms Guide GigCapital's Latest SPAC, Raising $220M

    GigCapital9 Corp., the latest special purpose acquisition company led by serial SPAC sponsor Avi Katz, began trading publicly Tuesday after pricing its $220 million initial public offering.

  • January 27, 2026

    Fatburger Owner FAT Brands Hits Ch. 11 With $1.5B Debt

    FAT Brands Inc., the owner of Fatburger and Johnny Rockets, and its affiliates have filed for Chapter 11 protection in a Texas bankruptcy court with $1.45 billion in funded debt, felled by an unsustainable debt load and flagging liquidity. 

  • January 26, 2026

    DocuSign Beats Investor Suit Over Post-COVID Prospects

    A California federal judge Monday tossed a certified class of shareholders' lawsuit that accused DocuSign and its top brass of misleading investors about the software company's postpandemic growth prospects, saying an amendment would not fix the investors' "misleading and confusing" complaint.

  • January 26, 2026

    Social Media Cos. Fight Uphill To End Schools' Addiction MDL

    A California federal judge appeared skeptical Monday about dismissing school districts' claims that social media companies harmed them by getting their students addicted to their platforms, telling defense counsel that the case poses "classic" factual disputes for a jury, and setting the first bellwether trial in the multidistrict litigation for June 15.

  • January 26, 2026

    Senate Antitrust Chair Flags Concerns In Netflix-Warner Deal

    Netflix's proposed $82.7 billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery's studios and HBO streaming businesses risks being a "killer non-acquisition," Sen. Mike Lee has reportedly told the media giants' chief executives, expressing concern that a likely lengthy merger review could leave Warner Bros. in a weakened state.

  • January 26, 2026

    Thousands Of Kaiser Nurses Strike In California And Hawaii

    Kaiser Permanente nurses walked off the job Monday at more than two dozen hospitals and clinics in California and Hawaii, adding about 30,000 workers to the swelling ranks of healthcare employees on strike across the country.

  • January 26, 2026

    Ex-BlackBerry Exec's 'Cat's Paw' Theory Doesn't Grab Judge

    A California federal magistrate judge expressed skepticism on Monday about a "cat's paw" theory pressed by a former BlackBerry executive who claims CEO John Giamatteo sexually harassed her before he landed the top job, calling the idea that Giamatteo could have manipulated a superior to orchestrate the plaintiff's firing "odd."

  • January 26, 2026

    Southern Glazer's Wants To Compare FTC Case To Kroger

    Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits LLC urged a California federal judge Friday to give it key material from the Federal Trade Commission's successful challenge to the Kroger-Albertsons merger, sparring with the FTC on arguments that the agency is contradicting itself in a price discrimination lawsuit.

  • January 26, 2026

    Texas Jury Clears AUO And Hisense In LCD Patent Trial

    An Eastern District of Texas jury has decided that Taiwan-based electronics company AUO Corp. and Chinese TV maker Hisense did not infringe two Phenix Longhorn LLC display patents, in a rare defense verdict for Taiwanese and Chinese companies in the Texas district's Marshall division, according to defense counsel.

  • January 26, 2026

    Minn. Judge Probes Limits Of ICE Enforcement Actions

    A Minnesota federal judge on Monday considered whether to preliminarily block the Trump administration from sending thousands of immigration enforcement officers to the state, questioning if the surge is a coercive federal act in violation of state sovereignty.

  • January 26, 2026

    Generics Makers Fight Cert. In Cholesterol Drug Pricing MDL

    Generic-drug makers sought to defeat a bid to certify proposed classes comprising thousands of pharmacies that indirectly purchased and resold generics at the center of sprawling price-fixing litigation, telling a Pennsylvania federal court Monday that certification would result in an "unmanageable trial."

  • January 26, 2026

    Masimo Chafes Against Apple's Bid To Duck $634M IP Verdict

    Masimo has urged a California federal court to turn down Apple's request for relief from its $634 million trial loss in the companies' patent infringement fight over the Apple Watch, arguing that the company has made "extraordinarily untimely" attempts to change the meaning of "patient monitor."

  • January 26, 2026

    PTAB Strikes Some Patent Claims Challenged By TikTok

    The Patent Trial and Appeal Board has invalidated most of the claims that TikTok challenged in a media programming patent it was accused of infringing in federal district court, but let one challenged claim stand.

  • January 26, 2026

    Truck Makers Say Calif. Delaying 'Clean Trucks Pact' Fight

    Heavy-duty truck manufacturers on Monday accused California officials of trying to delay litigation over a 2023 agreement that would saddle manufacturers with stringent state emissions standards and stiff penalties for noncompliance in the coming years.

  • January 26, 2026

    IP Notebook: Nutcracker Suit, Copyright Termination, Playboy

    This edition of Law360's overview of emerging copyright and trademark trends delves into a Fifth Circuit decision that tests the territorial boundaries of copyright law, and a dispute over "stream-ripping" on YouTube that has artificial intelligence companies weighing in.

  • January 26, 2026

    Pharrell's Ex-Neptunes Partner Not Happy, Sues For Royalties

    Pharrell Williams was sued in California federal court Friday by his former songwriter partner Chad Hugo, who claims the pop superstar owes him for unpaid royalties and access to financial records related to their collaboration as The Neptunes.

  • January 26, 2026

    Meta, YouTube Sued By Subject Of Viral Turo Dash Cam Clip

    A Washington woman featured in a viral video that showed her texting while driving just before a crash claims she was illegally recorded by a secret camera in a car she rented on Turo, according to a new lawsuit against the rental platform, Facebook parent company Meta Platforms Inc., YouTube, Reddit and others.

  • January 26, 2026

    Fubo Subscribers Defend Streaming Rate Suit Against Disney

    A proposed class of Fubo subscribers is opposing a bid from Disney to force them to arbitrate their claims in an antitrust case alleging streaming services pay inflated rates to carry ESPN and other sports channels.

  • January 26, 2026

    Olympic Snowboarder Pleads Not Guilty In Murder, Drug Case

    Former Canadian Olympic team snowboarder Ryan Wedding, who landed on the FBI's list of its 10 most-wanted fugitives, pled not guilty to murder and drug-running charges in California federal court on Monday following his arrest earlier this month in Mexico. 

  • January 26, 2026

    9th Circ. Pauses Discovery Order In UFC Wage Suits

    A Ninth Circuit panel temporarily paused a Nevada federal court's discovery order in wage suppression lawsuits against UFC after the mixed martial arts organization said the order violated attorney-client privilege and the First Amendment.

Expert Analysis

  • Algorithmic Bias Risks Remain For Employers After AI Order

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    A recent executive order articulates a federal preference for a minimally burdensome approach to artificial intelligence regulation, but it doesn't eliminate employers' central compliance challenge or exposure when using AI tools, say Marjorie Soto Garcia and Joseph Mulherin at McDermott, and Candice Rosevear at Peregrine Economics.

  • Considerations In Building Guardrails For AI Use In Arbitration

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    A recent California federal court case involving allegations of artificial intelligence ghostwriting an arbitration award, prior analogous practice on tribunal delegation, and emerging generative AI recommendations all support building a forward-looking framework for arbitration rules to minimize the risk of AI-based challenges, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.

  • Series

    Calif. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q4

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    The regulatory and litigation developments for California financial institutions in the fourth quarter of 2025 were incremental but consequential, with the Department of Financial Protection & Innovation relying on public enforcement actions to articulate expectations, and lawmakers and privacy regulators playing a role as well, says Stephen Britt at Stinson.

  • Series

    Fly-Fishing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Much like skilled attorneys, the best anglers prize preparation, presentation and patience while respecting their adversaries — both human and trout, says Rob Braverman at Braverman Greenspun.

  • 4 Ways GCs Can Manage Growing Service Of Process Volume

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    As automation and arbitration increase the volume of legal filings, in-house counsel must build scalable service of process systems that strengthen corporate governance and manage risk in real time, says Paul Mathews at Corporation Service Co.

  • IP Appellate Decisions Show 4 Shifts In 2025

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    In 2025, intellectual property decisions issued by the Ninth, D.C., and Federal Circuits trended toward tightening doctrinal boundaries, whether to account for technological developments in existing legal regimes, or to refine areas with some ambiguity, says Nate Sabri at Perkins Coie.

  • Calif. AI Law Will Have Ripple Effect On Emerging Cos.

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    California's Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act is the first comprehensive state-level AI safety framework with mandated public disclosures in the U.S., and although it may not affect emerging companies directly, companies that embed governance and transparency into their operations will differentiate themselves in highly competitive markets, say attorneys at Mintz.

  • Series

    The Law Firm Merger Diaries: Forming Measurable Ties

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    Relationship-building should begin as early as possible in a law firm merger, as intentional pathways to bringing people together drive collaboration, positive client response, engagements and growth, says Amie Colby at Troutman.

  • A Look At EEOC Actions In 2025 And What's Next

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    President Donald Trump issued several executive orders last year that reshaped policy at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and with the administration now controlling a majority of the commission, the EEOC may align itself fully with orders addressing disparate impact and transgender issues, say attorneys at Jones Day.

  • 5 E-Discovery Predictions For 2026 And Beyond

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    2026 will likely be shaped by issues ranging from artificial intelligence regulatory turbulence to potential evidence rule changes, and e-discovery professionals will need to understand how to effectively guide the responsible and defensible adoption of emerging tools, while also ensuring effective safeguards, say attorneys at Littler.

  • Where States Jumped In When SEC Stepped Back In 2025

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    The state regulators that picked up the slack when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission scaled back enforcement last year should not be underestimated as they continue to aggressively police areas where the SEC has lost interest and probe industries where SEC leadership has actively declined to intervene, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • 2026 State AI Bills That Could Expand Liability, Insurance Risk

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    State bills legislating artificial intelligence that are expected to pass in 2026 will reshape the liability landscape for all companies incorporating AI solutions into their business operations, as any novel private rights of action authorized under AI-related statutes signal expanding exposures, say attorneys at Wiley.

  • What's On Deck In Tribal Nations' Prediction Markets Litigation

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    Native American tribes' response to the expansion of sports-based prediction markets enters a decisive phase this year, with appellate courts positioned to address whether federal commodities law permits nationwide offering of sports-based event contracts free from state and tribal gaming regulation, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

  • SEC Virtu Deal Previews Risks Of Nonpublic Info In AI Models

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s recent settlement with Virtu Financial Inc. over alleged failures to safeguard customer data raises broader questions about how traditional enforcement frameworks may apply when material nonpublic information is embedded into artificial intelligence trading systems, says Braeden Anderson at Gesmer Updegrove.

  • Series

    Judges On AI: How Courts Can Boost Access To Justice

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    Arizona Court of Appeals Judge Samuel A. Thumma writes that generative artificial intelligence tools offer a profound opportunity to enhance access to justice and engender public confidence in courts’ use of technology, and judges can seize this opportunity in five key ways.

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