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.

• Tribal Corp. IP Suit Highlights Sponsored Research Pitfalls

  

  In Tulalip Tribal Federal Corp.'s recent Washington federal court action alleging that Stanford University copied a treatment based on research involving the tribes' confidential information, the parties' pleadings shed light on best practices for addressing ownership of sponsored research results in clear and precise terms, says attorney Catlan McCurdy.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Milk Vitamin Patents Surprisingly Soured By Section 101

  

  A Delaware federal court recently found formulations of a vitamin in cow's milk to be patent-ineligible, but courts generally have upheld patent claims to formulations of natural compounds — showing that greater clarity is needed on the application of Section 101 to these patents, say attorneys at Kramer Levin.

• 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.

• Workers' Comp Considerations As Ga. Cannabis Laws Evolve

  

  With medical marijuana legislation in Georgia expected to implicate workers’ compensation claims, to address potential issues related to cannabis prescribed for work-related injuries, employers should implement zero-tolerance drug policies and strong screening methods, and keep apprised of the ever-changing policy and litigation landscapes, says Joanna Hair at Swift Currie.

• 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.

• Food And Beverage Policy Trends To Track This Year

  

  The 2022 list of legal issues food and beverage companies should watch includes regulatory changes in animal welfare, sustainable foods, dietary supplements, inspections, pandemic-era distribution and labeling of bioengineered food, say Bob Hibbert and Amaru Sanchez at Wiley.

• 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.

• Roundup

  Cannabis: The Top Law360 Guest Articles Of 2021

  

  This year brought a lot of intrigue in the cannabis space, with guest experts discussing the interplay of federal and state law and legislation, licensing and debt enforcement alternatives in New York's emerging marijuana market, and how to prepare for regulatory due diligence in cannabis-related M&A transactions.

• 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.

• Series

  Embracing ESG: Whirlpool CLO Talks Structural Improvement

  

  As the global understanding of what it means to measurably make a positive societal and environmental impact evolves, creating a solid governance structure, backed up by bold action and increased transparency, will set up companies and their legal teams to remain resilient through economic and societal changes and manage risk, says Ava Harter at Whirlpool.