Expert Analysis

• EPA's New PFAS Listings Raise Enforcement, Litigation Risks

  

  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recent addition of five per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to a list of risk-based values for regional screening and removal management levels increases the risks of litigation and government enforcement related to PFAS contamination — and companies should prepare for a roller coaster of further regulatory actions, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.

• Thinking Strategically About The Weekend's Impact On Jurors

  

  Clint Townson at IMS discusses how experienced trial lawyers and consultants can utilize the strategic value of weekends in their favor by accounting for how the weekend break affects juror cognition and decision making as part of an integrated trial strategy.

• Opinion

  Now's The Time To Address Archaic Law School Curricula

  

  With law school enrollments jumping significantly ahead of a potential recession and more students graduating than the market can absorb, law schools should turn to creative solutions to teach students how to negotiate, work with clients, specialize and use technology to practice their craft more efficiently, says University of Colorado adjunct professor Jason Mendelson.

• State Natural Resource Damages Suits: What Cos. Must Know

  

  With numerous states currently following New Jersey's lead in stepping up litigation seeking natural resource damages, defendants face unique challenges, and must consider unique approaches to case management to limit liability, says Matthew Conley at Archer.

• Lessons From Lawyer Fee-Sharing Agreements Gone Wrong

  

  The recent fee-sharing dispute between Edelson and Girardi Keese is a reminder that lawyers who do not strictly follow the applicable rules may risk a disciplinary complaint, lose their share of the fee, or wind up in costly litigation with co-counsel, says David Grossbaum at Hinshaw.

• LeClairRyan Bankruptcy Highlights Pass-Through Tax Issue

  

  A Virginia bankruptcy court's recent ruling in the case of defunct law firm LeClairRyan shows there may be serious tax consequences for pass-through entity partners who give up their ownership interest without following operating agreement exit provisions and updating bankruptcy court filings, say Edward Schnitzer and Hannah Travaglini at Montgomery McCracken.

• 1st Amendment May Help Cannabis Cos. Beat TM Claims

  

  Frederic Rocafort at Harris Bricken explains how the First Amendment’s free speech protections may present a legal recourse for cannabis brands facing trademark infringement claims — if they can show that their parodic marks have artistic relevance and do not intentionally mislead consumers.

• A Robust Tool For Defending Against Illinois Biometric Suits

  

  Many defendants in class actions brought under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act may be able to avail themselves of the law's financial institution exemption, which, as two recent cases demonstrate, covers a range of entities beyond traditional banks — but parties must be able to establish their entitlement to this defense, says David Oberly at Squire Patton.

• 8 Steps To Creating A Legal Ops Technology Road Map

  

  Legal departments struggling to find and implement the right technologies for their operations should consider creating a road map that summarizes their approach to technology changes, provides clearly defined metrics for success, and serves as the single source of truth for stakeholders, says Melanie Shafer at SimpleLegal.

• The Importance Of Data And Data Analysis In Litigation

  

  Understanding, analyzing and effectively presenting large data sets is an increasingly important skill in litigation as it allows plaintiffs to dramatically scale up the scope of cases and is often critical to defeating motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment, says David Burnett at Motley Rice.

• Senate Bill Could Be A Sea Change For Crypto Regulation

  

  The recently introduced Responsible Financial Innovation Act, if passed, would transform the digital asset landscape by replacing the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as cryptocurrency's default regulator, and by shifting oversight away from the current regulatory framework and legal standard for the space, say attorneys at Brownstein Hyatt.

• Suits Against Google Signal Increased 'Dark Patterns' Scrutiny

  

  Recent lawsuits brought against Google by attorneys general in multiple states illustrate a growing trend of pushback against dark patterns — design tricks that harmfully manipulate consumer behavior — so companies should ensure their current and future marketing practices do not put them at risk, say attorneys at Sidley.

• Takeaways From 1st Circ.'s Tribal Sovereign Immunity Ruling

  

  The First Circuit's recent decision in Coughlin v. Lac du Flambeau, finding that the U.S. Bankruptcy Code unequivocally strips tribes of their sovereign immunity, disregards extensive case law to the contrary and may make it easier for litigants to pursue claims against tribes under laws with similar immunity waivers, say attorneys at Brownstein Hyatt.

• Steps Companies Can Take To Mitigate Privilege Labeling Risk

  

  Although Google prevailed on a recent privilege labeling sanctions motion, an important takeaway from the decision is that companies should assess their in-house procedures and employee training programs regarding privileged communications to mitigate risks of the potential appearance of bad faith privilege claims, say Gareth Evans at Redgrave and e-discovery attorney James Hertsch.

• Opinion

  Aviation Watch: Why Boeing Pilot's Indictment Was Misguided

  

  Criminal fraud charges against test pilot Mark Forkner related to the Boeing 737 crashes — charges of which he was recently acquitted — appear to have been an effort to whitewash the failures of Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration, and highlight that civil remedies are a better solution in such cases, says Alan Hoffman, a retired attorney and aviation expert.