Expert Analysis

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  Playing Softball Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  My time on the softball field has taught me lessons that also apply to success in legal work — on effective preparation, flexibility, communication and teamwork, says Sarah Abrams at Baleen Specialty.

• 5 Years In, COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Landscape Is Shifting

  

  As the government moves pandemic fraud enforcement from small-dollar individual prosecutions to high-value corporate cases, and billions of dollars remain unaccounted for, companies and defense attorneys must take steps now to prepare for the next five years of scrutiny, says attorney David Tarras.

• Why Early Resolution Of Employment Liability Claims Is Key

  

  A former Los Angeles fire chief's recent headline-grabbing wrongful termination suit against the city is a reminder that employment practices liability disputes can present risks to the greater business, meaning companies need a playbook for rapid, purposeful action, says Karli Moore at Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions.

• How New Rule On Illustrative Aids Is Faring In Federal Courts

  

  In the 10 months since new standards were codified for illustrative aids in federal trials, courts have already begun to clarify the rule's application in different contexts and the rule's boundaries, say attorneys at Bernstein Litowitz.

• What Novel NIL Suit Reveals About College Sports Landscape

  

  A first-of-its-kind name, image and likeness lawsuit — recently filed in Wisconsin state court by the University of Wisconsin-Madison against the University of Miami — highlights new challenges and risks following the NCAA’s landmark agreement to allow schools to make NIL deals and share revenue with student-athletes, say attorneys at O'Melveny.

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  Law School's Missed Lessons: Mastering Time Management

  

  Law students typically have weeks or months to prepare for any given deadline, but the unpredictability of practicing in the real world means that lawyers must become time-management pros, ready to adapt to scheduling conflicts and unexpected assignments at any given moment, says David Thomas at Honigman.

• What To Expect From The EEOC Once A Quorum Is Restored

  

  As the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is expected to soon regain its quorum with a Republican majority, employers should be prepared for a more assertive EEOC, especially as it intensifies its scrutiny of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, say attorneys at Dechert.

• How Hyperlinks Are Changing E-Discovery Responsibilities

  

  A recent e-discovery dispute over hyperlinked data in Hubbard v. Crow shows how courts have increasingly broadened the definition of control to account for cloud-based evidence, and why organizations must rethink preservation practices to avoid spoliation risks, says Bree Murphy at Exterro.

• Tips As 6th Circ. Narrows Employers' Harassment Liability

  

  In Bivens v. Zep, the Sixth Circuit adopted a heightened standard for employer liability for nonemployee harassment, which diverges from the prevailing view among federal appeals courts, and raises questions about how quickly employers must respond to third-party harassment and how they manage risk across jurisdictions, say attorneys at Benesch.

• Navigating The Risks Of Employee-Influencers, Side Gigs

  

  Though companies may be embracing employee-influencer roles, this growing trend — along with an increase in gig employment — presents compliance risks, particularly around employee classification, compensation and workplace policies, as the line between work, influence and outside employment becomes increasingly blurred, say attorneys at Squire Patton.

• Strategies To Get The Most Out Of A Mock Jury Exercise

  

  A Florida federal jury’s recent $329 million verdict against Tesla over a fatal crash demonstrates how jurors’ perceptions of nuanced facts can make or break a case, and why attorneys must maximize the potential of their mock jury exercises to pinpoint the best trial strategy, says Jennifer Catero at Snell & Wilmer.

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  Writing Musicals Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  My experiences with writing musicals and practicing law have shown that the building blocks for both endeavors are one and the same, because drama is necessary for the law to exist, says Addison O’Donnell at LOIS Law.

• Diverging FAA Preemption Rulings Underscore Role Of Venue

  

  Two recent rulings evaluating Federal Arbitration Act preemption of state laws — one from the California Supreme Court, upholding the state law, and another from a New York federal court, upholding the arbitration agreement — demonstrate why venue should be a key consideration when seeking to enforce arbitration clauses, say attorneys at Hollingsworth.

• How Cos. Can Straddle US-UK Split On Work Misconduct, DEI

  

  With U.K. regulators ordering employers to do more to prevent nonfinancial misconduct and discrimination, and President Donald Trump ordering the rollback of similar American protections, global organizations should prioritize establishing consistent workplace conduct frameworks to help balance their compliance obligations across the diverging jurisdictions, say lawyers at WilmerHale.

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  Adapting To Private Practice: From Va. AUSA To Mid-Law

  

  Returning to the firm where I began my career after seven years as an assistant U.S. attorney in Virginia has been complex, nuanced and rewarding, and I’ve learned that the pursuit of justice remains the constant, even as the mindset and client change, says Kristin Johnson at Woods Rogers.