Legal Ethics

  • February 10, 2026

    AI Docs Sent By Exec To Attys Not Privileged, Judge Says

    A Manhattan federal judge said Tuesday that a Texas financial services executive accused of a $150 million fraud cannot claim privilege over documents that he prepared using an artificial intelligence service and sent to his attorneys — but suggested the materials could be problematic if used at trial.

  • February 09, 2026

    Feds Want Bannon's Contempt-Of-Congress Conviction Axed

    Federal prosecutors on Monday moved to toss former White House adviser Steve Bannon's contempt-of-Congress conviction before a trial court, spurring the U.S. solicitor general to similarly ask the U.S. Supreme Court to vacate a D.C. Circuit judgment, which had rejected Bannon's advice-of-counsel defense and affirmed his conviction.

  • February 09, 2026

    Ex-Judge Says 'Post-Arrest' Details Don't Justify His DUI Stop

    A former Washington state judge who claims a wrongful DUI arrest contributed to his reelection loss is fighting to keep his lawsuit against Grays Harbor County alive, arguing that the county's justification for the arrest incorrectly relies on details from after he was taken into custody.

  • February 09, 2026

    Cooperation Helps Ease 2 Sentences In NJ Ponzi Scheme

    Two of the government's key cooperating witnesses whose testimony and proffered evidence helped land the third conviction of Ponzi schemer Eliyahu "Eli" Weinstein were sentenced on Monday in New Jersey federal court for their own roles in Weinstein's most recent scheme.

  • February 09, 2026

    Chemical Cos. Move To DQ Law Firm From NJ Water Suit

    Corteva Inc. and DuPont de Nemours Inc. urged a federal judge to block Mayer Brown LLP from representing a New Jersey utility in its lawsuit over forever chemical contamination in the state's waterways — even though there appears to be no public indication the law firm is involved in the case.

  • February 09, 2026

    Goldstein's Defense Questions Missing Tax Emails

    Document retention at the outside accounting firm for SCOTUSblog founder Thomas Goldstein and his law firm took center stage at the U.S. Supreme Court lawyers' tax fraud trial Monday, as the defense claimed that the accountants' internal emails about Goldstein's tax returns were never produced despite being sought in subpoenas.

  • February 09, 2026

    Judge OKs Sanctions In Valve Fight, Warns More May Come

    A Seattle federal judge on Monday granted video game maker Valve Corp.'s request to sanction a rival litigant over discovery violations just ahead of a trial on the company's allegations of bad faith patent infringement claims, and threatened to issue more over a legal brief that contained fake quotes and fabricated citations generated by artificial intelligence.

  • February 09, 2026

    Tribal Corp. Says Colorado Consultant Misused Trade Secrets

    An Alaskan tribal corporation is suing a Colorado consultant and her firm, alleging that she used its trade secret information to attempt to lure government contracting clients away by publicly advertising the data and claiming it as her own.

  • February 09, 2026

    Georgia Appeals Court Reverses Attorney Disqualification

    The Georgia Court of Appeals reversed a trial court order disqualifying an attorney from representing a client in a domestic relations case for allegedly inserting himself improperly into the parties' dispute, finding the client failed to meet her burden of showing he was a "necessary witness."

  • February 09, 2026

    10th Circ. Ends Civil Rights Suit, Sanctions Atty For AI Errors

    A self-represented Maryland attorney could not revive her $15 million racial discrimination suit against Denver-based Frontier Airlines after a Tenth Circuit panel found the district court had not erred in its dismissal, in a ruling that also sanctioned the lawyer for misusing generative artificial intelligence.

  • February 09, 2026

    Pullman & Comley Says Lender Can't Sue Over $16.2M Deal

    Pullman & Comley LLC on Monday said a Connecticut judge lacks jurisdiction to hear legal malpractice and related claims from a lender that loaned $16.2 million to the corporate arm of a municipal housing authority, arguing the housing entity, not the lender, was its only client.

  • February 09, 2026

    Ill. Legislation Targets Outside Investments In Legal Sector

    Two bills introduced in the Illinois state Legislature seek to place restrictions on the use of private equity-backed managed service organizations in the legal industry and on any fee-sharing between Illinois lawyers and firms owned by nonlawyers in states like Arizona.

  • February 09, 2026

    High Court Asked To Take Up Malpractice Case Against Akin

    A former Cornell University graduate student wants the U.S. Supreme Court to review the dismissal of his suit accusing Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP attorneys of manipulating patent litigation to steal his DNA sequencing intellectual property.

  • February 09, 2026

    Conn. Atty Sanctioned For Another Case Of AI Misuse

    A Connecticut labor litigator's vow to permanently cease using generative artificial intelligence tools in his practice after he allowed AI-generated errors to appear in separate but similar June filings has weighed in his favor as a Bridgeport federal judge ordered sanctions against the attorney.

  • February 06, 2026

    Law Firm Sues Over Allianz Unit's 'Inadequate' Defense

    Florida law firm Conrad & Scherer sued its professional liability insurer in Illinois state court, alleging it spent over $5 million in attorney fees and needed to replace counsel because the insurer failed to properly defend it in a defamation case that resulted in a $120 million verdict against its former managing partner.

  • February 06, 2026

    Atty Wants Jury To Hear Public Defender Overwork Suit

    A former attorney for the Colorado public defender's office who is alleging the agency overworks its employees asked a state court Friday to send his case to a jury.

  • February 06, 2026

    NJ Watchdog Must Give Up Files In Hospital Row

    A New Jersey federal judge has refused to disturb a magistrate judge's decision compelling a state watchdog to turn over documents from its inquiry into CarePoint Health Systems Inc., rejecting the agency's bid to shield its files with grand-jury-like secrecy and reaffirming that federal privilege law governs discovery disputes in federal court.

  • February 06, 2026

    Insurer Gets Counterclaims Tossed In Pot Co. Fire Dispute

    A Maryland federal judge has dismissed counterclaims against Knight Specialty Insurance Co. in a suit over coverage of a fire that destroyed an insured's cannabis crop, while striking the cannabis grower's answer to the initial complaint.

  • February 06, 2026

    Beasley Allen Disqualified From NJ Talc Multicounty Litigation

    A New Jersey state appeals court disqualified the Beasley Allen Law Firm from representing plaintiffs in multicounty litigation over Johnson & Johnson's talc-based baby powder, ruling Friday that a former Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP lawyer's collaborative efforts with the firm's attorneys violated ethics rules.

  • February 06, 2026

    Ex-Ballard Spahr Atty, Rendell Aide Reinstated To The Bar

    A former chief of staff to Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and onetime Ballard Spahr LLP partner was reinstated to the bar Friday after testimony from the ex-governor and the judge who sentenced him for stealing $13,000 in an FBI sting operation convinced a state disciplinary board of his rehabilitation and fitness.

  • February 06, 2026

    NJ Panel Won't Revive Arbitration Advice Malpractice Suit

    A New Jersey state appeals court has affirmed the dismissal of a long‑running legal malpractice suit against Leeds Morelli & Brown LLP, determining Friday that a former client was unable to show that a lower court judge abused his discretion in declining to accept expert reports as net opinion.

  • February 06, 2026

    Louisiana Attys Face Possible Sanctions For AI Slop Usage

    As part of an order dismissing the remaining claims in a real estate matter, a Louisiana federal judge has threatened to sanction attorneys from two local firms for submitting a brief riddled with errors generated by artificial intelligence.

  • February 06, 2026

    Ousted Conn. Public Defender Chief Loses Bias Suit

    The commission responsible for Connecticut's public defenders did not violate TaShun Bowden-Lewis' constitutional or legal rights when it removed her as chief of the office in 2024, a state Superior Court judge has ruled, finding no second hearing was necessary before the former top defense lawyer lost her job.

  • February 06, 2026

    Paymentus Settles Fintech Atty's Age Bias Suit Ahead Of Trial

    Billing company Paymentus Corp. has settled a former in-house attorney's retaliation, age discrimination and wrongful discharge lawsuit less than two weeks before the case was set to go to trial, court records show.

  • February 06, 2026

    Arbitrators Take Cautious Approach To Integrating AI

    Norms, practices and regulations surrounding the use of generative artificial intelligence in arbitration are developing just as rapidly as they are in the courts. Here, Law360 Pulse talks with legal tech vendor Veritext's senior vice president in charge of alternative dispute resolution about how the arbitration industry is interacting with AI.

Expert Analysis

  • 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

    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.

  • 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.

  • Wis. Sanctions Order May Shake Up Securities Class Actions

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    A Wisconsin federal court’s recent decision to impose sanctions on a plaintiffs law firm for filing a frivolous Private Securities Litigation Reform Act complaint in Toft v. Harbor Diversified may cause both plaintiffs and defendants law firms to reconsider certain customary practices in securities class actions, says Jonathan Richman at Brown Rudnick.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Opinion

    The Case For Emulating, Not Dividing, The Ninth Circuit

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    Champions for improved judicial administration should reject the unfounded criticisms driving recent Senate proposals to divide the Ninth Circuit and instead seek to replicate the court's unique strengths and successes, says Ninth Circuit Judge J. Clifford Wallace.

  • 3 DC Circ. Rulings Signal Shift In Search And Seizure Doctrine

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    A trio of decisions from courts in the District of Columbia Circuit, including a recent order compelling prosecutors to return materials seized from James Comey’s former attorney, makes clear that continued government possession of digital evidence may implicate the Fourth Amendment, says Gregory Rosen at RJO.

  • Series

    Muay Thai Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Muay Thai kickboxing has taught me that in order to win, one must stick to one's game plan and adapt under pressure, just as when facing challenges by opposing counsel or judges, says Mark Schork at Feldman Shepherd.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Intentional Career-Building

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    A successful legal career is built through intention: understanding expectations, assessing strengths honestly and proactively seeking opportunities to grow and cultivating relationships that support your development, say Erika Drous and Hillary Mann at Morrison Foerster.

  • 2nd Circ. Ruling Shows Procedural Perils Of Civil Forfeiture

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    The Second Circuit’s recent U.S. v. Ross decision, partially denying the return of an attorney's seized funds based on rigid standing requirements, underscores the unforgiving technical complexities of civil asset forfeiture law, and provides several lessons for practitioners, says Elisha Kobre at Sheppard Mullin.

  • 4 Developments That Defined The 2025 Ethics Landscape

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    The legal profession spent 2025 at the edge of its ethical comfort zone as courts, firms and regulators confronted how fast-moving technologies and new business models collide with long-standing professional duties, signaling that the profession is entering a period of sustained disruption that will continue into 2026, says Hilary Gerzhoy at HWG Law.

  • Navigating AI In The Legal Industry

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    As artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly integral part of legal practice, Law360 guest commentary this year examined evolving ethical obligations, how the plaintiffs bar is using AI to level the playing field against corporate defense teams, and the attendant risks of adoption.

  • How Fractional GCs Can Manage Risks Of Engagement

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    As more organizations eliminate their in-house legal departments in favor of outsourcing legal work, fractional general counsel roles offer practitioners an engaging and flexible way to practice at a high level, but they can also present legal, ethical and operational risks that must be proactively managed, say attorneys at Boies Schiller.

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