Legal Ethics

  • April 17, 2025

    Judge Grants Reduced Atty Award in Bowling Alley Chain Suit

    A Virginia federal judge trimmed just over $150,000 in attorney fees requested by a bowling alley chain after winning summary judgment in a suit against its former chief information officer, whom it accused of hacking into its computer system and CEO's email.

  • April 17, 2025

    K&L Gates Bungled Crypto Co.'s Bankruptcy Claim, Suit Says

    Gryphon Digital Mining has sued its former counsel K&L Gates LLP, claiming it dropped the ball on a bankruptcy filing that cost the company millions of dollars and complicated another legal case, all while allegedly overbilling the crypto mining firm by $1 million for related matters.

  • April 17, 2025

    Judge Accused Of Sexting, Misusing Bench For Ex-Client

    A Colorado state judge improperly used his position to help a former client with legal advice and exchanged sexually explicit texts with her while on the bench, according to a judicial disciplinary complaint that also alleged the judge failed to disclose their "prior sexting" when he later presided over her case.

  • April 17, 2025

    Firms Seek Fee Relief Over 'Grossly Unfair' Seresto MDL Snub

    Two New Jersey law firms say they were cut out of their fair share of $4.5 million in attorney fees, awarded as part of a $15 million settlement they helped secure against Bayer and others in a flea collar multidistrict litigation, asking an Illinois federal court to order lead counsel to open their wallets and share the reward.

  • April 17, 2025

    Man's Deportation Looms After Tax Evasion Plea Stands

    A Connecticut federal judge denied a man's attempt to vacate his guilty plea for tax evasion, despite accepting that his lawyers had misled him into believing that if he received no prison time he could avoid mandatory detention and likely deportation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

  • April 17, 2025

    Jenner & Block Fights DOJ Bid To Toss Exec Order Suit

    Jenner & Block LLP on Thursday urged a D.C. federal court to reject the government's bid to dismiss its lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's executive order targeting the firm, saying the "legal profession as a whole is watching."

  • April 17, 2025

    Debt Firm's Successor, Ch. 11 Trustee End Latest Pay Dispute

    A law firm that bought thousands of client files left over from the collapse of bankrupt California-based debt relief business Litigation Practice Group PC has agreed to pay nearly $1 million to the bankruptcy estate to help settle a payment dispute that began months ago.

  • April 17, 2025

    Judge Refuses To Recuse Himself In Ga. Defamation Case

    A Georgia federal judge on Thursday refused to disqualify himself from presiding over a defamation case arising from a family dispute related to a tax preparation business, while also rejecting a bid to transfer the matter to a federal court in California.

  • April 17, 2025

    Calif. Judge To Resign Over Misconduct Amid Office Romance

    A California state judge will resign and be barred from serving on the bench after engaging in misconduct that included pretending to be the lawyer for his judicial secretary with whom he was having an affair, according to a Thursday decision.

  • April 17, 2025

    Ga. Judicial Watchdog To Weigh Cases Against Pair Of Judges

    Separate hearings have been set for a Georgia Superior Court judge accused of intervening in a legal matter on behalf of her uncle and locking a woman in a cell during her parents' divorce hearing, as well as a state probate judge accused of causing extensive case delays.

  • April 17, 2025

    'Latter-Day Machiavelli' Defamed Calif. Law Firm, Court Told

    California employment law firm Lawyers for Justice PC has filed a suit in state court accusing one of its former clients of defamation in what the firm calls "a scorched-earth crusade against her former attorneys."

  • April 17, 2025

    Co. Seeks 2nd Shot At Asbestos RICO Suit, Citing New Info

    New information supplied by confidential whistleblowers is cause for an Illinois federal court to allow a Los Angeles pipe manufacturer a second chance at pursuing a racketeering case against a Chicago area law firm, the company has argued in a motion to alter or amend the judgment.

  • April 17, 2025

    Akerman Sues To Block Malpractice Claim, Secure $750K Fees

    Akerman LLP sued the healthcare services company Rennova Health Inc. and three medical laboratories in Florida state court this week, alleging that they owe the firm about $750,000 in unpaid fees and are now threatening to sue the firm for malpractice even though they have already released any claims.

  • April 17, 2025

    No Redo In Ex-CEO's $6M Stock Case Against Co., Law Firm

    The former CEO of WorldQuant Predictive Technologies LLC cannot reargue failed $6 million stock loss claims against the company from which he was ousted or its law firm Pullman & Comley LLC, a Connecticut trial judge has ruled.

  • April 17, 2025

    Ex-NJ Prosecutor Says Whistleblower Suit Should Go To Trial

    A former deputy director of the Union County Prosecutor's Office who says she was demoted to "girl Friday" status after becoming a whistleblower told a state judge that her lawsuit should survive to go to trial because there are many factual disputes that a jury should decide.

  • April 17, 2025

    Former Law Firm Leader Launches Whistleblower Suit In Fla.

    The former Jacksonville office managing partner of Matthiesen Wickert & Lehrer SC has launched a whistleblower lawsuit in Florida state court against the firm alleging she was forced to leave because a paralegal was engaging in the unauthorized practice of law.

  • April 17, 2025

    LegalZoom Scores Arbitration In Unlawful Practice Suit

    A suit accusing online legal services provider LegalZoom of engaging in the unauthorized practice of law will head to arbitration, after a New Jersey federal judge ruled the claims fall within the scope of an enforceable arbitration agreement.

  • April 16, 2025

    Ed Martin Discloses Russia TV Spots, Coloring Books, Jan. 6

    Ed Martin, President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, has disclosed dozens of additional media interviews with right-wing and Russian-state outlets, according to a letter obtained on Wednesday by Law360.

  • April 16, 2025

    Ex-Judges Say BIA Wrongly Looking For 'Sushi-Grade Tuna'

    Former immigration judges and members of the Board of Immigration Appeals told the Eleventh Circuit on Wednesday that the BIA has recently departed from the clear error standard to reverse relief to those seeking protection under the Convention Against Torture, emphasizing that the error needs to smell like "five-week-old, unrefrigerated dead fish."

  • April 16, 2025

    Ye Says DJ Khalil Is Fishing For Profits In 'Donda' IP Lawsuit

    The artist formerly known as Kanye West denied derailing discovery in a lawsuit alleging he stole music from DJ Khalil and three other artists for two tracks on his blockbuster "Donda" album, telling a California federal judge Tuesday that the $50,000 sanctions bid is just a "profit-driven fishing expedition."

  • April 16, 2025

    Lindell Claims 'I'm In Ruins,' Can't Pay Smartmatic Sanctions

    MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell told a D.C. federal judge that he has "no money" to pay the $56,369 in sanctions he was ordered to for filing third-party counterclaims against election systems company Smartmatic, saying Wednesday that he is "in ruins."

  • April 16, 2025

    Wash. Atty Disbarred For Blown Divorce Case, Blaming Client

    A Seattle-area attorney has been disbarred for failing to file any pleadings in a divorce case, resulting in a default order keeping the client from his children, then repeatedly lying during disciplinary proceedings in an attempt to avoid the blame, according to records from the Washington State Bar Association.

  • April 16, 2025

    Colo. Lawyer Says Disbarred Atty Won't Give Settlement Info

    A Colorado firm that agreed to take over a case from a disbarred attorney has sued her and the client, accusing them of refusing to state how much he is owed from a confidential settlement that ended the underlying employment case.

  • April 16, 2025

    Jackson Walker Hits Back At Bankruptcy Court Standing Brief

    Jackson Walker LLP told a federal judge that the CEO of a now-bankrupt barge company is improperly trying to relitigate the issue of standing in bankruptcy court with his suit over a former judge's secret romance with a firm partner.

  • April 16, 2025

    Former McCarter & English Atty Fights Bid To Toss Firing Suit

    A former McCarter & English LLP attorney and Navy SEAL has accused the firm in New Jersey state court of trying to "smear" him by claiming he was fired for his offensive social media posts rather than his advocacy for veterans.

Expert Analysis

  • California Supreme Court's Year In Review

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    Attorneys at Horvitz & Levy highlight notable decisions on major questions from the California Supreme Court's last term, including voter initiatives, hostile work environment and the economic loss rule.

  • What Lawyers Can Learn From High School AI Suit

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    A pending Massachusetts lawsuit regarding artificial intelligence use in an academic setting underscores the need for attorneys to educate themselves on AI technology and tools that affect their clients so they can advise on establishing clear expectations and limits around the permissible use of AI, say attorneys at Hinckley Allen.

  • Service Providers Must Mitigate 'Secondary Target' Risks

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    A lawsuit recently filed in an Illinois federal court against marketing agency Publicis over its work for opioid manufacturers highlights an uptick in litigation against professional service providers hired by clients that engaged in alleged misconduct — so potential targets of such suits should be sure to conduct proper risk analysis and mitigation, say attorneys at Dechert.

  • Series

    Flying Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Achieving my childhood dream of flying airplanes made me a better lawyer — and a better person — because it taught me I can conquer difficult goals when I leave my comfort zone, focus on the demands of the moment and commit to honing my skills, says Ivy Cadle at Baker Donelson.

  • Mitigating Defamation Liability Risks Of AI-Generated Content

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    Until Congress and the courts provide clear guidance about defamation liability stemming from generative artificial intelligence tools, companies should begin building controls to prevent the creation of defamatory content, says Michael Gerrity at Accenture.

  • Series

    Circus Arts Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    Performing circus arts has strengthened my ability to be more thoughtful, confident and grounded, all of which has enhanced my legal practice and allowed me to serve clients in a more meaningful way, says Bailey McGowan at Stinson.

  • When Investigating An Adversary, Be Wary Of Forged Records

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    Warnings against the use of investigators who tout their ability to find an adversary’s private documents generally emphasize the risk of illegal activity and attorney discipline, but a string of recent cases shows an additional danger — investigators might be fabricating records altogether, says Brian Asher at Asher Research.

  • 3 Ways To Train Junior Lawyers In 30 Minutes Or Less

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    Today’s junior lawyers are experiencing a skills gap due to pandemic-era disruptions, but firms can help bring them up to speed by offering high-impact skill building content in bite-sized, interactive training sessions, say Stacey Schwartz at Katten, Diane Costigan at Winston & Strawn and Lauren Tierney at Freshfields.

  • Opinion

    Why States Should Adopt ABA's 'Duty To Inquire'

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    State bars should codify the American Bar Association's proposed rule on a lawyer's duty to scrutinize each representation as it provides guardrails for lawyers, supports self-regulation of the profession, and helps avert money laundering and other crimes, says Deborah Winokur at Cozen O'Connor.

  • The Bar Needs More Clarity On The Discovery Objection Rule

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    Almost 10 years after Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34 was amended, attorneys still seem confused about what they should include in objections to discovery requests, and until the rules committee provides additional clarity, practitioners must beware the steep costs of noncompliance, says Tristan Ellis at Shanies Law Office.

  • Trump Faces Uphill Battle If He Tries To Target Prosecutors

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    On the campaign trail, President-elect Donald Trump promised to go after the state and federal prosecutors who had investigated and prosecuted him, but few criminal statutes would be applicable — to say nothing of the evidence required to substantiate any charges against prosecutors, says William Johnston at Bird Marella.

  • Series

    Being A Navy Reservist Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Serving this country in uniform has not only been one of the greatest honors of my life, but it has also provided me with opportunities to broaden my legal acumen and interpersonal skills in ways that have indelibly contributed to my civilian practice, says Phillip Smith at Weinberg Wheeler.

  • So You Want To Move Your Law Practice To Canada, Eh?

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    Google searches for how to move to Canada have surged in the wake of the U.S. presidential election, and if you’re an attorney considering a move to the Great White North, you’ll need to understand how the practice of law differs across the border, says David Postel at Henein Hutchison.

  • Promoting Diversity In The Selection Of ADR Neutrals

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Choosing neutrals from diverse backgrounds is an important step in promoting inclusion in the legal profession, and it can enhance the legitimacy and public perception of alternative dispute resolution proceedings, say attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler.

  • Series

    Playing Ultimate Makes Us Better Lawyers

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    In addition to being fun, ultimate Frisbee has improved our legal careers by emphasizing the importance of professionalism, teamwork, perseverance, enthusiasm and vulnerability, say Arunabha Bhoumik and Adam Bernstein at Regeneron. 

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