Legal Ethics

  • August 27, 2025

    IP Atty Challenges 'Pittance' Valuation Of Ex-Partners' Names

    A longtime Connecticut intellectual property lawyer who left Ohlandt Greeley Ruggiero & Perle LLP to launch his own firm says the names of two deceased partners are worth more to a remaining attorney than an expert's proposed 2% licensing fee, arguing the names achieved "celebrity status" in the IP community.

  • August 27, 2025

    Ex-Jackson Walker Partner Says Romance Suit Is 'Déjà Vu'

    A former Jackson Walker LLP partner accused of hiding a romance with a former Texas bankruptcy judge asked a court Tuesday to toss a group of bondholders' proposed class action over their company's Chapter 11 proceeding.

  • August 27, 2025

    Faegre Drinker Says Investor Can't Call Biz Loss Malpractice

    Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP told a New Jersey state court this week that a malpractice suit it faces from a real estate investor is nothing more than an attempt by the investor to shift responsibility for a failed investment.

  • August 27, 2025

    Fenwick Fights New Claims In FTX Crypto Scam MDL

    Fenwick & West LLP has asked a Florida federal judge to shut down a bid by victims of the infamous FTX Trading Ltd. cryptocurrency scam to bring new claims against the firm, calling allegations that it knew about FTX's misuse of customer funds an "irresponsible falsehood."

  • August 27, 2025

    Jailed Pastor Cites Adams Dismissal In Bid To Beat Charges

    A clergyman serving a nine-year sentence for fraud cited his ties to New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday in a bid to have his conviction overturned in the wake of the Trump administration's dismissal of the charges against Adams.

  • August 27, 2025

    Accuser Can Stay Anonymous In Suit Over Ex-DA Sex Assault

    A woman suing Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and its former district attorney over his stalking, harassment and sexual assault can continue with her civil case under a "Jane Doe" pseudonym, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

  • August 27, 2025

    Atty Ordered To Pay $652K In Sanctions For TM Trial Conduct

    A California federal judge has ordered an attorney to pay $652,000 of a $1.8 million sanction against a microphone manufacturer he represented that lost a trade dress infringement trial, saying the lawyer had repeatedly misrepresented the terms of a stipulation in a prior case to pursue his legal theory.

  • August 27, 2025

    Swiss Bank Seeks Docs From AIG For Dutch Arbitration Fight

    A Swiss private bank is seeking discovery from AIG Inc. for use in a Dutch court case in which the bank wants vacated an arbitral award denying its claim for $90 million in coverage from the insurer's European subsidiary, the bank told a New York federal court.

  • August 27, 2025

    Why This Small-Firm Lawyer Charges $3,000 Per Hour

    As a solo or small firm attorney, would you charge $3,000 per hour? Meet one attorney who does — and learn how his story of ultra-high prices could help you set your own rates.

  • August 27, 2025

    Personal Injury Firm Accuses Rival Of 'Bait And Switch'

    A Boston personal injury firm facing claims it ripped off another firm's marketing plan launched a countersuit claiming that the rival is using an illegal business model and lying to try to stop a growing competitor.

  • August 26, 2025

    Ga. Judge Says His Removal Would Be 'Absolutely Wrong'

    A Georgia probate court judge told the state's judicial watchdog body Tuesday that "it would be absolutely wrong to remove me" over charges that he repeatedly failed to issue rulings in cases for months and years, arguing it would only send his Savannah-area office into further disarray.

  • August 26, 2025

    NBA's Suns Seek Sanctions Over Alleged Fake Case Citations

    Operators of the NBA's Phoenix Suns asked the court Tuesday to impose sanctions on counsel representing a woman suing the organization for workplace sexual harassment, saying the woman's counsel cited made-up cases and quotes in their filings at least 16 times.

  • August 26, 2025

    GWG Wind-Down Trustee Fights Ethics Scandal Removal Bid

    A Texas bankruptcy lawyer hit back at efforts to oust her as the wind-down trustee for GWG Holdings, saying her involvement in a judicial ethics and romance scandal is unrelated to her work for the former life insurance bond seller.

  • August 26, 2025

    Atty In Voting Machine Case Tries To Delay Discipline Hearing

    Michigan lawyer Matthew DePerno, who is facing felony charges accusing him of illegally accessing voting machines after the 2020 election, urged an attorney disciplinary panel on Monday to push back his September misconduct hearing, claiming he is having trouble finding counsel to represent him.

  • August 26, 2025

    Ex-Case Manager Says Maryland Law Firm Failed To Pay OT

    A former case manager told a Virginia federal court Tuesday that a law firm failed to pay her for the overtime she regularly worked, especially after the firm's manager was accused of mishandling clients' files.

  • August 26, 2025

    Ga. Disbars Atty After Arrest In Inmate Drug Smuggling Case

    The Georgia Supreme Court has disbarred an Alabama attorney who was arrested in the Peach State for allegedly smuggling drugs and other banned items to inmates under the guise of an attorney visit, a move that comes after he was disbarred over the arrest in his home state.

  • August 26, 2025

    Judge Axes Habeas Suit, Tells DOJ To Use 'Proper' Forum

    A Virginia federal judge on Tuesday dismissed the Trump administration's lawsuit challenging a standing order from Maryland federal judges temporarily pausing the removal of noncitizen detainees who have filed habeas petitions, telling the U.S. Department of Justice that if it wants to challenge the court policy, it must follow the "proper" channels.

  • August 26, 2025

    Texas Injury Firm Says Ex-Atty's Rival Firm Copied Slogan

    A Houston personal injury attorney has accused a former employee of opening a rival law firm and copying its longtime slogan.

  • August 26, 2025

    No Immunity For Wis. Judge Charged With ICE Interference

    A Wisconsin federal judge on Tuesday rejected a motion to dismiss from a state judge accused of helping an unauthorized immigrant escape arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, turning down her argument that she is protected by judicial immunity.

  • August 26, 2025

    NY Judge In NFL Case May Hold No-Show Atty In Contempt

    The Manhattan federal judge presiding over a high-profile racial discrimination lawsuit against the NFL said Tuesday she will initiate a contempt proceeding against a California lawyer who failed to appear to further explain an erroneous filing that stated he could practice in New York.

  • August 26, 2025

    NY Firm Must Face Malpractice Claims Over Patent Fight

    A New York real estate and business law firm must face a negligence claim lodged by a medical research and development company arguing that the firm's incompetence led it to lose a patent licensing dispute.

  • August 26, 2025

    Atty's Comments Don't Warrant A New Trial In Crash Suit

    A Florida appeals panel has reversed an order for a new trial in a suit over a car accident, saying that the trial court abused its discretion in finding that the defense attorney's comments warranted a redo in the case.

  • August 25, 2025

    LA Atty Used Client Trust Acct. To Hide $2.1M Bribe, Jury Told

    A California divorce attorney accepted a $2.1 million bribe from a Swiss oil company related to his work in Nigeria and laundered the money through his U.S. client trust account, a prosecutor told a federal jury in Los Angeles on Monday during opening statements in the attorney's criminal trial. 

  • August 25, 2025

    Title Insurer Beats Ex-Board Member's Fiduciary Duty Claims

    Connecticut title insurer CATIC, its Delaware and Florida corporate arms, and 12 of its senior leaders have escaped fiduciary duty claims from a lawyer who challenged his purported ejection from two boards of directors after an audit allegedly revealed accounting problems at his Hartford law firm.

  • August 25, 2025

    Trump Expands Use Of National Guard Post-DC Deployment

    President Donald Trump issued an executive order Monday directing federal officials to create new "specialized" units to enforce federal laws in D.C. and other cities nationwide, including a "quick reaction force" within the D.C. National Guard, as well as hire more prosecutors and take other measures, following his recent deployment of the National Guard in the district.

Expert Analysis

  • Attacks On Judicial Independence Tend To Manifest In 3 Ways

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    Attacks on judicial independence now run the gamut from gross (bald-faced interference) to systemic (structural changes) to insidious (efforts to undermine public trust), so lawyers, judges and the public must recognize the fateful moment in which we live and defend the rule of law every day, says Jim Moliterno at Washington and Lee University.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Appreciating Civil Procedure

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    If you’re like me, law school’s often complex and theoretical approach to teaching civil procedure may have contributed to an early struggle with the topic, but when seen from a practical perspective, new lawyers may find they enjoy mastering these rules, says Chloe Villagomez at Foster Garvey.

  • Calif. Bar Exam Fiasco Shows Why Attys Must Disclose AI Use

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    The recent revelation that a handful of questions from the controversial California bar exam administered in February were drafted using generative artificial intelligence demonstrates the continued importance of disclosure for attorneys who use AI tools, say attorneys at Troutman.

  • Spoliation Of Evidence Is A Risky And Shortsighted Strategy

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    Destroying self-incriminating evidence to avoid a large judgment may seem like an attractive option to some defendants, but it is a shortsighted strategy that affords the nonspoliating party potentially case-terminating remedies, and support for a direct assault on the spoliator’s credibility, say attorneys at Mandelbaum Barrett.

  • In 2nd Place, Va. 'Rocket Docket' Remains Old Reliable

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    The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia was again one of the fastest civil trial courts in the nation last year, and an interview with the court’s newest judge provides insights into why it continues to soar, says Robert Tata at Hunton.

  • How Attorneys Can Become Change Agents For Racial Equity

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    As the administration targets diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and law firms consider pulling back from their programs, lawyers who care about racial equity and justice can employ four strategies to create microspaces of justice, which can then be parlayed into drivers of transformational change, says Susan Sturm at Columbia Law School.

  • 5 Takeaways From DOJ's Media Compulsory Process Rules

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    The U.S. Department of Justice’s new rules, making it easier for law enforcement investigating leaks to compel members of the media and third parties to disclose information, could have wide-ranging impacts, from reduced protections for journalists and organizations, to an expanded focus on nonclassified material, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • Series

    Running Marathons Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    After almost five years of running marathons, I’ve learned that both the race itself and the training process sharpen skills that directly translate to the practice of law, including discipline, dedication, endurance, problem-solving and mental toughness, says Lauren Meadows at Swift Currie.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Supporting A Trial Team

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    While students often practice as lead trial attorneys in law school, such an opportunity likely won’t arise until a few years into practice, so junior associates should focus on honing skills that are essential to supporting a trial team, including organization, adaptability and humility, says Lucy Zelina at Tucker Ellis.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From US Attorney To BigLaw

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    When I transitioned to private practice after government service — most recently as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia — I learned there are more similarities between the two jobs than many realize, with both disciplines requiring resourcefulness, zealous advocacy and foresight, says Zach Terwilliger at V&E.

  • Rebuttal

    Forced Litigation Funding Disclosure Threatens Patent Rights

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    A recent Law360 guest article argued that courts should adopt stronger disclosure requirements for third-party litigation funding, but rather than enabling fairness or transparency, such measures would only undermine patent holders' access to capital and weaken their ability to assert valid patent rights, says Anup Misra at Curiam Capital.

  • The Ins And Outs Of Consensual Judicial References

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    As parties consider the possibility of judicial reference to resolve complex disputes, it is critical to understand how the process works, why it's gaining traction, and why carefully crafted agreements make all the difference, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

  • Opinion

    The BigLaw Settlements Are About Risk, Not Profit

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    The nine Am Law 100 firms that settled with the Trump administration likely did so because of the personal risk faced by equity partners in today's billion‑dollar national practices, enabled by an ethics rule primed for modernization, says Adam Forest at Scale.

  • Series

    Brazilian Jiujitsu Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Competing in Brazilian jiujitsu – often against opponents who are much larger and younger than me – has allowed me to develop a handful of useful skills that foster the resilience and adaptability necessary for a successful legal career, says Tina Dorr of Barnes & Thornburg.

  • Series

    Power To The Paralegals: An Untapped Source For Biz Roles

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    Law firms looking to recruit legal business talent should consider turning to paralegals, who practice several key skills every day that prepare them to thrive in marketing and client development roles, says Vanessa Torres at Lowenstein Sandler.

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