Legal Ethics

  • April 17, 2026

    Nussbaum-Linked Law Firms Hit Ch. 11 Facing Scheme Suits

    Two commercial real estate law firms headed by Mark J. Nussbaum filed for Chapter 11 protection in New York, listing at least $353 million in disputed unsecured claims tied to the firms' hard money lending practices that have been described in litigation as a Ponzi scheme.

  • April 16, 2026

    ITC Told Wrongly Claimed Patent Fee Discounts Sink Chip Suit

    Semiconductor company Everspin Technologies Inc. has asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to end a memory chip patent suit against it by Avalanche Technology Inc., saying Avalanche's patents are unenforceable because the company wrongly claimed a "small entity" discount on patent fees for years.

  • April 16, 2026

    NY Appeals Court Orders Competency Check In Gun Case

    A man convicted of possessing an untraceable gun should have been reexamined for competency and potentially prevented from representing himself after repeatedly making nonsensical legal statements that sounded like what an attorney might say but did not relate at all to the case, a New York state appeals court found.

  • April 16, 2026

    Ramey Says Sanctions Violation Was 'Misunderstanding'

    William Ramey, an intellectual property attorney sanctioned in several federal jurisdictions, told a California federal judge Thursday that any violations of a previous sanctions order regarding his ability to practice law in the state were due to "good-faith misunderstanding of the scope of the court's order — not willful disregard."

  • April 16, 2026

    Georgia Insists Criminal Rules Should Cover Trump Fee Battle

    Georgia is urging a Fulton County judge to rethink his ruling that President Donald Trump and others' motions seeking more than $16 million in legal fees in the state's election interference case were covered by civil, not criminal, procedures, saying the designation would have "far-reaching implications."

  • April 16, 2026

    Optimum Defends Antitrust Suit Against Apollo, BlackRock

    Apollo, Ares, BlackRock and other financial giants are colluding to block Optimum Communications Inc. from negotiating a debt refinancing to avert bankruptcy, acting as a "cartel" and locking Optimum out of credit markets, Optimum said in a brief opposing the investors' bid to dismiss its antitrust suit in New York.

  • April 16, 2026

    NJ US Atty's Office Turmoil Doesn't Nix Conviction, Judge Rules

    A federal judge on Thursday rejected a New Jersey criminal defendant's attempt to dismiss his conviction and disqualify the state's top federal prosecutor, holding that the appointment of the current U.S. attorney complies with federal law and that any earlier defects in leadership do not warrant dismissal.

  • April 16, 2026

    NJ Justices To Weigh Municipal Counsel Conflict Of Interest

    The New Jersey Supreme Court has agreed to review a state ethics opinion that bars attorneys from simultaneously serving as corporation counsel to a municipality and general counsel to a regional fire and rescue agency that the municipality helps fund, setting an expedited briefing schedule.

  • April 16, 2026

    Calif. Lawyer Sues Over State Bar Investigations

    A California trial lawyer claimed in a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday that he has been unfairly investigated by the state bar since 2019, alleging the office "illegally prioritizes revenue-generation over protection of the public."

  • April 16, 2026

    Dems Call On Watchdog To Probe DOJ Antitrust Work

    A group of Democratic federal lawmakers this week called on the U.S. Department of Justice's acting inspector general to investigate the possibility that lobbying has led to misconduct in the department's antitrust work, including the DOJ's recent surprise settlement with event ticketing giant Live Nation.

  • April 16, 2026

    Ind. Judge Tells Parties AI Can't Replace Attorney Oversight

    A federal magistrate judge in Indiana told parties in an employment suit against Walmart that artificial intelligence "can be a useful discovery tool" but "is not a substitute for attorneys and litigants exercising independent judgment and oversight in the discovery process."

  • April 16, 2026

    Expert Needed To Gauge Fault For Cyberattack, Panel Told

    Connecticut law firm Mancini Provenzano & Futtner LLC told a state appellate panel Thursday that a lower court should not have awarded a former client more than $90,000 on a negligence claim arising from a cyberattack without hearing first from an expert on the firm's legal duties.

  • April 16, 2026

    Cigar Lounge Manager Sanctioned In Embezzlement Case

    North Carolina's business court has sanctioned and entered a default judgment against a cigar lounge manager who was accused of misappropriating funds and locking his business partners out of the establishment.

  • April 15, 2026

    John Eastman Disbarred Over Bid To Overturn 2020 Election

    California's highest court on Wednesday ordered the disbarment of California attorney John Charles Eastman, who a state bar court found had helped plan and promote President Donald Trump's strategy to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

  • April 15, 2026

    GM Not Privy To Ex-Chrysler Exec's Spousal Talks, Panel Told

    A former Fiat Chrysler labor executive convicted for his role in a union bribery scheme could risk incriminating himself if he gives General Motors privileged information, including communications with his wife, as part of the latter automaker's civil lawsuit over alleged corruption, his attorney argued before a Michigan appeals court Wednesday.

  • April 15, 2026

    Cinemoi Trustee Moves To Seize $43M Film Library In Ch. 7

    The Chapter 7 trustee for bankrupt television network Cinemoi North America on Wednesday asked a California bankruptcy judge to hold the company in contempt for allegedly refusing to turn over a hard drive containing a film library valued at about $43.4 million. 

  • April 15, 2026

    Winston & Strawn Must Face $1.7B GloriFi Malpractice Suit

    A Chapter 7 malpractice suit brought by the trustee of fintech company GloriFi asserting $1.7 billion in damages from a failed initial public offering mostly survived a motion to dismiss late Tuesday, with a Texas bankruptcy judge saying the trustee sufficiently pled breach claims against law firm Winston & Strawn.

  • April 15, 2026

    Jones Day DQ'd From Vanderbilt Case Over Pre-Ch. 11 Work

    A New York bankruptcy judge disqualified law firm Jones Day from representing talc producer Vanderbilt Minerals in its Chapter 11 case Wednesday, saying the firm's prior work for the larger Vanderbilt corporate family raises questions about its disinterestedness.

  • April 15, 2026

    Judge Won't Move 'Maya' Case For Retrial

    A Florida judge on Wednesday denied a hospital's request to move a retrial of Netflix documentary subject Maya Kowalski's claims against the hospital from Sarasota to St. Petersburg, citing the difficulty and expense of moving the 8-year-old case to a new circuit and judge.

  • April 15, 2026

    Historical Groups Fight To Save White House Records

    Historians are asking a D.C. federal judge for an injunction that would force the Trump White House to preserve official records after administration attorneys declared the Presidential Records Act unconstitutional.

  • April 15, 2026

    Sotomayor Apologizes For 'Hurtful' Comments About Kavanaugh

    U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor publicly apologized Wednesday for comments she made at a University of Kansas appearance earlier this month criticizing Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

  • April 15, 2026

    Texas Panel Backs Atty Sanctions, Finding He Misled Client

    A Texas appeals court has upheld a judgment from a lower court sanctioning an attorney for misleading a client into believing that his firm could offer representation in a wrongful death suit, saying that the evidence was sufficient to support his loss in the lower court.

  • April 15, 2026

    McElroy Deutsch, Atty Beat Malpractice Claims Over Fraud Suit

    The New Jersey state appeals court on Wednesday affirmed a ruling throwing out a $300,000 malpractice suit against a former McElroy Deutsch Mulvaney & Carpenter LLP partner, finding the trial judge correctly found the plaintiff's expert offered speculative, inadmissible net opinions.

  • April 15, 2026

    Former Judge To Head New NJ Attorney Readmission Board

    The New Jersey Supreme Court announced this week the lineup of a new committee that will consider disbarred attorneys' applications for readmission, with a former state court judge of over 20 years at the head of the board.

  • April 15, 2026

    DOJ Atty Slapped With $250 Sanction For Missed Deadlines

    A California federal judge hit a U.S. Department of Justice attorney with a $250 sanction for repeatedly missing deadlines in a noncitizen's habeas corpus case, rejecting his assertions that his need to juggle tasks under a 300-plus caseload should excuse him.

Expert Analysis

  • 4 Ways Women Attorneys Can Build A Legal Legacy

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    This Women’s History Month, women attorneys should consider what small, day-to-day actions they can take to help leave a lasting impact for future generations, even if it means mentoring one person or taking 10 minutes to make a plan, says Jackie Prester, a former shareholder at Baker Donelson.

  • Why A Rare SEC Dismissal May Not Reflect A New Approach

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    While the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's pending dismissal of its case against Silver Point is remarkable to the extent that it reflects a novel repudiation of a decision made during the prior commission, a deeper look suggests it may not represent a shift in policy approach, say attorneys at Weil.

  • A Judge's Pointers For Adding Spice To Dry Legal Writing

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    U.S. District Judge Fred Biery shares a few key lessons about how to go against the grain of the legal writing tradition by adding color to bland judicial opinions, such as by telling a human story and injecting literary devices where possible.

  • 9 Considerations For Orgs Using AI Meeting Assistants

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    When deciding to use artificial intelligence meeting assistants, organizations must create and implement a written corporate policy that establishes the do's and don'ts for these assistants, taking into account individualized business operations, industry standards and legal and regulatory requirements, say attorneys at Faegre Drinker.

  • A Reminder On Avoiding Improper Venues In Patent Cases

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    A Texas federal court's recent decision in the Symbology and Quantum cases shows that baseless patent venue allegations may be subject to serious Rule 11 sanctions, providing venue-vetting takeaways for plaintiffs and defendants, say attorneys at Bond Schoeneck.

  • 7 Tips For Associates To Thrive In Hybrid Work Environments

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    As the vast majority of law firms have embraced some type of hybrid work policy, associates should consider a few strategies to get the most out of both their in-person and remote workdays, says James Argionis at Cozen O’Connor.

  • Series

    Playing Beach Volleyball Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    My commitment to beach volleyball has become integral to my performance as an attorney, with the sport continually reminding me that teamwork, perseverance, professionalism and stress management are essential to both undertakings, says Amy Drushal at Trenam.

  • How Law Firms Can Counteract The Loneliness Epidemic

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    The legal industry is facing an urgent epidemic of loneliness, affecting lawyer well-being, productivity, retention and profitability, and law firm leaders should take concrete steps to encourage the development of genuine workplace connections, says Michelle Gomez at Littler and Gwen Mellor Romans at Herald Talent.

  • 5 Keys To Building Stronger Attorney-Client Relationships

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    Attorneys are often focused on being seen as the expert, but bonding with clients and prospects by sharing a few key personal details provides the basis for a caring, trusted and profoundly deeper business relationship, says Deb Feder at Feder Development.

  • What SDNY Judge Can And Can't Do In Adams Case

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    The federal judge in the Southern District of New York overseeing the criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams deferred making a decision on the government's motion to dismiss the indictment, and while he does have limited authority to deny the motion, that would ultimately be a futile gesture, says Ethan Greenberg at Anderson Kill.

  • Series

    Racing Corvettes Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    The skills I use when racing Corvettes have enhanced my legal practice in several ways, because driving, like practicing law, requires precision, awareness and a good set of brakes — complete with the wisdom to know how and when to use them, says Kat Mateo at Olshan Frome.

  • Opinion

    Attorneys Must Act Now To Protect Judicial Independence

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    Given the Trump administration's recent moves threatening the independence of the judiciary, including efforts to impeach judges who ruled against executive actions, lawyers must protect the rule of law and resist attempts to dilute the judicial branch’s authority, says attorney Bhavleen Sabharwal.

  • Rethinking 'No Comment' For Clients Facing Public Crises

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    “No comment” is no longer a cost-free or even a viable public communications strategy for companies in crisis, and counsel must tailor their guidance based on a variety of competing factors to help clients emerge successfully, says Robert Bowers at Moore & Van Allen.

  • How Design Thinking Can Help Lawyers Find Purpose In Work

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    Lawyers everywhere are feeling overwhelmed amid mass government layoffs, increasing political instability and a justice system stretched to its limits — but a design-thinking framework can help attorneys navigate this uncertainty and find meaning in their work, say law professors at the University of Michigan.

  • Series

    Competitive Weightlifting Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    The parallels between the core principles required for competitive weightlifting and practicing law have helped me to excel in both endeavors, with each holding important lessons about discipline, dedication, drive and failure, says Damien Bielli at VF Law.

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