Legal Ethics

  • July 22, 2025

    YSL Defense Atty Indicted On Tip-Off, Drug Smuggling Counts

    A Georgia attorney part of the defense team in the long-running Young Slime Life racketeering case was indicted on charges that she helped smuggle drugs to her jailed client, and in another case, told a shooting suspect to ditch his cellphone before he was picked up by police.

  • July 22, 2025

    Fiat Chrysler Denies Misleading Court Over Settlement Delays

    Fiat Chrysler told a Michigan federal judge on Monday that changes to management and internal procedures are in part to blame for the continued delay in submitting documents to finalize a deal resolving allegations that the automaker sold vehicles with engines prone to catching fire, urging the court not to sanction the company.

  • July 22, 2025

    NJ Judges End Habba's Tenure, Bondi Removes Replacement

    The New Jersey federal district court brought Alina Habba's run as interim U.S. attorney to an end Tuesday by not extending her tenure in the temporary role past 120 days.

  • July 21, 2025

    Md. Judges Slam 'Unprecedented' Suit Over Habeas Orders

    Maryland federal judges on Monday pressed a Virginia federal judge to throw out the Trump administration's "unprecedented" suit challenging their standing order that temporarily blocks deportation of detained noncitizens who file habeas petitions, warning that if the suit succeeds, "it will not be the last."

  • July 21, 2025

    SEC Lifts FINRA Ban For Atty Accused Of Cheating On Exam

    A divided U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has lifted an industry ban placed on a former SEC enforcement attorney who was deemed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority to have cheated on a securities exam, finding there was no conclusive evidence of cheating.

  • July 21, 2025

    Fla. Atty Urges Toss Of Sean Combs' $50M Defamation Suit

    A Miami attorney urged a New York federal judge to toss Sean "Diddy" Combs' $50 million defamation suit alleging she perpetuated false claims of him sexually assaulting inebriated celebrities and minors on recorded video, saying the complaint fails to state a claim or back up accusations with facts. 

  • July 21, 2025

    Fla. Judge Pick Probed On Trump Case, Nomination Timing

    A judicial nominee for the Southern District of Florida has fielded more questions from Democrats who have suggested that he ruled in favor of President Donald Trump and repeated the president's "partisan talking points" while simultaneously being vetted for a federal judgeship.

  • July 21, 2025

    Pay Bias Judge Guts $2.8M Fee Request, Citing Errors At Trial

    A Pennsylvania federal judge sliced an attorney's requested $2.8 million fee award for a pay-discrimination case against a school district Monday, blaming the plaintiff's counsel for errors during the two trials it took to reach a verdict.

  • July 21, 2025

    Colo. Ex-Judge Sanctioned For Using Position To Help Ex-Client

    The Colorado Commission of Judicial Discipline issued sanctions on Friday against a state judge who misused his position to benefit a former client he had an intimate relationship with.

  • July 21, 2025

    Calif. Court Orders Drug Deal Retrial Over Mistaken Admission

    A California state appeals court on Monday demanded a new trial on drug dealing charges for a man who admitted to possessing cocaine while on probation, finding a trial court judge had erroneously admitted botched testimony the man gave in a probation hearing.

  • July 21, 2025

    CWA Unit Decries Use Of Its Funds As 'Personal Piggy Bank'

    A CWA local representing New York City Police Department traffic enforcement agents demanded $1 million in damages in a federal suit aiming to block its placement in a trusteeship, with the affiliate claiming a temporary administrator from the parent union used the local's funds as a "personal piggy bank."

  • July 21, 2025

    Tax-Lien Biz Atty Tells Jury He Didn't Seek To Dupe Lender

    Counsel for a former compliance lawyer accused of pilfering from a $20 million line of credit extended to his tax-lien investment firm told a Manhattan federal jury Monday that the defendant was "sloppy," but never intended fraud.

  • July 21, 2025

    DC Circ. Strikes Down Gag Order On X Corp. Subpoenas

    A D.C. Circuit panel has struck down a lower court's sweeping order blocking X Corp. from informing users about government data requests, with the appeals court finding the district court failed to identify specific harm that would come from keeping users in the loop.

  • July 21, 2025

    Reed Smith's Doc Block Motion 'Hyperbolic,' 2nd Circ. Told

    Reed Smith LLP cannot block the new owners of reorganized Greece-based international shipping company Eletson from viewing files already in its possession, the company has told the Second Circuit, arguing the law firm's emergency motion to stop the new owners from accessing the files was intentionally timed to head off anticipated district court rulings.

  • July 21, 2025

    NY Judge Wants Atty To Explain Bogus AI Citations

    A federal judge wants a New York attorney to explain himself after he potentially used artificial intelligence to write his response to an order she issued concerning his use of AI to write an earlier brief that cited nonexistent cases.

  • July 21, 2025

    Robinson & Cole Ducks Recruiter's Contract Breach Suit

    A Connecticut federal judge has granted summary judgment to Robinson & Cole LLP in a legal recruiter's contract breach suit, determining that under its terms with the recruiter, none of the information disclosed to a second company violated the original agreement between the two sides. 

  • July 21, 2025

    Ex-Eckert Seamans Atty Drops Pa. License Over Cash Scheme

    A onetime Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott LLC attorney who allegedly asked clients for direct payments to circumvent the firm has surrendered his Pennsylvania law license, but is now alleging state disciplinary authorities violated a deal to keep the records private if he agreed to the disbarment.

  • July 21, 2025

    NJ US Atty Accused Of Ethics Violations Amid Possible Exit

    A group of ethics experts and former presidential advisors requested an ethics investigation into interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba on Monday, as she reportedly approaches the end of her run as the top federal prosecutor in the Garden State.

  • July 21, 2025

    Trump DOJ To Appeal Axing Of Order Targeting Jenner & Block

    The U.S. Department of Justice plans to fight a federal judge's ruling that struck down President Donald Trump's executive order targeting Jenner & Block LLP, as it filed a notice of appeal Monday in D.C. federal court.

  • July 21, 2025

    Uber Sues LA Law Firms Over Alleged Crash Fraud Scheme

    Uber Technologies Inc. filed a lawsuit Monday against two Los Angeles personal injury firms, two of their attorneys and others, alleging the ride-sharing company is being targeted by a scheme involving fraudulent personal injury claims arising from motor vehicle accidents.

  • July 21, 2025

    Dinsmore Seeks To End LabMD's Malpractice Suit

    Dinsmore & Shohl LLP and a legal nonprofit have urged a Georgia federal court to toss a malpractice lawsuit brought by now-shuttered LabMD, saying the defunct cancer diagnostic company has abandoned the case which was ordered to arbitration two years ago.

  • July 21, 2025

    Judge Won't Recuse Over Past Work With DraftKings Counsel

    A California federal judge presiding over a proposed class action against DraftKings regarding its fantasy sports games offerings rejected a request from the plaintiffs to recuse himself over concerns that an attorney for the defense has ties to the court.

  • July 21, 2025

    Senate Panel To Revote On US Atty Noms After Dem Walkout

    The Senate Judiciary Committee is poised to revote on five U.S. attorney nominees on Thursday, including Jeanine Pirro, former Fox News host and New York state judge, after Democrats walked out of last week's meeting over objections to how the consideration of controversial Third Circuit nominee Emil Bove was being handled.

  • July 21, 2025

    How Criminal Law Is Shaped By Administrative Decisions

    Behind line prosecutors are administrators, policies, and day-to-day logistics that enable and shape not only prosecutors' work but trends in how justice is administered throughout the country, according to a New York University School of Law professor and researcher.

  • July 21, 2025

    Pot Drink Co.'s Case Belongs In Arbitration, Stoel Rives Says

    Stoel Rives LLP and a group of its clients are urging a California federal court to send a fraud suit brought by a maker of nonalcoholic cannabis drinks back to arbitration, arguing all the claims are subject to a valid arbitration agreement.

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

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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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