Expert Analysis

• Lithium Mine Case Marks Crossroads For Energy Storage Cos.

  

  While the Ninth Circuit considers the future of the controversial Thacker Pass lithium mine, the utility-scale battery storage industry stands poised either to benefit from an increased domestic lithium supply, or to pivot toward the development of alternative battery technologies, says Riley Nickel at Husch Blackwell.

• ABA Opinion Should Help Clarify Which Ethics Rules Apply

  

  A recent American Bar Association opinion provides key guidance on interpreting ABA Model Rule 8.5's notoriously complex choice-of-law analysis — and should help lawyers authorized to practice in multiple jurisdictions determine which jurisdiction's ethics rules govern their conduct, say attorneys at HWG.

• 4 Ways To Reboot Your Firm's Stalled Diversity Program

  

  Law firms that have failed to see real progress despite years of diversity initiatives can move forward by committing to tackle four often-taboo obstacles that hinder diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, says Steph Maher at Jaffe.

• DOJ's Google Sanctions Motion Shows Risks Of Auto-Deletion

  

  The U.S. Department of Justice recently hit Google with a sanctions motion over its alleged failure to preserve relevant instant-messaging communications, a predicament that should be a wake-up call for counsel concerning the danger associated with automatic-deletion features and how it's been handled by the courts, say Oscar Shine and Emma Ashe at Selendy Gay.

• What To Expect From A Litigation Finance Industry Recession

  

  There's little data on how litigation finance would fare in a recession, but a look at stakeholders' incentives suggests corporate demand for litigation finance would increase in a recessionary environment, while the number of funders could shrink, says Matthew Oxman at LexShares.

• Justices Leave Questions Open On Dual-Purpose Atty Advice

  

  The U.S. Supreme Court's recent dismissal of In re: Grand Jury on grounds that certiorari was improvidently granted leaves unresolved a circuit split over the proper test for deciding when attorney-client privilege protects a lawyer's advice that has multiple purposes, say Susan Combs and Richard Kiely at Holland & Hart.

• Absent Federal Action, Tribal Cannabis Laws Remain In Limbo

  

  Many Native American tribes have proceeded with cannabis legalization efforts despite inconsistent federal enforcement and a confusing jurisdictional landscape, but until the federal government takes action, tribal sovereignty on this issue will remain ad-hoc and uncertain, says Anna Wills at Duane Morris.

• Steps Lawyers Can Take Following Involuntary Terminations

  

  Though lawyers can struggle to recover from involuntary terminations, it's critical that they be able to step back, review any feedback given and look for opportunities for growth, say Jessica Hernandez at JLH Coaching & Consulting and Albert Tawil at Lateral Hub.

• High Court Ax Of Atty-Client Privilege Case Deepens Split

  

  The U.S. Supreme Court's recent dismissal of In re: Grand Jury as improvidently granted maintains a three-way circuit split on the application of attorney-client privilege to multipurpose communications, although the justices have at least shown a desire to address it, say Trey Bourn and Thomas DiStanislao at Butler Snow.

• 3 Job Satisfaction Questions For Partners Considering Moves

  

  The post-pandemic rise in legal turnover may cause partners to ask themselves what they really want from their workplace, how they plan to grow their practice and when it's time to make a move, says Patrick Moya at Quaero Group.

• State AGs May Put Investors On The Hook For Co. Bad Acts

  

  Recent multidistrict litigation against consulting firm McKinsey for its role in the opioid crisis suggests state attorneys general may be seeking to look beyond the first line of bad actors in an attempt to hold deep-pocketed investors, such as private equity firms, liable for the conduct of the companies they purchase, say attorneys at Troutman Pepper.

• 4 Exercises To Quickly Build Trust On Legal Teams

  

  High-performance legal teams can intentionally build trust through a rigorous approach, including open-ended conversations and personality assessments, to help attorneys bond fast, even if they are new to the firm or group, says Ben Sachs at the University of Virginia School of Law.

• Opinion

  Illicit Cannabis Is The Problem, Not State-Legal Markets

  

  A recent White House report on drug trafficking illustrates the public safety risks posed by illicit cannabis markets, and any suggestions by law enforcement agencies that misdirect blame toward the state-legal, strictly regulated cannabis industry should be taken with a grain of salt, say Tommy Tobin and Andrew Kline at Perkins Coie.

• 8 Steps To Improve The Perception Of In-House Legal Counsel

  

  With the pandemic paving the way for a reputational shift in favor of in-house corporate legal teams, there are proactive steps that legal departments can take to fully rebrand themselves as strong allies and generators of value, says Allison Rosner at Major Lindsey.

• DOI Enviro Damage Assessment Proposal May Add Flexibility

  

  The U.S. Department of the Interior's recently proposed overhaul of its natural resource damage assessment program suggests that current restrictive formulas may be replaced with a more flexible structure — which could bring major benefits to potentially responsible parties and natural resource trustees, says Brian Ferrasci-O’Malley at Nossaman.