DOL Benefits Chief Warns Of 'Bad Faith' Focus On ESG, DEI

By Kellie Mejdrich

The top official for the U.S. Department of Labor's employee benefits subagency said at a trade association conference Friday that agency investigations will focus on benefit plan managers' loyalty conflicts, including disloyal pursuits of socially conscious investing or diversity goals.

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6th Circ. Backs Ex-Fed Worker's Long COVID Benefits Denial

By Kellie Mejdrich

The Sixth Circuit backed a win for the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, its long-term disability plan, and a benefit management company in a former Cleveland Fed employee's suit seeking additional benefits for long-haul COVID symptoms, holding a lower court properly applied New York state contract law in reaching its decision. 

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Former Exec Says Herb Chambers Reneged On $10M Bonus

By Julie Manganis

A former vice president of a New England auto dealership group that sold for $1.34 billion last year says former owner Herb Chambers broke a promise to pay him a $10 million "closing bonus" upon the sale of the company, according to a complaint filed Friday in Massachusetts state court.

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Brief

BofA, Merrill Deferred Compensation Suit Kicked To NC

By Patrick Hoff

A suit alleging two Merrill Lynch financial advisers were deprived of their deferred pay belongs in North Carolina, a New Jersey federal judge ruled, siding with the wealth management company's argument that the workers' compensation agreements included a forum selection clause.

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Ex-Exec's Severance Fight Against Media Cos. Ends In NJ

By Carla Baranauckas

A New Jersey federal judge closed the books on a years-long severance dispute between A360 Media LLC, Bauer Media Group USA LLC and a former executive, after entering a sealed opinion and order terminating the case.

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Boeing Can Appeal Class Cert. In 737 Max Investor Suit

By Hailey Konnath

The Seventh Circuit is permitting Boeing to immediately challenge an Illinois federal judge's certification of a class of investors accusing it of misrepresenting the 737 Max 8 jets' safety after a pair of deadly crashes, according to an order filed Thursday.

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Notable Q1 Updates In Insurance Class Actions

Notable insurance class action decisions from the first quarter of the year included reminders about the statute of limitations as a key defense for claims relating to allegedly deficient forms, the importance of focus on the specific contract at issue and further guidance on the contours of Rule 23, says Kevin Zimmerman at BakerHostetler.

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The Ethics And Practicalities Of Representing AI Agents

With autonomous artificial intelligence agents now able to take action without explicit instructions from — or the awareness of — their human owners, the bar must confront whether existing frameworks like informed consent and client privilege will be sufficient on the day an AI agent calls seeking counsel, say attorneys at Morrison Cohen.

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Quinn Emanuel Founder Exiting Executive Chair Role

By Tracey Read

Four decades after high-stakes litigation firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan first opened in Los Angeles, founding partner John B. Quinn is stepping down as executive chairman of the firm effective immediately.

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ChatGPT Suit Points To Ups And Downs Of Pro Se AI Use

By Cara Bayles

A recent lawsuit against OpenAI highlights many of the hopes and anxieties about pro se litigants using generative artificial intelligence to churn out legal arguments. The technology raises concerns about confidentiality, hallucinations and ethical issues, but some access-to-justice advocates worry the lawsuit may hinder technology that might democratize legal services.

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Burr & Forman Makes Navy Yard Permanent DC Home

By Jack Rodgers

Burr & Forman LLP has made its Navy Yard neighborhood office its permanent home in Washington, D.C., after launching in the city in 2025 with construction partners from Fox Rothschild LLP, the firm announced Monday.

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NJ AG's Office Avoids Defense Of Prosecutor In Ethics Case

By Jake Maher

The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General does not have to defend a county-level prosecutor in an ethics case over allegations he withheld exculpatory evidence, a state appeals court ruled in a precedential decision Monday.

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Squire Patton Taps New Leadership For Public Policy Team

By Andrea Keckley

Squire Patton Boggs LLP announced Monday that it has appointed a longtime partner to lead its global public policy practice.

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Analysis

Trading Scheme Is A 'Wake-Up Call' For BigLaw Compliance

By Chris Villani

The breadth of a decade-long insider trading scheme prosecutors say was fueled by stolen BigLaw merger information should jolt firms to reexamine their practices to close gaps in internal security, experts told Law360, even if totally eliminating bad actors is nearly impossible.

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ABA Advises Nixing Law School DEI Rules Under Scrutiny

By Emma Cueto

The Standards Committee of the American Bar Association's legal education arm has recommended that the section repeal its law school accreditation standards relating to diversity, equity and inclusion, saying that in the face of new government scrutiny, maintaining these requirements for law schools would jeopardize the section's status as a nationwide accreditor.

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Law Firm Says Data Breach Claims Lack Actual Identity Theft

By Zak Kostro

A law firm asked a Michigan federal judge to throw out a proposed class action alleging it allowed a cybersecurity breach to expose its clients' personal and medical information, saying the complaint fails to adequately assert any identity theft or fraud occurred because of the breach.

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Trump Taps 6 Judges, Including Picks Needing Blue Slips

By Courtney Bublé

President Donald Trump announced six judicial nominees on Monday, including picks for the Eighth and Tenth Circuits and two district court picks that needed support from Democrats.

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Colo. Trial Firm Seeks Fees Ruling In Case Against Injury Firm

By Rachel Konieczny

A trial law firm asked a Colorado state court to determine whether a personal injury firm the trial firm contracted with is entitled to fees after the defendant terminated the firms' of-counsel agreement and did so, the trial firm alleged, without good faith.

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