UPS Waiting On Feds To Refund Tariff Costs, Court Told

By Jack McLoone

An Atlanta federal court should, at minimum, pause a proposed class action looking to force UPS to reimburse customers for costs they incurred as the result of struck-down reciprocal tariffs, the shipping giant said, as the company itself is still waiting on refunds.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Canada Plans Billions To Shield Steel, Autos From US Tariffs

By Jack McLoone

The Canadian government announced a cumulative CA$5.22 billion ($3.72 billion) in funding for programs to diversify Canadian steel production and open new overseas markets as part of its ongoing response to U.S. tariffs, while also announcing programs for automotives.

1 document attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Dems Seek GAO Review Of $166B Tariff Refund Operation

By Dylan Moroses

Democratic lawmakers serving in the U.S. House and Senate asked for the Government Accountability Office to evaluate Customs and Border Protection's administration of a tariff refund system designed to repay importers the $166 billion in paid duties deemed unlawful earlier this year by the U.S. Supreme Court, according to a Thursday news release.

Letter attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Brief

EU, Canada Aim To Finalize Digital Trade Deal

By Dylan Moroses

Canada and the European Union are nearing conclusion of a digital trade agreement following recent efforts by both sides to strengthen economic ties, the bloc's top trade official said Thursday.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Voltage Can't Keep Shoals ITC Appeal Alive At Fed. Circ.

By Theresa Schliep

The Federal Circuit on Thursday allowed Shoals Technologies Group LLC to drop its appeal of a U.S. International Trade Commission decision that Voltage LLC didn't infringe its solar power patent after prevailing in another case, even though Voltage opposed the dismissal request.

3 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Starbucks Seeks To Exit Supply Chain Forced Labor Suit

By Rachel Riley

Starbucks has called on a Washington federal judge to throw out a proposed class action accusing the java giant of relying on Brazilian coffee farms that forced workers to endure inhumane conditions, arguing Wednesday that the plaintiffs haven't shown the plantations that employed them supplied its beans.  

Motion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Trump, World Liberty Sued Over 'Corrupt' $2B UAE Deal

By Aislinn Keely

A former employee of stablecoin issuer Circle sued President Donald Trump and the Trump-tied crypto firm World Liberty Financial Thursday over allegedly "corrupt" business deals with the United Arab Emirates that the software engineer says violated the Constitution and harmed his former employer.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Skechers Accused Of Using Tariffs To Shortchange Investors

By Jessica Corso

Skechers USA Inc. is facing a lawsuit in California federal court accusing it of overstating the impact that tariffs would have on its business in order to defraud investors into agreeing to a $9.4 billion take-private transaction.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Reed Smith Seeks 2nd Circ. Emergency Stay In Eletson Row

By Bonnie Eslinger

Reed Smith urged the Second Circuit in an emergency motion to pause lower court decisions requiring the firm to turn over client files related to shipping company Eletson, saying the courts have "presumed the outcome" of a bankruptcy appeal before scheduled December oral arguments.

Brief attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Investor Says $68M Bulgaria Award Can't Be Nixed

By Gautama Mehta

A renewable energy investor asked the D.C. Circuit to enforce a €61 million ($68 million) arbitral award it won from Bulgaria, arguing Bulgaria's accession to the European Union did not render the treaty under which that award was granted inapplicable.

Brief attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

How NRC's New Rules Alter Foreign-Financed Reactor Deals

New Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules for reactor licensing open U.S. nuclear projects to foreign capital, presenting new considerations for structuring governance, diligence and approvals to secure and maintain eligibility, says J. Brin Gibson at Spencer Fane.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Series

Being In The Peace Corps Made Me A Better Lawyer

When I served in the Peace Corps, the people of the West African village where I was stationed helped me acclimate to my new surroundings and enabled me to develop problem-solving, teamwork and empathy skills that have bolstered my legal practice far beyond the ability to offer technical advice, says Brian Bewley at McGuireWoods.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

New Weil-Willkie Domains Add To Merger Speculation

By Marialuisa Taddia

Two domain names that combine the names of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP have been registered, fueling speculation about a potential merger between the two prominent Wall Street law firms.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Bonus Spotlight

Hueston Hennigan Bumps Clerkship Bonus To $205K

By Lynn LaRowe

Trial boutique Hueston Hennigan is offering a $205,000 bonus to lawyers who have completed one or more federal clerkships, the firm confirmed Thursday.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

'Grave Errors': 5th Circ. Boots Judge After AI 'Botch Job'

By Jeff Overley

A Mississippi federal judge's careless use of artificial intelligence tools led to "sloppy edicts" riddled with "falsehoods and fabrications," the Fifth Circuit held in a Thursday night opinion removing the judge from litigation over an anti-DEI law in the Magnolia State because of his "extraordinarily grave errors."

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Texas Judge Probe Shows Lack Of Mental Impairment Process

By Jack Karp

Fifth Circuit officials have done a reasonable job of handling a rare situation involving a Texas federal judge who appears to be undergoing a mental health crisis, but the episode highlights that a more standardized way of dealing with federal judges experiencing mental impairment needs to be established, experts and scholars say.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Jackson Walker Hits Back At Fee Clawback Sanction Move

By Vince Sullivan

Law firm Jackson Walker said Wednesday that it should not be sanctioned for failing to bring to a Texas federal judge's attention additional cases involving an undisclosed romantic relationship between a bankruptcy judge and one of its attorneys because the U.S. Trustee already investigated those cases and didn't take action.

Response attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

GOP Reps. Seek Probe Of Fla. Judge's Sanctions Order

By Courtney Bublé

Top Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee asked the Judicial Conference Thursday to investigate a Florida federal judge for potential misconduct with an order she issued in the case involving the leak of President Donald Trump's tax returns.

Letter attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

JPMorgan, Ex-Frank Execs Clash Over $2.1M In Legal Fees

By Jarek Rutz

JPMorgan Chase & Co. faced renewed demands in the Delaware Chancery Court on Thursday to pay about $2.1 million in withheld legal fees for convicted Frank founder Charlie Javice and former executive Olivier Amar, as their lawyers accused the bank of using repeated billing objections to delay funding for their criminal defenses.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Roundup MDL Atty Fund 'Cries Out' For Review, 9th Circ. Told

By Dorothy Atkins

Plaintiffs' firms urged the Ninth Circuit to reverse a ruling Thursday requiring them to contribute 8% of their recovery fees to a common benefit fund in multidistrict litigation over Monsanto's Roundup weed killer, arguing the judge ignored a special master's recommendation and the issue "cries out for some appellate supervision."

Read full article » | Save to favorites »