New Jersey Pulse

Threat Hunting And Training: Law Firms' New Cyber Strategy

By Steven Lerner

Some law firms are taking new steps to stop cyberattacks before they occur, including the use of threat hunting, increased automation and updated training to prepare staff for today's more sophisticated bad actors.

NJ Atty Sanctioned For Citing AI-Generated Fake Case Law

By Emily Sawicki

A New Jersey federal judge on Thursday issued a $3,000 monetary sanction on an attorney for violating Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure by submitting a reply brief including fabricated case law citations and later acknowledging that his use of generative artificial intelligence contributed to the errors.

Capehart Scatchard Adds NJ Atty Duo To School Law Team

By Jake Maher

Capehart Scatchard PA has added a new shareholder with over 14 years of experience and a new associate to its school law department, the firm announced this week.

Litigation Spending To Keep Growing As Biz Risks Run High

By Jack Karp

Companies are likely to increase their spending on litigation next year, some by over 10%, as legal disputes become more complex, more contentious and more high-stakes, according to a new report out Thursday.

Former Duane Morris Enviro Atty Joins Wilentz Goldman In NJ

By Jake Maher

Wilentz Goldman & Spitzer PA has expanded its environmental team with the hire of a compliance specialist from Duane Morris LLP who has experience advising petrochemical and gasoline clients, the firm announced on Wednesday.

Eckert Seamans Names New Practice Group And DC Leaders

By Lynn LaRowe

Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott LLC announced Wednesday that it has appointed a new member-in-charge for its Washington, D.C., office and made changes to the leadership of four of the firm's practice groups.

Courts Told Head-In-The-Sand Approach To AI Can Backfire

By Sarah Martinson

State courts might be inclined not to implement generative artificial intelligence tools or to ban staff from using them to avoid hallucinations and privacy breaches, but that strategy could backfire, a panelist told a court technology conference Tuesday.

Office Snapshot: Kennedys Invests In US Presence At NJ Hub

By Jake Maher

Global insurance firm Kennedys announced a new location at The Park in Berkeley Heights for its New Jersey office — which houses much of the firm’s business operations staff — as the firm continues to invest in expansion in the United States.

Acting US Atty Denies Prosecution Of Lawmaker Is 'Selective'

By Parker Quinlan

The U.S. Department of Justice has requested that assault charges not be dismissed against U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, pushing back on claims the government is selectively prosecuting her following a confrontation with federal agents in May at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark.

NJ Justices Suspend Atty Over Bank Loan Scheme Conviction

By Emily Sawicki

The New Jersey Supreme Court has indefinitely suspended an attorney and former director of the now-shuttered Park Avenue Bank after he was convicted for his role in a scheme to profit off of a loan using a straw borrower.

Seward & Kissel, Ex-Client At Odds Over NJ Malpractice Docs

By Emily Sawicki

Seward & Kissel LLP has been accused of orchestrating a "ruse" to avoid discovery obligations in a New Jersey state court malpractice suit, according to a letter filed by the wife of hedge fund Two Sigma Investments LP's founder.

Summer Associates Remain On The Fence About AI In Law

By Sarah Martinson

Most summer associates used generative artificial intelligence tools at their firms this year, but views on adoption were mixed. Students told Law360 Pulse the tools were useful for research and drafting, but voiced concerns over reliability, job loss and diminished writing skills.

These Firms Were The Top For Their Summer Associates

By Alison Knezevich

Working as a summer associate is a rite of passage for many law students, and these training programs can boost aspiring attorneys' confidence in their career paths. Find out what students valued most and how they rated those experiences in a new survey from Law360 Pulse.

What Summer Associates Learned From Working At Firms

We asked this year's cohort about the most valuable lessons they learned during their summer associateship. Here's the advice they shared for those ready to jump into law firm life.

Sills Cummis Aims To Block Atty, Paralegal Depos In Fees Suit

By Emily Sawicki

Sills Cummis & Gross PC has asked a New Jersey state court to block a former client's bid for depositions in a lawsuit alleging the law firm padded legal bills that reached about $1.5 million, arguing the testimony is "unnecessary and improper."

Lowenstein Sandler Unveils Tech-Centered Data Privacy Team

By Jake Maher

Lowenstein Sandler LLP has rolled out a new multidisciplinary data privacy team, bringing together attorneys with both legal and tech experience to advise on a range of data-related issues.

Feds Urge 3rd Circ. To Restore NJ US Atty's Authority

By Emily Sawicki

The federal government has urged the Third Circuit to reverse a district court ruling disqualifying acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba from prosecuting two criminal cases in New Jersey after the clock allegedly ran out on her interim term, arguing that her appointment is valid and that the court erred in its interpretation of the statute.

Reed Smith Names Department And Practice Group Leaders

By Rose Krebs

Reed Smith LLP announced Monday that it has made changes to its department and practice group leadership, including the appointment of attorneys to lead its U.S. global commercial disputes practice group and co-lead its global litigation and dispute resolution department.

NJ AG Names New Leader Of Public Integrity Office

By Jake Maher

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced Monday that he has appointed a longtime prosecutor with a track record of handling high-profile corruption cases to lead the state Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.

Princeton Equity Group Adds New General Counsel as Partner

By Christine DeRosa

New Jersey-based Princeton Equity Group has found its general counsel in a former managing director at Piper Sandler, the group announced Monday.

Law360's Legal Lions Of The Week

By Kevin Penton

Kaplan Martin LLP leads this week's edition of Law360 Legal Lions, after the Second Circuit upheld an $83.3 million award against President Donald Trump for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll in 2019 in the wake of her sexual assault allegations, rejecting his claims of presidential immunity.

Greenberg Traurig Co-Founder Placed Firm Above Himself

By Madison Arnold

Larry J. Hoffman cared so much about the firm now known as Greenberg Traurig LLP that he wanted to remove himself from its name.

Connell Foley Brings On Political Vet As Gov't Affairs Adviser

By Jake Maher

Connell Foley LLP expanded its regulatory and compliance team this week with the addition of an adviser bringing high-level experience at Rowan University and the New Jersey Senate Majority Office.

NJ AG Asks Judge To Toss Suit Over Rapid DNA Memo

By Carla Baranauckas

The New Jersey Attorney General's Office is asking a state judge to dismiss the state Office of the Public Defender's lawsuit seeking the release of an internal legal memorandum about the use of rapid DNA technology, saying the complaint is time-barred and its release would breach attorney-client privilege.

Law Firms Push Back On AI Vendors' All-Or-Nothing Pricing

By Steven Lerner

Law firms exploring legal generative artificial intelligence tools want flexible contract terms, but some report that vendors are pushing firmwide licenses tied to multiyear commitments.