Retail & E-Commerce

July 03, 2025
American Eagle, Amazon Settle Aerie TM Infringement Case

American Eagle Outfitters has agreed to settle its suit claiming that Amazon used the clothing line's Aerie trademarks without permission to drive traffic to its site and trick customers into thinking Amazon sold Aerie products, according to a dismissal order filed in New York federal court.
July 03, 2025
J.Jill Can't Compel Arbitration In False Price Discount Suit

A California federal judge has refused to ship to arbitration a proposed class action accusing J.Jill of advertising false reference prices on products sold throughout its website, finding that the clothing retailer had failed to put the plaintiff on adequate notice that she would be bound to arbitration simply by placing an order as a guest.
July 03, 2025
Calif. Justices Say Ford Can't Arbitrate Fiesta And Focus Suits

Ford Motor Co. cannot force drivers who allege defects in their Focus and Fiesta vehicles to take their claims to arbitration, the California Supreme Court ruled Thursday, rejecting the automaker's argument that the dispute flows from dealership sales contracts containing arbitration provisions that it can invoke.
July 03, 2025
NY Landlord Sues Walmart, Others In Del. Alleging Fraud

A New York City landlord sued Walmart Inc. and the bankruptcy successor to Bonobos Inc. in Delaware's Court of Chancery late Thursday, asserting hundreds of million in claims and compensatory and punitive damages under both Delaware and New York law arising from an allegedly fraudulent transfer of a Fifth Avenue retailer's lease and obligations.
July 03, 2025
Peloton Execs Resolve NY Investor Suit Over Treadmill Risks

A New York federal judge has approved a deal resolving derivative claims against the leadership of fitness company Peloton Interactive Inc., settling allegations of safety issues with its Tread+ treadmill by requiring governance reforms and awarding $1.75 million in attorney fees and costs.
July 03, 2025
7th Circ. Cuts Chicken Price-Fixing Atty Fees Again

A Seventh Circuit panel reduced a $51.6 million fee award for class counsel who took on alleged price-fixing among the country's biggest producers of broiler chickens to about $47 million Wednesday, saying the district court made one easily-correctable error.
July 03, 2025
Dems Query Banks On Any Zelle Fraud Link To Social Media

Top Democratic lawmakers are questioning major banks on how they're protecting customers from "significant scams and fraud" on Zelle, in light of JPMorgan Chase's recent decision to block transactions that originate from social media on the peer-to-peer payment platform.
July 03, 2025
Circuit-By-Circuit Recap: Justices Send Message To Outliers

It was a tough term at the U.S. Supreme Court for two very different circuits — one solidly liberal, one solidly conservative — that had their rulings overturned in eye-popping numbers. But it was another impressive year for a relatively moderate circuit that appears increasingly simpatico with the high court.
July 03, 2025
The Moments That Shaped The Universal Injunction Case

The U.S. Supreme Court voted along ideological lines when it hindered the ability of federal district court judges to issue nationwide pauses on presidential policies, but that outcome didn't seem like a foregone conclusion during oral arguments earlier this year. What do the colloquies suggest about the justices' thinking? Here are some moments that may have swayed them.
July 03, 2025
TRESemme Buyers' Claims Too Tangled For Class Cert.

A New York federal judge has denied class certification for a class of 717 buyers of Unilever's TRESemme shampoo who allege the product caused allergic reactions and hair loss, saying their claims would require too much individual inquiry for class certification to be appropriate.
July 03, 2025
Medela Can't Escape Trade Dress Claim In Breast Pump Suit

An Illinois federal judge has refused to let Medela escape allegations that it infringed a rival's trade dress in a suit over a silicone breast pump design, but agreed to trim a false advertising claim.
July 03, 2025
Cannabis Co. Nectar Sues Chicago Atty For $500K

A Chicago attorney and his business partner are accused of defrauding Oregon-based cannabis company Nectar in a federal lawsuit that claims they promised to secure an Illinois license for the company but instead walked away with hundreds of thousands of dollars.
July 03, 2025
The Firms That Won Big At The Supreme Court

The number of law firms juggling three or more arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court this past term nearly doubled from the number of firms that could make that claim last term.
July 03, 2025
Breaking Down The Vote: The High Court Term In Review

The U.S. Supreme Court once again waited until the term's closing weeks — and even hours — to issue some of its most anticipated and divided decisions.
July 03, 2025
Citgo, Castrol Field Billion-Dollar Bids, And More Deal Rumors

Vitol submitted a more than $10 billion bid to buy the parent of Venezuela-owned U.S. refiner Citgo Petroleum, according to Wednesday reports, but subsequent news indicated that it might not be enough to beat out the competition. Castrol, which is BP's lubricant arm, is also running an auction process, with private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice reportedly emerging as one of the latest bidders.
July 03, 2025
Capital Markets Upturn Sets Stage For Second-Half Rebound

Deals attorneys are approaching the second half of 2025 increasingly confident that capital markets' activity will accelerate despite potential headwinds stemming from higher tariffs, interest rate uncertainties and geopolitical turmoil.
July 03, 2025
The Biggest Rulings From Mass. High Court So Far In 2025

Massachusetts' top court has tackled a controversial housing initiative, the thorny issue of qualified immunity for public employees and even a high-profile murder case in the first six months of 2025.
July 03, 2025
Brookfield Business Partners Sells Stake To Evergreen Fund

Brookfield Business Partners, the flagship listed vehicle of Brookfield Asset Management, on Thursday announced that it has agreed to sell a portion of its stake in three businesses to a new evergreen private equity strategy managed by the group.
July 02, 2025
Amid DEI Uncertainty, Cos. Face Pressure From All Sides

Attorneys have been analyzing the Trump administration's many pronouncements against diversity, equity and inclusion programs over the past several months, only to be left with questions as to what exactly "illegal DEI" is and what the government will do to police it.
July 02, 2025
The Biggest Patent Rulings Of 2025: A Midyear Report

A ruling by the full Federal Circuit invited greater scrutiny of patent damages testimony, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's acting director established new criteria for rejecting patent challenges. Here's a look at the top patent decisions from the first half of 2025.
July 02, 2025
Teamsters Say Kroger Must Arbitrate Health Insurance Dispute

A Teamsters local sought to nix Kroger's attempt to dismiss allegations that the grocery giant won't arbitrate a grievance about health insurance coverage for a worker's family members, telling a Kansas federal judge the company can't raise claims about arbitrability at this point in the proceeding.
July 02, 2025
Amazon Judge Presses FTC On Bid For 'Bad Faith' Finding

As the Federal Trade Commission insisted Wednesday that Amazon should be punished with a bad faith finding for mislabeling documents as privileged in a case over the company's Prime subscription practices, a Washington federal judge questioned why the agency wasn't "made whole" when the court granted its sanctions bid.
July 02, 2025
EQV Ventures' Upsized IPO Tops 4 Listings Totaling $830M

Energy-focused special purpose acquisition company EQV Ventures Acquisition Corp. II began trading Wednesday after pricing an upsized $420 million initial public offering, in the largest of four SPAC IPOs totaling $830 million.
July 02, 2025
Chinese Cannabis Vape Maker Accused Of Monopoly

The Chinese companies behind cannabis vape brand CCELL and a number of its U.S. distributors were accused of organizing an anticompetitive price-fixing scheme that gave them market dominance, according a proposed class action lawsuit, at least the second this year to make similar claims.
July 02, 2025
Ill. Judge Asks Deere Rivals To Stop Pestering Court Staff

The judge overseeing the FTC's antitrust enforcement action against farm machinery maker Deere & Co. has penned a light-hearted order calling out another judge and asking equipment manufacturers to stop calling his staff to ask for advice.

Expert Analysis

Series

My Opera And Baseball Careers Make Me A Better Lawyer

Though participating in opera and the world of professional baseball often pulls me away from the office, my avocations improve my legal career by helping me perform under scrutiny, prioritize team success, and maintain joy and perspective at work, says Adam Unger at Herrick Feinstein.
4 Consumer Class Action Trends To Watch In 2nd Half Of 2025

The first half of 2025 has seen a surge of consumer class action trends related to online tools, websites and marketing messages, creating a new legal risk landscape for companies of all sizes, says Scott Shaffer at Olshan Frome.
8 Ways Lawyers Can Protect The Rule Of Law In Their Work

Whether they are concerned with judicial independence, regulatory predictability or client confidence, lawyers can take specific meaningful actions on their own when traditional structures are too slow or too compromised to respond, says Angeli Patel at the Berkeley Center of Law and Business.
Series

Law School's Missed Lessons: Communicating With Clients

Law school curricula often overlook client communication procedures, and those who actively teach this crucial facet of the practice can create exceptional client satisfaction and success, says Patrick Hanson at Wiggam Law.
Series

Adapting To Private Practice: From US Rep. To Boutique Firm

My transition from serving as a member of Congress to becoming a partner at a boutique firm has been remarkably smooth, in part because I never stopped exercising my legal muscles, maintained relationships with my former colleagues and set the right tone at the outset, says Mondaire Jones at Friedman Kaplan.
Fed. Circ. In May: Evaluating Opportunistic Trademark Filings

The Federal Circuit's decision last month in the "US Space Force" trademark case gives the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board additional clarity when working through opportunistic trademark filings, particularly when the mark's value is primarily due to the potential value of a false connection, say attorneys at Knobbe Martens.
Opinion

Senate's 41% Litigation Finance Tax Would Hurt Legal System

The Senate’s latest version of the Big Beautiful Bill Act would impose a 41% tax on the litigation finance industry, but the tax is totally disconnected from the concerns it purports to address, and it would set the country back to a time when small plaintiffs had little recourse against big defendants, says Anthony Sebok at Cardozo School of Law.
Series

Performing As A Clown Makes Me A Better Lawyer

To say that being a clown in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has changed my legal career would truly be an understatement — by creating an opening to converse on a unique topic, it has allowed me to connect with clients, counsel and even judges on a deeper level, says Charles Tatelbaum at Tripp Scott.
Focusing On Fluoride: From FDA To Class Action

A class action filed two days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced plans to remove ingestible fluoride prescription drug products for children from the market may be the tip of the iceberg in terms of the connection between government pronouncements on safety and their immediate use as evidence in lawsuits, says Rachel Turow at Skadden.
A Guide To Permanent Capital Vehicles As Access Widens

Recent regulatory and legislative actions are making it easier for retail investors to access permanent capital vehicles like closed-end, interval, tender offer and open-end funds, which each offer distinct advantages that are important to review, say attorneys at Mayer Brown.
Series

Law School's Missed Lessons: Rejecting Biz Dev Myths

Law schools don’t spend sufficient time dispelling certain myths that prevent young lawyers from exploring new business opportunities, but by dismissing these misguided beliefs, even an introverted first-year associate with a small network of contacts can find long-term success, says Ronald Levine at Herrick Feinstein.
Move Beyond Surface-Level Edits To Master Legal Writing

Recent instances in which attorneys filed briefs containing artificial intelligence hallucinations offer a stark reminder that effective revision isn’t just about superficial details like grammar — it requires attorneys to critically engage with their writing and analyze their rhetorical choices, says Ivy Grey at WordRake.
9th Circ. Has Muddied Waters Of Article III Pleading Standard

District courts in the Ninth Circuit continue to apply a defunct and especially forgiving pleading standard to questions of Article III standing, and the circuit court itself has only perpetuated this confusion — making it an attractive forum for disputes that have no rightful place in federal court, say attorneys at Gibson Dunn.
Series

Competing In Modern Pentathlon Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Opening myself up to new experiences through competing in modern Olympic pentathlon has shrunk the appearance of my daily work annoyances and helps me improve my patience, manage crises better and remember that acquiring new skills requires working through your early mistakes, says attorney Mary Zoldak.
Series

Law School's Missed Lessons: Teaching Yourself Legal Tech

New graduates often enter practice unfamiliar with even basic professional software, but budding lawyers can use on-the-job opportunities to both catch up on technological skills and explore the advanced legal and artificial intelligence tools that will open doors, says Alyssa Sones at Sheppard Mullin.