Expert Analysis

• When Legal Advocacy Crosses The Line Into Incivility

  

  As judges issue sanctions for courtroom incivility, and state bars advance formal discipline rules, trial lawyers must understand that the difference between zealous advocacy and unprofessionalism is not just a matter of tone; it's a marker of skill, credibility and potentially disciplinary exposure, says Nate Sabri at Perkins Coie.

• 3 Corporate Deposition Prep Tips To Counter 'Reptile' Tactics

  

  With plaintiffs counsel’s rising use of reptile strategies that seek to activate jurors' survival instincts, corporate deponents face an increased risk of being lulled into providing testimony that undercuts a key defense or sets up the plaintiff's case strategy at trial, making it important to consider factors like cross-examination and timing, say attorneys at Dentons.

• FCPA Enforcement Is Here To Stay, But It May Look Different

  

  After a monthslong enforcement pause, the U.S. Department of Justice’s new Foreign Corrupt Practices Act guidelines fundamentally shift prosecutorial discretion and potentially reduce investigatory burdens for organizations, but open questions remain, so companies should continue to exercise caution, say attorneys at Simpson Thacher.

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  Volunteering At Schools Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  Speaking to elementary school students about the importance of college and other opportunities after high school — especially students who may not see those paths reflected in their daily lives — not only taught me the importance of giving back, but also helped to sharpen several skills essential to a successful legal practice, says Guillermo Escobedo at Constangy.

• Attacks On Judicial Independence Tend To Manifest In 3 Ways

  

  Attacks on judicial independence now run the gamut from gross (bald-faced interference) to systemic (structural changes) to insidious (efforts to undermine public trust), so lawyers, judges and the public must recognize the fateful moment in which we live and defend the rule of law every day, says Jim Moliterno at Washington and Lee University.

• Statistics Tools Chart A Path For AI Use In Expert Testimony

  

  To avoid the fate of numerous expert witnesses whose testimony was recently deemed inadmissible by courts, experts relying on artificial intelligence and machine learning should learn from statistical tools’ road to judicial acceptance, say directors at Secretariat.

• Remediation Still Reigns Despite DOJ's White Collar Shake-Up

  

  Though the U.S. Department of Justice’s recently announced corporate enforcement policy changes adopt a softer tone acknowledging the risks of overregulation, the DOJ has not shifted its compliance and remediation expectations, which remain key to more favorable resolutions, say Jonny Frank, Michele Edwards and Chris Hoyle at StoneTurn.

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  Law School's Missed Lessons: Appreciating Civil Procedure

  

  If you’re like me, law school’s often complex and theoretical approach to teaching civil procedure may have contributed to an early struggle with the topic, but when seen from a practical perspective, new lawyers may find they enjoy mastering these rules, says Chloe Villagomez at Foster Garvey.

• Calif. Bar Exam Fiasco Shows Why Attys Must Disclose AI Use

  

  The recent revelation that a handful of questions from the controversial California bar exam administered in February were drafted using generative artificial intelligence demonstrates the continued importance of disclosure for attorneys who use AI tools, say attorneys at Troutman.

• The Sentencing Guidelines Are Commencing A New Era

  

  Sweeping new amendments to the U.S. sentencing guidelines — including the elimination of departure provisions — intended to promote transparency and individualized justice while still guarding against unwarranted disparities will have profound consequences for all stakeholders, say attorneys at Blank Rome.

• Max Pressure On Iran May Raise Secondary Sanctions Risk

  

  New sanctions designations announced June 6 are the latest in a slew of actions the administration has taken to put pressure on Iran’s military programs and petroleum exports that will likely increase non-U.S. businesses’ secondary sanctions risk, says John Sandage at Berliner Corcoran.

• White Collar Archetypes: Molding Your 'Great Gatsby' Ally

  

  To ensure their witnesses effectively perform the role of ally and earn jurors’ trust at trial, white collar attorneys can glean a few lessons from the narrator of “The Great Gatsby,” whose credibility with readers arises in part from his perspective as both an insider and an outsider, say attorneys at Lightfoot Franklin.

• In 2nd Place, Va. 'Rocket Docket' Remains Old Reliable

  

  The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia was again one of the fastest civil trial courts in the nation last year, and an interview with the court’s newest judge provides insights into why it continues to soar, says Robert Tata at Hunton.

• What FCA Liability Looks Like In The Cybersecurity Realm

  

  ​Two recent settlements highlight how whistleblowers and the U.S. Department of Justice have been utilizing the False Claims Act to allege fraud predicated on violations of cybersecurity standards — timely lessons given new bipartisan legislation introducing potential FCA liability for artificial intelligence use, say​ attorneys Rachel Rose and Julie Bracker.

• Foreign Sovereign Entities Should Heed 9th Circ. IP Ruling

  

  After the Ninth Circuit recently held that four Chinese state-controlled companies were not immune from criminal indictment for alleged economic espionage, foreign sovereign-controlled entities should assess whether their operations and affiliation with their parent states qualify for sovereign immunity under the common law, say attorneys at Cleary.