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Legal Ethics

  • October 22, 2025

    Fed. Circ. Faults PTAB Ax In Centripetal Case But Not Recusal

    The Federal Circuit on Wednesday vacated the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's invalidation of Centripetal Networks LLC cybersecurity patent claims challenged by Cisco Systems Inc. in a high-stakes dispute, but rejected Centripetal's argument that the case was tainted by a PTAB judge's ownership of Cisco stock.

  • October 22, 2025

    Ohio Derailment Attys Can Start Contempt Bid Before Audit

    An Ohio federal judge has granted a request from class counsel to advance a bid to hold the administrator of Norfolk Southern's $600 million derailment settlement in contempt without having to wait for the results of a court-ordered audit. 

  • October 22, 2025

    Tax Court Judge Warns Against Unchecked AI Use In Filings

    A U.S. Tax Court judge cautioned attorneys Wednesday against relying on artificial intelligence to write filings without verifying the information it generates, saying recent "unfortunate incidents" have prompted the court to double down on accuracy in using such tools.

  • October 22, 2025

    Privilege 'Dramatization' Won't Shield 7K Docs In Ads MDL

    An Illinois federal judge took Meredith, Nexstar, Sinclair and other broadcasters to task Monday for trying to withhold 6,893 documents in multidistrict litigation alleging a television advertising price-fixing scheme, finding it "necessary to level set with defendants" on their own failings to justify withholding the material from ad buyers.

  • October 22, 2025

    Feds Fight Early Release For Atty Convicted Of $550M Fraud

    Federal prosecutors on Tuesday opposed compassionate release of a Kentucky lawyer who fled the country after pleading guilty to a $550 million Social Security fraud scheme, telling the Sixth Circuit that the lawyer's medical conditions are being adequately treated in prison and the seriousness of his crimes warranted more time behind bars.

  • October 22, 2025

    NY Atty Shouldn't Bring FCA Suit Against Ex-Client, Bar Says

    A New York attorney has been cautioned that, in most cases, it is unethical to act as a relator in a qui tam False Claims Act suit against his former client, with new guidance warning against using information gained during representation to later bring such claims against former clients.

  • October 22, 2025

    Calif. Judge Censured For Delayed Rulings, Lying About Them

    A California state judge has been publicly censured for taking more than six months to issue some decisions and lying about those delays on his salary affidavits, according to the state's judicial ethics body.

  • October 22, 2025

    Ex-NY AGs Say James Case Will Rally Office: 'Fuel To The Fire'

    New York Attorney General Letitia James' criminal prosecution is unlikely to have any significant effect on the day-to-day operations of her office, including its suits against the federal government and an appeal in President Donald Trump's nearly $500 million civil fraud case, but former leaders of the office say it could strengthen the resolve of her staff.

  • October 21, 2025

    Apple Slams 'Fatally Broad' App Store Injunction At 9th Circ.

    Apple urged the Ninth Circuit Tuesday to scrap a mandate blocking it from charging any commission on iPhone app purchases made outside its systems, slamming the district court's "fatally broad" injunction and arguing that the court's zero-commission rule is "the antithesis of a proper civil contempt remedy."

  • October 21, 2025

    Uber MDL Judge Sets Litigation Funding Disclosure Deadline

    A California federal judge ruled Tuesday in multidistrict litigation accusing Uber Technologies Inc. of failing to prevent drivers from sexually assaulting passengers that plaintiffs' counsel must disclose any ties to third-party litigation funding companies by next week, but stopped short of ordering all plaintiffs' counsel to affirmatively deny any connection.

  • October 21, 2025

    Baker McKenzie Can't Get Illinois Malpractice Suit Tossed

    An Illinois state judge has refused to dismiss a private equity firm's malpractice suit accusing Baker McKenzie of botching a client's bid to reacquire a Russian coal mine, saying the plaintiffs have sufficiently pled claims sustainable under both Illinois and Russian law at this stage of the case.

  • October 21, 2025

    NY Courts Can't Shield Memos To State Judges

    The New York State Office of Court Administration may have to finally turn over a batch of "secret memos" that instruct state judges on how to interpret the law, the state's highest court ruled Tuesday.

  • October 21, 2025

    Cybersecurity Co. Wants Sanctions For 'Frivolous' Patent Suit

    A Georgia-based cybersecurity firm facing allegations that it ripped off a software developer's patent called for sanctions Tuesday against the developer for his "frivolous" lawsuit, arguing his complaint misrepresents the "clear and unmistakable" language of a deal to give the company use of the technology.

  • October 21, 2025

    Colo. Federal Courts Halt Atty Discipline For Shutdown

    The U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado has suspended all attorney discipline investigations in light of the government shutdown.

  • October 21, 2025

    Fla. Investor Sues NY Atty Over Litigation Funding 'Scheme'

    A New York lawyer is facing state court claims alleging he scammed a Florida investor out of more than $2.5 million by "effectively running a Ponzi scheme" under the guise of a litigation finance investment.

  • October 21, 2025

    Georgia Atty Can't Shake Contempt Conviction For Tardiness

    An attorney who was hours late for jury selection in a felony case in Georgia received adequate notice that the matter was set for trial and cannot avoid a judge's criminal contempt finding, a state appellate panel ruled Tuesday.

  • October 21, 2025

    Connell Foley Hit With $40M Suit Over NJ Hotel Project

    A hotel developer is mounting a $40 million malpractice lawsuit against Connell Foley LLP in New Jersey state court, alleging the firm steered it into costly arbitration with a contractor on a hotel construction project.

  • October 21, 2025

    NJ Attys Face Greater Transparency For Client Testimonials

    New Jersey lawyers must follow new transparency requirements in using client testimonials in their advertising, according to a new opinion published on Tuesday.

  • October 21, 2025

    NY Atty Blames Another Lawyer For AI-Faked Case Citations

    A New York attorney on Tuesday denied ever having used artificial intelligence in his law practice and said the fake, AI-hallucinated cases cited in a motion to dismiss a case against his client were prepared by another attorney.

  • October 21, 2025

    Judge Won't Rush Ruling On Proposed Comey 'Filter Team'

    A Virginia federal judge rejected prosecutors' request for him to quickly rule on a proposed "filter team" to review potentially privileged evidence in their case against James Comey on Monday, ruling that the standard 14-day period for the former FBI director's team to fully respond to the proposal balances speed and fairness.

  • October 20, 2025

    'Unacceptable': NC DOJ Rebuked For Repeat Rule Violations

    A Raleigh, North Carolina, federal judge has sanctioned the state's Department of Justice, accusing one of its prosecutors of filing a frivolous motion in order to delay trial in an illegal detention lawsuit, while noting this isn't the first time the office has "tested the patience" of the federal judiciary.

  • October 20, 2025

    Miami Atty Accused Of Defamation For False Media Campaign

    A Miami luxury homebuilder is suing attorney Javier Lopez and his former firm Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton PA for defamation, claiming he made false statements to the press and to third parties calling the homebuilder a criminal who was under FBI investigation.

  • October 20, 2025

    IT Company Says Plaintiff In Contract Suit Threatened Worker

    An information technology company defending against claims that it committed fraud while performing a contract for online retailer Wayfair LLC told a Texas federal court the plaintiff who brought the suit should be sanctioned for threatening an employee.

  • October 20, 2025

    DA Willis' Subpoena Appeal On Hold After Testimony Deal

    Georgia's highest court agreed Monday to put off hearing a fight over whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis can be brought before a legislative committee investigating her handling of the election interference case against President Donald Trump after Willis agreed to appear before the lawmakers next month.

  • October 20, 2025

    Reggaeton Copyright Clash Sparks Dueling Sanctions Bids

    Attorneys in a copyright lawsuit about the origins of Reggaeton are embroiled in competing motions for sanctions, with lawyers representing Jamaican musicians — who accuse the genre's leading stars of infringement — arguing that the court's ire should be directed at opposing counsel's recent sanctions request over allegedly fabricated quotes.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Mastering Discovery

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    The discovery process and the rules that govern it are often absent from law school curricula, but developing a solid grasp of the particulars can give any new attorney a leg up in their practice, says Jordan Davies at Knowles Gallant.

  • Alternative Business Structures Raise Ethics Questions

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    The new KPMG law firm, launched in Arizona following that state's repeal of the prohibition on fee sharing with nonlawyers, raises a number of important practice questions, both for the firm and those law firms seeking to partner with it, says Deborah Winokur at Cozen O’Connor.

  • Series

    Playing Guitar Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Being a lawyer not only requires logic and hard work, but also belief, emotion, situational awareness and lots of natural energy — playing guitar enhances all of these qualities, increasing my capacity to do my best work, says Kosta Stojilkovic at Wilkinson Stekloff.

  • Crisis Management Lessons From The Parenting Playbook

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    The parenting skills we use to help our kids through challenges — like rehearsing for stressful situations, modeling confidence and taking time to reset our emotions — can also teach us the fundamentals of leading clients through a corporate crisis, say Deborah Solmor at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and Cara Peterman at Alston & Bird.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From NY Fed To BigLaw

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    While the move to private practice brings a learning curve, it also brings chances to learn new skills and grow your network, requiring a clear understanding of how your skills can complement and contribute to a firm's existing practice, and where you can add new value, says Meghann Donahue at Covington.

  • Top 3 Litigation Finance Deal-Killers, And How To Avoid Them

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    Like all transactions, litigation finance deals can sometimes collapse, but understanding the most common reasons for failure, including a lack of trust or a misunderstanding of deal terms, can help both parties avoid problems, say Rebecca Berrebi at Avenue 33 and Boris Ziser at Schulte Roth.

  • How Attys Can Use A Therapy Model To Help Triggered Clients

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    Attorneys can lean on key principles from a psychotherapeutic paradigm known as the "Internal Family Systems" model to help manage triggered clients and get settlement negotiations back on track, says Jennifer Gibbs at Zelle.

  • Opinion

    Third-Party Funding Transparency Is Key In Patent Suits

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    Third-party litigation funding is a growing industry that could benefit from enhanced disclosure standards to ensure transparency, as challenges in obtaining discovery of such funding can complicate patent litigation against nonpracticing entities, say attorneys at Skadden.

  • 3 Steps For In-House Counsel To Assess Litigation Claims

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    Before a potential economic downturn, in-house attorneys should investigate whether their company is sitting on hidden litigation claims that could unlock large recoveries to help the business withstand tough times, says Will Burgess at Hilgers Graben.

  • Series

    Teaching College Students Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Serving as an adjunct college professor has taught me the importance of building rapport, communicating effectively, and persuading individuals to critically analyze the difference between what they think and what they know — principles that have helped to improve my practice of law, says Sheria Clarke at Nelson Mullins.

  • Atty Insurance Implications Of Rising Nonclient Cyber Claims

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    As law firms are increasingly targeted in cyberattacks, claims by clients as well as nonclients against lawyers are also on the rise, increasing the scope of exposure that attorneys face in their practice, say attorneys at Wilson Elser.

  • Why Attys Should Get Familiar With Quantum Computing

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    Quantum computing is projected to pose significant updates to current practices in cryptography, making the issue relevant to policymakers and the legal profession generally, particularly when it comes to data storage, privacy regulations and pharmaceutical industry market changes, say professors at the University of San Francisco.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From DOJ Enviro To Mid-Law

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    Practitioners leaving a longtime government role for private practice — as when I departed the U.S. Department of Justice’s environmental enforcement division — should prioritize finding a firm that shares their principles, values their experience and will invest in their transition, says John Cruden at Beveridge & Diamond.

  • Legal Ethics Considerations For Law Firm Pro Bono Deals

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    If a law firm enters into a pro bono deal with the Trump administration in exchange for avoiding or removing an executive order, it has an ethical obligation to create a written settlement agreement with specific terms, which would mitigate some potential conflict of interest problems, says Andrew Altschul at Buchanan Angeli.

  • Series

    Playing Football Made Me A Better Lawyer

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    While my football career ended over 15 years ago, the lessons the sport taught me about grit, accountability and resilience have stayed with me and will continue to help me succeed as an attorney, says Bert McBride at Trenam.

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