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Legal Ethics
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September 16, 2024
Senate Confirms Tenn, Prosecutor To 6th Circ.
The U.S. Senate Monday confirmed federal prosecutor Kevin Ritz to join the Sixth Circuit bench along a 48-46 party line vote following vocal objections from the senior senator from Tennessee over the past few months.
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September 16, 2024
Federal Judges Beat Ethics Complaint Over Clerk Boycotts
Two federal judges did not commit misconduct by joining in a letter with other jurists stating they would not hire students who attend Columbia University or its law school as clerks due to the university's handling of student protests over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Eleventh Circuit Judicial Council has found.
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September 16, 2024
Texas Trio Ordered To Pay Lewis Brisbois $1.5M After TM Spat
A Houston federal judge ordered a Texas trio to pay more than $1.5 million in statutory damages to Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP after finding last month that the group willfully stole the BigLaw behemoth's name for its mediation business in 2022.
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September 16, 2024
Morgan & Morgan Can't Arbitrate Ethics Claims, Court Told
A former client of Morgan & Morgan PA's Jacksonville, Florida, office has told a Georgia federal court to reject its bid to keep his malpractice claims out of court because, he says, the allegations fall within an "ethical grievance" exception in the parties' arbitration agreement.
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September 16, 2024
J&J Cheers Toss Of 'Indefensible' $260M Talc Verdict
An Oregon state judge rejected a jury's $260 million verdict for a woman who blamed Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder for her cancer diagnosis, a company spokesperson said Monday.
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September 16, 2024
Schnader Harrison Inflated Bills Before Collapse, Suit Says
A Philadelphia-based real estate company caught up in a contract dispute over an allegedly botched North Carolina development project has accused the defunct Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP of engaging in a "phantom billing scheme" to boost the firm's revenue ahead of its eventual dissolution last September.
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September 16, 2024
Record Retrieval Co. Hit With Suit Over Data Breach
Medical record retrieval company Compex Legal Services Inc. is facing a proposed class action in California federal court over an April data breach that exposed consumers' personal and health information.
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September 16, 2024
Lawyer Barred For Misleading Another Firm About Costs
A sole practitioner has been banned from the profession after he deliberately gave false information to another law firm about a bill of costs, a London tribunal has ruled.
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September 16, 2024
Nothing Novel About Trump Ex-Atty's Case, Justices Told
Former President Donald Trump urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reject his former attorney Michael Cohen's bid for another look at his suit claiming he was imprisoned as payback for his memoir about his time as Trump's so-called fixer, arguing there's nothing novel about the matter.
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September 16, 2024
Solicitor Barred Over Scheme That 'Bore Hallmarks' Of Fraud
A solicitor has been suspended for 12 months after he admitted to being involved in transactions that "bore hallmarks" of a suspected fraudulent scheme to scam companies by charging advance fees for loan deals that did not materialize.
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September 16, 2024
Lawyer Fined For Claiming Mishcon Represented Pinochet
A high-profile criminal defense lawyer has been fined £6,500 ($8,600) by a disciplinary tribunal for making misleading statements about Mishcon de Reya in an antisemitic broadcast on an Iranian state-owned documentary channel.
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September 16, 2024
Burford Capital Adds Chief Development Role In London
Burford Capital LLC said Monday that it has appointed a legal finance specialist to the newly created role of chief development officer as part of ongoing efforts to expand the legal funder's business in the U.K., the U.S. and beyond.
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September 16, 2024
McCarter & English's Misstatement Won't Nix Malpractice Win
A New Jersey state judge has refused to toss his decision dismissing a biotechnology company's legal malpractice lawsuit against McCarter & English LLP, finding that the firm's misstatement about the chronology of earlier litigation — repeated in the judge's opinion — did not warrant reviving the case.
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September 16, 2024
Ex-Atty In Fla. Charged With Pilfering $650K From Estate
A Florida attorney who was disbarred this year now faces criminal charges alleging that he embezzled nearly $650,000 from a former client's estate.
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September 16, 2024
Law Firm Director Dishonestly Misled Insurer, SRA Says
The solicitors' watchdog told a disciplinary tribunal on Monday that a law firm director had dishonestly concealed the fact that his company had acquired another firm's work and staff after his insurer declined to offer cover for the change.
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September 15, 2024
Top Atty For NYC Mayor Resigns As Fed. Investigations Mount
As investigations and high-profile departures continue around New York City's embattled Mayor Eric Adams, his chief counsel resigned Saturday.
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September 13, 2024
The 2024 Regional Powerhouses
The law firms on Law360's list of 2024 Regional Powerhouses reflected the local peculiarities of their states while often representing clients in deals and cases that captured national attention.
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September 13, 2024
Conn. High Court Snapshot: Firm's Bill Battle Rages In Sept.
The Connecticut Supreme Court's September case lineup tasks the justices with helping a federal court judge decide if McCarter & English LLP can fetch punitive damages in a billing battle with an ex-client, and if parents suing Target and others can be compensated for the impairment of their relationship with their injured child. Here, Law360 previews some highlights of the high court's argument schedule for the month.
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September 13, 2024
Bankman-Fried Lays Blame On Trial Judge In 2nd Circ. Appeal
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried on Friday launched an appeal of his fraud conviction over the cryptocurrency exchange's historic collapse, issuing a broadside against the judge who oversaw his trial and saying FTX's debtor counsel Sullivan & Cromwell LLP acted as an arm of the prosecution.
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September 13, 2024
Judiciary Panel Dems Endorse Amicus Funding Disclosure
A plan to overhaul required financial disclosures in appellate amicus briefs has generated strong early reaction, including from two key congressional Democrats who endorsed the proposals.
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September 13, 2024
Fed. Judges Urged To Stop Clerks From Seeking Political Jobs
Federal judges should prohibit their law clerks from applying for postclerkship jobs with political organizations, as that may connect the judges' chambers to political activity, a judiciary committee said in ethics guidance issued this week.
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September 13, 2024
Trio Of BigLaw Mergers Expected To Drive More Deal Talks
After months of a relatively steady pace of law firm mergers and acquisitions, the trio of proposed BigLaw tie-ups announced in recent days will likely spur more firms toward entertaining similar deal talks, experts say. Here, Law360 offers a snapshot of the proposed deals.
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September 13, 2024
Doctor Charged In DOJ Fraud Suit Gets 6 Months Probation
One of the defendants accused in a healthcare fraud suit that ended in a mistrial in 2022 was sentenced Thursday to six months of probation after pleading guilty in June to one count of aiding and abetting the conversion of public money in connection with the alleged fraud.
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September 13, 2024
Ga. Lawyers Group Blast 'Chill' Of Young Thug Atty Contempt
A Georgia criminal defense lawyers group has called on the state Supreme Court to erase the contempt conviction of an attorney representing rapper Young Thug for the lawyer's refusal to reveal how he learned about a judge's closed-door meeting with prosecutors and a witness, saying the sanction could have a chilling effect on attorneys' ability to represent criminal defendants.
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September 13, 2024
Lawyers To Face Tribunal Over Allegations Of Asylum Lies
Two more solicitors must face a London disciplinary tribunal over allegations they advised clients to provide fake stories in their asylum claims following an undercover Daily Mail investigation into bogus asylum applications.
Expert Analysis
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Tips For Litigating Against Pro Se Parties In Complex Disputes
Litigating against self-represented parties in complex cases can pose unique challenges for attorneys, but for the most part, it requires the same skills that are useful in other cases — from documenting everything to understanding one’s ethical duties, says Bryan Ketroser at Alto Litigation.
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Pro Bono Work Is Powerful Self-Help For Attorneys
Oct. 22-28 is Pro Bono Week, serving as a useful reminder that offering free legal help to the public can help attorneys expand their legal toolbox, forge community relationships and create human connections, despite the challenges of this kind of work, says Orlando Lopez at Culhane Meadows.
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Series
Playing In A Rock Cover Band Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Performing in a classic rock cover band has driven me to hone several skills — including focus, organization and networking — that have benefited my professional development, demonstrating that taking time to follow your muse outside of work can be a boon to your career, says Michael Gambro at Cadwalader.
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Series
The Pop Culture Docket: Judge Espinosa On 'Lincoln Lawyer'
The murder trials in Netflix’s “The Lincoln Lawyer” illustrate the stark contrast between the ethical high ground that fosters and maintains the criminal justice system's integrity, and the ethical abyss that can undermine it, with an important reminder for all legal practitioners, say Judge Adam Espinosa and Andrew Howard at the Colorado 2nd Judicial District Court.
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What Panama Canal Award Ruling Means For Int'l Arbitration
As the prevalence of international arbitration grows, the Eighth Circuit’s recent decision in Grupo Unidos v. Canal de Panama may change how practitioners decide what remedies to seek and where to raise them if claims are rejected, says Jerry Roth at FedArb.
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Opinion
Newman Suspension Shows Need For Judicial Reform
The recent suspension of U.S. Circuit Judge Pauline Newman following her alleged refusal to participate in a disability inquiry reveals the need for judicial misconduct reforms to ensure that judges step down when they can no longer serve effectively, says Aliza Shatzman at The Legal Accountability Project.
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How And Why Your Firm Should Implement Fixed-Fee Billing
Amid rising burnout in the legal industry and client efforts to curtail spending, pivoting to a fixed-fee billing model may improve client-attorney relationships and offer lawyers financial, logistical and stress relief — while still maintaining profit margins, say Kevin Henderson and Eric Pacifici at SMB Law Group.
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Opinion
Judicial Independence Needs Defense Amid Political Threats
Amid recent and historic challenges to the judiciary from political forces, safeguarding judicial independence and maintaining the integrity of the legal system is increasingly urgent, says Robert Peck at the Center for Constitutional Litigation.
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How Law Firms Can Use Account-Based Marketing Strategies
Amid several evolving legal industry trends, account-based marketing can help law firms uncover additional revenue-generating opportunities with existing clients, with key considerations ranging from data analytics to relationship building, say Jennifer Ramsey at stage LLC and consultant Gina Sponzilli.
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Strategic Succession Planning At Law Firms Is Crucial
Senior partners' reluctance to retire, the rise of the nonequity partner tier and generational differences in expectations are all contributing to an increasing number of departures from BigLaw, making it imperative for firms to encourage retirement among senior ranks and provide clearer leadership pathways to junior attorneys, says Laura Leopard at Leopard Solutions.
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Maximizing Law Firm Profitability In Uncertain Times
As threats of an economic downturn loom, firms can boost profits by embracing the power of bottom-line management and creating an ecosystem where strategic financial oversight and robust timekeeping practices meet evolved client relations, says Shireen Hilal at Maior Strategic Consulting.
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Alleged $636M Deal Error Highlights Ethics Considerations
Adelman v. Proskauer, a malpractice suit that allegedly arose from a cut-and-paste error resulting in potential damages of $636 million, presents an intriguing juxtaposition of facts and legal issues — and practical ethical considerations for transactions attorneys, says Richard Leisner at Trenam Law.
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5th Circ. Ruling Reminds Attys That CBP Can Search Devices
The Fifth Circuit’s recent Malik v. Department of Homeland Security decision adds to the chorus of federal courts holding that border agents don’t need a warrant to search travelers’ electronic devices, so attorneys should consider certain special precautions to secure privileged information when reentering the U.S., says Jennifer Freel at Jackson Walker.
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Alleged $636M Deal Error Shows Value Of Old-School Methods
Though Proskauer Rose has now settled claims involving a copy-paste error in deal documents that could have resulted in $636 million in damages, the debacle reminds attorneys that classic revision methods using paper copies can help avoid drafting errors and actually save time in the long run, says Richard Leisner at Trenam.
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Twitter Sanction Highlights Privacy Law's Complexity
The D.C. Circuit's recent decision to uphold a sanction against X Corp., formerly known as Twitter, for failing to produce account records in response to a subpoena highlights the importance of understanding the Stored Communications Act, particularly when deciding to produce or not produce data, says Cary Aronovitz at Holland & Knight.