National Law Journal

Supreme Court Considers Bar on Back-to-Back Habeas Filings

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 15:57:22 EST

The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in Guerrero v. Johnson, Texas' bid to reinstate the death penalty for convicted murderer Dexter Johnson over the 2006 killing and sexual assault of Maria Aparece.

'Lawyer Up': Big Law Attorneys Prepare for Congressional Investigations, M&A Flurry Following Democratic Landslide

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 13:04:00 EST

Congressional investigations work is almost certain to pick up at a rigorous pace. Deal flow may also pick up before the end of year, as some companies look to get deals across the finish line before Congress changes over, another attorney said.

Ex-Sidley Associate Becomes First Gen Z Woman Elected to Congress

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:41:42 EST

Melat Kiros had worked at Sidley as a first-year associate in New York for about a year when the law firm terminated her in November 2023 for penning an open letter on Medium titled, "Dear Law Firms."

Gibson Dunn to Hire Over 80 Lawyers From Weil's Private Funds Team in US

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 06:19:06 EST

Exclusive: The latest swoop takes the firm's total number of Weil private funds hires to around 120 over the last week, and includes more than 20 partners.

Law Firm Data Is Valuable. Now It Might Come With a Price Tag

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 05:59:59 EST

At least two AI-native law firms have put in bids for Weil Gotshal & Manges' data, raising the question of whether internal law firm data qualifies as an asset and if it can be sold to an outside buyer.

En Banc 9th Circuit Lifts Block on DOJ Noncitizen Ballot Probe in California

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 19:33:10 EST

"[M]any of the positions taken by the federal government in its recent communications to state election officials may have little merit," Judge Eric Miller wrote in a concurrence. "But a district court does not generally have the authority to enter an injunction prohibiting the Department of Justice from expressing its views about criminal statutes, even if the court determines that those views are incorrect."

Supreme Court Presses Colorado on Anti-Discrimination Mandate for Preschools

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 16:12:24 EST

During arguments, the court's conservative majority seemed largely in agreement with Catholic preschools that Colorado's anti-discrimination mandate infringes on religion in a way that demands close First Amendment scrutiny.

Despite White House Pressure on Big Law, Several Law Firms Staffing Call Centers for Voters

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 15:32:33 EST

Attorneys from Reed Smith, Davis Wright, Baker McKenzie, Dechert and Manatt Phelps are helping with the national nonpartisan Election Protection voter hotline.

AI in Practice: Fiserv Former CLO Wants Legal to Be the Company's AI 'Super Users'

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 13:19:30 EST

Candid conversations around how AI is changing the way in-house lawyers work, lead and deliver value.

Legal Marketing Community Vows Support as Weil Staffers Face Uncertain Future

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 05:59:59 EST

Two Weil staff members told Law.com that the firm hadn't provided any additional information as of Monday morning to its professional staff about the dissolution beyond what was initially given during a company town hall in the middle of last week.

Trial Bar Group Says SCOTUS Roundup Ruling Didn't Create a 'New Preemption Regime'

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 20:13:17 EST

The American Association for Justice said the Supreme Court's Monsanto v. Durnell decision left viable claims despite barring failure-to-warn claims, while the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others urged the court to limit further litigation.

ATF Chief Counsel Robert Leider Resigns, Returning to George Mason Law

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 18:28:53 EST

Leider, who joined the agency in early 2025, helped oversee a sweeping rewrite of federal firearms regulations and the development of more than 40 proposed and final rules.

Supreme Court May Revive Pregnancy Bias Suit Against a Georgia County's DA's Office

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 17:25:11 EST

Fulton County's district attorney's office faced sharp questioning from the justices as it defended a lower court victory over a former pregnant staffer's workplace discrimination lawsuit.

Trump to Appeal Miami Judge's Dismissal of Wall Street Journal Lawsuit

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 14:57:31 EST

President Donald Trump "intends to appeal" a Miami federal judge's order tossing his $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, which found Trump failed to prove the paper acted with actual malice when it published details of an intimate birthday card he allegedly sent Jeffrey Epstein.

Supreme Court Denies Trump's Attempt to Set Aside 20K California Mail Ballots

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 14:56:28 EST

There were no dissents as the Supreme Court denied an effort from President Donald Trump's Justice Department to contest more than 20,000 mail ballots it claims were sent to noncitizens.

In a First, Ninth Circuit Holds Mandatory Meeting Law Likely Unconstitutional

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:30:46 EST

Judge Richard Tallman, writing for the appellate court, said California's statute regulates the content of employers' speech, in likely violation of the First Amendment.

Latham Expands Energy, Infrastructure Team With Baker Botts, Sidley and Orrick Partners

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 10:59:59 EST

With demand in projects high, Latham & Watkins adds partners working in energy and infrastructure in Houston and Washington, D.C.

The Anatomy of a Large Law Dissolution: What Could Come Next?

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 08:12:45 EST

Step one is to appease creditors while avoiding bankruptcy, according to industry observers.

Arguing Class Actions: The Law Firm Ownership Myth—Why a Legal Giant's Unraveling Should Prompt the Profession to Reconsider Whom Its Ownership Rules Really Protect

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 06:59:59 EST

Arguing Class Actions is a monthly column for the National Law Journal.

4th Circuit Presses DOJ on 'Unprecedented' Suit Against Maryland Judges

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 15:54:32 EST

"This is against an entire court," Judge Stephanie Thacker said during oral arguments. "This is the executive branch versus the judicial branch."

What Happens Next in Maduro's Narcoterrorism Case?

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 15:47:17 EST

Although U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres is maintaining the schedule established by the late Judge Alvin Hellerstein, with a June 2027 trial date on the calendar, keeping that trial date may be difficult, an observer told Law.com.

Does AI Make Legal Operations More Essential or Less Necessary?

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 14:38:07 EST

Corporate legal leaders are asking: As AI takes over more routine work, what happens to the people who have traditionally managed it?

SEC Enforcement Plunges for Second Straight Year, Report Finds

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 13:40:36 EST

SEC enforcement director David Woodcock has said the SEC enforcement program should not be judged by the number of cases or the size of penalties.

Sullivan & Cromwell, Ashurst Perkins Coie Add Antitrust, Complex Litigation Partners in D.C.

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 13:38:03 EST

Mayer Brown, DLA Piper and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman also announced new partner and special counsel additions in their D.C. offices this week.

Weil's Sudden Dissolution Prompts Talent Feeding Frenzy

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 04:59:59 EST

One candidate reported 25 solicitations from firms on Thursday alone, according to a recruiter. But the outlook for early career associates, lawyers in the U.S. on H-1B visas, and business professionals is not nearly as promising.

Monsanto Wins First Roundup Trial Since SCOTUS Invalidated Key Claim

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 20:57:32 EST

A Missouri jury returned a defense verdict for Monsanto within hours after closing arguments on Thursday.

Longtime Williams & Connolly Partner and Trial Lawyer Dane Butswinkas Dies at 65

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:01:18 EST

Butswinkas just last month represented Meta in New Mexico state court in a trial tied to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The firm did not reveal the cause of death.

'What's Your Beef'? 7th Circuit Weighs DOJ Bid to Revive Suit Over Sanctuary City Policies

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:27:10 EST

The policies at issue bar the transfer of criminal noncitizens from state to federal custody without a judicial warrant. They also prohibit state and local officers from sharing detainee release dates with federal immigration officials.

'Led by Example': Former Steptoe Chair Roger Warin Dies at 81

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:55:51 EST

One of the country's top insurance litigators, Warin led the firm from 2003 to 2013.

A Law Professor Reflects on 54 Years of Arguing Before the Supreme Court

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:23:47 EST

In an interview with Law.com, law professor Eric Schnapper reflects on a 54-year Supreme Court advocacy career as he prepares for his 25th high court appearance Monday.

Prediction Markets Belong Under Federal Law, Not State Gambling Rules

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:59:59 EST

Congress clearly foresaw controversial event contracts and gave a federal regulator the power to address them. Lawmakers now have to decide whether to abandon that framework for categorical bans or a patchwork of state gaming regulators.

Zillow Agrees to Pay $212.5M to End Investor Class Action

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:12:16 EST

Lead counsel for a class of Zillow investors said the deal—reached in a case over its failed home-flipping business—could be the largest single securities settlement ever reached in the Seattle-based federal court.

Judge Rejects Federal Government's Demand to Sequester 20,000 Calif. Ballots

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 10:06:00 EST

U.S. District Judge David Carter called the DOJ's TRO request evidence of "a broad, ongoing pattern of attempted election interference."

Law Schools Scramble to Assist Students Displaced by Weil Dissolution

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 09:43:38 EST

The dissolution of Weil Gotshal & Manges impacts a wide range of law school students from the classes of 2026 through 2028.

'A Sad Day': Legal Industry Reacts to Weil's Rapid Turn

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 22:34:19 EST

"This is a sad day for our legal profession, as Weil is one of the most venerated law firms of the last 50 years," the leader of one fellow Am Law 100 firm said.

4th Circuit Mulls Free Speech Challenge to Social Media Limits for Kids

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:00:31 EST

The case pitted Virginia's interest in protecting kids from addictive, anxiety-inducing platforms against concern that the law prevents children from accessing non-obscene speech.

Justices Confronted With Sandy Hook as They Consider Striking Down AR-15 Ban

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 18:01:42 EST

Connecticut has hired former U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar to defend the state's ban on assault weapons passed in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.

FTC Probe of Shein Spotlights Legal Risks for Online Retailers

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 17:28:56 EST

"You need to consider your shipping promises and make sure they match reality," said Zach Lerner, of tech law firm ZwillGen.

US Appeals Court Backs Venezuela Energy Co. Bonds Worth Billions, Over Venezuela's Protests

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 15:10:50 EST

Venezuela had intervened in the case to argue that the National Assembly had never approved of the bonds, which are backed by a controlling interest in Citgo. The Second Circuit found legislative approval wasn't required.

Weil Management Committee Opts to Dissolve Firm

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 15:09:27 EST

"Following a careful review of strategic alternatives, the Firm's Management Committee has recommended to the partnership that the Firm pursue an orderly wind-down," the firm said in a statement.

Energy Companies, Foreign Manufacturers Turn to DC Lobbying Shops

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 15:04:15 EST

Energy, healthcare and technology companies, as well as foreign manufacturers paid Washington, D.C. lobbying shops six-figure checks during the third quarter of this year.

US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein of Manhattan Federal Court Dies at 92

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 13:24:17 EST

Hellerstein oversaw the United States' narcoterrorism conspiracy case against ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Simpson Thacher Adds Partners in Chicago From White & Case, Kirkland & Ellis

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 13:12:37 EST

Two partners from White & Case and two partners from Kirkland are joining the new Chicago office, which launched in August.

'This Isn't the End of It': Will $25B Judgment Against Meta Hold Up on Appeal?

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 00:31:21 EST

Meta is likely to raise due process and other constitutional issues on appeal, which could end up before the New Mexico Supreme Court or U.S. Supreme Court, experts told Law.com.

Judge Says Essayli Unlawfully Serving as 'De Facto' U.S. Attorney

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:14:14 EST

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli says he continues to run the Los Angeles office: "The Supreme Court will ultimately decide this matter."

Preparing for an Unprecedented Oversight Era

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 09:59:59 EST

The conflict between Congress's desire to investigate and the administration's position on executive privilege could lead to the very real prospect of a company finding itself between a Congress demanding information and a White House demanding that the information not be provided. A Democratic majority is highly unlikely to accept a privilege assertion over a private company's communications—particularly when it views those communications as central to potential misconduct.

Can States Restrict ICE Agents From Wearing Masks? 4th Circuit Takes Up Issue

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 18:13:21 EST

The judges questioned whether the Virginia law regulates the federal government in violation of the supremacy clause.

Law Firm PAC Spending Leans Toward GOP in Close Races

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 17:30:36 EST

Several Am Law 200 affiliated PACs contributed only to the Republican candidate in several closely contested races in the House and Senate, while shying away from contributing to either side in other close races.

Federal Reserve Must Scrap 21-Cent Cap on Debit Card Swipe Fees, US Appeals Court Says

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 17:27:01 EST

The Federal Reserve had improperly factored in banks' fixed costs when deciding the maximum they could charge to process debit transactions, according to the Eighth Circuit.

'I Can't Do This Anymore': Trump-Appointed Immigration Judge Leaves Bench for Private Practice in NY

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 14:49:26 EST

Judge David Cheng, an immigration judge appointed during the first Trump presidential term, has made the jump to private practice after departing government due to ethical concerns he had with the second Trump administration's demands on the immigration courts.

Speech vs. Security: 4th Circuit Strikes Down WV Daniel's Law as Unconstitutional

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 14:01:09 EST

West Virginia's law differs from other similar state laws in that it doesn't have a notice requirement, the judges said.

Big Law Overwhelmingly Backing Ossoff With Dollars in Georgia U.S. Senate Race

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 09:20:40 EST

A total of 107 attorneys from 54 Am Law 200 firms each have contributed at least $1,000 to the incumbent Democrat, while only two have delivered similar support to his GOP challenger.

Tylenol Maker Accuses Plaintiffs' Lawyer of Using Sanctions Appeal to Reassign MDL

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 23:03:02 EST

Kenvue urged a US appeals court to uphold sanctions against Ashley Keller, accusing him of improperly using the appeal as a “strategic opportunity to seek reassignment of multidistrict litigation alleging Tylenol causes neurodevelopmental disorders.

Privacy Breach Alone Isn't Enough for Standing, Full 9th Circuit Told

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:14:27 EST

The defendant, IEC Group, in its bid for en banc review, said the plaintiffs suffered no "concrete" injury such as fraud, identity theft or out-of-pocket losses.

Archdiocese of New York Agrees to Pay $800M to Sexual Abuse Survivors

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:12:15 EST

The settlement brings to a close the hundreds of cases filed against the second-largest Catholic diocese in the United States.

Antitrust Enforcers Must Stop Defining Tomorrow's Markets by Yesterday's Technology

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 15:59:59 EST

A company can hold a commanding share of an established technology without necessarily wielding equivalent power over the broader economic activity that technology enables. The history of technological competition is filled with businesses that dominated one delivery mechanism only to discover that customers had begun migrating to another.

Judge Says Maurene Comey Was Illegally Fired From SDNY Prosecutor's Post

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 15:06:42 EST

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman rejected the administration's "sweeping and unprecedented" theory of executive power, saying that Congress still has the ability to "regulate and limit the removal of inferior officers."

NY Says Challenge to Letitia James as Cornell Special Prosecutor Is Premature

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 14:12:06 EST

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James argue an Albany court should reject an attempt to disqualify James before charges are brought, citing ripeness, separation of powers and New York's procedure for replacing a prosecutor.

Wilson Sonsini, Freshfields Usher in Anthropic IPO Filing

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 10:54:29 EST

Leaders for both firms have their names on the filing, which follows a confidential submission from June.

AI in Practice: AI Is Cutting Contract Review Time for BNY's Legal Team by 75%

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 04:59:59 EST

BNY General Counsel Kevin McCarthy discusses how AI is reshaping the bank's legal department, from streamlining contract reviews to changing the skills lawyers need, and why he believes legal leaders can't afford to sit on the sidelines.