National Law Journal

Calls For AI Oversight Are Intensifying. What Is Big Law's Role?

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 07:05:28 EST

AI developers have become some of Big Law's most lucrative clients. So what, if anything, is the role of Am Law 100 firms in the increasingly high-profile topic of AI oversight and safety?

OCC Report Rebukes Major US Banks Over 'Subjective' Debanking Decisions

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 19:22:14 EST

"We found that all of these banks had adopted reputation risk policies at various levels which allowed political considerations, public opinion, and social pressures to influence who banks deemed not worthy to access financial services," Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould said.

Supreme Court Says Fourth Circuit Exceeded Authority With 48-Hour Deadline for FCC

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 17:21:45 EST

"Our system of separation of powers does not allow the Judiciary to meddle in 'the workings of a coordinate branch of the Government' in this manner," the Supreme Court wrote in an unsigned, 7-2 decision.

Appeals Court Probes Limits on Trump's Power to Deploy D.C. National Guard

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:30:23 EST

“The question in my mind is what's the limiting principle on the president acting as governor of the District of Columbia for purposes of calling out the D.C. National Guard? asked Judge Judith Rogers.

Supreme Court Weighs Data Sharing Lawsuits Based on Law From VHS Era

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:49:45 EST

In a colorful hearing Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court wrestled with a wave of new data-sharing lawsuits based on a 1988 privacy law meant to protect personal video rental history.

AI Innovation and PTAB Shifts Rewrite Patent Litigation Playbook for US Companies

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:38:28 EST

The survey findings suggest that companies are becoming more selective about PTAB filings, investing more in upfront patent-validity analysis and district court litigation.

More Said Than Done: Migrants Need Lawyers, Not Speeches

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 23:59:59 EST

Our immigration courts are overwhelmed, unmet legal needs are getting worse, and much of the legal profession is missing in action.

Paul Weiss, Columbia Law School Launch Collaborative Gen AI Initiative

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 09:59:59 EST

Columbia Law School, with support from Paul Weiss, has launched an initiative to integrate responsible generative AI use into legal education through new curricula, research and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Momentum for Litigation Funding Transparency Efforts Continues as Ohio, Delaware Address Issue

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 09:43:02 EST

In Delaware, the state's Superior Court recently issued an order pertaining to litigation funding agreements, establishing a framework for limited discovery into the existence of funding agreements.

Associates Are On the Front Lines of AI Use. For Those Opting In, Promise Trumps Fear

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 05:59:59 EST

A number of associates who are rolling up their sleeves told Law.com that legal AI has been a benefit to their work—a counterpoint to Law.com data revealing that many midlevels view technology replacing humans as the biggest threat to their jobs.

Bar Credential Questions Loom Over WH Press Secretary Katie Zacharia

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 21:59:01 EST

Comments from President Donald Trump's new press secretary Katie Zacharia have raised more questions over her legal credentials, including whether she passed the bar exam in the U.S.

Jury Fight in Buffalo Shooting Case Revives Debate Over Venue of High-Profile Federal Cases

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 16:44:56 EST

As jury selection began in the western New York mass-shooting death penalty case, legal experts say federal judges overwhelmingly rely on voir dire and juror screening rather than venue changes, even in prosecutions saturated by publicity.

Uber Clears Standing Hurdle in RICO Suit Against Simon & Simon, Medical Providers

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 15:44:47 EST

The court ruled that insurance payments doesn't strip Uber of its ability to seek damages for an alleged fraudulent injury-claims scheme.

Former Big Law Chiefs Find Second Act as Consultants to the Industry

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 15:36:29 EST

While firms are growing like never before, law firm consulting remains more of a cottage industry. "The consulting world is not massive," said one industry observer.

Supreme Court Brushes Off Concerns Over Deference to Sentencing Commentary

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 13:59:31 EST

The justices expressed more concern about revisiting potentially thousands of federal criminal sentences by undercutting the U.S. Sentencing Commission's interpretations of its own guidelines.

Supreme Court Will Hear Government's Bid to Shield DOGE From Discovery

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:43:37 EST

The justices will review a lower court's decision subjecting the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency Service to extensive document production and a deposition of its former head in an ongoing Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.

'A Second Betrayal'?: 10 Lawsuits Accuse Plaintiffs' Firms Behind $600M Norfolk Settlement of Malpractice

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:49:22 EST

Among the firms named in the lawsuits are Grant & Eisenhofer, Morgan & Morgan and Motley Rice, who represented hundreds of residents and businesses impacted by the 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Debevoise Recruits DOJ Acting Director of Antitrust Litigation

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 05:59:59 EST

The firm highlighted George “Chip Nierlich's experience in both the private and public arenas as a primary driver for the hire.

FTC Pursuit of Alleged Auto Dealer Misconduct Unlikely to Slow Despite Recent Cases

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 18:31:19 EST

"I wouldn't read last week's events as any kind of waning in the FTC's enforcement priorities," said Brandon Bigelow, of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough

Arnall Golden Gregory Continues 'Deliberate Expansion' of D.C. Healthcare Practice, Private Wealth Pro Joins Nelson Mullins in Miami

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 17:02:03 EST

Fisher Phillips names immigration, workplace safety practice leaders to co-manage its Denver office.

Supreme Court to Consider Deference to Sentencing 'Commentary'

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 17:00:49 EST

This edition of Supreme Court Brief previews Tuesday's oral arguments in a sentencing dispute at the Supreme Court and links to last week's podcast deep dive into this term's major climate change case.

Sidley Austin Outgrows San Diego Office 2 Years After Arrival

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:08:05 EST

Sidley first arrived in San Diego in August 2024 and will take over a larger footprint by 2028.

Haynes and Boone Launches San Diego Office to Serve Life Sciences, Tech Clients

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:43:36 EST

Three Haynes and Boone lawyers already working in the Southern California market are now practicing from the new San Diego office.

A New Strategic Framework in the AI Era: Mapping Future Business Models of Law

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:16:26 EST

Pathways: The Future of the Business of Law 2040—developed in partnership by Law.com, the TLTF Fund, Harvey and leaders across the industry—pressure-tested the legal industry business model and developed a map that allows organizations to have more agency over the future they want to see.

Simpson Thacher's PE Power Play: Partner Hires Signal War for Talent

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 07:31:54 EST

Overall, Simpson Thacher has hired at least 33 partners this year who work with private equity clients or handle PE-related work, 17 of whom are based in New York.

Legal Leaders Have Spent Years Building Mentorship Programs. The Data Suggests That Isn't Enough

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 14:24:15 EST

Drawing on data and insights from 60 Women, Influence & Power in Law sessions, the findings show that sponsorship, matter allocation and measurable career progression are becoming increasingly critical to retaining and advancing legal talent.

The Execution of Willie Francis

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 13:59:59 EST

Judge J. Skelly Wright's failure to save Willie Francis haunted him for the rest of his life and he spoke of it often when I worked for him, always shaking his head and saying sadly, “Poor Willie Francis.

Trade Court Embraces Class Action in Tariff Refund Fight

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 13:11:17 EST

The U.S. Court of International Trade has allowed importers who paid tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to sue as a class. Co-lead class counsel said they believe this is the first time the trade court has certified a class in active litigation.

DOJ Doubles Down on Data Analytics; Compliance Programs Must Keep Pace

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 07:59:59 EST

The U.S. Justice Department has been investing in data analytics for years but in recent months has signaled it is increasing these efforts through the division's investment in “greater resources, data analytics support, and best-in-class technology.

Make Money From AI Tools? How Some Law Firms Can Make It Happen

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 07:26:56 EST

Big Law firms generally have three ways to reap commercial benefits from AI right now, though all of them are still “pretty nascent," consultants say.

Defeat of New Mexico's PFAS Labeling Law Shows Challenges of State Lawmaking

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:55:13 EST

Trade associations led by the American Chemistry Council sued to challenge the labeling rule, which would have mandated an outline of a flask containing the word “PFAS on affected products beginning next year, arguing that it was impermissible compelled speech under the First Amendment of the Constitution.

NFL Urges US Supreme Court to Take Up Case Over Regulation of Prediction Markets

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:31:11 EST

Represented by former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr and other attorneys from his firm, Torridon Law, the NFL argued that states are better-equipped than the federal government to police prediction markets.

Brownstein Lands 2 Lobbying Veterans to Open and Grow Atlanta Outpost 'From Our Strengths'

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:18:00 EST

The Denver-founded government relations powerhouse is adding longtime Georgia lobbyists for its second Southeast office.

100 Days In: CEO of Hogan Lovells Cadwalader Miguel Zaldivar Reflects on His Cold Call, What's to Come

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:51:56 EST

Zaldivar planted the seeds of his relationship with Cadwalader years before the merger was effective, with a cold call to firm chair Patrick Quinn in November 2024.

Brown Rudnick, Greenberg, Foley & Lardner, O'Melveny Add DC Partners

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:23:47 EST

The latest new hires also include counsel, associates and public policy principals.

A Free Exercise Precedent Appears To Be in Jeopardy

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 15:58:28 EST

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2004 that states may deny tuition assistance to college students planning to major in theology or other religious-based discipline. Now, 22 years later, the high court will consider whether to review—and potentially overturn—its decision in Locke v. Davey.

Momentum for Litigation Funding Transparency Efforts Continues as Ohio Law Takes Effect

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 15:50:07 EST

A new Ohio law went into effect on Tuesday that completely bans any foreign investment in third-party litigation funding agreements. The law also contains enhanced disclosure requirements and transparency measures.

Trump Administration Slams Fourth Circuit for Urgent Deadline on FCC's Political Ads Policy

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:28:31 EST

The federal government's emergency application to the U.S. Supreme Court concerns the legality of the Federal Communications Commission's latest policy on TV political ad rates.

SEC Push to Revive IPOs Collides With Exchanges' Stricter Listing Rules, Lawyers Say

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 10:22:47 EST

The competing trends have exposed a potential contradiction of the SEC's agenda: easing the regulatory burdens of being public while simultaneously allowing exchanges to raise the bar for admission.

Debevoise to Shift AI Platform Costs as Big Law Pursues Pricing Model Beyond Billable Hour

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:35:03 EST

The New York-based firm uses a subscription model to charge clients for access to its STAAR artificial intelligence advisory platform, but it is evaluating how best to price the service outside the traditional billable hour.

How Election Results Could Reshape M&A, AI and Energy Practices

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 05:59:59 EST

A new Cleary Gottlieb report concludes that a full chamber change could both expedite, and then slow, dealmaking due to the potential for increased antitrust legislation.

DLA Piper Hires O'Melveny IP Litigation Duo

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 04:59:59 EST

Partners Sean Trainor and Robert Shaffer now hold leadership roles in DLA Piper IP groups.

US Appeals Court Explores Saudi Arabia's Immunity from 9/11 Civil Lawsuits

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:19:21 EST

The appellate court hearing was held on Wednesday, over a year after U.S. District Judge George Daniels of the Southern District of New York denied Saudi Arabia's attempt to dismiss litigation from thousands of families whose loved ones were killed during the attacks.

The Judge's Rationale: Sirius XM Cleared in AI Hiring-Discrimination Lawsuit

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 15:29:30 EST

A federal judge's decision dismissing a suit alleging AI hiring tools resulted in discrimination against Black applicants could be instructive, as interest in algorithms in the hiring process grows. Here, the court found that factors like a large number of rejected applications and variables such as zip code as a proxy for race were not sufficient to show race discrimination or disparate impact discrimination.

Higher Education Orgs Sue Federal Agencies Over International Student Restrictions

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 15:24:47 EST

Higher education groups are suing the Trump administration over an abrupt policy change that they claim unlawfully restricts international students' access to externships.

Supreme Court Leans Toward Air Force in Environmental Case Over Munitions Waste

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 13:26:00 EST

The justices raised questions about the procedural oddities of a Guam environmental challenge to an Air Force site long used to dispose of old bombs.

Lawyer Burnout Has Finally Been Quantified. The Implications Are Troubling

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 10:46:43 EST

The pattern we are seeing among lawyers may represent a frontloading of career morbidity, Patrick Krill writes.

Profits From AI Remain 'Stubbornly Out of Reach' For Big Law

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 07:19:36 EST

"One of the things we keep hearing from managing partners is: 'How do we make a profit on this?'" said one consultant.

Delaware or Texas? Business Court Dismisses Coinbase Shareholder Suit

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 17:50:11 EST

The decision turned on a key difference between the two states. Because the company reincorporated in Texas, shareholders must follow Texas' stricter requirement to demand board action and wait 90 days before filing a derivative suit, even when the alleged misconduct occurred while Coinbase was incorporated in Delaware.

USPTO Installs Patent Scholar John Duffy as GC, Acting Solicitor

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 16:59:09 EST

After signaling last month that he intended to accept the position, the University of Virginia law professor was formally sworn in Monday and will oversee the agency's legal, appellate and attorney-discipline functions.

US Supreme Court Declines to Review Corporate Transparency Act

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 16:02:23 EST

The Corporate Transparency Act will not be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court this term, to the disappointment of at least one legal onlooker who suspects the justices will eventually have to decide if the corporate disclosure requirements are constitutional.

Cornell Taps Sally Yates for Independent Review Amid Assault-Law Debate

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 15:19:33 EST

Cornell University hired Yates, the former U.S. deputy attorney general, and King & Spalding to review its handling of sexual misconduct allegations tied to the Chi Phi fraternity, as lawmakers reexamine New York's consent statutes and a bill addressing intoxicated victims.

More Than a Dozen Big Law Firms Worked on Paramount-Warner Bros. Combination

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 15:07:42 EST

Law firms including Cravath, Latham & Watkins, Winston Taylor and Wilkinson Stekloff employed their best and brightest on Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros., which closed Tuesday.

Supreme Court Appears Skeptical of Lawsuit Over Intel's Retirement Plans

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 15:07:07 EST

Former Intel employees have argued that the company's plan managers flouted their fiduciary duty to act with "prudence" in pursuing their investment strategy for Intel's retirement plans, missing out on significant gains.

Federal Judge in Chicago Joins Third Circuit, Shielding Kalshi From State Regulations

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 11:09:34 EST

The decision hinged on whether the sports-related contracts sold by Kalshi count as "swaps" under the Commodity Exchange Act. Courts across the country are divided on the issue.

Across the Am Law 200, the Leadership Carousel Keeps Turning

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 04:59:59 EST

Crowell & Moring, Mintz, Morgan Lewis and Carlton Fields were among the firms announcing or completing leadership transitions in the last week, and at all four, the locus of power is moving to a new city.

CFTC Advances Crypto Rules After Failure of Clarity Act

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 17:37:48 EST

The CFTC argued that Congress gave the commission broad authority under the Commodity Exchange Act to regulate spot crypto markets. The failed Clarity Act, however, would have codified that authority and structured CFTC oversight of digital commodity markets.

Baker McKenzie Lures Kirkland Partner, Plans for Congressional Investigations Boom

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:52:16 EST

Allison Murphy will co-chair Baker McKenzie's congressional investigations practice alongside Rod Rosenstein.

Supreme Court Blanches at Oil Companies' ‘Complicated' Defense to Climate Suits

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:19:47 EST

At a high-stakes hearing Monday, the justices seemed unswayed by ExxonMobil's “complicated defense to a state climate change lawsuit.

S&C Turns to Perkins, McGuireWoods to Restock Appellate Litigation Practice

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:31:48 EST

Former Perkins appellate practice chair and McGuireWoods appellate practice co-chair will take over the reins in D.C. for S&C.

Growing Number of Am Law 100 Firms Leasing Trophy Space in Big Markets

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 09:59:59 EST

Leasing activity by Am Law 100 suggests the firms are "really driving recovery" in the leasing market, and it serves as a bellwether for the overall market.

Carlton Fields Elects New CEO After Two Decades

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 05:59:59 EST

The firm, which has turned down merger opportunities in the past, is eyeing Texas for growth.

Arguing Class Actions: Transparency Is Not Entitlement--The Latest Attack on Litigation Funding

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 05:59:59 EST

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

Kelley Drye Expands Leadership Structure, Names New Chair

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 04:59:59 EST

“Managing a law firm has gotten so much more complicated, said incoming chair Michael Lynch, and the idea of "pulling productive partners out of their practice is just not that appealing.