Corporate Counsel

Biogen Taps Former Vertex Executive Michael Parini as Chief Legal Officer

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:03:58 EST

Parini succeeds longtime legal chief Susan Alexander, who retired from Biogen in May.

Judge Approves $1.5B Anthropic Copyright Settlement, Cuts Requested Attorneys' Fee Award by $86M

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:59:14 EST

A California federal judge called the deal the largest copyright class action settlement in history, granting final approval for authors' claims over Anthropic's downloads of pirated books, and trimmed class counsel's fee request from $187.5 million to $101.6 million.

'This Outbreak Is Going to Get Bigger': Lawsuits Begin Over Taylor Farms Lettuce Recall

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 18:34:12 EST

At least four lawsuits have been filed against Taylor Farms over this month's outbreak of cyclospora in shredded iceberg lettuce, much of which was sold at Taco Bell.

Coinbase's New GC Sees AI as Legal Department's Biggest Opportunity and Risk

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:44:31 EST

Molly Abraham says general counsel must become AI "super users" as Coinbase prepares for a new era defined by artificial intelligence, crypto rulemaking and post-SEC litigation growth.

Paramount/Warner Bros Paused Following California Challenge

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 13:48:27 EST

The group of 12 state attorneys general presented “compelling evidence that Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. would result in a “substantial market share of 27% of U.S. theatrical distribution, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin of the Northern District of California said in an order on Monday.

After Trump Administration Scraps ‘Buy-Now-Pay-Later' Rule, States Step In

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 11:34:14 EST

“It certainly creates challenges to industry if there's going to be a patchwork, Eric Goldberg, a partner at Davis Wright Tremaine, said. “By turning on a website, you're operating in all 50 states.

AI Moves Faster Than Governance: A Field Guide for Early Rulings and Emerging Risks

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:41:20 EST

A useful governance program should begin with the way the company actually works, not with a policy copied from another organization.

Texas Court Extends Attorney Immunity Shield to In-House Counsel in Landmark Business Court Case

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 19:24:56 EST

The Fifteenth Court of Appeals ordered dismissal of a $350 million tortious interference claim against a corporate general counsel in a decision believed to be the first Texas appellate ruling extending attorney immunity protections to in-house lawyers.

Legal Tops All Other Business Units in AI Use, Raising the Stakes for GC Oversight

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:10:01 EST

New research from Harmonic Security, based on analysis of 1.9 million classified AI-session minutes across enterprise organizations, found legal and governance teams account for 19.5% of all AI use.

FTC's Statement on AI Output ‘Steering' Leaves Key Questions Unanswered

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:28:59 EST

The FTC recently said that companies offering AI services could face legal action if they modify their AI products' output for ideological or political reasons—a move that creates significant uncertainty for the industry and potentially puts the agency on a collision course with state AI laws.

Nike Legal Chief Gets Spring in His Step With 75% Pay Hike

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:42:10 EST

At $12 million, Rob Leinwand was Nike's third highest-paid executive, behind the $36.3 million for President and CEO Elliott Hill and $15.2 million for CFO Matthew Friend.

AI Infrastructure Company DDN Names Former Metropolis GC Michelle Rosen as First Chief Legal Officer

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 18:55:37 EST

The company, valued at $5 billion last year, tapped Rosen to lead its legal function as it expands globally amid surging demand for AI computing.

Growing Churn Rate of GCs Screams Need for Succession Planning, Lawyers Say

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 18:04:17 EST

"The biggest blunder is not to have a plan at all," said Dimitri Mastrocola, of Major Lindsey & Africa.

Rapidly Changing Corporate Legal Departments Will Look Much Different in Just 4 Years

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:56:20 EST

Research and advisory firm Gartner identified rising AI disputes and changing U.S. regulatory priorities as just two factors that will fundamentally change how legal departments operate and how general counsel contribute to their businesses.

Is OpenAI Stalling? Florida Case Could Impact Trump's Plan and Set Tone for AI Regulation

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:56:07 EST

The case could be the difference between whether federal legislators set the tone for AI regulation, of if the courts will play a pivotal role in imposing standards.

Vought Defends CFPB Overhaul, Says Bureau Remains 'Structurally Defective'

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:49:18 EST

Despite the existential threats to the CFPB, the bureau has pursued an ambitious deregulatory agenda through rulemaking and interpretive guidance.

General Dynamics Names Deputy GC Nick Barnaby as Successor to Longtime Legal Chief

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:30:27 EST

Barnaby, a former Jenner & Block partner who joined the company in 2018, will take over as general counsel when longtime legal chief Greg Gallopoulos retires at the end of 2026.

Headaches Ahead? AI Glasses-Boom Brings Litigation Risks for Employers

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:10:49 EST

Some smart glasses collect biometric data about faces, voiceprints and other identifying characteristics, but collecting and storing these might require disclosure and informed consent under biometric laws in Illinois, Texas and Colorado, said attorney Adia Craig. Failure to comply might lead to statutory penalties and private rights of action, Craig said.

CFTC Defies Michigan Court Order, Orders Kalshi to Complete Trades

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 18:48:29 EST

The aggressive move by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission is the latest by the agency to prevent state regulation of prediction markets.

Cornell Names Wake Forest's Brian White as General Counsel

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 18:08:59 EST

The Ivy League university tapped the veteran higher education lawyer to succeed Donica Thomas Varner, who stepped down earlier this year after overseeing the institution through a period of significant legal and political challenges.

Legal Ops Shifts AI Focus From Hype to Business Results

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:11:42 EST

"We're at the doorstep of the token apocalypse. I wouldn't jump into any substantial AI workflows if you don't know what the token costs are, because the moment you get that thing into production, that's going to be a reality," said Mike Ferrara, managing director of legal operations consulting at FTI Consulting.

'Outspoken' Director's Resignation at Texas Energy Venture Brings to Light Disclosure Challenges

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:57:58 EST

As if Fermi Inc.'s ongoing legal battle with a former CEO wasn't enough, a director has quit and alleged the board "materially interferes with my ability to discharge my fiduciary duties as a director of a public company"

Trump's Healthcare Antitrust Strategy Comes Into Clearer Focus

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:04:49 EST

The DOJ's antitrust actions and a new White House report are threatening long-standing hospital negotiating tactics with insurers.

Is Your Talent Model Built for a World Where Immigration Policy Keeps Shifting?

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:40:36 EST

The real issue isn't whether the latest H-1B visa fee increase will survive legal scrutiny, but what our reflexive response to it reveals about how heavily our workforce strategies still depend on immigration policy.

Nicole Kidman to Speak at WIPL on Leadership, Advocacy and Elevating Women's Voices

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:59:59 EST

Come join us at WIPL for an intimate conversation with Academy Award-winning actress and producer Nicole Kidman as she shares how she creates space, opens doors and empowers other women to succeed.

Director Skills and Board Succession: A Legal Imperative for Modern Boards

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:37:32 EST

Boardrooms face a new kind of risk: the widening gap between the skills directors possess and those their organizations urgently need.

States Sue to Block Paramount/WBD Merger

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:32:52 EST

“Unless enjoined, Paramount's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. [Discovery] will likely substantially harm competition in each of the relevant markets, in violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act, the California-led coalition wrote in a complaint filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

New Proposal Signals Big Changes Ahead for Embattled Drug Discount Program

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 13:13:49 EST

“The breadth of the proposal suggests that many organizations will need to reassess existing policies, contractual relationships, and compliance programs if these reforms advance, Daphne Kackloudis, a partner at Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, wrote in a recent client alert.

Lands' End Legal Chief Abruptly Sets Sail Ahead of New CEO's Arrival

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 13:13:11 EST

No reason was given for the resignation last week of general counsel and licensing chief Peter Gray

Law Firms, Clients and AI in 2026

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:29:48 EST

A friend of the firm recently asked: How are law firms adapting to a world where in-house lawyers can do so much work themselves using advanced AI models? The time to explain this to clients is now.

Paul Hastings Formalizes Sports Practice, Hires Ravens GC as Latest Addition

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 21:21:06 EST

The firm follows other Big Law firms that are looking to cash in on the suddenly lucrative sports world. But Paul Hastings' leadership feels the firm's ancillary practices and existing clients give it an edge.