National Law Journal

'Freaking Out'?: Big Law Attorney Donors Shocked by Swalwell Scandal

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 19:11:42 EST

"No one wants their name associated with [Eric Swalwell] because of these allegations," a legal insider said of the many lawyers who contributed funds to Swalwell's gubernatorial campaign before the California Democrat exited the race following allegations of sexual misconduct.

SEC Decries Biden-Era 'Rush' as Enforcement Numbers Fall

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:53:20 EST

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed 456 enforcement actions in fiscal year 2025, a 22% drop from FY 2024.

'No Longer One Size Fits All': Tweaks to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines May Ease White-Collar Penalties, Cut Litigation

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:49:03 EST

New amendments approved by the U.S. Sentencing Commission reduce the emphasis on loss calculations in white-collar cases and give judges greater discretion to consider culpability and noneconomic harm. The changes could lead to more individualized sentences, lighter penalties in some fraud cases, and less litigation ahead of sentencing, one observer said.

John Eastman, Anti-Vax Doctors See Potential Lifeline in Recent Supreme Court Ruling

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:25:55 EST

"That's a very favorable sort of broad interpretation of rights under the First Amendment," said a lawyer for John Eastman. "We can probably extrapolate from that."

Federal Inaction on 'Forever' Chemicals Prompting States to Pass Own Laws

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:13:24 EST

Wisconsin's new statute, which passed with bipartisan support, focuses on environmental cleanup.

Legal Tech-Owned ‘Hybrid Law Firms' Are Growing. Why Now?

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:56:11 EST

Years after one of the first hybrid law firms failed, some see a better opportunity for this law firm model in the gen AI era.

Lawsuits Accuse Trio of Am Law 200 Firms of Running Afoul of Conflict Rules

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:22:12 EST

“Clients are much more offended by conflicts of interest than law firms and judges give them credit for, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz partner Ronald Minkoff said.

Supreme Court Says Chevron Can Move Louisiana Environmental Suit to Federal Court

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:29:20 EST

The Supreme Court held that Chevron's crude oil refining activities, which allegedly damaged Louisiana's coastline, were related to World War II military contracts and could therefore be defended in federal court.

Own Up: Proposed Rule to Help Judges Catch Conflicts Inches Forward

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:44:59 EST

“If finally approved, the amendment should significantly benefit judges in making decisions about whether their financial interests require recusal, said U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance.

Data Breach, Consumer Protection Claims Fuel 10-Year High for Class Action Filings, Report Says

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:17:05 EST

A new report by legal analytics platform Lex Machina has found that class actions nationwide surged to a 10-year high in 2025 "after nearly a decade of stability," driven by a dramatic spike in consumer protection claims—particularly those involving data breaches.

9th Circuit Judge Seems Wary of Prediction Markets' Bid to Avoid State Gambling Rules

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:33:25 EST

During oral arguments in San Francisco, Ninth Circuit Judge Ryan Nelson questioned whether Congress, when it amended the Commodity Exchange Act in 2010, clearly intended to prevent states from applying their gambling laws to prediction market contracts.

7th Circuit Rejects Bid to Broaden Anonymity Standard in Title IX Lawsuits

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:52:53 EST

The federal appellate court affirmed a ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana requiring an adult plaintiff accused of sexual misconduct in a university Title IX proceeding to litigate under his real name rather than a pseudonym.

Winston & Strawn Presses Forward with Hunter Biden Suit, Arguing for Communications with Democratic Donors

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:12:50 EST

The law firm alleges Hunter Biden went to Democratic Party donors to get his outstanding legal fees with the firm paid off, but now is refusing to turn over those communications during discovery.

SEC's Power to Force Fraudsters to Disgorge Gains Returns to U.S. Supreme Court

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:30:11 EST

The justices are expected to review the issue of whether the government must identify victims and their losses in order to secure disgorgement orders.

Selig Shrugs Off CFTC Vacancies, Vows to Keep Writing Rules

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:02:58 EST

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a five-member, bipartisan agency, has had four vacancies since December when Michael Selig became chair. President Donald Trump has yet to name any replacements.

Orkin Parent Ordered to Release 18,000 Workers From Noncompetes

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:49:33 EST

The Federal Trade Commission hopes its enforcement action has a chilling effect on the pest-control industry, where such agreements are common.

Clarence Thomas Says Washington Knows the Right Thing—It Just Lacks Courage

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:44:59 EST

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas speaking at the University of Texas at Austin, said America's founding principles are not failing for lack of knowledge or talent but for lack of courage, and used his own court's 60-year tolerance of racial segregation as his starkest proof.

'Deeply Regret Past Support': Big Law Donors React to Swalwell's Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:32:43 EST

"It seems like he did the right thing in terminating his gubernatorial campaign and resigning from Congress," a Susman Godfrey partner said of former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell after several women accused the California Democrat of sexual misconduct.

Sotomayor Apologizes for 'Hurtful Comments' About Kavanaugh During Recent Appearance

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:24:09 EST

"I regret my hurtful comments," Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in a rare public apology to a Supreme Court colleague.

California Supreme Court Orders John Eastman Disbarred

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:56:15 EST

In a simple docket entry, the California Supreme Court approved the recommended disbarment of the attorney who argued that Vice President Mike Pence could stop the electoral vote count that would make Joe Biden president.

Several DC Law Firms Slip in Latest Am Law 100 Rankings

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:28:45 EST

Eight of 12 D.C. firms that landed in the Am Law 100 revenue list lost ground in the rankings compared with the year prior.

Democrats Press Trump's 8th Circuit Pick on His Independence

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:23:04 EST

Justin Smith, an attorney at the boutique firm James Otis Law Group, represented Trump in his failed efforts to overturn a 2023 jury verdict finding him liable for sexually assaulting writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s.

Who Got the Work: Swalwell Represented in NY Investigation by Clayman Rosenberg Kirshner & Linder

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:51:55 EST

Swalwell retained Thomas Rotko and Isabelle Kirshner as he faces an investigation into allegations of sexual assault by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

Partisan FTC ‘Thriving' Under Trump, Say Ferguson, Meador

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:04:39 EST

“I think that if a majority of the commission is departing from the law and running amok it's helpful to have dissenting voices, said FTC chair Andrew Ferguson. “The commission under President Trump has not had that problem."

Live Nation Acted as Illegal Monopoly in Ticketing Market: Jury Verdict

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:24:12 EST

The verdict was a victory for 34 state attorneys general, and the D.C. AG, who took the case to trial after the U.S. Department of Justice settled its claims in March. But Live Nation, which has denied monopolization charges, is saying the jury verdict is not the end of the matter.

DC Circuit Ends Contempt Probe Against Trump Admin in Deportation Flights Case

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:18:41 EST

"In our constitutional system of government, criminal liability cannot turn on the unstated intentions (or post hoc assertions) of a district court judge,” the appellate court stated.

Hogan Lovells, Cadwalader Vote to Approve Merger

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:42:40 EST

The combined firm will have two locations in New York, in downtown and midtown, while Cadwalader attorneys will move into Hogan Lovells' offices in Washington, D.C., and London at the start of July.

DOJ Seeks to Revive Pentagon's Novel Media-Escort Policy in Emergency Appeal

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:52:41 EST

"[T]here is nothing improper about a viewpoint-neutral policy that requires an escort for access to the Pentagon," U.S. Department of Justice attorneys wrote in an emergency stay motion asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to pause a trial judge's underlying order that allows plaintiff The New York Times and all credentialed journalists to access the Pentagon unescorted.

Judiciary Panel Backs Dropping Proposal for Uniform Attorney Admissions in US Trial Courts

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:47:15 EST

“Reaction to this proposal has been mixed at best. Negative, I would say, perhaps is a more accurate description, said University of California, Berkeley, law professor Andrew Bradt.

In First Year, NFL Legal Chief Faces Test That Could Upend League's Business Model

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:54:53 EST

A Justice Department antitrust probe into the NFL's streaming deals has put Ted Ullyot at the center of a fight over a 65-year-old law that experts say may no longer mean what the league thinks it does.

IRS Finalizes 'No Tax on Tips' Rule Covering Over 70 Occupations

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:45:20 EST

Critics across the political spectrum have argued that “No Tax on Tips, which had bipartisan support, is a misguided attempt to help low-wage workers and violates tax equity principles.

Pfizer is Latest Target of FDA's Crackdown on Direct-to-Consumer, Social Media Ads

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:16:54 EST

U.S. Food and Drug Administration "enforcement in the social media space has historically been somewhat limited, but recent activity suggests that the FDA is taking a closer look at how pharmaceutical companies present risk and benefit information in digital formats," said Darya Lucas, of Gardner Law.

Five Supreme Court Cases to Watch From Justices' Final Argument Session

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:01:49 EST

The court is set to review key enforcement tools of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Federal Communications Commission, a cutting-edge Fourth Amendment case and whether the Trump administration can remove immigration protections for Haitian and Syrian nationals.

'Unacceptably High Temperatures': Goodwin Files Suit Over Office AC in DC

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:35:00 EST

Cooling problems in Goodwin's D.C. office led to above 80-degree temperatures and excessive noise in the building that cost over $800,000 to fix, Goodwin claims in the complaint against WSP USA Buildings.

$17 Million: IBM Settlement Shows Risks and Cost of DEI

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:40:01 EST

The IBM case is the first to be resolved under the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, which Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche claims is a means to stop violations of civil rights laws by government contractors and other recipients of federal funds.

Why the Chicago Bears CLO's Playbook Starts and Ends With Storytelling

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:16:38 EST

“I think you measure value by how much your colleagues are talking to you. Are they coming to you with more than just problems? Are they coming to you with questions? Krista Whitaker told attendees at General Counsel Conference Midwest.

'Muddled As Ever': More Appeals Courts to Weigh State Prediction Market Regulation

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:21:24 EST

The underlying question in the appeals around the country is whether the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets' sports-related events contracts, which allow traders to buy and sell positions on specific game outcomes, like scores and player performances.

Trump, Obama Nominees to Hear Law Firm EO Appeals

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:06:06 EST

Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan, Judge Cornelia Pillard and Judge Neomi Rao have been selected to be on the panel that will hear arguments on May 14 in the combined appeals cases, involving Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, Susman Godfrey, and Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

Jenner & Block's Money Settlement With Ex-Client Sierra Leone Hits Roadblock

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:58:45 EST

A bureaucratic obstacle has prevented plaintiff Jenner & Block from receiving a timely settlement payment from foreign government defendant Sierra Leone that would resolve their $8 million attorney-client international fee dispute if consummated.

More Work, Better Work: Law Firm Bean Counters Shouldn't Fear 'Revenue-Enhancing' AI

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:59:59 EST

"If legal services are less expensive because of efficiency, it's not unreasonable (to conclude) the clients will want more," one Am Law 100 firm leader said.

NYC's Ban on Stun Guns, Tasers Is Upheld by Federal Appeals Court

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:03:38 EST

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit kept alive New York City's decades-old prohibition on Tasers and stun guns, a restriction that has outlasted New York State's ban.

Dechert Deepens Trial Bench by Hiring 3 Litigators From White & Case in D.C.

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:24:07 EST

New arrival Tara Lee formerly served as the national trial practice lead at White & Case. Dechert has now brought on 35 lateral partners so far in 2026.

Intel Shareholder Litigation Removed to Federal Court

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:58:48 EST

April 10 filings from the federal government, which is a defendant in the shareholder action, said the litigation meets all four requirements required to give jurisdiction to a federal court in the Third Circuit.

SEC to Draft Exemption for Bail-In Securities, Atkins Says

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:30:44 EST

A bail-in is a regulatory instrument by which banks close to failure restructure their debt and mandate creditors to take losses. It is the opposite of a bailout, where the costs of saving a bank fall on governments and taxpayers.

Trump Nominates Sullivan & Cromwell Attorney to 2nd Circuit

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:14:12 EST

Matthew Schwartz was part Trump's legal team urging a New York state appellate court to overturn the president's conviction by a Manhattan jury in 2024.

GCs See Merits of Data-Driven Outside Counsel Selection but Also Its Limitations

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:11:40 EST

“Data is really useful and also sometimes not useful at the same time, said Stephen Mar, general counsel of Odeko.

DOJ Argues Certain Sections of Law Firm EOs Could Stand if Some Parts Get Invalidated

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:02:41 EST

"There can be no dispute here that the president wants some of the provisions to take effect even if others are enjoined," the DOJ says.

Confirmation Appears Likely Even Though ABA Rated Ex-Jones Day Associate 'Not Qualified'

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:34:06 EST

"The Committee's rating of Ms. [Kathleen] Lane is based on issues with her experience, which is an important component of competence, not her temperament or integrity," the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary wrote in a letter explaining why the ABA rated Lane "not qualified" to serve as President Donald Trump's pick for a Montana federal judgeship.

Former Skadden, Munger Tolles and MoloLamken Partners Launch Boutique

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:59:59 EST

The new firm, Liu Shur Kravis, will focus on representing businesses, organizations, executives and other individuals in high-stakes disputes, investigations and trials.

When Not on Bench, Justices Jet-Set Around Globe

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:29:17 EST

On this week's podcast edition of Supreme Court Brief, host Jimmy Hoover interviews Gabe Roth of Fix the Court about what a trove of U.S. State Department documents reveal about the justices' international travel activities.

4th Circuit Judges Clash Over SCOTUS Emergency Orders in DOGE Case

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:09:29 EST

"To treat interim orders as binding precedent abandons our long-held jurisprudence of deciding constitutional law through reasoned opinions, not emergency motions made under intense time pressure,” Judge James Wynn wrote.

Arnall Golden Gregory Adds Barnes & Thornburg Tariff, Compliance Experts to Lead International Trade Practice

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:03:04 EST

The Second Hundred firm also promoted four back-office leaders to new C-suite jobs focusing on AI resources, attorney recruiting and retention.

EPA Moves to Ease Coal Ash Regulations for Power Plants

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:27:43 EST

There are 300 regulated coal facilities that contain 775 coal ash surface impoundments and landfills across the country. At least 91% of those coal plants are polluting groundwater above federal safety standards, according to Earthjustice.

‘A Whole Different Universe Now': Judges Perplexed by Law Used for Trump's New Tariffs

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:20:28 EST

At two points in the three-hour hearing, Judge Timothy Stanceu reminded government counsel that he was an attorney, not an economist familiar with the term, “balance-of-payments deficit, an economic phenomenon that must occur for Trump to have lawfully used Section 122 of the Trade Act to impose a 10% global tariff.

New FTC Task Force Adds to Evidence Agency Is Doubling Down on Health Care

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:07:11 EST

“The real story is that the agency has dismantled the internal wall between competition and consumer protection, which will likely mean that it will be a more coordinated enforcement approach, said Sean McConnell, a partner at Duane Morris.

Florida Attorney Who Was Charlie Kirk's Friend Retained by Widow in Utah Murder Trial

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:33:15 EST

"Charlie Kirk was my client and my friend. When Erika called, there was no question I would be there," Jeff A. Neiman told Law.com. "My only focus now is making sure her voice is heard and her rights are protected through every step of this process."

Trump Taps Former Ohio Solicitor General Benjamin Flowers for 6th Circuit

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:07:25 EST

"Ben successfully challenged dangerous and unlawful Policies of the Biden administration, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “I am confident that Ben will fight for the great people of Ohio, and strongly uphold the rule of law in his new role.

Ropes, Winston, Covington Among Latest to Make DC Partner Hires

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:19:50 EST

The attorneys are joining firms' privacy, white-collar defense, international trade, CFIUS and corporate groups.

Restoring the Gatekeepers: Why Courts Must Stand Firm Against Junk Science

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 09:59:59 EST

If appellate courts uphold rigorous standards, they will provide much-needed clarity and consistency, reinforcing the principle that legal outcomes should start from sound science. If they do not, there is a risk that some judges may again step back from their important gatekeeping role, swinging the courthouse door open wide to unjustified claims.