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Announcing The D.C. Legal Awards 2026 Finalists and Honorees

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 14:58:30 EST

The National Law Journal and Law.com announce the shortlist for this year's legal awards.

FTC Settles with Zillow and Redfin on Eve of Trial

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:29:49 EST

The FTC sued Zillow and Redfin last year over claims their $100 million agreement violated the Sherman and Clayton Acts by eliminating Redfin as a competitor in the ILS market. The commission alleged the agreement increased costs for property managers and reduced the quality of tools used by renters to locate properties.

How I Made Law Firm Leadership: 'Do Not Let Being Underestimated Discourage You,' Says Hillary Nappi of AWK Survivor Advocate Attorneys

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:23:53 EST

"The most meaningful advice I ever received came from one of my first bosses: celebrate the good days, learn from the hard ones, and then move forward with purpose. I would tell my younger self to hold onto that earlier, and to trust it more fully during the difficult stretches. I would also say: do not let being underestimated discourage you."

DOJ Reaches $400M Settlement With TikTok in Children's Privacy Claims

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:07:45 EST

The U.S. Department of Justice called the settlement "one of the largest recoveries ever obtained" in a case alleging violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.

Surge of BIPA Voiceprint Claims May Succeed Despite Past Failures, Experts Say

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 10:23:33 EST

"This is pretty invasive and widespread," an attorney who recently filed numerous voiceprint-related BIPA suits said.

ABA Council Sends Additional Diversity Standard Alterations to House

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 18:17:12 EST

The ABA Accreditation Council voted on Friday to send three more diversity standards to the ABA House of Delegates to change wording for Standard 205 and repeal Standard 303(c).

Northwestern Law Programs Reflect Demand for Lawyers With Business Knowledge

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:31:27 EST

New programs from Northwestern Law providing dual degrees in both law and business signal that the legal market is seeking more attorneys with business knowledge.

ABA Council to Vote on Diversity Standard Repeal During Special Session

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:05:46 EST

The American Bar Association's Accreditation Council decided Friday to vote on the repeal of Standard 206 in September.

Litigation Trends to Watch: Claims Center on Hotel Sex Trafficking, Pizza Delivery Mileage and New NCAA Rules

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 14:40:25 EST

Wyndham is suing its hotel franchisees after being hit with sex trafficking claims.

How I Made Partner: 'There's No Perfect Path to Take,' Says Katie Barksdale of Kennedys

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 10:59:59 EST

"Don't be deterred by the time it takes to get you to where you're going. There's no perfect path to take, and every one of those little experiences is going to build you into a more well-rounded person."

ABA Law School Accreditation Under Attack by Trump Administration

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 10:41:10 EST

"After reviewing ABA's accreditation standards, department staff found the accreditor out of compliance with the agency's accreditation regulations and recognition standards," said an Education Department spokesperson.

As First Federal Formula Trial Begins Against Mead Johnson, Abbott Announces $670M Settlement

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:12:46 EST

Abbott, on Thursday, announced a settlement that resolves 2,000 infants in cases brought by three plaintiffs' firms: Chicago's TorHoerman; Holland Law Firm in St. Louis; and Stranch, Jennings & Garvey in Nashville, Tennessee.

Judge Bibas on Opinion Writing: Skip the '$5 Words,' Read More Fiction

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 07:44:59 EST

"A lot of [lawyers] have stopped reading enough good fiction and journalism, and need to unlearn the habits of using fancy Latinate legalisms. Why do we say ‘forthwith' rather than ‘at once'? Why do we talk about the perpetrator exiting the vehicle and being apprehended, like we are cops trying to sound important?"

The Chair's Seat: Wab Kadaba on Leading in a Changing Legal World

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

In this episode of Legal Speak, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton Global Chair Wab Kadaba discusses how he's navigating an increasingly complex and unpredictable global legal landscape.

Where Do Big Law Partners Spend Their Summer Break?

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 17:59:59 EST

The destinations, ranging from familiar summer spots to adventurous escapes, offer a glimpse into how partners are taking a break from the pressures of Big Law.

Law School Applications Continue to Reach Record Highs

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 17:36:57 EST

Law schools are seeing a second consecutive year of surging applications amid political turbulence and market uncertainty.

Judge Concerned About Gap Between Damages and Settlement: Papa John's $5M Deal

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:27:49 EST

"Why ... did the parties agree to a $190 million discount on a $195 million claim?" the judge asked, referencing "Enron accounting" in a case that also provided a "haircut" for the class action attorneys involved.

Mass. City Blocked From Installing Catholic Statues Outside Public Safety Building

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:03:35 EST

The state's Supreme Court unanimously upheld a preliminary injunction blocking the installation of two 10-foot tall statues depicting St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian outside the entrance of a Boston suburb's public safety building Thursday morning.

Attorney-Owned Marijuana Company Can't Proceed With Defamation Lawsuit, Fed Judge Says

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:00:42 EST

A federal judge dismissed for lack of jurisdiction a defamation lawsuit brought by attorneys from Chicago civil rights firm Loevy & Loevy who own dispensaries. The decision marks the latest development in an ongoing dispute between an attorney-owned marijuana company and its lenders.

128 Ex-Judges Say This General Counsel Is Exposing Jurists to Violence

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:20:13 EST

The complaint centers a post by the high-profile lawyer who purports to name the "worst of the worst" federal judges, and who continues to critize jurists.

Weil Sees PE Co-Head Decamp for Paul Weiss

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 13:57:01 EST

Another PE partner, Brian Parness, is in discussions to move to Simpson Thacher, although his move is less certain.

Federal Judge Orders Discovery Into Potential TCPA Fraud: 'Don't Take Me For an Idiot Up Here'

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:39:32 EST

At a Wednesday hearing, Oregon Chief U.S. District Judge Michael McShane told Andrew Perrong, the lawyer for Chet Wilson, a plaintiff in 14 class actions alleging TCPA violations, "I'm quite frankly concerned about whether criminal fraud is taking place."

Harvard to Pay Families $53M After Morgue Manager Sold Donated Body Parts on Black Market

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:59:39 EST

The plaintiffs, relatives of people who donated their bodies to Harvard Medical School Anatomical Gift Program, claimed the university was liable for the mishandling and did not act in good faith.

Critical Mass With Law.com's Amanda Bronstad: Meta Begins Addiction Trial Against 29 States, Oregon TCPA Class Actions Face Fraud Claims

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:59 EST

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How I Founded a Law Firm: 'Sustained Adaptability Makes All the Difference,' Says Philip Khinda of Khinda Advisory

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:59:59 EST

"To starting your own firm or any great venture: you need patience and resilience of a kind most don't have, and constantly be open to changing circumstances and opportunities. That sustained adaptability, in my opinion, makes all the difference."

Who's Acting On The Biggest UK Cases So Far in 2026?

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 05:45:10 EST

Using data from Solomonic, Law.com delivers a rundown of the top 20 claims of the year so far.

Oregon Judge Set to Decide Future of 14 TCPA Class Actions Amid Fraud Accusations

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 20:35:14 EST

The 14 class actions are all filed by a plaintiff who isn't a suitable class representative, according to the defense firm Watstein Terepka, because of his use of "violent racist rhetoric" on social media, among many other reasons.

Law Firm Leasing Activity Continues Upward, Outpacing 2025 Through First Half of the Year

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 18:54:25 EST

New York was the hottest market for law firm leases during the first half of 2025, and a lack of high-quality space in Manhattan leads firms to expand into additional buildings.

Florida Bar Sued by Morgan & Morgan

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 18:44:07 EST

Morgan & Morgan's lawsuit alleges that The Florida Bar's rule barring any non-client celebrity's image or voice in firm marketing is the most restrictive in the nation.

Northwestern Law, PLI Collaborate to Create Training Resource Targeting AI Skills, Ethics

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 17:11:46 EST

Northwestern Law and the Practising Law Institute launched a free, 12-module course open to all law students and legal professionals to teach about AI uses, best practices and risks.

Caught Between Scylla and Charybdis: The FTC Targets ‘Suppression of Accuracy' In AI Systems, Catching Companies in a Classical Conundrum for the Modern Age

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:28:35 EST

Can a servant serve two masters? If the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) gets its way, when it comes to AI outputs, increasingly not.

Troutman Pepper Locke Sued for Discrimination, Retaliation After Associate Reported Alleged Billing Fraud

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:19:08 EST

Litigation associate Matthew Cali alleged that the firm retaliated against him and derailed his upcoming promotion to partner after he went on medical leave for a heart attack, and later reported concerns that partners were allegedly committing billing fraud.

Meta Sued Over Assertions That AI Designs Serve 'National Interest'

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:15:22 EST

A manager at Meta alleges that the company fired him after he refused to sign off on a statement for an immigration petition that appeared to misstate his role in the company, The plaintiff alleges that Meta used immigration support as an employment-related benefit and that its allocation was not governed by neutral, consistently applied criteria unrelated to national origin, ancestry, race or ethnic identity.

Eighth Circuit: Remote Worker Could Not Bring Claims Under Minnesota Whistleblower Act or the Whistleblower Act of the State Where They Worked

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 11:36:59 EST

The Eighth Circuit ruled that a remote worker in Hawaii could not bring whistleblower claims under either Minnesota's or Hawaii's whistleblower protection acts—finding he lacked sufficient physical presence in Minnesota to qualify as an employee under that state's law, and had contractually waived his right to sue under Hawaii law by agreeing to a Minnesota choice-of-law provision in his employment agreement.

Wilkinson Stekloff and Clement & Murphy Team Up in ABC Suit Against FCC

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 11:01:20 EST

The two litigation boutiques filed the lawsuit on Tuesday on behalf of the broadcast network, alleging that the FCC violated its First Amendment rights.

AI-Assisted Patent Drafting: Validity Concerns and Practical Guidance

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:48:32 EST

This is the second installment in a two-part series examining the implications of using generative artificial intelligence (GAI) in the drafting and prosecution of patent applications. In this part, we address the potential impact of drafting a patent application with a GAI tool, including potential invalidity challenges based on anticipation and written description. Thereafter, we offer practical guidance for patent prosecutors and inventors seeking to use GAI in their workflows.

Build Now, Accommodate Later Doesn't Work: Eighth Circuit Rejects ADA Defense to Zoning Violation

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 08:59:59 EST

A Minnesota county lawfully denied an after-the-fact permit for an unpermitted concrete boat ramp where the landowners raised ADA accommodation only after violating zoning requirements, as Title II's duty to accommodate attaches when the entity learns of the need before or during a project—not retroactively to excuse existing violations.

‘Make the First and Last Client of the Day Yourself': London's Top Partners on Tackling Stress in Big Law

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 05:42:19 EST

Partners share the activities they do to manage stress and anxiety, and lift the lid on the institutional barriers to healthy work cultures.

Mass. Mayor Charged With Pandemic Loan Fraud, Money Laundering

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 17:12:39 EST

Federal prosecutors allege the Lawrence mayor used over $1.5 million in pandemic loan assistance for professional and personal use, including over $40,000 for his mayoral campaign and more than $880,000 of the funds to pay off debts to hard money lenders.

Growing Skepticism of Schedule A Practices in Northern Illinois District Court, Experts Say

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 16:30:23 EST

In light of the recent Kangol ruling that shook up Schedule A litigation, courts are beginning to wrestle with what actions fulfill the reasonable diligence requirement in determining a Chinese defendant's mailing address before electronic service can be granted.

Troutman Hires New Partner of Bankruptcy, Restructuring Practice Group in Boston

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:37:45 EST

Massachusetts native Sean Higgins joined the firm's Boston office at the beginning of August as it expands its bankruptcy and restructuring platform.

NJ's Summer Associate Hiring Crunch Gives Way to Search for Experienced Young Talent

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:21:41 EST

"The economics between a first-year and a third-year are not significant, yet the experience is, Tim Corriston, managing partner of Connell Foley, said. “A lot of people say, We're just going to hire folks with experience.'

How I Made Law Firm Leadership: 'Lead the Whole Firm, Not Just the Lawyers,' Says Tom Krider of Smith Currie Oles

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:59:59 EST

"When you get to a leadership role, you have to be able to lead the whole firm, not just the lawyers, and the only way to do that is to have built some real fluency in how the business actually runs."

AEIOU: A Framework for Business Plans That Attorneys Will Actually Use

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:55:04 EST

Most attorney business plans fail before they're written. They fail in the design of the exercise and nine months later, the plan is a forgotten file on a shared drive, and marketing is drafting the same template for next year's cycle. AEIOU (Audit, Embed Experience, Act Intentionally, Originate, Utilize) is a five-part alternative built around that sequencing that replaces the blank page with five decisions an attorney can make in a single working session.

After a Funding Round: Refocusing Your Patent Strategy

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:11:51 EST

A funding event changes expectations instantly. The company that pitched a bold vision is now expected to execute, scale, and defend itself under heightened investor and market scrutiny. A post-round reassessment helps ensure the patents protecting your technology and data are built for sustained flight, not just an impressive countdown.

DWF is First Global 200 Firm to Shutter Riyadh After Saudi Relaxes Rules for Foreign Ownership

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 07:52:24 EST

The U.K. firm is the first to shut its Riyadh office since Saudi Arabia opened its legal sector to foreign firms in 2023.

Kirkland's Alternative Fee Structures Help Fuel Litigation Business

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

Roughly 30% of its litigation revenue is through AFA structures, amounting to more than $1 billion through these arrangements last year.

Uber's Lawyers Face Hate Mail, Violent Graphics: ‘My Colleagues Are Getting Death Threats'

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 19:22:38 EST

Uber attorney Allison Brown told U.S. District Judge Charles on Friday that her colleagues had received threatening emails after The New York Times published an Aug. 4 article called, “Uber's Strategy for Fighting Sexual Assault Suits: What Were You Wearing?'

Litigation Trends to Watch: Claims Surge Over Tariff Refunds, Weight Loss Drugs and Texas Property Appraisals

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:37:38 EST

Amazon received $600 million in tariff refunds—now customers are suing to get their share.

From Big Law to Horse Law: Building a Niche Practice at Holland & Knight

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:19:27 EST

In this week's episode, Holland & Knight partner Kayla Pragid discusses the business of building a niche practice within an Am Law 100 firm.

Mass. Parole Board Nominee Permitted Despite Backlash, New Judges Unanimously Approved

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:02:05 EST

The Massachusetts Governor's Council unanimously approved two judges to its courts Wednesday, but a parole board nominee faced backlash for her previous work as a prosecutor.

What Might Trigger EEOC Action? Regulator's Suit Claims DEI Training Segregated Employees

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:25:53 EST

The EEOC sued Washington University after it fired a Black woman employee who was terminated after raising objections to the administration about a DEI training session where white and nonwhite employees were separated.

How I Made Partner: 'Relationship-Building, Visibility and Sound Judgment,' Says Mitch Schuster of Meister Seelig & Schuster

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 10:59:59 EST

"One of the most common mistakes attorneys make is focusing exclusively on the work directly in front of them without thinking strategically about their long-term career. Strong legal skills are essential, but advancement inside a law firm also requires relationship-building, visibility, sound judgment, and an understanding of the business side of the practice."

Allens and Ashurst Deny They "Provided Cover" For KPMG Ethical Failures

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 04:32:00 EST

Allens and Ashurst partners reject allegations they gave KPMG cover for misconduct, as Australian senators question the narrow scope of their legal reviews and the firms' handling of the audit scandal.