Law.com

Mamdani Settles 9/11 Records Suits, Releases 170K Documents on Toxic Air, Health Risks and City's Response Failure

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 16:51:32 EST

In June, Mamdani announced his office would begin releasing the records by Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, when finalizing the city's budget and allocating over $40 million to two city departments for the task.

The Week in Data Sept. 8: A Look at Legal Industry Trends by the Numbers

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 16:30:57 EST

Catch up on the latest data from across the Law.com newsroom, including how Big Law firms are quietly paying associates different salaries.

'Basically Unprecedented': Schedule A Defendants Leverage New Tactic in Bid to Overturn Thousands of Default Judgments

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 15:52:53 EST

Experts told Law.com that they've never seen a case quite like this before.

Am Law 200 Law Firms Hit With Malpractice Suits Over Financial Scams, Law.com Radar Shows

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 15:41:50 EST

The platform detected nearly 40 cases against Big Law in August, most of them alleging professional misconduct.

2nd Bellwether Jury Awards $40M Verdict Over Bard's PowerPort Device

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 14:58:16 EST

Friday's verdict, in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, comes in the second trial in the multidistrict litigation alleging defects in Bard's PowerPort device.

Judge's AI Error-Laden Ruling Faces Appellate Scrutiny. Are There Lessons for Lawyers?

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:28:19 EST

“The cure for AI hallucinations is human verification," stated attorney Crawford Appleby. "So, no matter whether it's a solo practitioner, a big firm, the department of justice or the court itself, every statement of fact and law needs to be verified by a person. Otherwise, we will continue to see AI misuse at every level of the legal system.

ABA Council Repeals Diversity Standard Amid Uncertainty About the Organization's Future as a Law School Accreditor

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:47:57 EST

The ABA Accreditation Council repealed its law school diversity and inclusion Standard 206 after an extended review shaped by federal actions targeting diversity efforts in education.

How I Made My Mark as a Lateral: Neal Seth of Woods Rogers

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:59:59 EST

"There was never any pressure to make a quick decision. Woods Rogers wanted to make sure it was the right fit for me, and I wanted to make sure it was the right place for my clients and my practice. Looking back, I think taking the time to get that right is one of the reasons the transition has been so successful."

Larger Paychecks to More De-equitizations: PE's Potential Effects on Partner Comp

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 07:09:19 EST

While firms will get more creative with their pay packages in MSO setups, they're also going to become even more cautious about letting people into the equity tier, noted one observer.

The UK Top 50: For the First Time Since Pandemic, Top Ten Fail to Post Double-Digit Growth

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 06:50:52 EST

Mid-tier and smaller firms have delivered much of the sector's growth in the past financial year.

Former In-House Counsel's Whistleblower Claim Revived by Appellate Court

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 18:05:49 EST

The appellate court said that although Balla prioritizes the right of a client to freely terminate attorneys, it doesn't give the right to client to engage in "lesser retaliatory actions" against their counsel.

Litigation Trends to Watch: Phishing Attack, Trading Algorithms and Car Repos Trigger Suits

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:25:11 EST

Plaintiffs allege hackers used social engineering to trick employees into granting access to Salesforce and Snowflake environments.

Who's on the Case? Musicians Say Suno AI Copied Their Personas, Not Their Songs

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:32:28 EST

Jason Isbell and other musicians are testing a new legal front against AI music generator Suno, arguing that the company misused artists' identities and voiceprints, not just copyrighted songs, to create soundalike music, descriptions and artwork.

A ‘Legend' and ‘Titan': Mass Tort Bar Mourns Death of Motley Rice's Joseph Rice

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:23:22 EST

Rice, who opened his South Carolina firm in 2003 with Ron Motley, was a key negotiator in settlements involving opioids, “forever chemicals and tobacco. He was 72.

Why Winston Taylor Is Betting on Miami

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 13:43:22 EST

In this week's Legal Speak episode, Winston Taylor Miami Managing Partner Gustavo J. Membiela about the Chicago-funded firm's growth since entering the Miami market in 2022.

How I Made Practice Group Chair: 'Stay Connected With Both Clients and Your Team,' Says Toby Caspary of Fried Frank

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 10:59:59 EST

"Staying connected with both clients and your team is essential to providing the highest level of service and understanding clients' needs even before they arise. It is also important to make time not only for day-to-day matters, but also for the future of the business and the team. Long-term success and the ability to attract high-quality clients are critical to building a strong practice and creating real satisfaction in the work."

Should US Marshals Service Move from DOJ to Judiciary?

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 07:44:59 EST

Two new reports say the move could improve judicial security.

Bursor & Fisher Fends Off 'Grossly Improper' Accusations of Judge-Shopping Novel Claims

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 19:37:27 EST

Ballard Spahr partner Jason Hamilton and Michael Laszlo of Clark Hill wrote in a sanctions motion filed by PeopleConnect in a suit brought by Bursor & Fisher: "The implication is clear: Plaintiff's counsel is strategically manipulating the court system to avoid a decision from your honor."

‘At Best Bizarre': FIU Faculty Balk at Former Trump Aide's Appointment as Law Dean

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 18:47:22 EST

Former Trump lawyer Daniel Z. Epstein was appointed interim dean of FIU Law despite a search committee's decision not to advance him among its top candidates.

Gibson Dunn Gains Data Centre Heft With White & Case London Partner Duo

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 09:15:31 EST

Several major law firms are investing in data centre expertise amid the AI boom.

Osborne Clarke Debuts in Luxembourg Amid Pacy European Expansion

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 05:41:52 EST

The opening follows its Frankfurt opening earlier this week.

FTC, 22 States Sue Amazon Over Alleged 'Secret Surcharge' Scheme in Online Ad Auctions

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:45:54 EST

Attorneys from Dunn Isaacson Rhee and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher have stepped in to represent Amazon, which the FTC and 22 U.S. states accuse of using undisclosed surcharges to artificially inflate prices in its digital advertising auctions.

Rude Awakening: 'Invasive' US Legal System Shocks Japanese GCs, Execs—Who Law Firms Increasingly Court

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 19:30:32 EST

In Japan, litigation is rare and less confrontational. The adversarial posture and invasiveness of U.S. litigation is often disorienting.

Kon'nichiwa: U.S. Lawyers Are Gaining a Foothold in Japan

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 19:18:05 EST

Lawyers representing Japanese Clients in litigation in the U.S. explain how they get—and keep—clients.

Newly Public Deposition Sharpens Fight Over Race-Based Kidney Transplant Policies

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 16:17:02 EST

In their deposition testimony, a Swedish transplant executive said an updated policy still cited old kidney-function formulas, bolstering litigation over hospitals' implementation and what Black patients must prove to gain recovery for race-based calculations.

July MBE Score Drops Nearly 2 Points After Reaching 12-Year High in 2025

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:44:24 EST

The MBE national mean scaled score for July was 140.7, 1.7 points lower than the July 2025 mean of 142.4, according to NCBE's announcement.

GOP Lawmakers Seek Details on Misconduct Probe Into Judge Over Affair, Lying

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:47:05 EST

"The American people deserve confidence that our judicial system is operating with integrity and accountability," Rep. Clay Fuller, R-Georgia, said in a statement regarding U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross of the Northern District of Georgia.

Google Avoids Breakup of Advertising Business

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:56:35 EST

Google argued a divestiture would be extreme and questioned the Antitrust Division's legal authority to seek a divestiture since Judge Brinkema had not found that Google's purchase of AdX was illegal.

Announcing the New Jersey Legal Awards 2026 Shortlist

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:30:09 EST

New Jersey Law Journal has announced this year's shortlist for the New Jersey Legal Awards 2026, including Lifetime Achievement Award winners and finalists for Attorney of the Year and Law Firm of the Year.

Critical Mass With Law.com's Amanda Bronstad: Mead Johnson Wins 1st Federal Formula Trial, Split Rulings in Uber's Rocky RICO Road Against Law Firms

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:37:10 EST

Rachel Cannon of Steptoe and Phyllis Jones of Covington & Burling successfully represented Mead Johnson in the first bellwether trial over cow's milk-based infant formula.

The AI Evidence Problem

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:34:42 EST

As AI becomes embedded in the ways evidence is generated, enhanced, analyzed and authenticated, the fight will be about the foundation. It will be about reliability, transparency, bias, and the ability to challenge what the machine did.

The Measuring Device and the Machine

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:04:59 EST

As major firms grant billable-hour credit for AI training—rewarding lawyers for learning to eliminate hours rather than generate them—artificial intelligence threatens to sever the century-old connection between time spent and value delivered, potentially pulling apart the measuring device and the machine.

How I Made Partner: 'Invest in a Firm That Also Invests in You,' Says Ben Shiroma of Knobbe Martens

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:59:59 EST

"As an associate, you have a limited number of working years. Building internal and external relationships, which are critical to becoming partner, takes time. Further, developing expertise in a particular area of the law takes time as well. You should also choose to invest in a firm that also invests in you."

Former Warriors Associate GC Sues Team, Alleges She Was Passed Over for Top Legal Role Before Being Fired

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 19:00:47 EST

Ex-Golden State Warriors associate general counsel Lisa Shelley claims she was denied promotions in favor of less-experienced male colleagues, sidelined during the franchise's search for a new chief legal officer and terminated after raising concerns about an internal workplace investigation.

No 'Blanket Exclusion' for Healthcare: Appellate Court Rejects BIPA Timekeeping Exemption Claims

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 17:33:13 EST

The decision comes as courts are wrestling with what counts as a healthcare exception to the act.

Quinn Emanuel's Alex Spiro to Represent Joshua Kushner and Thrive in FIFA Legal Fight

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:12:23 EST

Quinn Emanuel's representation of Joshua Kushner and Thrive Capital adds the firm to the growing roster of law firms advising the Kushner brothers on disputes and transactions.

Harris Beach Murtha Completes Peabody & Arnold Combination, Eyes New England Expansion

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 13:51:03 EST

Nearly 40 attorneys and 25 professionals from Peabody & Arnold have transitioned to Harris Beach, doubling the firm's Boston presence.

Left Brain, Right Brain, and Reading Precedent

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 23:59:59 EST

While lawyering is more art than science, science—specifically neuroscience—has something to say about professional development. Its insights into the brain can help lawyers apply precedents more persuasively and, in doing so, gain an edge on the competition.

Former Federal Judge Alan Albright Joins A&O Shearman in Austin

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:10:55 EST

Alan Albright, a federal judge since 2018, grew a busy and influential patent litigation docket from his bench in the Western District of Texas.

Midlevel Associates Increasingly Fear AI Will Replace Them

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:59:59 EST

Midlevels report confusion over how to choose the right tool for the job, and express desire for firm-specific options as the number of legal AI service providers grows.

The 2026 Midlevel Associates Survey: The Rankings

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:59:59 EST

There was a significant amount of year-over-year rankings movement, including the top three spots, our data shows.

Associates Say the Darndest Things, 2026: Fewer Dweebs, Please

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:59:59 EST

Our survey of nearly 3,000 midlevel associates fielded thoughtful, substantive responses on serious topics. It also yielded these.

Fewer Midlevel Associates Believe They're Cut Out for Partnership

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:59:59 EST

Big Law looks like a steppingstone to an increasing proportion of midlevels.

New York Judge Tosses Uber's Racketeering Case, but California Case Moves Ahead

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 20:22:56 EST

On Aug. 14, a federal judge dismissed Uber's RICO case against New York's Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, but Los Angeles-based Jacob Emrani and Downtown LA Law Group moved to reconsider a contrasting ruling in an Uber case in California.

9th Circuit Says Nevada Can Regulate Kalshi Contracts as Gambling, Creating Circuit Split

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 18:32:55 EST

The appeals court, in a break from a sister circuit, held that sports event contracts are bets—and not “swaps, which fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission under the federal Commodity Exchange Act.

From Hong Kong to London: Chinese Issuers Have More Listing Options. Law Firms Are Adjusting to Win the Work

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 18:15:46 EST

Law firms in Asia are sharpening their focus on governance and sanctions risks as more cross-border IPOs emerge and as the London exchange doubles down on wooing Chinese issuers.

Illinois Supreme Court Fills Another Judicial Vacancy in Chicago

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:48:48 EST

Gregory Mitchell, a solo practitioner focusing on federal criminal defense and employment law, begins his tenure in October.

Duquesne Law Partners With Law Firms to Refine AI Education

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:09:45 EST

Duquesne Kline Law faculty and staff have been visiting a variety of law firms to gain information about real-world uses of AI in the legal profession.

Mead Johnson Wins Defense Verdict in 1st Federal Trial Over Cow's Milk-Based Infant Formula

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:04:15 EST

The trial was the first before U.S. Senior District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer, who is overseeing more than 800 cases in multi-district litigation involving cow's milk-based infant formula and a gastrointestinal illness called necrotizing enterocolitis.

'Serious Matter': 5th Circuit Weighs Reassignment After Judge Used AI to Draft Ruling

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 14:47:12 EST

U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate issued the temporary restraining order "on the basis of names that didn't even exist and statements that didn't even exist," said Fifth Circuit Judge Jerry Smith. "Are you saying that we can be confident that that didn't infect his ultimate reasoning?”

Kirkland and Quinn Taking Different Paths Into the Same Litigation Future

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:45:33 EST

Both firms appear to be preparing for a future in which the most important question is no longer how long something takes, but what it's worth.

Troutman Adds New Real Estate Partner in Boston With National Practice

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:41:38 EST

Dan Monger joined the firm's Boston office as partner in August as Troutman looks to broaden its real estate practice across a national platform.

How I Made Law Firm Leadership: 'Earn the Trust of Your Colleagues,' Says Mike Byrne of Day Pitney

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:59:59 EST

"Come to work every day thinking about the interests of your clients and your firm, and earn the trust of your colleagues. Make a real investment in getting to know them. Emails or chat threads are wonderfully useful, but trust is built over coffee, in the hallway, at lunch, and on the phone. If you want partners to put their confidence in you, they need to know you as a person, not just as someone who happens to be good at client work."

Bill to Expand Reach of California's Antitrust Law Secures Legislators' Support

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:49:40 EST

Democratic majority lawmakers approved AB 1776, which would allow state prosecutors to target anticompetitive behavior by single companies.

Inside Weil's Private Equity Partner Shuffle

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 07:07:25 EST

It's the second time within two years that the firm has sustained a series of departures from key partners.