GlobeSt.com - Washington, DC

Got $29? AI-Driven Platform Makes Filing a Lawsuit Easy. But Is It Legal?

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:10:27 EST

The business model of Petty Lawsuit could make it vulnerable to litigation for practicing law without a license, says Sean Griffin, a Washington, D.C. lawyer who blogs about AI in the legal profession.

As SCOTUS Grapples with Plea Deals, NJ Provides Helpful Lessons

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:27:39 EST

These New Jersey rules have worked well in the administration of criminal justice and they have not precluded sentence review even when there was an agreement not to appeal the sentence.

‘Untested, Unused, a Blank Slate': What to Know About the Section 338 Tariffs

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:44:17 EST

The law supporting President Donald Trump's new tariffs on Canadian goods is little known. But if it works the way the president seems to think it does, the law could be his most flexible trade weapon yet.

White House Withdraws DOJ Pick Who Faced Questioning Over Past Tweets

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:07:43 EST

The withdrawal of Konstantinos Ligris' nomination to head the Justice Department's Office of Justice Programs was not linked to his social media use, but it had drawn fire from Democrats on a U.S. Senate panel.

Johnson & Johnson Wins Big: Federal Judge Orders Nearly 70,000 Talc Claimants to Show Why They Shouldn't be Dismissed

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 19:42:40 EST

In Wednesday's order, U.S. Magistrate Judge Rukhsanah Singh, in the District of New Jersey, raised "deep skepticism" about the plaintiffs' specific causation experts and sought to reevaluate how to manage the "aged and complex mass tort MDL."

Several Big Law Firms on Track for Record-Setting Year for Lobbying Income

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:42:05 EST

Brownstein, Akin, K&L Gates and others saw their lobbying income climb in the second quarter of this year, compared to the first three months of this year, as clients prepare for the midterm elections this fall.

Losing Fight with Amazon, New York Is Blocked From Enforcing New Labor Law

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 17:27:23 EST

U.S. District Judge Eric Komitee of the Eastern District of New York permanently enjoined the state from enforcing amendments to the State Employment Relations Act empowering New York's Public Employment Relations Board to referee disputes in the private sector.

Skadden's Deal with Trump and Work for Intel Deal Gets Scrutinized by Democratic Lawmakers

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:58:53 EST

Several Democratic lawmakers sent a letter on Tuesday to Skadden, requesting the firm to respond to questions related to its work for Intel and apparent work for the Commerce Department following its deal with the Trump administration.

'Poorly Reasoned'?: SEC's Semiannual Reporting Proposal Hits Wall of Opposition

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:48:50 EST

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission says allowing companies to report financial results twice a year will reduce regulatory burdens and encourage more IPOs. Investors say the agency is solving problems that do not exist—while creating new risks for market transparency and fraud detection.

DOJ's Extensive Subpoenas to 14 Law Firms Revealed

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:29:19 EST

The subpoenas to 14 law firms go much further than previously believed, requesting that firms turn over any and all communications related to Trump's law firm executive orders or deals. The deadline passed last week. It's unclear if any firms have responded.

DOJ Wants to Disqualify Susman Godfrey from ABA Suit

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 21:40:34 EST

The government says Susman Godfrey cannot both serve as advocate and fact witness in the suit the American Bar Association filed against the Trump administration.

After Disqualifying Beasley Allen, Johnson & Johnson Sets Sights on Other Talc Lawyers

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 19:15:10 EST

Johnson & Johnson lawyer Kristen Fournier, at Kirkland & Ellis, wrote in a July 9 letter to U.S. Magistrate Judge Rukhsanah Singh in the talc multidistrict litigation about "concerning and newly developed facts" that surfaced during a July 6 evidentiary hearing in Florida.

White & Case and Honigman to Relocate DC Offices, Among Other Law Firm Office Deals in Q2

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:43:17 EST

Steptoe, White & Case, Honigman and Wilkinson Barker Knauer all inked D.C. office deals in Q2 of 2026.

How I Made Practice Group Chair: 'Listen as Much as You Speak,' Says Doug Rettew of Finnegan

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:59:59 EST

"Listen as much as you speak (and perhaps more). With the wisdom you impart, there's much to learn from others; any litigator who believes otherwise, is not a good one. And don't forget how terrifying it felt the first time you did something in court. Young lawyers need to hear and understand that nerves are not a weakness; they are often the mark someone cares, prepares, and ultimately excels."

Are DOJ's Subpoenas to Big Law Firms a Breach of Trump Deals?

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 05:59:59 EST

As a result of the murky nature of the Trump deals with law firms, experts were split as to whether DOJ's recent subpoenas may violate the terms of the law firm deals, if they were even formal to begin with.

'Stunning Turn of Events': Johnson & Johnson Asks Judge to Order Potential Dismissal of All 67,000 Talc Lawsuits

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:01:50 EST

Johnson & Johnson, in a motion for order to show cause, insisted that lead plaintiffs' counsel in the talc multidistrict litigation withdrew their two "marquee" specific causation experts after they acknowledged other risk factors impacting women in six bellwether cases—and that most ovarian cancers are idiopathic.

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.

Todd Blanche's Independence From Trump Faces Sharp Questions During AG Confirmation Hearing

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 05:59:59 EST

“I can't answer that yes or no, Blanche said, when asked by Sen. Mazie Hirono whether he believed it was the president's right to order the investigation or prosecution of his perceived enemies.

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.

The Pipeline of Big Law Marketing Officers Making the Move to Midsize Firms

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:30:28 EST

"There are a lot of Am Law 50-100 [marketing] directors who feel kind of stuck and can't get to the CMO level in the Am Law 50-100 sphere, so they find less resistance going to a mid-sized firm and becoming a chief,” said Jason Caramanico, senior managing director at Celeritas Recruiting.

Watchdog Group Seeks HHS Investigation Into Former General Counsel's Stock Trades

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:31:49 EST

Campaign Legal Center alleges Michael Stuart failed to divest prohibited holdings, continued buying restricted investments and violated the terms of his ethics agreement while serving as the department's top lawyer.

S&C, Expanding Relationship With Trump, Joins Legal Team for E. Jean Carroll Defamation Case

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:00:31 EST

The petition to the Supreme Court is expected to rely on presidential immunity arguments not unlike those made in a separate criminal case out of New York involving Trump that Sullivan & Cromwell is handling.

Litigation Trends to Watch: Lawsuits Center on AI Trainers, Surveillance Pricing and Last-Mile Delivery Drivers

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:49:17 EST

A new wave of litigation is taking shape as workers who train AI models claim they were misclassified as independent contractors.

Big Law's Trump Deals May Face More Lawmaker Pressure After Midterms

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:37:58 EST

Democratic lawmakers are expected to revive congressional investigations into nine law firms that made deals with the Trump administration, if Democrats gain a majority in one or both chambers of Congress. Law firms could be the subject of congressional subpoenas or public hearings.

SEC Hires Citadel Alum for Artificial Intelligence Advice

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:57:34 EST

Stan Yakoff began work as the SEC's new senior adviser on AI and exams in June.

Sidley Raids Clifford Chance, Prioritizes Finance Practice Growth

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:23:32 EST

The latest group brings Sidley up to about 13 total lateral hires in its global finance and tax practices so far this year.

DC Court Accepts SEC's Deal With Elon Musk, Despite ‘Significant Misgivings'

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:26:04 EST

U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan said she had "significant misgivings" about the settlement, but that the deal didn't meet the high threshold to be rejected.

'Effectively Tailored'?: FinCEN Agenda Targets AML Compliance Burdens

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:08:02 EST

FinCEN and the Treasury Department are currently preparing to overhaul anti-money laundering and anti-terror financing regulations.

EEOC Scraps Affirmative Action Guidance, Raising Litigation Risk for Employers, Lawyers Say

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 18:35:20 EST

Any employers that want to have an affirmative action plan are "going to have to be very careful," said Clark Hill member Vanessa Kelly.

Defendants Move to Toss Thousands of Plaintiffs in 'Forever Chemical' MDL

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 17:56:21 EST

Tyco, DuPont and other defendants moved to dismiss 8,000 plaintiffs from the multidistrict litigation in South Carolina alleging exposure to the "forever chemical" PFAS in drinking water, citing missing medical records and other factual information.

Hogan Lovells Cadwalader Plans Quick Integration in DC, Names Office Leadership

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 07:22:09 EST

More than 50 legacy Cadwalader attorneys and staff are moving into legacy Hogan Lovells' office space in downtown D.C. this month, following the firms' merger.

Can DEI Be Neutral?

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 13:02:50 EST

We commend the author and the AAA for publishing this piece and look forward to the wide-ranging discussions it should engender.

Two Federal Judges Block Trump's Admin's Attempt to Reshape Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 20:11:31 EST

Federal judges in Massachusetts and Washington D.C. issued separate rulings Tuesday blocking the Trump administration's attempt to impose additional conditions for eligibility in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Mass Tort Titan Paul Napoli, Who Sued for 9/11 Firefighters, Has Died. 'Truly One of a Kind.'

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 20:08:45 EST

Paul Napoli, founder of New York-based plaintiffs' firm Napoli Shkolnik, who was serving as co-lead plaintiffs' counsel in the PFAS litigation involving firefighting foam, died on Tuesday at age 58.

After 'Slaughter' Ruling, Agencies Face a New Constitutional Order

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:17:42 EST

"I think we're going to see a lot of these agencies becoming much more political and easier to control in their actions," said Columbia University constitutional law professor Gillian Metzger.

Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Taps Venable Partner, Former SEC Enforcement Lawyer as General Counsel

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 17:57:04 EST

George Kostolampros brings more than 25 years of regulatory, governance and enforcement experience to the board that oversees auditors of public companies and broker-dealers.

AI-Proof Work: How One Big Law Firm's Trial School Trains Associates

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:58:11 EST

Over 50 associates, partners, counsel and administrative staff from Arnold & Porter came together in the firm's D.C. office for their annual trial school last week.

Critical Mass With Law.com's Amanda Bronstad: What's the Impact of the Roundup Ruling by SCOTUS? Meta Loses Last Bid to Avoid Next Month's Trial Against 29 States

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:07:12 EST

This week: The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling siding with Monsanto puts thousands of Roundup lawsuits into limbo. A federal judge rejected Meta's summary judgment motion ahead of an Aug. 18 bellwether trial in which attorneys general from 29 states allege its social media platforms addict young users. Find out who represents Alliance Cloud Services in a class action over its AI data center in Dowagiac, Michigan.

Amazon to Pay $2.25M to Settle FTC Claims It Withheld Fraud Records From Identity Theft Victims

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 18:36:03 EST

The agency said the online retail giant violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by failing to provide records to identity theft victims within 30 days.

SEC Eyes New ETF Rules Amid Rise of Prediction Market Funds

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 18:31:28 EST

Since the agency adopted ETF rules in 2019, ETF assets have grown from roughly $4 trillion to more than $12 trillion.

Federal Judge Orders US Transportation Dept. to End Suspension of Funds for $16B Gateway Rail Project

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:45:19 EST

“Defendants do not dispute that the suspension of federal grants flagrantly violates federal law, said District Judge Jeannette Vargas.

SEC Oversight of PE Transactions Could Tighten Disclosure Standards, Experts Say

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 18:22:40 EST

The SEC can play a helpful role in scrutinizing sponsors who do not appropriately obtain or disclose conflicts, said attorney Kenneth Blazejewski of Cleary Gottlieb.

Kirkland Lures Antitrust Boutique Founder in 2-Partner Move

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:56:14 EST

Harkrider was a founding partner at Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider. Minerva has been at the boutique since March 2020.

On the Move: Ex-Proskauer Rose Practice Leader Will Direct King & Spalding's U.S. Fund Finance Work

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:55:16 EST

Ron Franklin follows two other fund finance partners who joined earlier this month; Bass Berry & Sims and Womble Bond Dickinson also added attorneys in healthcare and other areas.

After SEC's U-Turn, Supreme Court Refuses to Review Agency's 'Gag Rule' for Defendants That Settle

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:32:03 EST

The justices denied the petition for certiorari on Monday without any legal explanation, as is customary for decisions issued through its order list. The denial comes after the SEC voted to rescind its long-standing no-deny rule, which government attorneys argued mooted the entire case.

How I Made Partner: 'Take Ownership of Outcomes and Building Authentic Relationships,' Says Colin Cloherty of Wiley Rein

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:59:59 EST

"You have to become a partner before you make partner. That means taking ownership of outcomes, not just tasks, and building authentic relationships, not transactional ones. Identify the lawyers you respect, study how they operate, and start doing the same. Then, make it your own. The title will follow."