The Recorder

Johnson & Johnson Scores Defense Verdict in 2nd Talc Bellwether in Los Angeles Superior Court

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:53:56 EST

Friday's verdict comes after a month-long trial combining the cases of three women who died of ovarian cancer that their family members allege was caused by Johnson & Johnson's baby powder.

L.A. Jury Awards $176M to Parents of Boys Killed in Hit-and-Run

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:51:53 EST

Attorney Brian Panish of Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP argued that Rebecca Grossman and former Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson were both driving recklessly after drinking margaritas together prior to the fatal collision.

Corporate, Transactional Partner Hiring Heats Up in California

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:32:01 EST

At least five Am Law 200 firms have added partners to their corporate and financial practices so far this month, in both San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Diversity Lab Closes After FTC Investigation

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:15:43 EST

As part of the dissolution, Diversity Lab will shut down all its systems, including eliminating or destroying any client data it had stored on the hundreds of law firms and legal departments that it worked with.

Talc Lawyers Ask Los Angeles Jury to Hit Johnson & Johnson With Punitive Damages: 'The Language They Speak Is Money'

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 20:19:25 EST

The trial in Los Angeles Superior Court is the second bellwether case in California state courts to tie Johnson & Johnson's baby powder to ovarian cancer.

State Bar Charges Three More DTLA Attorneys for Unlicensed Law Practice in Eight States

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:38:59 EST

California's state bar previously charged DTLA founder Salar Hendizadeh with professional misconduct for marketing and offering legal services without a license in states as far away as Florida.

9th Circuit Mulls Its Rule That Automatically Pauses Deportation Orders

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:00:56 EST

The full appeals court approved the controversial rule nearly 25 years ago—but an immigration case involving a Peruvian family brought the circuit's practice into the headlines this year.

Meta, YouTube Move to Toss $6M Social Media Addiction Verdict

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:46:20 EST

Lawyers for Meta and YouTube, in post-trial arguments on Thursday, insisted that the jury heard evidence about content that was prohibited under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and the First Amendment.

How One Independent Firm Became Big Tech's Go-To Counsel in the Netherlands

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:29:59 EST

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is the firm that U.S. tech giants now turn to with data-related legal headaches in the Netherlands.

LA Court Finalizes $60M+ Settlement Against Tinder Over Age Discrimination Claims

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:27:51 EST

Attorney Michael Rubin, of Altshuler Berzon and co-counsel for the plaintiff and class, told Law.com that the finalized settlement is believed to be the largest Unruh Act recovery in state history.

Ruling in 'Rent-a-Bank' Fintech Case Upholds 'Bedrock' of National Banking Law, Says Plaintiff's Counsel

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:15:00 EST

A precedential ruling in a case filed by a digital finance platform against California's financial regulator is the first court decision, said the platform's counsel at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, to solidify the model upon which bank-fintech partnerships are built—and will have national reverberations for the fintech industry.

Jones Day Hires Former Orrick Securities Litigation Leader

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:29:59 EST

Paul Rugani joins Jones Day after nearly 18 years at Orrick.

U.S. Supreme Court Unanimously Refuses to Curb SEC's Disgorgement Powers

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:05:39 EST

Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the high court, said the SEC can seek disgorgement orders in cases where regulators cannot clearly identify a victim of a fraud scheme, or quantify how much money was lost.

Rulings Against Workday Offer Plaintiffs a New Path Amid Spread of AI Employment Screening

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:36:30 EST

Litigation aimed at AI tools' potential for hiring bias based on protected characteristics such as age, race, disability and gender is still in its early phases. But one defense lawyer called a recent decision in a collective action against Workday a “[canary] in the coal mine.

Kirkland and Palantir Launch AI-Led PE Fundraising Platform

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:09 EST

The launch is the first in a series of AI rollouts and strategic partnerships planned as part of Kirkland's $500 million AI strategy.

What Cross-Border M&A Teaches About the Limits of Legal AI

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:49:53 EST

Compressing the middle of a process does not eliminate the work that surrounds it. It moves that work to the two ends, and those ends are where legal AI is least useful. Cross-border technology M&A makes the point as well as any practice I know.

California Supreme Court Appears Ready to Expand Electronic Case Recording

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:49:27 EST

During oral arguments, justices questioned whether court-employed and freelance court reporters are truly widely available, as an attorney for reporters' trade and labor groups suggested.

'Enough is Enough': DOJ Asks 9th Circuit to End Flores Settlement on Migrant Child Detention

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:17:42 EST

The settlement, memorialized in a consent decree, requires that children be held in “safe and sanitary facilities and released from federal custody “without unnecessary delay to a guardian or state-approved program for dependents.

'We're Getting Calls Every Single Day': Law Firm Finds Niche Suing Over Airbnb, Short-Term Rentals

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:52:36 EST

"This was a very small portion of our practice two, three years ago. And now it's becoming a significant portion of it," said The Haggard Law Firm partner Pedro Echarte. "The more we dig into it, the more claims we're seeing. ... The risk is just astronomical."

Lender's Suit Alleges Pillsbury Partner Conspired in $145M Fraud Scheme

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:46:38 EST

A representative for Pillsbury denied the allegations, stating, “The claims against Pillsbury and Mr. Karamali are frivolous and lack any merit. We will vigorously defend ourselves in court.

SEC Moves to Lift 'Gag Rule' Language from Proposed Musk Settlement

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:20:47 EST

In addition to addressing questions raised by U.S. District Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan, this week's filings proposed revising the agreement to align it with a recent SEC rule change.

Newsom Continues Justice Appointment Spree, Naming Four to Courts of Appeal

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:08:35 EST

Gov. Gavin Newsom also named 11 new trial court judges in seven counties.

Critical Mass With Law.com's Amanda Bronstad: Prominent Firms Bring Class Actions For 50,000 Californians Evacuated, Wildfire Victims Want Oregon Appellate Judge Disqualified

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 10:58:59 EST

This week: Prominent plaintiffs firms Morgan & Morgan, Seeger Weiss and Weitz & Luxenberg filed at least a dozen class actions against an aerospace company after a potential leak at its site in Southern California prompted mass evacuations. A disqualification motion says Oregon Court of Appeals Judge Anna Joyce, who wrote an April 8 opinion wiping out $1 billion in wildfire verdicts, should be disqualified for failing to disclose she represented the defendant, PacifiCorp, while working at one of its defense firms. Find out who represents Health Gorilla in a dozen data breach class actions.

Meta Loses Legal Fight Against Tougher EU Antitrust Rules

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 06:45:59 EST

The decision, which marks a loss for Freshfields, adds to a long list of losses for tech giants in their fight against new EU digital regulations.

L.A. DA Calls for New Pause on $4B Sex Abuse Settlement Payouts, Citing Potentially 'Significant' Fraud

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:39:28 EST

An attorney for Los Angeles County said only a judge could stop payments to plaintiffs who allege they were sexually abused as minors in county-run facilities.

IP Litigator Who Won 'Blurred Lines' Copyright Case Joins Adams and Reese, Alongside 3 Other IP and Patent Lawyers

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:14:04 EST

Richard Busch scored a $7.4 million verdict on behalf of the family of late R&B superstar Marvin Gaye in the landmark 2015 case. He is joined by technology patent attorney Michael Henson, who arrives from Maynard Nexsen.

LoanDepot Merges Top Legal and Risk Functions, Elevates Joseph Grassi

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:19:15 EST

The Irvine, California-based mortgage lender tapped its chief risk officer to absorb oversight of legal strategy and corporate governance as the company works to streamline operations and return to profitability.

Florida Becomes 1st State to Sue OpenAI. Lawyers Say It Won't Be the Last

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:29:09 EST

"This is a major event in the regulation of AI," said Berger Singerman partner Alejandro Miyar, who is not involved in the case. "There has been a lot of discussion about how it should be regulated. Not a lot of people have done it."

Lawyers for Lively and Baldoni Battle in New York Court Despite Settling Claims Weeks Ago

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:33:25 EST

Lawyers for Lively argued that, under a California law, Baldoni must pay her legal bills plus other penalties because a countersuit he filed was thrown out last year by a judge.

Fired Up Over Leadership: Baron & Budd Accused of Soliciting Class Members in Fire Truck Apparatus Antitrust Cases

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:54:48 EST

On Friday, counsel for the prospective class of direct purchasers of fire truck apparatus, including Cuneo Gilbert Flannery & LaDuca and Barrack Rodos & Bacine, filed a motion for U.S. Senior District Judge William Griesbach, in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, to prevent Dallas-based Baron & Budd and Simonsen Sussman, based in New York, from soliciting potential government clients.

Theranos' Balwani Asks Supreme Court for New Trial, Claims Prosecutorial Misconduct

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:17:44 EST

Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, the former lover of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, petitioned the Supreme Court to review his conviction for multiple counts of fraud for deceiving investors about the promise of the company's ballyhooed blood-testing technology.

Holland & Knight Names New Partner in Charge of Portland Office

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 11:14:59 EST

Kate Robinson joined the firm with a group of lawyers from Seattle-area firm Karr Tuttle Campbell last April.

The Next 250: Which Sectors Will Define America's Second Quarter-Millennium?

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 10:29:59 EST

Artificial intelligence, climate technology, defense tech, biotechnology, and commercial space are no longer emerging, they are foundational. And with explosive growth comes an equally complex web of legal and regulatory challenges that companies must navigate in real time.

Disney Dealmaker Jim Kapenstein Joins Starz as Chief Legal and Strategy Officer

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 19:20:05 EST

The veteran entertainment lawyer, who spent nearly three decades at Disney shepherding marquee acquisitions including 21st Century Fox, Hulu and Marvel, succeeds general counsel Audrey Lee, who retired in May.

Corporate Partner Departs Paul Hastings to Rejoin O'Melveny in San Francisco

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:24:40 EST

Jeffrey Wolf is rejoining O'Melveny, having worked at the firm as an associate for several years early in his career until about 2008.

OpenAI Moves Into Legal Tech With Hire of Ironclad Co-Founder Jason Boehmig

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:38:02 EST

OpenAI joins fellow tech giants Anthropic and Microsoft in developing AI tools for legal work.

Deal Watch: Anthropic's IPO Another Signal of Capital Markets Bonanza for Elite Law Firms

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:00:36 EST

Anthropic, advised by Wilson Sonsini in preparation, has announced its IPO: one of three coming down the pike that could shake markets.

Law Firms Are Using AI as Strategy Tool, Not for Reliable Forecasts of Litigation Outcomes

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:06:15 EST

Attorneys are using the predictive functions of AI to corroborate or identify potential holes in their thinking about litigation strategy.

Supreme Court Seeks Solicitor General's View of Robinhood's Appeal of Alleged IPO Omissions

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:02:48 EST

The high court called for D. John Sauer's view on an appeal from stock trader platform Robinhood Markets, which is facing an investor suit over its $2 billion initial public offering in 2021.

Seagate Reaches $175M Deal to End Investor Lawsuit Over Huawei Sales

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 15:21:24 EST

The proposed settlement was negotiated by co-lead counsel for the investors, Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann and Motley Rice, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, which represented Seagate.

Lawsuits Over Keurig's 'Recyclable' Claims Reflect Mounting Trend

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:01:30 EST

The lawsuits are part of a broader trend in litigation, where companies are accused of "greenwashing," or misleading consumers about a company's efforts to protect the environment.

San Francisco-Based Keker Announces New Firmwide Managing Partner

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 08:59:59 EST

Newly appointed firmwide leader Jamie Slaughter framed the executive appointment at Keker, Van Nest & Peters as "a change in leadership, not a change in identity."

6 Health Care Litigators Jump From Manatt to Epstein Becker Green in 3 Cities

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:59:59 EST

The lawyers focusing on health care and commercial disputes join the firm in Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington.

'The Definition of Nuisance': Dozens of Lawsuits Filed Over Mass Evacuations Near SoCal Aerospace Plant

Fri, 29 May 2026 20:10:57 EST

Prominent plaintiffs' firms such as Morgan & Morgan, Seeger Weiss and Weitz & Luxenberg have filed lawsuits against GKN Aerospace, which operates a site near Garden Grove, California, where a potential chemical leak and tank explosion prompted the evacuation of 50,000 area residents.

Esports Company's Bid to Arbitrate Consumer Class Action Fails as SCOTUS Rejects Cert Petition

Fri, 29 May 2026 18:12:55 EST

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider defendant AviaGames' petition to review the denial of its motion to compel arbitration in a federal consumer class action, which accused the mobile gaming company of rigging the outcomes of its online games through the deployment of computer bots.

Johnson & Johnson Wins Talc Verdict in Oklahoma, Appeal in Pennsylvania

Fri, 29 May 2026 17:01:11 EST

An Oklahoma County District Court jury handed Johnson & Johnson a defense verdict on Wednesday in a talc trial, while a Pennsylvania appeals court affirmed a 2021 win.

Western State Names Retired California Appellate Judge Halim Dhanidina as New Dean

Fri, 29 May 2026 16:27:36 EST

The 53-year-old UCLA Law graduate was a deputy district attorney when he was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court bench in 2012, becoming the first Muslim judge in California history.

California Sues 23andMe Over 2023 Data Breach

Fri, 29 May 2026 13:33:42 EST

According to the complaint, “23andMe's security measures were so lax that the threat actor was able to operate undetected within 23andMe's systems for over five months."

Legal Battles Shaping Over Data Centers: Here's What to Expect

Fri, 29 May 2026 13:22:05 EST

"To some extent that's the truth about the data centers," attorney Stuart Lieberman said. "Nobody wants them, and yet everybody wants to use ChatGPT."

Contingency Fees Helped MSK Notch Record-Setting Revenue Year in 2025

Fri, 29 May 2026 11:59:31 EST

Midsize law firm Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp grew its profits per equity partner 33.7% to some $892,000 last year.

Husch Blackwell Hires 2 Health Care Lawyers from Manatt in Los Angeles

Fri, 29 May 2026 11:56:45 EST

Greg Pimstone joins Husch as a partner alongside special counsel Michael Nordon.

Swipe, Scroll, Sue: Inside the Landmark Social Media Addiction Verdict

Fri, 29 May 2026 05:59:59 EST

In this week's Legal Speak episode, litigator W. Mark Lanier of The Lanier Law Firm discusses his landmark $6 million social media addiction verdict against Meta Platforms and Google as Zach Kinzler of BoodleBox explains how the collaborative AI platform aided in trial preparation.

CNN Slaps Perplexity AI With New Copyright Lawsuit

Thu, 28 May 2026 18:03:02 EST

The complaint is the third filed by Roth Figg Ernst & Manbeck on behalf of a news company alleging similar claims against Perplexity. The outlets have alleged the AI company is marketing itself as a substitute for their coverage, using their coverage.

California Supreme Court Sets New, Tougher Standard for Blanket Challenges of Judges

Thu, 28 May 2026 17:18:35 EST

The unanimous court held that a 50-year-old case affirming the blanket disqualification of individual judges does not mesh with the realities of California's judiciary today.

Oregon Wildfire Victims File DQ Motion Against Appellate Judge Who Reversed PacifiCorp Verdict

Thu, 28 May 2026 16:39:57 EST

The disqualification motion claims Oregon Court of Appeals Judge Anna Joyce should have recused herself from hearing the case since she previously represented defendant PacifiCorp before taking the bench in 2022.

Kirkland Investing $500M in Proprietary AI System to Support Client Work, 'Start to Finish'

Thu, 28 May 2026 16:08:04 EST

The proprietary AI system is designed to help client work in a variety of practices and has been in the works for three to four years, said a source with knowledge of the project.

Young Lawyers Take Note: 'I Left a Firm to Go Solo and Came Back a Better Lawyer'

Thu, 28 May 2026 11:53:59 EST

My experience as a solo practitioner has made me a more deliberate and effective lawyer in my day-to-day practice.

Judge Denies Morgan & Morgan Partner's Pro Hac Vice Bid Over Past AI Misuse

Thu, 28 May 2026 11:18:35 EST

Robert Freund, a Los Angeles-based attorney who has been vocal about the rising misuse of AI, said the order shows how an attorney's record of AI misuse could have lasting effects beyond the original incident.

California Supreme Court Sends Suit Challenging Death Penalty to Sacramento Trial Court

Wed, 27 May 2026 20:00:19 EST

The justices' order ends a two-year watch on a petition that death penalty opponents filed directly with the state high court more than two years ago.

Renowned Civil Rights Attorney Clarence B. Jones, 95, Dies in California

Wed, 27 May 2026 18:41:50 EST

As the personal attorney to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Clarence B. Jones was heavily involved in some of the key moments of the Civil Rights Movement. He is credited with smuggling pages of King's “Letter from Birmingham Jail out of his cell and helping write King's iconic "I Have a Dream" speech.

Sony Music's Longtime General Counsel Julie Swidler to Exit After 18 Years

Wed, 27 May 2026 16:56:16 EST

Swidler, who has helmed the company's global business, legal and governmental affairs since 2008, departs as Sony Music closes out a record-breaking fiscal year.

What Exactly Is an AI-Native Law Firm?

Wed, 27 May 2026 16:25:48 EST

A growing number of new firms are calling themselves "AI-native," but what that term means depends on who you ask.

Fenwick Agrees to Pay $54M to Settle MDL Over FTX Representation

Wed, 27 May 2026 15:30:40 EST

The settlement is currently pending approval from a Southern District of Florida judge.

California's SB 574: New AI Rules for Lawyers and Arbitrators

Wed, 27 May 2026 15:29:59 EST

The new requirements fall into four categories: (1) keeping nonpublic information out of public AI systems; (2) ensuring non-discriminatory use of generative AI; (3) requiring the filing attorney to read and verify citations—even those not generated by AI; and (4) ensuring that arbitrators do not delegate decision making to AI and are transparent in their use of AI.

9th Circuit Upholds Order Pausing Some DEI Grant Cuts for UC Research

Wed, 27 May 2026 00:10:29 EST

A three-judge panel said the researchers are likely to succeed on their claim that the government discriminated based on viewpoint in terminating the grants, in violation of the First Amendment right to free speech.