The Recorder

California Senate Confirms Laura Enderton-Speed as State Bar Director

Fri, 15 May 2026 19:18:11 EST

The former Judicial Council executive was confirmed by a unanimous vote to a four-year term.

Second Group of Investors Claim Alston & Bird 'Integral' to Alleged $328M Crypto Ponzi Scheme

Fri, 15 May 2026 17:08:07 EST

The case follows a similar but separate class-action filed in March, for which the firm has hired White & Case to defend it.

Report: Sex Abuse, Storage Fire Drove Last Year's 80% Jump in Seattle Tort Lawsuits

Fri, 15 May 2026 16:55:52 EST

A report this week from Lex Machina, a division of LexisNexis, found 2,698 tort actions filed in King County Superior Court in 2025 were associated with "non-traditional" torts, such as sex abuse cases against the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families and a local gynecologist.

AI Meets PAGA: The Next Wave of High-Stakes Employment Litigation in California

Fri, 15 May 2026 16:13:38 EST

With increased adoption of AI-driven workforce tools and the continued plaintiff-side focus on wage-and-hour claims, this intersection is likely to become a significant driver of PAGA litigation in the coming years.

Following Reelection, Ballard Spahr's Chair Aims to Keep Forward Momentum

Fri, 15 May 2026 15:04:16 EST

Peter Michaud has been unanimously reelected to a second term as head of the firm. He's looking to build on a 2025 merger with Lane Powell and recent launch in San Francisco, saying discussions with several small firms and groups are underway.

Mistrial Concludes Third Weinstein Sex Crimes Trial in Manhattan

Fri, 15 May 2026 14:05:35 EST

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Curtis Farber granted the defense request, after a previous admonition failed to move the seven-man, five-woman jury to a decision. The District Attorney's Office did not immediately say if it would retry the case.

Salesforce CLO: Law Firms That Lag in AI Are Putting Themselves in Peril

Fri, 15 May 2026 13:36:17 EST

"Firms that don't embrace this moment risk becoming observers in an era they should be leading. They won't just lose efficiency; they will lose the talent that demands modern systems and lose the clients who demand modern results," said Sabastian Niles, chief legal officer of Salesforce.

Calif. Judge Approves $303M Settlement for Volunteer Division I Coaches in Antitrust Class Action

Fri, 15 May 2026 11:59:10 EST

A federal California judge granted final approval to a $303 million settlement resolving an antitrust class action involving thousands of Division 1 "volunteer" coaches, which plaintiffs counsel previously called "one of the largest recoveries ever in a Sherman Act case filed on behalf of workers seeking lost wages."

More Courts Banning Smart Glasses as Concerns Rise Over Privacy, Safety

Fri, 15 May 2026 11:16:44 EST

During the recent social media addiction trial in Los Angeles, Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kuhl banned smart glasses in her court and ordered that any recordings be destroyed after a team of people from Meta arrived wearing Ray Ban-Meta AI glasses.

California State Bar Leaders Back NextGen Exam's Use on Future Licensing Tests

Thu, 14 May 2026 20:42:34 EST

The California Supreme Court must approve the plan to administer the NextGen test in 2028, which work mark a significant pivot from the bar's previous efforts to launch a remote, California-centric exam.

Lawyers for Elon Musk and OpenAI Make Their Final Case in a Trial That Could Shape AI's Future

Thu, 14 May 2026 19:07:18 EST

In his closing arguments, Steven Molo of MoloLamken doubled down on claims of Sam Altman's untrustworthiness, pointing to testimony from witnesses who called the OpenAI CEO a “liar.

Wildfire Victims Petition Oregon Supreme Court in Case Challenging Class Trial Jury Instruction

Thu, 14 May 2026 18:46:16 EST

The petition comes after the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed the first of more than $1 billion in verdicts over the 2020 wildfires. "The result leaves Oregon trial courts without a workable framework for instructing class-action juries and threatens verdicts impacting thousands of fire survivors," it says.

Wilson Sonsini Offers Nearly $1M in Stipends to Summer Associates, Nonprofits to Encourage Pro Bono Partnerships

Thu, 14 May 2026 18:16:50 EST

So-called “signing bonuses for summer associates who do public interest work are growing in popularity, but Wilson Sonsini took it a step further, compensating nonprofits and government organizations for taking on the students as well.

Authors Who Opted Out of $1.5B Anthropic Settlement File Copyright Suit, Request Jury Trial

Thu, 14 May 2026 18:08:20 EST

Twenty-eight writers say class action treatment lets AI companies extinguish high-value copyright claims on the cheap in a new lawsuit accusing Anthropic of infringing their work.

Toyota-Backed Nonprofit Sued Over Alleged Theft of EV Tech Trade Secrets

Thu, 14 May 2026 17:32:12 EST

Mobility for Africa, a woman-founded company registered in Mauritius and based in Harare, Zimbabwe, filed a 10-count complaint against Toyota Mobility Foundation alleging breach-of-contract claims and violation of the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act in Los Angeles federal court.

California Corporate Lateral Partner Hiring Catches Up With Litigation in Q1

Thu, 14 May 2026 16:10:57 EST

“The overarching theme seems to be that all the firms were very focused on growing out their corporate practices, said Sarah Morris, co-office managing partner of the West Coast for recruiting firm Macrae.

Journalists, Podcasters Sue Alphabet, Google for Voiceprints in AI Trained Models

Thu, 14 May 2026 15:25:10 EST

The plaintiffs claim Google extracted their "voiceprints" from publicly available recordings without notice or consent and used these voiceprints to build commercial products that now compete with them in their own profession.

California Supreme Court Sets Oral Arguments in Electronic Case Recording Petition

Thu, 14 May 2026 13:54:31 EST

In Family Violence Appellate Project v. Superior Court, the justices will consider whether a statutory ban on widespread use of electronic court reporting violates a litigant's right to a verbatim record.

Keker Van Nest Helps Tiny Georgia Town Sue ICE Over Planned Detention Center

Thu, 14 May 2026 13:33:51 EST

A small Georgia town of 5,000 residents filed a federal lawsuit, seeking to block the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, from converting a warehouse into a 10,000-bed immigration detention center.

Supreme Court Says Federal Judges Retain Power to Confirm Arbitration Awards

Thu, 14 May 2026 00:36:29 EST

The Supreme Court sided with Los Angeles' Chateau Marmont in an employment dispute Thursday, finding that a federal court retained the power to confirm an arbitration award in favor of the the ritzy Hollywood haunt.

The Risks of Accidental Waiver

Thu, 14 May 2026 10:29:59 EST

Attentiveness and care are required to make sure that a client or attorney does not inadvertently waive a protection that was meant to be protected. By being mindful of these issues, lawyers and clients can reduce the risk of a waiver.

Davis Polk Eyes Full-Service Office in LA, Recruiting More Talent

Thu, 14 May 2026 05:59:59 EST

Firm chair Neil Barr said the firm's current footprint created some limitations to what talent it could get and where. The firm believes opening in Los Angeles will help eliminate those barriers.

Nvidia General Counsel's Compensation Fell to $14.3M in 2025

Wed, 13 May 2026 19:52:29 EST

Timothy Teter's pay declined more than 25% from the prior year, when a surge in Nvidia's stock-driven compensation pushed his total package to $19.2 million.

No 'Rubber Stamp': US Judge Questions Proposal to End Musk Dispute with Twitter Investors

Wed, 13 May 2026 18:59:19 EST

"I am not going to rubber stamp this settlement," U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan said regarding a $1.5 million consent judgment that would resolve allegations Musk harmed Twitter investors with his belated disclosure of stock-ownership.

'I Can't Say It Without Gasping': Calif. Judge Blasts Class Counsel's $85M Fee Request in Google Settlement

Wed, 13 May 2026 18:35:17 EST

"The pyramids were built in less time than it took to litigate this case," U.S. District Judge James Donato, in the Northern District of California, told class counsel at an April 30 hearing.

LA Judge Admonished, Again, for Poor Demeanor Toward Litigants

Wed, 13 May 2026 18:22:44 EST

The Commission on Judicial Performance has now disciplined Superior Court Judge Thomas Griego twice in two years for "demeaning, impatient and undignified" behavior.

In Big AI Copyright Case, Judge Salutes Susman Godfrey's Bet on a First-Year Associate

Wed, 13 May 2026 17:58:09 EST

Dylan Salzman, an associate in his first year at Susman Godfrey, caught the attention of U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar while arguing contributory infringement issues for authors against Nvidia Corp.

Nexstar Names Elizabeth Ryder General Counsel in Return to In-House Role

Wed, 13 May 2026 17:21:43 EST

Ryder, who previously oversaw legal work on Nexstar's marquee acquisitions of Media General and Tribune Media, comes back as the company battles antitrust challenges to its $6.2 billion Tegna deal.

Mediating Tenant vs. Landlord Disputes: Finding the Middle Floor

Wed, 13 May 2026 15:18:30 EST

These lawsuits aren't just about statutes and treble damages; they are about people's homes and their livelihoods.

Anthropic Is Building a Legal Tech Ecosystem in Claude. Can Companies Adapt?

Wed, 13 May 2026 14:26:16 EST

Claude may be following in Microsoft's footsteps by becoming a legal tech ecosystem. But some question whether such interface consolidation is ultimately feasible for legal professionals.

New State Farm Suit Cites Calif. Agency Report of Widespread Claims Mishandling in Wake of Eaton Fire

Wed, 13 May 2026 09:46:01 EST

State Farm was hit with what is believed to be the first lawsuit—following a May 4 enforcement action by the California Department of Insurance—to integrate findings from an investigative report published this month by the government agency, which alleged that State Farm committed hundreds of violations of California insurance law in the wake of the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.

Private Markets Platform Carta Acquires UK ABS Law Firm Avantia

Wed, 13 May 2026 06:59:59 EST

The tech-forward firm, founded by Slaughter and May alum James Sutton, will become Carta Law, a new offering available through Carta's ERP Platform.

After Surprise Resignation, John Quinn Is Focusing on Travel, Practice Growth

Tue, 12 May 2026 20:19:36 EST

In a statement to Law.com this week, Quinn explained his departure as “logical, adding that he “didn't really think about what day of the week it was when he decided to make his announcement.

9th Circuit Clears Firm in Arbitration Disclosure Lawsuit

Tue, 12 May 2026 19:41:53 EST

While finding that Moore, Schulman & Moore attorneys had no duty to tell a plaintiff about their appearances before private mediator Jeannie Lowe, the Ninth Circuit held that Lowe should have disclosed more.

Judge's Technical Committee Begins Google Remedies Oversight With Full Staff

Tue, 12 May 2026 17:36:30 EST

The establishment of an experts committee to oversee antitrust remedies in the U.S. Department of Justice's Google search-monopoly case could potentially be replicated in the remedies phase of the Live Nation antitrust case in Manhattan federal court, according to a former Munger, Tolles & Olson attorney who represents clients in high-stakes legal matters.

Anticipating AI-Driven Rise in Demand, Alston & Bird Invests in IP Bench

Tue, 12 May 2026 17:25:35 EST

The firm hired a trio of IP partners from Winston & Strawn earlier this month.

Defense, Prosecution Clash Over Credibility in Closing Arguments at Harvey Weinstein Rape Retrial

Tue, 12 May 2026 17:04:53 EST

Weinstein, 74, is standing trial for a third time in Manhattan on sex crimes charges. A jury is expected to begin deliberations on Wednesday.

'We Are at an Inflection Point': Legal Ops Pioneer Says Surging Sector Is Just Getting Started

Tue, 12 May 2026 16:59:27 EST

“Going back to the beginning of time, the hardest part of this job has been change management, said Mary O'Carroll, a fixture of the legal ops movement for more than two decades.

OpenAI Chief Sam Altman Makes Appearance in His High-Stakes Court Bout with Elon Musk

Tue, 12 May 2026 16:15:29 EST

In his testimony Tuesday, Altman said he had concerns about Musk's attempts to gain more control over OpenAI, which he said company leaders felt should be under any individual person. He described what he called a “particularly hair-raising moment" when a co-founder asked Musk what would happen to control when he dies. Altman said Musk's response was that maybe the control should “pass to my children.

Anthropic Announces Legal Practice Plug-Ins for Claude, Legal Tech Integrations

Tue, 12 May 2026 12:59:59 EST

The plug-ins focus on a range of practice areas for firms, in-house counsel, law students and more. Claude also now integrates with Harvey, Free Law Project and Thomson Reuters, among others.

Analysis: In Trial Over OpenAI, No One Has More to Lose than Altman

Tue, 12 May 2026 11:14:07 EST

The trial has invited further scrutiny of Altman's leadership at a pivotal time for the company and its competition with Musk's own AI firm as well as Anthropic, the rival formed by former OpenAI leaders. All three are moving toward planned initial public offerings that are expected to be some of the largest ever.

Fernando Laguarda Named General Counsel of UnidosUS

Tue, 12 May 2026 09:56:49 EST

The veteran government lawyer, who previously served as general counsel of AmeriCorps and deputy general counsel of the General Services Administration, takes on a newly created role at the nation's largest Latino civil rights organization.

‘Good for You': Judge Salutes Susman Godfrey's Bet on a First-Year Associate in Big AI Copyright Case

Tue, 12 May 2026 07:29:59 EST

Dylan Salzman, an associate in his first year at Susman Godfrey, caught the attention of U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar while arguing contributory infringement issues for authors against Nvidia Corp.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Film 'The Rip' Prompts Defamation Suit by Florida Officers

Mon, 11 May 2026 19:52:26 EST

“The Rip features Affleck and Damon as South Florida police officers who find millions of dollars inside a house. Parts of the movie were inspired by a real 2016 case, where police found over $21 million linked to a suspected marijuana trafficker in a Miami Lakes home.

Meta Sued by Santa Clara County for Allegedly Enabling Billions of 'Scam' Ads on Platforms

Mon, 11 May 2026 19:29:21 EST

Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti sued Meta Platforms Inc. and subsidiary Instagram LLC in California state court on Monday for allegedly facilitating a massive consumer fraud scheme involving "up to 15 billion" scam advertisements on its social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram.

Trump Administration Rule Removes Conservation as Public Land Use

Mon, 11 May 2026 18:20:48 EST

Conservation leaves land “idle while it should be used for commercial purposes, the U.S. Interior Department stated.

Elon Musk's Lawyers to Appear in Attempt to Settle $150M SEC Suit Over Twitter Purchase

Mon, 11 May 2026 18:10:04 EST

The complaint alleged that, ahead of his purchase of Twitter, Musk violated a federal rule requiring parties that acquire more than 5% of a public company's stock to disclose the purchase and whether the transaction was meant to help them obtain a controlling stake in the company.

Class Counsel in $7.25B Roundup Settlement Ask for $675M in Legal Fees

Mon, 11 May 2026 17:22:22 EST

The fee request, which is 9.3% of the settlement fund, is "quite modest," according to class counsel Eric Holland.

Analysis: OpenAI Sued Over ChatGPT's Alleged Role in FSU Shooting

Mon, 11 May 2026 15:44:20 EST

"Unfortunately, I think this is just the beginning," a products liability and personal injury attorney not involved in the litigation told Law.com.

3rd Circuit Revives Session Replay Suits Against Bass Pro Shops, Offering Roadmap for Standing

Mon, 11 May 2026 14:14:44 EST

So far, plaintiffs raising claims over session replay software have largely stumbled at the standing phase, with courts finding that merely alleging one's online movements have been tracked is not enough to establish a claim.

AI Platform's ‘Expert' Workforce Draws Misclassification Suit

Mon, 11 May 2026 14:09:30 EST

A class action against Mercor.io Corp. claims the AI hiring startup misclassified lawyers, doctors, engineers and other subject-matter experts as independent contractors while exerting employer-like control over their work. The case could test how traditional employment law doctrines apply to the white-collar gig workforce behind AI training and evaluation.

Consolidation in TV Markets Suggests Pain Ahead for Broadcast Newsrooms

Mon, 11 May 2026 00:15:49 EST

"When broadcast media is owned by a handful of companies, we get fewer voices, less competition, and communities lose the critical check on power that local journalism delivers," said Rob Bonta, attorney general of California, which has joined other states in filing a lawsuit aimed at blocking the merger.

FTC Forces Valvoline to Shrink Acquisition of California-Based Breeze Autocare Shops

Mon, 11 May 2026 11:15:46 EST

The FTC order calls for Atlanta-based Main Street Auto to buy the Oil Changers shops, which had been part of Greenbriar-owned Breeze Autocare of Pleasanton, California, that would directly compete against Valvoline-owned locations.

How I Made Law Firm Leadership: 'Build Relationships Inside and Outside the Firm,' Says Charity Schiller of Best Best & Krieger

Mon, 11 May 2026 10:59:59 EST

"Equally important is building relationships inside and outside the firm. If you hope to lead people one day, you need to know them, and they need to know you. Find out what motivates them, what they care about, and what they value, and share what you care about and value with them."

GM to Pay $13M to Settle Claims It Sold Californians' Driving Data

Fri, 08 May 2026 17:07:37 EST

If approved, the settlement would mark the largest financial recovery under the Consumer Privacy Act.

Suits in 5 Nations Allege Apple Quashed "Watch Room" Competition

Fri, 08 May 2026 16:21:32 EST

Apple said it removed Rave from its App Store based on allegations that it hosted pornographic and pirated content and users complained about child sexual abuse materials. Rave replied that those allegations were baseless and extraordinary and that it has zero tolerance for unlawful or exploitative content.

Antitrust Remedies Order Takes Effect as US Judge Denies Google's Stay Motion

Fri, 08 May 2026 15:41:19 EST

"[T]here is no rule in this circuit that any disclosure of information is an irreparable harm sufficient to warrant a stay," U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta wrote in an order denying Google's partial stay motion. Google unsuccessfully asked Mehta to pause his final judgment requiring Google to share sensitive data with rival search engines and generative AI companies to redress Google's alleged anticompetitive conduct in the general search market.

Blake Lively's Lawyers Fuel Feud with Claim of Victory After 'It Ends With Us' Settlement

Fri, 08 May 2026 13:16:48 EST

Lively's lawyers said the law requires “severe and mandatory penalties against any party who files unsuccessful retaliatory defamation actions against sexual harassment and retaliation complainants.

Outside Counsel Takes Legal Reins of Six Flags as Merger Fallout Mounts

Fri, 08 May 2026 06:29:32 EST

Christopher Bennett will serve as chief legal and compliance officer, part of a new management team trying to turn around the company after an $8 billion merger went off the rails.

Retired Judges Urge US Appeals Court to Reject Trump's 'Unprecedented Suit' Against Maryland's Federal Bench

Thu, 07 May 2026 17:39:25 EST

The retired judges told the Fourth Circuit that the lawsuit is an “extraordinary, unprecedented broadside" against the judiciary's authority.

AI Chatlogs Promise Discovery Risk, Windfall

Thu, 07 May 2026 17:30:38 EST

In the last several months, judges have started to parse the discoverability of AI chat logs.

Levin Simes Limits Lawyer's Role in Sex Assault MDL After He Called Uber Attorney a 'Pedophile'

Thu, 07 May 2026 16:26:11 EST

During a March 9 meeting, David Grimes, an attorney at San Francisco-based Levin Simes, called Uber attorney Christopher Cotton, at Shook, Hardy & Bacon, a 'pedophile' and compared him to a 'rapist.'

AI Paradox: Clients Want Lower Billing From Tech Efficiency, But Also More Human Oversight

Thu, 07 May 2026 16:05:01 EST

A new report by a global leadership consultancy shows that law firm clients would like billing to decrease if their lawyers incorporate AI use in legal work, but they simultaneously want more man hours spent on human oversight and risk mitigation.

Think Tank's Shareholder Proposal Attacks Dick's Sporting Goods for Supporting Transgender Causes

Thu, 07 May 2026 15:36:41 EST

"The bottom line is it's one of those political issues that companies have no business being in. ... Just sell sporting goods—that's want people want," said Steve Milloy, founder of the National Center for Public Policy Research's Free Enterprise Project.

As Deepfake Evidence Spreads, Rulemaking Efforts Stay Stuck in Development

Thu, 07 May 2026 14:24:46 EST

At a meeting Thursday, the U.S. court system's advisory committee on evidence rules declined to advance a proposed amendment aimed at preventing AI-generated deepfakes from being admitted at trial. Meanwhile, many judges see a need for guidance on the issue.

How AI Shapes the Way IBM's Legal Chief Approaches Almost Everything

Thu, 07 May 2026 13:59:32 EST

"It comes down to building trust and enabling adoption for customers. Trust leads to adoption and adoption leads to stickiness," said Anne Robinson, who became Big Blue's legal chief in July 2024.

Worries About AI's Risks to Humanity Loom Over the Trial Pitting Musk Against OpenAI's Leaders

Thu, 07 May 2026 00:23:59 EST

Both Musk and Altman have said they wanted OpenAI to safely develop artificial general intelligence for the benefit of humanity and not for any one person's gain or under any one person's control. And both camps allege it's the other guy who was trying to control it.

Output vs. Process: When Attorneys Should — and Shouldn't — Use AI

Thu, 07 May 2026 11:50:16 EST

Clients have pushed back on what they are willing to pay for since long before anyone heard of a large language model. AI is the latest chapter in a long story about legal fees. But it introduces a wrinkle that prior tools did not.

Am Law 200 Law Firms Hit With Discrimination Suits, Law.com Radar Shows

Thu, 07 May 2026 11:27:03 EST

Big Law firms faced allegations of race, gender and pregnancy bias in April. Plus, cyber negligence claims smacked two firms.

Apple to Pay $250M to Settle Claims It Overpromised on iPhone AI Features

Thu, 07 May 2026 07:05:44 EST

The class action alleged that Apple's marketing created a "clear and reasonable consumer expectation" that Apple Intelligence features would be available when the iPhone 16 launched in September 2024.

Baker McKenzie, Goodwin Advise on Bayer's $2.45B US Ophthalmology Deal

Thu, 07 May 2026 06:06:49 EST

Bayer has tapped Baker McKenzie for its $2.45 billion U.S. acquisition of Perfuse Therapeutics, aimed at bolstering its ophthalmology business.

Character.AI-Maker Faces Unlawful Practice of Medicine Claim in Pennsylvania Suit

Wed, 06 May 2026 18:11:49 EST

The lawsuit could raise the question as to whether artificial intelligence can be accused of practicing medicine, as opposed to regurgitating material on the internet.

Big Law Firms Robbed of Confidential M&A Information Stolen by Global Insider Trading Ring

Wed, 06 May 2026 16:58:33 EST

An ex-Goodwin Procter associate is among 30 people charged with trading on stolen and confidential information from law firms.

Perkins Coie Turns to AI Avatars to Train Lawyers on Soft Skills

Wed, 06 May 2026 13:30:22 EST

The law firm's London office is beta testing training simulations with gen AI avatars to provide a safe space for legal professionals to fail and learn.

Microsoft's AI Bet Is Getting More Expensive—and More Complicated

Wed, 06 May 2026 00:32:10 EST

“There are real doubts surrounding the appeal of its AI products, and it increasingly looks like Microsoft has squandered an early lead in enterprise AI with Anthropic now taking most of the action, veteran technology analyst Richard Windsor wrote last month.

Kagan Denies Apple's Request for Emergency Supreme Court Intervention in Antitrust Case

Wed, 06 May 2026 00:04:50 EST

Apple became the latest tech giant to fail to obtain emergency relief from the high court in an antitrust case.

Why Class and PAGA Waivers Matter More Than Ever: Lessons from 'Stoker v. Blue Origin'

Wed, 06 May 2026 10:59:59 EST

The decision offers a timely and practical roadmap for employers, particularly as Private Attorney Generals Act (PAGA) filings remain high and continue to drive representative litigation risk.