"When you consider the amount of money saved versus the amount of bad press you get and the general low morale of the workforce that you depend on, it becomes a very difficult situation,” said a consultant about choosing not to match on bonuses.

       

U-Haul contends Public Storage “is attempting to pull a fast one on the USPTO, bootstrapping an unsustainable claim of ownership of the color orange, and bullying other longtime users of orange trade dress.

       

Coupled with court closures, the state continued its piecemeal launch of electronic case filing through eCourts. Eleven stages are planned for transitioning from paper to digital filing, with the next batch of counties to come online Feb. 3. That includes 13 counties in the southeastern region of North Carolina.

       

"Try to do every job in the businesses so you can understand different roles and perspectives, gain empathy, and understand what is needed to drive results. Listen to your peers and managers to learn the full scope of the business. Spend time with clients and mentors. It's imperative that you never stop learning. The worst and most uncomfortable moments in my career have been the most professionally beneficial, because they put new experiences and skills in my toolbox. If you're afraid to stick your neck out and take advantage of a new opportunity, you'll stop growing and advancing as a professional, and that can be fatal."

       

Law.com lists the hires that garnered the greatest interest in 2024, with firms like Sidley Austin, Kirkland & Ellis and Paul Weiss building in the U.K. and U.S. at pace.

       

David Rivkin Jr., a longtime Baker & Hostetler attorney and former White House counsel, has died at the age of 68.

       

The proposed regulatory change to the Foreign Agents Registration Act's commercial exemption “doesn't really take into account a lot of the practical realities associated with foreign companies doing business in the United States, Covington & Burling's Alexandra Langton said. “And I think that this is going to be a pretty impactful change for those multinational corporations.

       

A lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court is just the latest securities fraud case against ASML, the world's sole producer of a photolithography machine needed to produce advanced semiconductors.

       

Starbucks targeted the board's 2022 decision in Thryv v. NLRB, which permitted monetary remedies beyond backpay. In Thryv, the board said it can order "make-whole relief” beyond backpay, including compensation for credit-card fees, mortgage charges, child care bills and medical expenses.        

A record $20 million settlement with Leader Automotive is a jarring pothole in what appeared to be a smoother road ahead for dealers going into next year.

       

At a Dec. 19 hearing, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, in the District of Columbia, criticized lawyers for their escalating mass arbitration fight. “I don't think lawyers should start going after each other, she wrote. “Now, all of this seems like a colossal waste of time, energy, and money.

       

A slower year for law firm shutdowns saw more firms get absorbed by larger firms.

       

“The President's veto of the JUDGES Act is extremely disappointing," U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr., director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, said in a statement.

       

"To be an effective practice group leader, it's essential to have a clear vision, make sound decisions, and demonstrate expertise in addressing client needs, which enables us to effectively set group objectives and align our efforts with the firm's broader strategy. Equally important are strong communication and collaboration skills to ensure team members are engaged in meaningful projects."

       

Two Linklaters lawyers are joining rivals while Noerr loses two to Heuking.

       

On Thursday, Chief U.S. District Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell slashed the overall award of $3.8 million to $1.42 million—the amended amount consisting of $780,000 in compensatory damages and $640,000 in punitive damages—in a fair housing case.

       

The judge had awarded $9.6 million as compensatory damages, and then trebled the total to more than $29 million against Penn National.

       

Alongside hiring Christopher Stagg as a partner, Holland & Knight has launched an export control disputes and advocacy team.

       

The suit, filed in Essex County Superior Court, echoes several of his complaints described in February 2024, three months after his termination.

       

Elisa Rossi claimed in the complaint that her ex-husband pocketed “millions of dollars in staking rewards on her cryptocurrency until she “discovered the deception over two months after the parties finalized their divorce agreement.