Law firms may face instability and lagging production in the lead-up to a deal, as well as compensation issues, departures, conflicts and silos afterward.

"If you look at both the Webster's Dictionary and the Oxford Dictionary, the word 'sexual' means pertaining to sex or the sexes,” said an attorney representing a former TikTok employee.

“The data suggests law student recruiting may be emerging as a meaningful disruptor within legal education, according to NALP Executive Director Nikia Gray.

The Atlanta-founded firms joined others in Big Law experiencing major increases from lobbying Congress and the White House.

OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, were hit with two new lawsuits in California state courts this week accusing their flagship chatbot product, ChatGPT, of worsening existing mental health issues in plaintiffs and even fueling episodes of AI-induced psychosis, resulting in psychiatric hospitalization for both plaintiffs.

"This isn't a Cravath story," one partner said of the talent war, which has also struck Wachtell lately. "It's a Big Law story."

The firm estimates it will add about 15-20 attorneys, giving the firm a footprint in the second-largest financial services market in the U.S.

A severe storm has resulted in the closure of New York state courts, except for criminal arraignments in New York City's five boroughs. Federal courts are also closed, except for limited virtual operations.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a joint stipulation with the cryptocurrency exchange Gemini Trust Co. in New York federal court to dismiss with prejudice one of the agency's highest-profile civil enforcement actions.

The number of cases involving AI, crypto and tariffs increased from the prior year.

Neither CEOs nor their boards likely asked for this—a hyper-polarized political landscape—when they signed on for their job. But disruptive stuff happens: Enron, the Great Recession, COVID-19—and now this. And increasingly, society looks to the business community to address issues it feels government cannot.

"Be a continuous student of your business and industry. Be curious about the work of your leaders, peers, and team. Connecting strings of information is invaluable. Work hard but work smart—understand your level and strive to work at that level and above. Build relationships at every level. Be a functionary, leader, and strategist."

The war for legal talent is hurting even the most prestigious firms. The solution may require revisiting the private capital debate—not for the money, but for a new incentive model.

Attorneys expect a wave of litigation, and a new liability framework for deepfakes—similar to the one used to sue talcum powder and asbestos manufacturers.

Judge Arthur Engoron retired on Dec. 31, following more than two decades as a judge in New York City. His legacy includes thousands of rulings impacting New Yorkers and a finding that Donald Trump—then between his terms as president—committed civil fraud. He didn't discuss that case, but recalled remarkable incidents he viewed from the bench.

Expect more litigation over 1035 Exchanges "that appear to reset compensation under the guise of policy improvement," plaintiff counsel said.

The underlying class action alleges that Pump.Fun failed to register its tokens on its platform with the Securities and Exchange Commission and effectively operates as an illegal casino.

Trading algorithms and AI call centers trigger IP suits in New York. 

Uber's mistrial motion, filed on Thursday, said, "While surprise courtroom appearances and supposedly ‘bombshell' evidence are the stuff of television dramas, they have no place in actual courtrooms, which require proper disclosures to avoid surprise or prejudice."

The fact that New York Attorney General Letitia James, a state enforcer, brought the insider trading case was alarming for Reed Brodsky, who co-leads Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher's Litigation Practice Group. James' suit could spark a trend among her fellow state attorneys general, Brodsky said.