Mark Lanier, founder of Houston's Lanier Law Firm, along with the COO of his firm and two English barristers have opened a firm in Manchester to handle the kind of litigation Lanier does in the U.S.

Barrett issued the denial without comment one day after the emergency application was filed.

The observational incident report in question was "based on personal observations that did not consist of opinion or conclusions relying on specialized skill, judgment, or discretion," wrote the majority of the Washington Supreme Court.

In one way, a mid-size law firm's recent sale of its tech-based subsidiary broke new ground. But it's also in line with several other firms' recent divestments of tech-based assets.

This week's Higher Law looks at the rush to partner with cannabis brands, MedMen's unexpected contract dispute defense, Frontier Risk Group's new legal leader and the promise and pitfalls of being a cannabis attorney.

Both the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice have announced steps to enforce recordkeeping rules across various industries, and have been vocal in highlighting their ability to track down evidence that was thought to be deleted or encrypted through tools like WhatsApp and Signal.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Barry Russell on Tuesday refused to allow The Mandell Law Firm to transfer $1.87 million in attorney fees to the Girardi Keese trustee, citing contingencies he found "troubling."

"The WESCA 'emphasizes the protection of privacy,'" stated Judge Thomas L. Ambro. "Consistent with that emphasis, it applies when anyone intercepts communications—that is, takes an action to acquire them with a device. And it requires all parties—not just a party—to consent to that interception."

Under Spielbauer's general and excess liability insurance policies, the "shooters endorsement" says: "This policy shall NOT provide coverage of any kind (including but not limited to judgment costs, defense, costs of defense, etc.) for any claims arising out of injuries or death to shooters or their assistants hired to perform fireworks displays or any other person assisting or aiding in the display of fireworks whether or not any of the foregoing are employed by the Named Insured, any shooter or any assistant."

Companies are hellbent on making sure they're diversifying their C-suites, but they don't always apply the same efforts to rank-and-file legal jobs.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon joined federal regulatory agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency in inviting Oregon residents to report environmental crimes.

Be an active listener and know your clients well, including their business goals, core values, pain points, and immediate legal and commercial needs, Marcia Ellis says.

"Oftentimes, we create the crisis ourselves," said Gina Rubel, CEO of Furia Rubel Communications.

From battling for MDL leadership, to positing one-off arguments on precedential matters, to undercutting fees, senior members of the plaintiffs bar warn colleagues on the need to be more unified.

Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain allowed a trustee in the bankruptcy for upstate New York grocery store chain Tops Market to proceed with a lawsuit alleging that Morgan Stanley, which had a controlling stake in Tops from 2007 to 2013, and other investors pushed Tops into Chapter 11 proceedings by paying themselves more than $375 million in stock dividends while neglecting to address the chain's unfunded pension liabilities.

It comes after the firm earlier this year appointed a new Munich managing partner, ushering in a new generation of Germany leaders.

To keep you informed we've got the first bit of a feature on the The Electronic Public Access (EPA) Public User Group, made up of legal and media industry members who met with the goal of improving PACER. It worked in some cases, but often fell short of their goals due to the autonomy of local courts.

• Bench Report: Why These Judges Are Worried About Confirmation Hearings - Enclosure
• Bench Report: Senate Nominations Loom as Midterm Deadline Approaches + An ERA Showdown - Enclosure
• Bench Report: Judge Luttig on Amending the Electoral Count Act + Labor Law Experience Missing From the Bench - Enclosure

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"The court is similarly reluctant to alter the jury's verdict in this case. After a seven-day trial, the jury deliberated for two days before returning with the verdict," Judge Roderick C. Young said in his written opinion for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Counsel for the Commission on Judicial Performance urged the 11-member commission to set aside three special masters' findings and to discipline Superior Court Judge Michael Murray, who is accused of withholding potentially exculpatory evidence in a homicide case.