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.

After closing shop in Chicago in 2024, the firm is reopening in the city to host team leader Mike Poulos. It's also opening in Dallas to welcome members from the McDermott team, while launching in Houston with a former Akin litigator.

Ann Chaplin helped Qualcomm prevail in a three-year court battle with a British semiconductor firm that alleged it breached license agreements.

Horacio Gutierrez helped strike a landmark deal with the NFL and put to rest a string of lawsuits, including a defamation case brought by Donald Trump.

In this week's Legal Speak episode, Texas personal injury attorney Richard 'Dicky' Grigg pulls back the curtain on the prevalence of substance abuse and mental health issues among attorneys.

"Plaintiff has failed to show that defendant would have been subject to personal jurisdiction in California, and has therefore failed to show that this exact case could have been brought as a matter of right in the Northern District of California," the court said.

The combined McDermott firm had a higher average PEP and RPL in 2025 compared with either legacy firm's 2024 financial year.