Want to get this daily news briefing by email? Here's the sign-up. 

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

LOOMING – A no-deal Brexit could result in an array of problems for lawyers doing business in the U.K. and the EU, including inter-office rifts, investigations by foreign regulators and increased costs for clients. Meganne Tillay and Krishnan Nair report on what leading lawyers are saying about a worst-case Brexit scenario if the U.K. crashes out of the EU—a prospect made more likely after Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked the Queen this week to suspend Parliament, limiting its ability to debate or prevent a hard exit.

PLAYERS – The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has sued Tallahassee-based investment firm Cambridge Capital Group Advisors, alleging it defrauded investors who were mostly retired NFL players claiming brain injuries in a class action lawsuit against the league. Katheryn Tucker reports that defendants also include Phillip Timothy Howard, a Florida attorney and former president of the investment firm. "Howard has acknowledged that these players' brain function is not there, [that] their body has been beat up from the NFL," the complaint filed Tuesday states.

SUITS COMING? Australia's competition regulator is likely to take legal action against Google and Facebook, alleging  unconscionable conduct or breach of consumer protection laws, Christopher Niesche reports. The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission took the unusual step last month of revealing it was investigating the two tech giants. Allan Fels, the previous chairman of the ACCC, says the likelihood of legal action following that investigation "seems to be high."

ROBOTS – Can machines become inventors under patent law? A group calling itself the Artificial Inventor Project formed about a month ago thinks so, and has filed patents around the world that list an AI machine as the inventor. Reporter Scott Graham interviews patent experts not affiliated with the group—John Dragseth at Fish & Richardson and Kathi Vidal at Winston & Strawn—about the chances of the USPTO patenting AI inventions and what it could mean.

EDITOR'S PICKS

Paralegal Sues Philly Law Firm, Alleging Sexual Harassment and 'Party Culture'

2020 Vision: How a Kirkland Partner—and the Legal Industry—Jumped Into the Race

New Rule Bars Contractors From Supplying China-based Equipment to the Feds

A Familiar Tale of 'High Talent' Privilege at Google

Bored With the US News Law School Rankings? Check Out These Alternatives.

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

LEAVING LINKLATERS – A five-lawyer private client team at Linklaters is leaving to join Fieldfisher, three years after Linklaters started rebuilding the practice. Krishnan Nair reports that Peter Golden, head of trusts  at Linklaters, is leading the exit and will accompanied by managing associate Alistair Robertson who joins Fieldfisher as a partner, as well as three associates and a personal assistant. The move is expected to occur in October.

WHAT YOU SAID

"There are grinders, minders and finders (those that do the work, manage the work or find the work). It is important to know which you are at any given time."