Years ago, sanctions were a rare occurrence and at most an appendage to the lawsuit. In fact, someone bringing such a motion risked scorn, as many considered it unprofessional to accuse a fellow lawyer of improper conduct except in the most egregious of circumstances. All that has changed. Sanctions are now commonplace. In fact, they can offer a lucrative return that may overshadow the core litigation. And, perhaps because of the high stakes, a distinct practice area seems to have evolved—“Sanctions Law.”

To get a sense of modern sanctions practice, take a look at some headlines from the Daily Report and affiliates in the last year or so: “Lawyers Appeal to U.S. Supreme Court to Reverse $2.7M Fee Sanction”; “Florida Firms Slammed with $9.2M Sanctions in Tobacco Litigation”; “Judge Sanctions Ford for Bad Faith in Roof Trial.”