Commentary

10 Critical Challenges in Negotiating a Successful Law Firm Merger

Blane R. Prescott| July 19, 2018

There are common, but not commonly understood, problems that keep mergers from benefiting everyone involved.

News

Nearly $10M Awarded to Family of Woman Killed in Fatal Motorcycle Club Brawl

Max Mitchell | July 19, 2018

A Philadelphia jury has awarded nearly $10 million to the family of a woman killed during a scuffle with members of a motorcycle club outside of a Reading-area restaurant.

News

Jury Sides With Golf Course in Suit Over Golfer's Trip and Fall

VerdictSearch| July 19, 2018

On July 25, 2012, plaintiff Robert Howe, 51, tripped and fell while playing golf at the Mainland Golf Course, in Harleysville. Howe sued the golf course and its owner, Mainland Golf Course Holding Co. Inc. He alleged that the drop-off a dangerous condition caused by negligent maintenance.

News

Capitol Report

Michael Riccardi | July 19, 2018

Following is a listing of executive and legislative action for the week of July 16. Members of the state House of Representatives are scheduled to go back to work on Sept. 12. Pennsylvania senators are set to return to session on Sept. 24.

Commentary

An Update on Pa.’s Local Employment Laws and What May Come Next

Ethan M. Dennis| July 19, 2018

Over the past few years, Congress has operated at a deadlock, preventing major new federal workplace legislation from being adopted. Although in its infancy, it seems increasingly unlikely that this Congressional term will see a wave of new workplace legislation.

Expert Opinion

Ethics Forum: Questions and Answers on Professional Responsibility

Samuel C. Stretton| July 19, 2018

I am a judicial officer and there have been several complaints made against me in my performance as a judge. Can judicial discipline affect my pension or can I resign and stop any proceedings?

News

Hospital's Lawsuit Over Plastic Surgery Reality Show Trimmed Down

P.J. D'Annunzio | July 19, 2018

A hospital has no defamation case against a television production company for a "salacious" reality show based on one of its former plastic surgeons, an appeals court has ruled, but it can go after it for trespassing on hospital grounds.

Commentary

Hacking the Future of the Legal Industry Through Innovative Ideas

Ioana Good, Amy Norris and Erin Ryan| July 19, 2018

Facebook. Google. Microsoft. These are a few of the tech-savvy giants that regularly host hackathons—intense brainstorming sessions designed to solve pain points and enhance the client experience.

Commentary

Pa. Death Penalty Report Is Chock-Full of Recommendations

Matthew T. Mangino| July 19, 2018

Did the commonwealth of Pennsylvania need a report, six and a half years in the making, to acknowledge that the state’s death penalty has some problems?

News

Justices Agree to Answer Third Circuit's Question on Police Force Governance

Zack Needles | July 19, 2018

The state Supreme Court, at the request of the Third Circuit, is set to determine whether some Pennsylvania police departments fall outside the scope of the state's two statutes governing how such agencies can terminate officers' employment.

Commentary

Who Breached First? Unpublished Opinion Helps Clarify Rule

Craig R. Tractenberg| July 19, 2018

Should all contract breach litigation be decided on who breached first? Perhaps that should be the rule on deciding complex commercial cases. It seems to work well to simplify complex fact patterns and responsibilities. Do all breaches have the same weight?

Commentary

Is Telling the Truth Good for Patient Safety? Will It Reduce Errors?

Cliff Rieders| July 19, 2018

Preventable medical errors are routinely covered up by health care professionals who do not always put the truth in the medical records or address poor medical care in the context of peer review. In Pennsylvania, as in most states, peer review cannot be disclosed even in litigation.

Commentary

Managing Law Firm Cybersecurity Risk: Tips to Stay Secure

Eamon Merrigan and Jason Rubin| July 19, 2018

Who’s minding the store—of information? In a law firm, decisions must be made constantly or nothing would get done. You’ve made countless decisions on what type of law to practice, your location and who to hire.

People in the News—July 19, 2018—Raynes Lawn Hehmeyer

Victoria Hudgins | July 19, 2018

Amber M. Racine of Raynes Lawn Hehmeyer received the Judge Doris May Harris Image Award from the Philadelphia chapter of the National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division.

Commentary

How Good Are Lawyers in Mid-Market Cities?

Michael Williams and Aaron Kotok| July 18, 2018

Lawyers in larger cities don't necessarily keep clients more satisfied, according to the fifth major finding out of AdvanceLaw's GC Thought Leaders Experiment.

Fox Rothschild Explores Potential Merger With NC-Based Midsize Firm

Lizzy McLellan | July 18, 2018

Sources said Philadelphia-based Fox Rothschild has been in tie-up talks with midsize Southeast firm Smith Moore Leatherwood.

News

PennDOT Scores New Trial in $5.5M Lawsuit Over Cyclist's Injuries

P.J. D'Annunzio | July 18, 2018

PennDOT successfully convinced an appeals court to give it a second chance in a case in which a jury awarded a cyclist $5.5 million after he hit a bump in the road, crashed, and sustained severe brain damage.

Commentary

Planning for Summer Vacations or Time Off as a Young Lawyer

The YL Editorial Board| July 18, 2018

Summer vacations can either be one of the most relaxing or most stressful aspects of a young lawyer’s career. Demanding clients or shareholders can make young lawyers feel lazy or guilty for wanting a break.

Cybersecurity for Midsize and Smaller Law Firms: 10 Tips to Take Action Now

Stephenie W. Yeung| July 18, 2018

It is no secret that cyberattackers consider law firms to be rich sources of valuable data. Escalating risks and client expectations mandate that mid-size and smaller firms, with fewer than 200 attorneys, treat cybersecurity as a core element of their legal practice.

Filing Fanatics

Maintenance Company's Suit Against Equipment Company Related to Injury Tossed

P.J. D'Annunzio | July 18, 2018

A maintenance company sued by an employee for injuries sustained on the job has lost its negligent design suit against the manufacturer of the equipment…

Commentary

Best, Brightest and Backlogged: Highest-Skilled Stuck Waiting in Line

Feige M. Grundman and Steven R. Miller| July 18, 2018

While many of President Donald Trump’s immigration comments are misinformed, he is not wrong when he points out that the current system for giving permanent resident status (or green cards) on the basis of employment-related skills has not kept up with the needs of the U.S. workforce

News

Pa. Supreme Court Justices Reject Challenge to Philadelphia Soda Tax

Max Mitchell | July 18, 2018

Philadelphia's tax on soda and sweetened beverages is legal, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled, rejecting arguments that the levy improperly duplicated the state sales tax.

News

Cozen O'Connor's Lobbying Group Is on a Hiring Tear

Lizzy McLellan | July 18, 2018

"This is a firm whose footprint is growing geographically and sectorally, and clients value one-stop shopping," said Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies' managing partner Howard Schweitzer.

People in the News—July 18, 2018—Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel

Victoria Hudgins | July 18, 2018

Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel hired Dr. Lars Genieser as a partner.

Analysis

Will the Rise of Artificial Intelligence Lead to More Job Cuts at Law Firms?

Krishnan Nair | July 18, 2018

A PwC report argues that AI could create more jobs than it displaces over the next 20 years.

News

Independent Firms, Not Big Law, Should Fear Big Four the Most, Report Says

Dan Packel | July 17, 2018

The founder of an association of international law firm networks offers a predictable solution: joining a network of networks can help firms compete in a landscape of disruption.

News

Plaintiffs Lawyers Get TV Time as CBS Launches Whistleblower Reality Show

Miriam Rozen | July 17, 2018

Ready for your primetime closeup, plaintiffs lawyers? The first episode of "Whistleblower" featured cases filed by litigators from Berger & Montague and Waters Kraus & Paul.

Analysis

More Law Firm Leaders Are Managing From Afar

Lizzy McLellan | July 17, 2018

For firms of all sizes, finding the right leader sometimes means looking beyond the "mother ship."

News

In Suit Over Faulty Nuclear Missile Parts, Court Shoots Down $3M Attorney Fee Request

P.J. D'Annunzio | July 17, 2018

The case involved a contentious dispute over how much the firm representing the government should be paid for the time put into the case. While the case settled for $1.7 million, lawyers for the government requested $3.11 million in fees.

Commentary

'Phelps' Tackles 'As Is' Language in Residential Agreement of Sale Under RESDL

Alan Nochumson| July 17, 2018

In many situations with distressed properties, the property owner wishes to wipe his hands clean of the property. In these situations, the property owner will agree to sell the property only if the prospective buyer acquires the property in “as is” condition.

People in the News—July 17, 2018—Stevens & Lee

Victoria Hudgins | July 17, 2018

Stevens & Lee's James C. Schwartzman was appointed by Gov. Tom Wolf to be a judge on the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline.

PLW People in the News—July 17, 2018—Nikolaus & Hohenadel

Victoria Hudgins | July 17, 2018

Frank J. Macciocca joined Nikolaus & Hohenadel.

Commentary

How This Fortune 500 GC Is Strengthening Her Law Firm Panel Relationships

A. Verona Dorch| July 17, 2018

Peabody Energy's chief legal officer gives behind-the-scenes insight into what she learned from creating a roster of panel firms and what she thinks of AdvanceLaw's findings on panels through its GC Thought Leaders Experiment.

News

Justices Agree to Mull Calculation of Overtime Pay for Salaried Employees

Max Mitchell | July 16, 2018

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether the fluctuating workweek method for calculating overtime payments for salaried employees violates state law.

News

New Phila. Defense Bar Leader Wants to Strengthen Links With Plaintiffs Lawyers

Max Mitchell | July 16, 2018

The Legal spoke with Robert Cosgrove, who started heading the Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel last month, about what he hopes to accomplish during his tenure.

Commentary

Report Card From the US Supreme Court: How Third Circuit Fared in 2017-18 Term

Howard J. Bashman| July 16, 2018

Three of the cases the U.S. Supreme Court decided this past term arose directly from the Third Circuit, while in another six cases the court expressly noted that it was resolving conflicts that involved the Third Circuit.

News

Drinker Biddle Class Action Defense Team Jumps to Akin Gump

Lizzy McLellan | July 16, 2018

The bicoastal group includes Drinker's Philadelphia-based litigation chair and a former managing partner of the firm.

Commentary

Department of Justice Needs an Internal Review of Its Operations

Peter F. Vaira   | July 16, 2018

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is in need of a serious internal review. Recent critical remarks by members of Congress and other political leaders, and responses by Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein indicate that the DOJ is under fire.

News

Montco Court Staff Attorney's Age and Sex Discrimination Lawsuit Fails on First Blush

P.J. D'Annunzio | July 16, 2018

An age and sex discrimination lawsuit in which a Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas judicial staff attorney claimed she was not paid fairly has been thrown out by a federal judge.

People in the News—July 16, 2018—McNees Wallace & Nurick

Victoria Hudgins | July 16, 2018

McNees Wallace & Nurick attorney Claudia Shank is slated to take part in the first of a series of land use webinars presented by Penn State Extension.

News

Will the $4.7B Talc Verdict Hold Up on Appeal?

Max Mitchell | July 13, 2018

The nearly $4.7 billion verdict that a St. Louis jury handed down Thursday against Johnson & Johnson over its talcum powder was by far the largest verdict seen out of a litigation that has already produced several eye-catching wins for plaintiffs.

Analysis

Fox Rothschild and the ‘Dark Art of Copyright Trolling’

Roy Strom | July 13, 2018

The firm is representing a pornography company in its latest nationwide copyright infringement campaign. Can it avoid the controversies that preceded its involvement? Or will a small-time lawyer from Oregon provide the blueprint to stop it?

News

Phila. Judge Younge, K&L Gates Partner Ranjan Nominated to District Judgeships

David Gialanella | Lizzy McLellan | July 13, 2018

Among a slate of federal judicial nominations put forward by President Donald Trump on Friday were two for Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Court of Common Please Judge John Milton Younge was renominated to the Eastern District, and Nicholas Ranjan of K&L Gates was nominated to the Western District.

News

Cozen O'Connor Bulks Up Bankruptcy Practice With New Wilmington Partner

Lizzy McLellan | July 13, 2018

Delaware bankruptcy attorney Thomas Francella Jr. is Cozen O'Connor's seventh partner in Wilmington.

Best Practices

Learning to Let Go for a Successful and Rewarding Legal Career

Frank Michael D’Amore| July 13, 2018

The stakes tend to rise as one’s career progresses, and it is disappointing to learn that the equation no longer automatically yields winning results. For instance, despite being very smart, doing terrific work, and logging mega hours, someone is edged out for partnership by another lawyer who may be just a step behind in one or more of those categories, but has built a nice book of business.

Commentary

Tips and Warnings Related to International FOIA for Lawyers, Journalists

Terry Mutchler| July 13, 2018

This column contains both tips and warnings related to records-access laws and ensuring that lawyers and journalists not only read them, but maximize the use of these laws.

St. Louis Jury Issues $4.7 Billion Verdict After Trial Linking Talc to 22 Cancer Cases

Max Mitchell | July 13, 2018

The 12-member jury awarded $550 million in compensatory damages, as well as $4.14 billion in punitive damages against the pharmaceutical giant.

People in the News—July 13, 2018—Eastburn and Gray

Victoria Hudgins | July 13, 2018

Marc D. Jonas of Eastburn and Gray is set to present a CLE to the real estate practices committee of the Delaware County Bar Association on July 20.

House Unanimously Passes One-Stop Shop Act

Victoria Hudgins | July 13, 2018

The state House of Representatives unanimously passed the One-Stop Shop Act, which creates a single website to aid existing and potential business owners in identifying and accessing all the necessary permits, licenses, certifications and other documents essential to starting and running their business in accordance to Pennsylvania law.

More Proposed Union Legislation in Pa. After ‘Janus’ Decision

Victoria Hudgins | July 13, 2018

After the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision finding required union payments from nonmembers unconstitutional, state Rep. Kate A. Klunk, R-York County, has proposed legislation that she said will ensure workers in Pennsylvania know their rights under Janus v. AFSCME.

News

Company Agrees to $6M Accord Over Slip-and-Fall

Max Mitchell | July 12, 2018

Salesman Dennis Demnicki was knocked unconscious when he slipped on a puddle in the reception area of a manufacturing company’s King of Prussia location. But steps allegedly taken after Demnicki fell—in which the company’s safety manager allegedly hid evidence of the incident—also helped secure a $6 million settlement, according to plaintiff’s counsel in the case.

Capital Report

Michael Riccardi | July 12, 2018

Following is a listing of executive and legislative action for the week of July 9. The General Assembly is set to return to session in September.

News

Krasner Adds Five Lawyers—Mostly Local—Continuing His Reshaping of DA's Office

Max Mitchell | July 12, 2018

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner is continuing to beef up his office after dozens of high-profile departures during the first six months of his term.

Expert Opinion

Ethics Forum: Questions and Answers on Professional Responsibility

Samuel C. Stretton| July 12, 2018

As a lawyer, I am getting very frustrated; clients seem to make complaints to the Disciplinary Board routinely even though there’s nothing wrong. It makes the practice of law so unpleasant.

Commentary

2nd Circ. Issues Problematic Opinion on Role of Party-Appointed Arbitrators

Albert Bates Jr. and R. Zachary Torres-Fowler| July 12, 2018

On June 7, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, in the case of Certain Underwriting Members of Lloyds of London v. Insurance Company of the Americas, No. 17-1137-cv (2d Cir. June 7, 2018), overturned the lower court’s decision to vacate an arbitrator’s award and remanded the case for further proceedings.

Golf Course Denied Fault in Golfer's Suit Over Fall

VerdictSearch| July 12, 2018

On July 25, 2012, plaintiff Robert Howe, 51, tripped and fell while playing golf at the Mainland Golf Course, in Harleysville. He had stopped at the ninth hole to play, and after surveying the course, he went back to his cart, which was parked along the cart path, to retrieve a club.

Commentary

Ninth Circ. Reviews Whether Claims Purchased in Good Faith to Block Chapter 11 Plan

Andrew C. Kassner and Joseph N. Argentina Jr.| July 12, 2018

It is interesting for one who has practiced bankruptcy law for 35 years to observe that many issues adjudicated in 1983 continue to require judicial review in 2018.

Commentary

Standing and Grandparents' Rights: 8 Years of Legislative Give and Take

John Zurzola| July 12, 2018

In D.P., the Supreme Court reviewed a lower court decision that had found that certain provisions of the custody statute granting grandparents standing were invalid.

News

Justices to Eye Coverage for Accidental Shooting During Murder-Suicide

Max Mitchell | July 12, 2018

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether an insurance carrier needs to provide coverage for a man who was accidentally shot while intervening in a murder-suicide.

Analysis

Clerk Salaries Stay Modest, but That Doesn't Hurt Recruitment Efforts

Lizzy McLellan | July 12, 2018

Starting salaries for judicial clerks are less than a quarter of what top-paying law firms offer their first-year associates.

Commentary

Preparing for Marijuana Industry Lawsuit Tidal Wave: The Claims (Part I)

Steven Schain| July 12, 2018

Editor's note: This is the first in a two-part series. “The international market for cannabis is projected to hit $31.4 billion by 2021. Currently,…

Phila.’s Approach to Lead Contamination in the Riverward Neighborhoods

Candee Wilde| July 12, 2018

Philadelphia’s Riverwards—Kensington, Fishtown and Port Richmond—lie in the path of redevelopment pressure. They were also once home to 14 secondary lead smelters. Those smelters left a legacy of elevated lead concentrations in soils.

News

TSA Screeners Not Law Enforcement Under Tort Law, Circuit Rules

Lizzy McLellan | July 12, 2018

The court affirmed dismissal of Nadine Pellegrino’s claims over a security search gone awry at the Philadelphia International Airport.

People in the News—July 12, 2018—Goldberg, Miller & Rubin

Victoria Hudgins | July 12, 2018

Taylor Gerchman is a new associate at Goldberg, Miller & Rubin’s Philadelphia office.

News

Q&A: A Brexit Update for US Lawyers

Dan Packel | July 12, 2018

Dechert's Miriam Gonzalez offers an insider look at the latest uncertainties over Brexit and what it means for lawyers in the U.S.

News

Third Circuit Revives Harassment Suit Against Susquehanna County

Michael Booth | July 11, 2018

A former part-time secretary for the Susquehanna Department of Veterans Affairs may pursue sexual harassment and discrimination claims against the county and her ex-boss, even though she never reported the former boss's alleged unwanted sexual advances toward her, a federal appeals court has ruled.

News

Federal Court Nominees From Buchanan, Dilworth Disclose Firm Pay

Lizzy McLellan | July 11, 2018

New mandatory filings include financial disclosures for law firm partners David Porter, up for a Third Circuit seat, and Joshua Wolson, nominated for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania bench.

News

Walgreens Can't Dodge Shareholder Suit Over Failed Rite Aid Merger

Max Mitchell | July 11, 2018

Overconfident statements Walgreens officials made as its proposed merger with Rite Aid began to show signs of crumbling possibly misled shareholders, a federal judge has ruled in declining to dismiss a shareholder class action suit against the pharmacy company.

News

Phila. Jury Awards $9.7M in Fatal Motorcycle Club Brawl

Max Mitchell | July 11, 2018

A Philadelphia jury has awarded nearly $10 million to the family of a woman killed during a scuffle with members of a motorcycle club outside of a Reading-area restaurant.

News

Another Former US Attorney Joins Morgan Lewis Partner Ranks

Lizzy McLellan | July 11, 2018

Kenneth Polite, a new partner in Philadelphia, was the U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Louisiana until last year.

News

Pittsburgh's Babst Calland Bulks Up Emerging Tech Practices

Lizzy McLellan | July 11, 2018

The firm has built up troops in Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., to guide startups and emerging technology companies, including two new shareholders this week.

News

Doctors Treating Man for Opioid Addiction Lack Immunity Under Mental Health Procedures Act, Court Says

Max Mitchell | July 11, 2018

A law granting immunity to health care providers who treat mental illness should not have been applied to two emergency room doctors who treated a man while he was suffering from an opioid addiction, the Pennsylvania Superior Court has ruled.

Update

Judge Grants Preliminary Approval of $210M Settlement in Wilmington Trust Shareholder Suit

Tom McParland | July 11, 2018

A federal judge in Delaware has granted preliminary approval to a proposed $210 million settlement in a shareholder class action accusing Wilmington Trust of hiding hundreds of millions of dollars in bad loans from regulators and investors.

People in the News—July 11, 2018—Gawthrop Greenwood

Victoria Hudgins | July 11, 2018

Speaking before members of the Institute of Management Accountants Inc., Gawthrop Greenwood partner Stephen J. Olsen served on a three-person panel that addressed business concerns related to the legalization of medical marijuana in Pennsylvania.

News

Kavanaugh Has Long Questioned Agency Power. Just Look at His First Opinion.

C. Ryan Barber | July 10, 2018

Brett Kavanaugh, on a panel with fellow judges Thomas Griffith and Douglas Ginsburg of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, was “kind of an unknown” going into the argument.

News

Where Did NJ Law Firms Land on the NLJ 500?

David Gialanella | July 10, 2018

Here's how each New Jersey firm, in order of firmwide head count, stacked up.

News

Pa. Supreme Court to Review Risperdal Statute of Limitations That May Threaten Thousands of Cases

Max Mitchell | July 10, 2018

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether thousands of Risperdal cases should be barred on statute of limitations grounds.

Are Your Client’s Employees on the OIG’s Exclusions List?

Vasilios J. Kalogredis| July 10, 2018

On May 17, Immediate Home Care (IHC), a home health care company headquartered in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, settled a dispute with the Department of Health & Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG).

News

Reed Smith Group Leaves to Launch Phila. Office for Holland & Knight

Lizzy McLellan | July 10, 2018

Longtime partners Leonard Bernstein and John Martini are among a dozen Reed Smith lawyers departing for Holland & Knight.

Commentary

Court Addresses Sexual Harassment Claim in Context of #MeToo Movement

Sid Steinberg| July 10, 2018

he recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Minarsky v. Susquehanna County, No. 17-2646 (3d. Cir. July 3, 2018) explicitly references #MeToo as it relates to affirmative defenses to sexual harassment claims in the Third Circuit and may help change that dynamic—particularly as it relates to women not coming forward with complaints against their male supervisors.

Sheriff's Sale Notices

The Legal Intelligencer| July 10, 2018

The Sheriff's Sale mortgage foreclosure notices for the August 7, 2018, sale, along with the July tax sales, are now available.

News

Arbitrator Restores Benefits for Union Oil Workers

Katheryn Tucker | July 10, 2018

Arbitrator Thomas McConnell Jr. issued an order June 22 instructing Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining and Marketing to return benefits the company cut in January 2017.

People in the News—July 10, 2018—Law Offices of Daniel J. Siegel

Victoria Hudgins | July 10, 2018

The Law Offices of Daniel J. Siegel held a free secure shredding event, in three hours the firm received and shredded 5,660 pounds of paper.

PLW People in the News—July 10, 2018—Barley Snyder

Victoria Hudgins | July 10, 2018

Barley Snyder managing partner Jeff Lobach was named chair of the board of the York County Community Foundation at the group’s annual meeting in May.

Trump Picks Brett Kavanaugh, Conservative Stalwart on DC Circuit, for Supreme Court

Tony Mauro | July 09, 2018

In picking the 53-year-old Brett Kavanaugh of the D.C. Circuit, Trump opted for a hard-to-defeat nominee whose Ivy League credentials are similar to those of Neil Gorsuch, the president's first Supreme Court nominee. Kavanaugh is a Washington-area native who has ruled to dial back federal agencies and broaden gun rights.

Sex Abuse Victim Petitions High Court to Unseal Grand Jury Report

Max Mitchell | July 09, 2018

A sex abuse victim who testified as part of secret grand jury proceedings investigating alleged sex abuse in several Catholic Diocese across Pennsylvania has asked the state Supreme Court to unseal a report outlining the grand jury's findings.

Commentary

Transforming a Family Law Practice to a Peacemaking Practice

Joni J. Berner| July 09, 2018

Is a limited amount of legal assistance better for clients than no assistance at all? Can lawyers make a living and be proud of their professional practice without engaging in contentious litigation?

K&L Gates Beefs Up Hospitality Practice With Ex-Wyndham GC in Newark

Dan Packel | July 09, 2018

The firm picked up a former executive from Wyndham Worldwide along with three bankruptcy specialists from LeClairRyan.

3rd Circuit Shackles Constitutional Challenge to NJ Bail Reform Law

Charles Toutant | July 09, 2018

The appeals court, in a precedential ruling, said the plaintiffs were not entitled to a preliminary injunction halting implementation of the law.

News

SCOTUS Finalist Hardiman Not Easily Labeled, Say Lawyers Who Know Him Best

Max Mitchell | July 09, 2018

In the 12 years since he was confirmed to the Third Circuit, Judge Thomas Hardiman, who is on the shortlist of potential nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court, has developed a reputation as a hardworking jurist who balances the arguments of both sides with the existing precedent.

Commentary

Should a Duty of Care be Created to Facilitate Tort Actions in Privacy Cases?

Caitlin Wilenchik| July 09, 2018

Facebook allows companies to access your private data without consent. Uber has used big data to embarrass its enemies. Companies like Equifax and Yahoo have been hacked and your private information is no longer private.

Commentary

Diversity Then and Now: How One Midsize Firm Tracked Its Progress

Angie Gambone| July 09, 2018

When I joined Flaster Greenberg in 2015 as a lateral associate, I remember scouring the firm’s website for its “diversity and inclusion” statement.

Avvo to Discontinue Controversial Legal Services Offering

Gabrielle Orum Hernández | July 09, 2018

After years of scrutiny from bar association groups, Avvo parent company Internet Brands has decided to scrap the company's bespoke service offering.

People in the News—July 9, 2018—Conrad O’Brien

Victoria Hudgins | July 09, 2018

Christopher Lucca joined Conrad O’Brien as an associate.

Weber Gallagher Elects New Chairman From New Jersey

Lizzy McLellan | July 09, 2018

Andrew Indeck will be the 110-lawyer firm's first chairman based outside of Philadelphia.

Commentary

Uterine Transplants: Legal Perspectives on Reproductive Technology

Leora Cohen Schiff| July 07, 2018

The use of uterine transplants avoids many of the legal issues and ambiguity associated with surrogacy.

SCOTUS Rejects Cert Bid From DuPont, Handing Win in Pay Dispute to Pa. Workers

Tom McParland | July 06, 2018

The decision rejected DuPont's argument that the Fair Labor Standards Act allowed the company to avoid paying overtime by taking a "credit" for break-time pay and then using it to offset its obligations to compensate its employees for off-the-clock work.

Commentary

Recent Opinion Takes a Look at Lease Obligations and Attorney Fees

James M. Lammendola and Harper J. Dimmerman| July 06, 2018

A recent Superior Court opinion illustrates the way a fight for attorney fees might transpire within the commercial real estate lease context.

News

Legislation Allowing New Utility Rate Structures Becomes Law

The Associated Press| July 06, 2018

State legislation that supports the development of strong, flexible and resilient power grids by allowing utilities to propose new rate-making approaches has been signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf.

News

Wolf Announces $1M in Grants for Developing Pa. Wines

The Associated Press| July 06, 2018

Gov. Tom Wolf announced the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has awarded grants totaling $1 million to nine projects intended to enhance the Pennsylvania wine industry and increase production of Pennsylvania-made wines.