Above the Law
Posts by Above the Law
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GovernmentSpace Acquisition Review Calls For Cutting Red Tape, Empowering Acquisition Chief
The Defense Business Board study, however, recommends against folding the NRO and MDA into the Space Force. -
Health Care / MedicineFruit Street Health Sues Sharecare For $25M
Fruit Street Health's complaint alleged that Sharecare violated the terms of their shared business agreement by rolling out its own version of Fruit Street’s diabetes prevention program, which had been previously offered to Sharecare members. Sharecare said that the lawsuit is baseless. 
SponsoredHow Generative AI Is Disrupting Law Firm Billing Practices
Amid legal landscape shifts, billing practices remain vital. With generative AI enabling faster, more efficient work, some law firms may adjust billing models accordingly.-
Morning DocketMorning Docket: 12.12.23
* Copyright office declines to register AI art for lack of creativity. I guess they haven’t seen Dan Epps create Muppet originalists. [Law360]
* Now that she announced that she would leave the state to get the abortion to save her life, the Texas Supreme Court felt comfortable ruling that she wasn’t entitled to an abortion in Texas. But make no mistake, these cowards were trying to delay this so they didn’t have to put life and death stakes on their own misogyny. [Bloomberg Law News]
* “Kirkland & Ellis: is it party over for the world’s most profitable law firm?” Fascinating deep dive. [Financial Times]
* Some Shearman partners slashed their own pensions up to 50 percent to make the merger happen in case you were wondering how thirsty they were for a merger. [American Lawyer]
* Judge bans family separation policies for 8 years. That should hold until roughly January 2025. [ABA Journal]
* Epic beats Google. [Reuters]
* Big 4 firm getting out of law in Hong Kong. [Law.com International]
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In-House Counsel, Sponsored ContentThe 2023 In-House Compensation Report Is Here!
Check out our most comprehensive survey yet for new data on corporate counsel pay. -
Government‘Increasingly Concerned’ Senators Launch Investigation Into Private Equity’s Effect On Healthcare
Two bipartisan members of the Senate Budget Committee launched an investigation into private equity and its impact on healthcare. They initiated the probe to get answers about 'questionable financial transactions' that could be hurting care quality for patients at hospitals owned by private equity firms. -
Morning DocketMorning Docket: 12.11.23
* Donald Trump has decided not to testify proving that it’s at least hypothetically possible for him to listen to the advice of counsel. [CNN]
* Texas Supreme Court issues stay on emergency abortion procedure. [Reuters]
* WilmerHale under fire for prepping congressional testimony of several university presidents described by the Times as “dodging questions about their policies.” Technically, they accurately answered those questions but there’s a reason why NY Times Pitchbot is such a popular account. [NY Times]
* Boies Schiller names Matthew Schwartz as its new chair after David Boies announced his plan to step out of the role next year. [Law360]
* About a quarter of law schools plan to use the JD-Next admissions exam. [Law.com]
* California admits youngest lawyer. [USA Today]
* Murdaugh case spawns legal battle between lawyers over TikTok ethics charges. Bless this case for getting even stupider. [Daily Beast]
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FashionEverything To Know About New York's Major Legislation Promoting Textured Hair Education
Bill S6528A is a big step against discrimination and towards inclusion. Experts address what it means now and the possibilities ahead. -
SponsoredThe Smartfirm Playbook - Thriving In Today’s Legal Landscape
Strategically using software and automation to boost efficiency and streamline operations, allowing for a laser-focus on practicing law.-
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Morning DocketMorning Docket: 12.08.23
* Transactional practices coming back just in time to pay for all those raises. [American Lawyer]
* Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal literally used the phrase “slower economy” after a quarter with 5 percent growth. You really have to appreciate the commitment to the bit. [Wall Street Journal]
* ASS Law gets non-compliance notice? What an absolute shock to absolutely no one. [ABA Journal]
* Canadian firm wins libel suit over bad review. [Law.com International]
* Republican judges recast “incompetence” as “pattern of eliminating white males.” [Reuters]
* Woman in Texas granted right to abort non-viable fetus threatening her, but the state sure tried to stop her. [Bloomberg Law News]
* Of all the conspiracies that Fox News imagined, it may turn out that Hunter Biden is really just bad at taxes. [Law360]
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TechnologyIs Your Firm’s Virtual Entrance Turning Away Clients?
CRM has become the lifeblood of modern law firms. Is yours up to snuff? -
Morning DocketMorning Docket: 12.07.23
* Lawyer asks that Donna Adelson, accused mastermind of the murder of law professor Dan Markel, be moved out of jail… preferably somewhere with easy access to an international airport. [Tallahassee Democrat]
* Cocaine’s a hell of a drug. [ABA Journal]
* Wolf assures public that sheep are safe if the Supreme Court eliminates wolf repellent. [Law360]
* Hunter Biden says he’s only going to testify in a public hearing, irritating House leadership who really want something they can twist later. [NPR]
* After firing cancer patient over marijuana test, company had the opportunity to show basic humanity. Guess what it did instead. [Bloomberg Law News]
* Spencer Fane moves into Salt Lake City market after merging with Snow Christensen & Martineau. [Reuters]
* Proskauer chief steps down. [American Lawyer]
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LawPay Pro Offers Upgraded Time And Billing Essentials
The Smartfirm Playbook - Thriving In Today’s Legal Landscape
Sponsored
How to Achieve Quicker, More Valuable Case Settlements with Minimal Effort: A Guide for Personal Injury Lawyers
How Generative AI Is Disrupting Law Firm Billing Practices
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Morning DocketMorning Docket: 12.06.23
* Texas woman heads to court to get an abortion after learning the fetus is not viable and seriously threatens her health. You know, the sort of medical tragedy that definitely needs more lawyers, judges, and briefing. [Reuters]
* While Joshua Wright files more ill-advised lawsuits, the judge tossed his first $108M suit until he can allege some actually defamatory statements. [MLex]
* Sam Alito wants to help his buddy defund the United States. It’s not working out for him. [Slate]
* Wisconsin’s radical anti-union law could soon meet its match. [The Nation]
* NY case considers whether 401k plans should be barred from making investment decisions that make politicians unhappy. [Bloomberg Law News]
* Professor Jim Park discusses the history of securities fraud in the United States and it’s as bad as you’d think. [Oh My Fraud]
* A pair of mid-sized firms pair up to create a firm that should make the next Am Law 200. [Law360]
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Health Care / MedicineExpert: The Rumored Humana/Cigna Combination Makes Sense
With Cigna mostly focused on the commercial market and Humana mostly focused on the Medicare Advantage market, the rumored combination talks check out, according to one industry expert. -
Morning DocketMorning Docket: 12.05.23
* Law firm leaders less optimistic going into 2024, in case you were still wondering if the average law firm leader has any clue how business works. They entered 2023 in the midst of flagging growth and 8 percent inflation combining to bring deal activity to a near halt and they felt BETTER than they do going into 2024 with red-hot 5.2 percent growth and inflation that’s going to settle just under 3 percent (and bring down interest rates with it)? [American Lawyer]
* Court struggles to determine if Second Amendment covers switchblades. Time to scour the work of 18th century greasers to see what they thought. [Courthouse News Service]
* Supreme Court looks into legality of shield protecting Sackler family from opioid settlement. [Bloomberg Law News]
* Meanwhile, The Onion has coverage of how Clarence Thomas is approaching this case. [The Onion]
* DeSantis cronies on new board governing Disney property accuse the company of controlling the old board. Which it acknowledges wasn’t illegal. These people really can’t get any dumber. [Reuters]
* Golden Gate is done, but the challenges for students are just getting started after ABA nixes school’s teachout plan. [ABA Journal]
* Former Biglaw attorney begins second murder trial. [Law360]
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Courts, Health Care / Medicine‘Constitutional Collisions’ Come Back To Haunt Dobbs Decision
Opposing sides are girding for a likely momentous constitutional confrontation. -
Morning DocketMorning Docket: 12.04.23
* Could it be that originalism revolves around blatant historical falsehoods? Yes, don’t be silly, of course it is. [Politico]
* Supreme Court eyes blowing up tax law while it’s at it. [Bloomberg Law News]
* Judge characterizes Google’s tactics as deeply troubling. If these shenanigans offend him, don’t let him see what’s going on in any of the Trump cases. [Law360]
* Trump’s legal team suggests delaying trial until Trump leaves office after the hypothetical next term because… reasons. [Washington Post]
* Federal judiciary asks for less money this year but still warns of shortfall. Congress shouldn’t even pay the heating bills until the Supreme Court adopts ethics rules with teeth. [Reuters]
* The Fifth Circuit does a lot of stupid stuff, but its new AI regulation is a low-key contender for its dumbest [Law.com]
* Amazon’s approach to unionizing workers was unsurprisingly illegal [CNBC]
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