Founded on AI, Newcomers Look to Transform the Legal Services Market
AI‑native startups and hybrid law firms are entering the legal market, promising faster, cheaper services by embedding generative AI into core tasks. The technology’s rise has already exposed risks, as shown by Sullivan & Cromwell’s AI‑generated brief with false citations. Industry leaders like Harvey’s CEO argue AI will become a permanent fixture in litigation finance, but only under strict governance. Stanford’s AI Index warns that investment outpaces regulation, creating compliance challenges for firms that adopt the technology.
Critical Mass With Law.com's Amanda Bronstad: 13 Lawyers Line Up to Lead Talc MDL's Next Phase, Jury Awards $5K in...
Law.com’s Amanda Bronstad reports a flurry of litigation updates. Thirteen attorneys have applied to lead the next phase of the talc multidistrict litigation after a judge removed the longtime co‑lead firm. A North Carolina jury issued a $5,000 verdict in...
Second Sexual Assault Trial Opens Against Uber in North Carolina Federal Court
A second bellwether federal trial opened on April 15 in North Carolina, accusing Uber Technologies of a 2019 sexual‑assault incident. The case follows a February verdict that awarded the first plaintiff $8.5 million. Uber has filed a sanctions motion against lead plaintiffs’...
Litigation Trends to Watch: Suits Target Fertilizer Prices, Gambling Apps and Robotic-Assisted Surgery
A wave of new lawsuits is reshaping multiple sectors, from agriculture and gambling to medical technology. Plaintiffs allege price‑fixing in fertilizer markets, claim that sports‑betting apps are deliberately addictive, and target manufacturers of robotic‑assisted surgical systems. Parallel filings highlight broader...
Lawsuits Accuse Trio of Am Law 200 Firms of Running Afoul of Conflict Rules
A group of plaintiffs has filed lawsuits against three Am Law 200 firms, alleging they breached attorney‑client conflict‑of‑interest rules. The complaints assert the firms represented opposing parties without proper disclosure or consent, violating ABA Model Rules. Plaintiffs seek damages and claim...
Am Law 100 Lights the Way Through Dark Periods to Turn Out a High-Growth Year
The Am Law 100 collectively posted a 13% rise in revenue and a 16.3% jump in net income for 2025, underscoring resilience amid a turbulent macro environment. Leading firms posted standout gains: Kirkland reported $10.5 billion in revenue with a 20%...
GCs See Merits of Data-Driven Outside Counsel Selection but Also Its Limitations
General counsel leaders are increasingly turning to data‑driven tools to choose outside law firms, praising cost transparency and performance metrics while acknowledging gaps in data quality and contextual nuance. The trend coincides with heightened political risk, as recent Trump‑era executive...
The Legal Intelligencer and Law.com Announces 2026 Pennsylvania Legal Awards Shortlist
Law.com and The Legal Intelligencer released the shortlist for the 2026 Pennsylvania Legal Awards, with winners to be honored at a gala on June 11, 2026 in Philadelphia. The ceremony will recognize top performers across categories such as Lifetime Achievement,...
Abbott Loses $70M Verdict in Multi-Plaintiff Formula Trial
A Cook County jury awarded $53 million in compensatory damages and $17 million in punitive damages to the parents of four premature infants who developed a life‑threatening gastrointestinal illness after consuming Abbott's Similac formula. The verdict follows a $495 million Missouri judgment against...
Many New York Elites See Financial Surges, But Gains Were Uneven
New York’s elite law firms posted strong financial results in 2025, with most achieving double‑digit revenue or profit growth. However, the gains were uneven, as declining deal inventory sparked concern among big‑law partners. Quinn Emanuel highlighted the trend with a 16%...
'The Financial Stakes of This Case Are High': 7th Circuit Limits Corporation's Damages for Biometric Privacy Violations
The U.S. Seventh Circuit ruled that the 2023 amendment to Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) applies retroactively, limiting corporations to a single statutory award per plaintiff. This caps damages at $1,000 per violation for private entities and $5,000 for...
It's Not Over: The Law Lesson Behind EEOC's $15M Recovery
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has secured a $15 million recovery from employers that terminated workers for refusing COVID‑19 vaccinations without exploring reasonable accommodations. The settlement follows a surge of employee lawsuits alleging disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act....
The Legal Industry's Penrose Moment
The legal sector’s headline metrics—steady rate growth, rising profit per equity partner (PEP) and expanding headcount—appear strong individually but form a contradictory picture when combined, a phenomenon dubbed the industry’s "Penrose Moment." Private‑equity firms are intensifying pitches to Am Law...
Judges Are Talking. Will Anyone Listen?
Recent court actions highlight mounting political and commercial pressures on the U.S. judiciary. Trump‑appointed nominee Sheria Clarke faced fierce Democratic backlash after refusing to acknowledge the 2020 election winner during her South Carolina federal judgeship hearing. Meanwhile, a California judge...
Critical Mass With Law.com's Amanda Bronstad: Jury Sends Notes in Closely Watched Trial Over Social Media Addiction, Judge Wipes Out...
A Los Angeles jury in the nation’s first social‑media addiction trial has submitted multiple notes, including a request to replay a 30‑minute YouTube custodian testimony, highlighting the case’s procedural complexity. The same court saw Judge Ruth Kwan strike $950 million in...