Features

Supreme Court Set to Address Procedural Inconsistencies and Claims of Unconstitutional Vagueness Attributed to CAFC
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to commence its term on October 6. Among the cases it will review are several appeals concerning copyright and trademark law. One notable case seeks to address procedural inconsistencies and claims of unconstitutional vagueness attributed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Features

Michigan Appellate Court Ruling Provides Guidance On Restructuring for Cannabis Companies
A three-judge panel for the Michigan Court of Appeals held last month that receivers directing insolvent marijuana companies can reject burdensome leases and disregard contract provisions that could lead to widespread defaults.
Features

Bankruptcy Judges Struggle With Meaning of ‘Consensual Release’ Post-Purdue
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Purdue, which held that nonconsensual third-party releases are impermissible under the Bankruptcy Code, bankruptcy judges across multiple jurisdictions have been grappling with what constitutes a “consensual” release. Harrington v. Purdue Pharma L.P., 603 U.S. 204 (2024). This article analyzes how different judges have defined “consent” and provides guidance on best practices for structuring third-party releases.
Features

Fourth Circuit: Subject-Matter Jurisdiction In Bankruptcy Depends On Statute, Not Debtor Solvency
The Fourth Circuit’s opinion focused on answering the core question presented — whether jurisdiction is determined by statute, rather than by a debtor’s financial condition. It reasoned that since the Constitution grants Article III power over “all cases arising under the laws of the United States” and the Bankruptcy Code is a law under the United States, the petition to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code is clearly within the judicial ambit of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
Features

Ninth Circuit Rules that Decision Reimposing the Automatic Stay is Immediately Appealable
In 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that a bankruptcy court’s decision to lift the automatic stay of pending litigation imposed by the Bankruptcy Code is a final, appealable order. But what if a bankruptcy court lifts the stay and later reimposes it? Is the latter order also immediately appealable, or is it considered interlocutory?
Features

An Innovation Mindset Improves Client Satisfaction and Retention, But What About Profits?
As law firms explore technological advancements ranging from generative AI to improved billing software, experts caution against having unrealistic expectations of immediately increased profitability, but they emphasize that an innovation mindset will improve client satisfaction and retention.
Features

Performance, Not Size, Leads to Growth In Today’s Market
In today’s market, growth is no longer a function of how big you are, but how well you perform — how quickly you can make informed decisions, respond to shifting client needs, and align the entire firm around a shared vision of success. The firms that pull ahead over the next five years won’t be the ones with the most lawyers or the flashiest marketing budgets. They’ll be the ones that master the art and science of firm performance.
Features

Transparency Is a Leadership Imperative In Today’s Environment
In an environment where silence often breeds suspicion, and ambiguity opens the door to distraction and misinformation, law firm leaders cannot afford to treat transparency as optional. Transparency is often seen as a communication tactic or a box to check; however, in today’s environment, it’s a leadership imperative.
Features

5 Ways Law Firms Are Optimizing Their Back Office
Forward-thinking firms are reimagining the back office. By centralizing support functions, adopting technology, and making data-driven decisions, they are creating scalable, flexible, and resilient operations. The result? Higher productivity, improved client service, and stronger career pathways for staff. Here are 5 of the top strategies firms are implementing to optimize their back office.
Features

How Lawyers Can Deliver More Value and Reduce Risk In Transactional Work
Firms that enable lawyers to practice at the top of their license by embracing smarter workflows and AI-driven systems that enhance human judgment aren’t just more efficient; they’re setting a new standard for excellence, reducing risk for clients, and elevating the role of the lawyer.
Need Help?
- Prefer an IP authenticated environment? Request a transition or call 800-756-8993.
- Need other assistance? email Customer Service or call 1-877-256-2472.
MOST POPULAR STORIES
- New York's Latest Cybersecurity CommitmentOn Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.Read More ›
- INTERVIEWIn this exclusive interview with International Franchise Association (IFA) chairman Steve Siegel, Associate Editor Kevin Adler, asks about policy priorities for 2003, and other legislative and regulatory developments that affect the franchise industry.Read More ›
- Pension Plan Termination Premiums in BankruptcyIn a case of timely significance, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has recently ruled that pension plan termination premiums are not "claims" subject to being discharged under a Chapter 11 plan, but rather, must be paid in full upon emergence from bankruptcy.Read More ›
- <b><i>Social Media Scene:</i></b> How Social Are Your Social Media Activities?The modifier "social" is supposed to separate social media from other forms of marketing and PR. But the tactic's social aspect is also the part that either prevents us from using it or from using it as the two-way communication tool it's supposed to be.Read More ›
- The 'Friendly Fraud' ChargebackThe abuse of the chargeback option has resulted in a "friendly fraud" epidemic harming not only merchants, but the very consumers the programs were designed to help.Read More ›