For those who are wondering, yes we’ll be running the risk (e.g. intake/conflicts/terms) staffing compensation survey again this year. More details on that soon. But in the meantime&h… Read More

“Law Firm Can’t Represent Defendant Where Potential Adverse Witness Was Its Client” — “The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the disqualificatio… Read More

“Lawyers for Musk’s X Corp kicked off data-scraping case” — “One of Elon Musk’s longtime law firms has been disqualified from representing his social med… Read More

“No Conflict For Ballard Spahr In Ex-Union Leader’s Bribe Case” — “A Pennsylvania federal judge on Tuesday [7/2] rejected a claim by former Philadelphia union… Read More

“Billion-Dollar Estate Suits Show Hazards of Funding Family Feuds” — “A litigation financier’s foray into a battle over a dead Saudi businessman’s multib… Read More

I’m pleased to highlight a new open role at Quarles: “Senior Manager, Conflicts and Intake” — We are looking for a Senior Manager, Conflicts and Intake to join our M… Read More

“Ethics Opinion 1268: Confidential information; publication of article about issues arising in a case handled by the lawyer” — “After the termination of the represen… Read More

Last week we welcomed Cadwalader to the BRB jobs board, highlighting their search for a “Conflicts Analyst.” Today I’m pleased to highlight an additional risk role open a… Read More

“Boies Backs Ex-Bankruptcy Judge ‘Immunity’ in Relationship Suit” — “Litigation surrounding a former Texas bankruptcy judge’s once-secret relations… Read More

Pleased to welcome and highlight Cadwalader on the BRB jobs board. They’re looking to hire for the role of: “Conflicts Analyst” — The Conflicts Analyst is responsibl… Read More

“VEEVA SYSTEMS INC. v. TACT.AI TECHNOLOGIES, INC., AKTANA, INC.” — “Fairly universal principles of legal ethics tell us that a lawyer cannot defend her client in a l… Read More

“Fourth Department – Motion to disqualify: Consumer Beverages Inc. v. Kavcon Development LLC” — “Background: The defendant appealed from an order that denied i… Read More

I’m always glad to see repeat participants in the risk jobs board. This week, I’m pleased to highlight a new open role at Seyfarth: “Information Governance Manager”… Read More

“US judge’s financial conflict leads to revived lawsuit against big banks” — “A US appeals court threw out the dismissal of an antitrust lawsuit accusing 10 la… Read More

“Mission Broadcasting Demands Adell Return $250,000 Deposit From Terminated WADL Deal” — “Lawyers for Mission Broadcasting have sent a letter to Adell Broadcasting d… Read More

In this BRB jobs update, I’m pleased to highlight another open role at Littler: “Conflicts Analyst (Multiple Offices)” — The Conflicts Analyst is accountable for acc… Read More

“Attorneys – Disqualification Appeals Court (Unpublished) [Massachusetts]” — “Where (1) a plaintiff sued the defendant, her husband, seeking separate support a… Read More

“Law firm Kirkland sued in class action over MOVEit data breach” — “U.S. law firm Kirkland & Ellis, the world’s largest law firm by revenue, has been pulle… Read More

“Judge Blasts Liberty Mutual in Declaring He Will Not Disqualify Because He’s an Insured” — “A federal judge in New Jersey, in a blistering opinion, has refuse… Read More

“Columbia Motion Rebuts Quinn Emanuel’s Sanctions Appeal” — “Columbia University is seeking to submit new testimony in an appeal where the university is defend… Read More

“Musk’s X Corp faces bid to disqualify law firm in data-scraping case” — “An Israeli data-scraping company sued by Elon Musk’s X Corp is taking aim at th… Read More

“SUPPLEMENTAL MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF MOTION TO DISQUALIFY COZEN AND O’CONNOR LAWYERS” — “Moments ago, Judge Baylson issued a Supplemental Memorandum faithful… Read More

“Texas Bar Hopes to Get in Line With Nation on Conflict Rule for Attorneys” — “One of 12 disciplinary rules pending approval of the Texas Supreme Court would bring T… Read More

“Law Firms Can Now Be Criminally Liable for Wage Theft. Is Yours?” — “When Governor Kathy Hochul signed an amendment to the New York Penal Law this past fall, design… Read More

“Court of Appeals Reverses Professional Negligence Sanctions Against Scrudder Bass” — “The Georgia Court of Appeals recently overturned half a million dollars in pro… Read More

“Wood-Pellet Maker’s Bankruptcy Lawyers Ousted Over Conflict of Interest” — “Law firm Vinson & Elkins can’t represent Enviva because its largest shar… Read More

“Recycler attorney disqualification stands” — “A pair of attorneys who had represented two competing metal recyclers will remain disqualified from representing one i… Read More

“The Law Firm Disrupted: When Private Equity and Mass Torts Collide in the Same Firm” — “Skadden served as deal counsel for an investment giant that’s also fun… Read More

“US law firm Mayer Brown to split from Hong Kong partnership” — “U.S. law firm Mayer Brown said on Thursday that it plans to separate from its current Hong Kong oper… Read More

“U.S. Legal Insurers Report All-time High Claim Costs: Survey” — “Legal insurers in the U.S. need to do more to contain the spiraling cost of malpractice claims as u… Read More

“WarnerMedia seeks to disqualify mass arbitration firm, alleges ethics breaches” — “WarnerMedia is seeking to disqualify plaintiffs firm Zimmerman Reed from represen… Read More

Jason Nash, Solicitor at law firm Browne Jacobson and Nicola Anthony, Risk Manager at Lockton write: “Law firms: limiting liability in engagement letters” — “Most fi… Read More

This week, I’m pleased to highlight two open roles at Dentons. These are both through a recruiter, so if you’re interested you can reach out directly to: ZSA Legal Recruitment Wa… Read More

“Tesla threatened to fire law firm in bid to block Musk pay critic – court document” — “A Delaware law professor accused Tesla on Monday of threatening to fire… Read More

Hinshaw partner Matthew Henderson on: “What Law Firms Should Know Amid Rise In DQ Motions” — “Disqualification motions are being filed with more frequency. But that… Read More

This week, I’m pleased to highlight a new open role at Faegre Drinker: “Conflicts Attorney” — Faegre Drinker has an opportunity for a Conflicts Attorney to work with… Read More

“ABA Issues Opinion on Disclosing to Clients When Using Listservs” — “Lawyers should not reveal any information relating to a client’s representation to a wide… Read More

“Bankruptcy Judges Aren’t ‘Clubby’—Ethical Networking Is Key” — “The resignation of former US Bankruptcy Judge David Jones and scrutiny of a… Read More

Lucian Pera writes on: “The Madness of the Lawyer Fee-Sharing Ban” — “To begin to test that premise, consider with me this question: Does today’s law on what i… Read More

This week, I’m pleased to highlight a new open role at Seyfarth: “Client Contracts Counsel” — Under the general direction of an Associate General Counsel, and accord… Read More

New York State Bar: “Ethics Opinion 1265: Conflicts of interest” — “A lawyer formerly employed by a Legal Aid Society office would not have a conflict in representin… Read More

“Former Watergate Defense Attorney Leaves Squire Patton Boggs for Boutique, Citing Conflicts” — “Miami-based boutique Heise Suarez Melville is bringing on a former m… Read More

“Conflict Disqualifies Entire Wyoming Bar Counsel Office” — “Andrea Richard moved the Review and Oversight Committee (ROC) to disqualify Special Bar Counsel Wes Reev… Read More

“The State of Information Governance and the Disconnect Between Policy and Reality” — “Law firms are playing a game of catch up as the sheer volume of data, both in… Read More

Kirkland responds to Invitae matter conflicts allegation: “Invitae Corporation, Docket No. 3:24-bk-11362 (Bankr. D.N.J. Feb 13, 2024), Court Docket” — “Kirkland does… Read More

“Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe Agrees $8 Million Settlement to Resolve Class Action Data Breach Lawsuit” — “The San Francisco, CA-based law firm Orrick, Herring… Read More

“DOJ Pulls Back from Choosing NY Law Firm for Binance Oversight, Citing FTX Connections” — “The Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly reconsidering selecting a p… Read More

“Law firm Kirkland conflicted in Invitae bankruptcy, DOJ watchdog says” — “The U.S. Department of Justice’s bankruptcy watchdog said on Monday that genetic tes… Read More

New York state’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics: “Judicial Ethics Opinion 23-96” — “Digest: A judge must insulate their law clerk from all matters in wh… Read More

“Spousal Interest Disqualification” — “Judge is disqualified from serving on county election canvassing board for the specific race involving the elected county offi… Read More

“Judge’s Potential Recusal Over Citi Stock Divides CFPB, Industry” — “Parties in a lawsuit challenging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s credit… Read More

“Russian Use of Litigation Finance Needs Scrutiny, Treasury Says” — “The Treasury Department needs to look into the use of the litigation finance in the US by foreig… Read More

“No We Didn’t Agree To Handle That Claim” — “One area that can lead to claims against lawyers occurs when the lawyer accepts one part of a representation but d… Read More

I’m always delighted to see repeat participants on the jobs board. This week, I’m pleased to highlight a new open role at Quarles: “Conflicts Analyst” — We are… Read More

“JetBlue Winds Down Relationship With New CEO’s Former Law Firm” — “The longstanding association between Holland & Knight and JetBlue Airways Corp. is tape… Read More

“Supreme Court to Review Standard for Showing ‘Evident Partiality’ by Arbitrators” — “Conflicts of interest are of great interest to law firms, prosecuto… Read More

“‘I Was Kind of Dumbfounded’: J&J Lawyers Testify in Talc Disqualification Hearing” — “A senior in-house attorney for Johnson & Johnson told a pa… Read More

Mark Hinderks, Stinson LLP’s legal ethics and professional responsibility practice writes: “Is It a Conflict of Interest to Be Adverse to a Former Firm Client Who Has Left With… Read More

“Law firm conflicts ‘permeated FTX’s bankruptcy’, professors allege” — “Two law professors have claimed that Sullivan & Cromwell put its own in… Read More

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Intapp cloud-based risk and compliance products have included AI capabilities for many years. If you were unable to join the webinar on March 5, you can discover how Inta… Read More

In this BRB jobs update, I’m pleased to highlight an open role at Vinson & Elkins: “Conflicts Attorney” with unique listings online for their open locations: Dallas, H… Read More

“Whitestone Law Disqualified from Dual Representation in Netflix Patent Infringement Battle” — “In an unfolding patent infringement dispute against Netflix, Californ… Read More

“Opioid Judge Rejects DQ Motion, But Cautions Motley Rice: ‘The Court Frowns’” — “A federal judge on Monday declined to disqualify Motley Rice from dozen… Read More

“What are ‘reasonable measures’ to prevent law firm conflicts? New ABA ethics opinion explores” — “An ethics opinion released Wednesday by the ABA’… Read More

In this BRB jobs update, I’m pleased to highlight an open role at Osler: ” Manager, Risk and Compliance” — Reporting to the Director, Conflicts & Risk Management… Read More

“Mass tort attorneys must ensure compliance with new ABA guidance” — “True to their name, mass torts involve thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands, of claims, m… Read More

“Banker’s Lawyer Accused of Being Too Polite to Vet His Funds” — “A top law firm faced allegations that it broke UK money-laundering rules by being too polite… Read More

“Motley Rice Cites ABA Ethics Opinion in Opioid Disqualification Duel” — “Motley Rice, facing possible disqualification from dozens of opioid lawsuits, has turned to… Read More

“ABA Requests Public Comment on Possible Regulatory Implications of Exploring Possible Amendments to Model Rule of Professional Conduct 5.5 to Increase Permissible Cross-Border Practi… Read More

“Sublime’s Ex-Lawyers Hit Back at Malpractice Lawsuit, Calling It a ‘Pathetic’ Attempt to Avoid Legal Bills” — “Top music law firm King Holmes Pate… Read More

For those following the Corporate Transparency Act: “Court Challenge to Corporate Transparency Act Prevails – For Now” — “On March 1, 2024, U.S. District Judge… Read More

In this BRB jobs update, I’m pleased to highlight an open role at Davis, Graham  & Stubbs: “Conflicts Analyst” — The Conflicts Analyst supports the enti… Read More

“Virginia senator who does legal work for skill game industry will help write skill game bill” — “A state senator whose law firm has helped the skill game industry f… Read More

“Sundholm v. Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.” — “The case involves Magnus Sundholm, a former member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), who sued the HFP… Read More

“Opioid Judge Has Concerns About Motley Rice: ‘I Can’t Understand Why You Don’t See That’” — “A federal judge is weighing whether to disquali… Read More

Bill Freivogel has been quite busy, keeping an eye on all decisions and update conflicts and risk related. With his kind permission, and my continuing thanks for that making some days of th… Read More

“‘One Firm’ or Separate Entities? Vereins’ Growth Bumps Into Conflicts, Liability Concerns” — “A venue dispute in a malpractice case against global… Read More

In this BRB jobs update, I’m pleased to highlight an open role at Robinson+Cole, coming in from Jim Merrifield, the firm’s Director of Information Governance & Bus… Read More

“When Communications Concerning a Client Can Be Withheld From the Client” — “Sometimes conflicts arise between law firms and their clients that require lawyers withi… Read More

“Sam Bankman-Fried to stick with new lawyers despite possible conflict” — “Sam Bankman-Fried, the jailed founder of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, appeared in… Read More

“L.A. Firm, Attorney Subject of Malpractice, Breach of Fiduciary Duty Suit for ‘King Fury 2’ Movie” — “A film production company is seeking over $60 mill… Read More

“Alston & Bird Kicked Off California Copyright Case Over Conflict” — “Alston & Bird LLP has been sidelined in a copyright spat between the owner of the My Pe… Read More

“Law firm Proskauer settles trade secrets fight with ex-COO” — “U.S. law firm Proskauer Rose on Thursday [Feb 1] said, opens new tab it has struck a settlement agree… Read More

“Client Says Kasowitz Benson Torres Owes $100M for Alleged Conflict of Interest” — “Kasowitz Benson Torres was named a defendant in a summons in New York state court… Read More

In this BRB jobs update, I’m pleased to highlight an open role at Brownstein: “Conflicts/Intake Analyst” — After opening its doors in Denver in 1968, Brownstein Hyatt… Read More

Hat tip to the GC at a prominent Canadian firm for pointing me to this one (and a reminder to readers that pointers and links are always welcome!): “Tax reporting law faces opposition… Read More

“Sublime band sues attorneys over business deal losses” — “Members of the band Sublime accused their former attorneys with King, Holmes, Paterno & Soriano LLP of… Read More

“Associate Finally Joins Abraham Watkins, 5 Years After His Move Was Blocked by a Client” — “Trial lawyer Efrain Gonzalez Jr. has joined Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, A… Read More

In this BRB jobs update, I’m pleased to highlight an open role at Quarles: “Conflicts/Intake Specialist (Multiple Offices)” — [Link to Description is Here] and [Link… Read More

“Legal Malpractice Claims Grow in Size as Clients Turn on Counsel” — “Law firms are being targeted with increasingly expensive lawsuits, as large insurance policies… Read More

“States Hiring Outside Lawyers Need to Ask Who Else They Represent” — “O.H. Skinner, former solicitor general of Arizona, lays out best practices state and local gov… Read More

Mark Hinderks, head Stinson LLP’s legal ethics and professional responsibility practice writes:  “Navigating a Tricky Matter-Intake Problem Involving a Conflict and Confide… Read More

“Burr & Forman Faces Data Breach of Health Care Client Information” — “Am Law 200 law firm Burr & Forman experienced a data breach that affected nearly 20,00… Read More

“Judge Declines to Disqualify Attorney Accused of Paying Client’s Living Expenses, Matter Referred to Disciplinary Committee” — “A federal judge declined to di… Read More

In this BRB jobs update, I’m pleased to highlight an open role at Littler: “Conflicts Attorney (Multiple Offices)” — The Conflicts Attorney is accountable for conduc… Read More

[Note: For those looking for yesterday’s NY bar opinion on auction scenarios, here’s the fixed link.] “Appellate Court Rejects Attempt to Disqualify Law Firm Representing… Read More

With thanks to Cooley Conflicts Attorney George Bremner, and risk superstar Bill Frievogel, comes this from the New York City Bar: “Formal Opinion 2024-1: Ethical Issues Arising from… Read More

I’m always delighted with a firm that posts a job opening comes back for seconds, having filled the position. This week, I’m pleased to highlight another open role at Paul Weiss… Read More

“Clyde & Co fined £500,000 after admitting due diligence failure” — “Top-50 firm Clyde & Co has been fined half a million pounds after admitting failin… Read More

In New York: “Judicial Ethics Opinion 23-44” — “(1) For two years after the representation is completely terminated and all fees are paid, a judge is disqualified, s… Read More