Commercial Contracts

  • September 03, 2024

    Aesthetic Laser Co. Tells Jury Of Rival's 'Corporate Raid'

    Medical aesthetic business Cynosure told a Boston federal jury Tuesday that two former employees and an industry rival launched a "calculated corporate raid" by poaching dozens of sales and marketing personnel, violating a host of noncompete and non-solicitation agreements while the departing workers pocketed trade secrets on their way out the door.

  • September 03, 2024

    NC Suit Over Blackbeard Ship Survives Another Attack

    North Carolina's cultural resources agency isn't responsible for enforcing the terms for third-party usage of an image and video of Blackbeard's shipwreck, the state's Business Court ruled Friday in paring damages claims by the organization that discovered the pirate's wreckage.

  • September 03, 2024

    3rd Circ.: Biotech Must Pay Royalties Despite Expired Patents

    A cancer drug biotechnology company must pay royalties to a research firm despite the expiration of the applicable patents, a Third Circuit panel ruled in a precedential decision Tuesday, concluding that the biotech's royalty obligation is calculated differently than the one in a U.S. Supreme Court case it cited.

  • September 03, 2024

    Turf Farm Can't Claim Agricultural OT Exemption, Judge Rules

    The work H-2A visa workers performed for a turf farm doesn't represent the agricultural work that would be exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act, a Missouri federal judge ruled Tuesday, handing the workers a partial win in their overtime suit.

  • September 03, 2024

    Gov't Backs 9th Circ. Bid To Revive Invisalign Monopoly Case

    The U.S. Department of Justice has told the Ninth Circuit that a lower court applied the wrong standard when tossing a pair of class actions accusing the maker of Invisalign of monopolizing markets for clear dental aligners and teeth scanners.

  • September 03, 2024

    NBA, Warner Bros. Eye April 2025 Trial In Media Rights Spat

    The NBA and Warner Bros. Discovery have told a New York state judge they want to complete an expedited discovery process in their broadcasting rights dispute, with a targeted trial start date in April.

  • September 03, 2024

    Kirkland Brings On Ex-Goldman Sachs Debt Finance Pro In NY

    Kirkland & Ellis LLP said Tuesday it has added an experienced debt finance partner in New York who most recently worked as a managing director for Goldman Sachs, in the firm's latest move to bulk up its structured finance and structured private credit practice.

  • September 03, 2024

    Atty Claims Pa. Firm Breached Merger, Payment Agreement

    An attorney with a Pittsburgh-area law firm that merged with Cafardi Ferguson + Wyrick says in a lawsuit that his new firm has breached his compensation agreement and now owes him nearly $94,000.

  • September 03, 2024

    Catching Up With Delaware's Chancery Court

    Last week in Delaware's court of equity, an iconic rock band got a new member, former President Donald Trump's social media company escaped a contempt ruling, and litigation grew over Illumina Inc.'s $8 billion reacquisition of cancer-testing company Grail Inc. New cases touched on intellectual property, mergers, share transfers and dump trucks. In case you missed it, here's the latest from Delaware's Court of Chancery.

  • September 03, 2024

    Scientist Says Yale Medical School Ruined $28M 'Life's Work'

    An accounting issue at Yale School of Medicine caused a liquid nitrogen supply to become disconnected from an incubator that housed thousands of genetic materials comprising an employee's "life's work," destroying research funded by a total of $28 million in grants and private money, according to a lawsuit in Connecticut state court.

  • September 03, 2024

    NFL Sunday Ticket Subscribers Appeal $4.7B Verdict Reversal

    The subscribers to the NFL's Sunday Ticket broadcast package whose $4.7 billion class action jury award was thrown out and antitrust claims erased by a federal judge last month are appealing the rulings to the Ninth Circuit.

  • August 30, 2024

    9th Circ. Won't Double Software Co.'s $13.5M Trade Secret Win

    The Ninth Circuit on Friday affirmed a lower court's denial of a request by software company Proofpoint Inc. for exemplary damages that could have doubled its $13.5 million trade secret theft verdict, ruling that any error the district court made in denying the damages is harmless.

  • August 30, 2024

    Align Tech Cuts $27.5M Antitrust Deal With 1.45M Consumers

    A proposed class of nearly 1.45 million SmileDirectClub teeth-aligner buyers urged a California federal judge Thursday to preliminarily sign off on Align Technologies Inc.'s $27.5 million cash and coupon settlement to resolve antitrust claims alleging the company colluded with the now-bankrupt SmileDirecClub to illegally restrict competition.

  • August 30, 2024

    10th Circ. Unclear If Work Passwords Are IP

    A Tenth Circuit panel found Friday that a worker's agreement with a physician licensing organization is ambiguous on whether login information for online accounts is considered intellectual property, reversing an order finding that the worker breached the agreement by failing to turn over access to its accounts. 

  • August 30, 2024

    Ex-Detainee Can't Be Forced To Arbitrate Card Fee Suit

    A Washington federal judge will not force arbitration in a proposed class action accusing a bank of charging former jail detainees debit card fees to regain access to their own money postrelease, saying the plaintiff never consented to an arbitration clause because the card was issued to him already activated.

  • August 30, 2024

    Period Tracker App Users Seek Class Cert. In Data-Selling Suit

    Users of the menstrual cycle tracking app Flo Health Inc. are seeking class certification in their suit against Flo, Google and Meta, telling a California federal judge the proposed class would include millions of users whose personal health information was sold to the ad giants without consent.

  • August 30, 2024

    NC Justices Scrap Mogul's Bid To Block Financial Overseer

    The North Carolina Supreme Court blocked a bid by convicted insurance mogul Greg Lindberg to stave off a takeover of his finances as part of a legal battle with an insurer seeking to collect a $524 million arbitration award.

  • August 30, 2024

    WWE Accuser's Discovery Bid Must Fail, Conn. Doctor Says

    The woman accusing World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. and two former executives of sexual abuse and trafficking in Connecticut federal court should lose her separate but related bid for discovery against a celebrity doctor who treated her, the doctor has argued in a motion to dismiss the state court action.

  • August 30, 2024

    Manilow Says IP Biz Didn't Deliver 'Copacabana' TikTok Trend

    Singer Barry Manilow has hit British music royalties outfit Hipgnosis with a California federal court lawsuit alleging he was falsely promised a "Copacabana dance trend" on TikTok, the marketing of a "Copacabana" drink kit and over a million dollars in bonuses. 

  • August 30, 2024

    3 Atty Takeaways On What's Ahead As ERISA Turns 50

    As the Employee Retirement Income Security Act turns 50 years old this Labor Day, attorneys reflecting on five decades of development of the federal employee benefits law see a complex path ahead for both litigation and policy. Here are three key takeaways from top attorneys on what’s next for ERISA on its golden anniversary.

  • August 30, 2024

    Boxing Promoter Refiles Suit Over Missed $1M Match Fee

    Boxing promoter Epic Sports & Entertainment has lodged a new $1.8 million breach of contract suit in Florida federal court against video-sharing app Triller over a pair of bouts in California, saying Triller did not abide by the terms of a settlement agreement.

  • August 30, 2024

    Off The Bench: NFL Lets PE In, Ex-NBA Pro Denies Agent Deal

    In this week’s Off The Bench, the NFL shakes up its ownership rules and joins the rest of the pro sports world, while a former NBA player says his agency is trying to cling to him after he moved on. In case you were sidelined this week, Law360 is here to catch you up on the sports and betting stories that had our readers talking.

  • August 30, 2024

    UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

    This past week in London has seen television property developer Kambiz Babaee hit with a fraud claim, a Bitcoin podcaster reignite a dispute with Australian computer scientist Craig Wright and football club owner Massimo Cellino's company file a claim against ClearBank. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

  • August 29, 2024

    'No Hesitation' On $7M Atty Fees For $10B Verdict, Judge Says

    A California judge held up a phone book-sized printout Thursday of the 20-year docket for a case that resulted in a $10 billion verdict for four brothers who claim their real estate empire was stolen by another brother, and said she has "no hesitation" granting the plaintiff $7 million in attorney fees.

  • August 29, 2024

    Doctor Wants Stepson Barred From Selling Medial Device

    A Texas doctor has asked a federal court to step in and stop his stepson from selling "micro-current therapy medical devices," saying in a motion this week that his stepson was still using his trademarks despite the fact that he had canceled his license.

Expert Analysis

  • Weisselberg's Perjury At Trial Spotlights Atty Ethics Issues

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    Former Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg’s recent guilty plea for perjury in the New York attorney general's civil fraud trial should serve as a reminder to attorneys of their ethical duties when they know a client has lied or plans to lie in court, and the potential penalties for not fulfilling those obligations, say Hilary Gerzhoy and Julienne Pasichow at HWG.

  • Practicing Law With Parkinson's Disease

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    This Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Adam Siegler at Greenberg Traurig discusses his experience working as a lawyer with Parkinson’s disease, sharing both lessons on how to cope with a diagnosis and advice for supporting colleagues who live with the disease.

  • Series

    Playing Hockey Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Nearly a lifetime of playing hockey taught me the importance of avoiding burnout in all aspects of life, and the game ultimately ended up providing me with the balance I needed to maintain success in my legal career, says John Riccione at Taft.

  • A Snapshot Of The Evolving Restrictive Covenant Landscape

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    Rachael Martinez and Brooke Bahlinger at Foley highlight recent trends in the hotly contested regulation and enforcement of noncompetition and related nonsolicitation covenants, and provide guidance on drafting such provisions within the context of stand-alone employment agreements and merger or acquisition transactions.

  • For Lawyers, Pessimism Should Be A Job Skill, Not A Life Skill

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    A pessimistic mindset allows attorneys to be effective advocates for their clients, but it can come with serious costs for their personal well-being, so it’s crucial to exercise strategies that produce flexible optimism and connect lawyers with their core values, says Krista Larson at Stinson.

  • Handling Customer Complaints In Bank-Fintech Partnerships

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    As regulators mine consumer complaint databases for their next investigative targets, it is critical that fintech and bank partners adopt a well-defined and monitored process for ensuring proper complaint handling, including by demonstrating proficiency and following interagency guidance, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.

  • Trump's NY Civil Fraud Trial Spotlights Long-Criticized Law

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    A New York court’s recent decision holding former President Donald Trump liable for fraud brought old criticisms of the state law used against him back into the limelight — including its strikingly broad scope and its major departures from the traditional elements of common law fraud, say Mark Kelley and Lois Ahn at MoloLamken.

  • What NAR Settlement Means For Agent Commission Rates

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    If approved, a joint settlement agreement between the National Association of Realtors and a class of home sellers will likely take the onus off home sellers to compensate buyers' agents, affecting considerations for all parties to real estate transactions, say attorneys at Jones Foster.

  • Opinion

    Requiring Leave To File Amicus Briefs Is A Bad Idea

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    A proposal to amend the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure that would require parties to get court permission before filing federal amicus briefs would eliminate the long-standing practice of consent filing and thereby make the process less open and democratic, says Lawrence Ebner at the Atlantic Legal Foundation and DRI Center.

  • 4 Ways To Motivate Junior Attorneys To Bring Their Best

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    As Gen Z and younger millennial attorneys increasingly express dissatisfaction with their work and head for the exits, the lawyers who manage them must understand and attend to their needs and priorities to boost engagement and increase retention, says Stacey Schwartz at Katten.

  • How 3 Unfolding Cases Could Affect The Energy Industry

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    Three judicial decisions now in the pipeline — Texas' challenge to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's methane regulations, Delaware's climate suit against big energy companies, and a case before the Supreme Court of Texas on royalty lease interpretation — could have important implications for the energy industry, say Michelle Scheffler and Rachael Cox at Skadden.

  • Flexibility Is Key In Hybrid Capital Investment Strategies

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    Flexible or hybrid capital funds have become a solution for some owners adverse to private debt or requiring short-term capital support not otherwise available in the market, but the complexity and possible range of structures available means that principals need to consider how they may work in different scenarios and outcomes, says Daniel Mathias at Cohen Gresser.

  • Contract Negotiation Prep Checklist For In-House Ad Lawyers

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    Barriers for in-house lawyers and procurement professionals persist in media and ad tech contract negotiations — but a pre-negotiation checklist can help counsel navigate nuances and other industry issues that need to be considered before landing a deal, including supplier services, business use cases and data retrieval, says Keri Bruce at Reed Smith.

  • Calif. Ruling Shows Limits Of Exculpatory Lease Clauses

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    A California court's recent decision in Epochal Enterprises v. LF Encinitas Properties, finding a landlord liable for failing to disclose the presence of asbestos on the subject property, underscores the limits of exculpatory clauses' ability to safeguard landlords from liability where known hazards are present, say Fawaz Bham and Javier De Luna at Hunton.

  • Series

    Serving As A Sheriff's Deputy Made Me A Better Lawyer

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    Skills developed during my work as a reserve deputy — where there was a need to always be prepared, decisive and articulate — transferred to my practice as an intellectual property litigator, and my experience taught me that clients often appreciate and relate to the desire to participate in extracurricular activities, says Michael Friedland at Friedland Cianfrani.

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