Intellectual Property, Civil Procedure
Expired patents, ongoing battles: The PTAB's power over post-expiration IPRs
By Siegmund Gutman, Chelsea Ostrer
Technology, Intellectual Property
Patentability and ordinary skill in the age of AI
By Zachary M. Briers, Nathaniel F. Sussman
Intellectual Property, Entertainment & Sports
Finding the line between inspiration and infringement in music copyright
By Peter Anderson, Eric Lamm
Intellectual Property, Government, Administrative/Regulatory
Is federal patent law reform on the horizon?
By Michelle E. Armond, Monica M. Arnold
Three recent artificial intelligence IP developments that you need to know
By Nathaniel L. Bach
Ethics/Professional Responsibility, Administrative/Regulatory
The divide in law: ethics, profit, and the Trump administration's influence
By Nanci E. Nishimura
The legal profession is facing a split, with some firms prioritizing profits over ethics by aligning with the Trump administra...
Torts/Personal Injury, Environmental & Energy
Is propane in Rancho Palos Verdes ultrahazardous?
By Antonio R. Sarabia II
Rancho Palos Verdes homeowners installing propane tanks in a landslide zone designated as a Very High Fire Severity Zone may f...
Litigation & Arbitration
Court upholds $4M Bais Din arbitration victory
By Baruch C. Cohen
The Federal Appeals Court decision marks a pivotal moment in secular recognition of religious arbitration.
Good writing is essential to appellate advocacy, and while classic guides like The Elements of Style remain invaluable, newer ...
International Law
Channeling Dean Acheson's legacy in a world on edge
By Nicholas C. Yost
Dean Acheson's visionary leadership, commitment to the rule of law, and innovative foreign policies--embodied in the creation ...
Construction
Top 5 things contractors and subcontractors need to know to avoid licensing violations
By Dustin Amrein
The CSLB is tightening enforcement with new laws on "paper" subcontractors, extended criminal statute of limitations, and stri...
Data Privacy
The beginning of the end for California Invasion of Privacy Act Litigation?
By Elliott Siebers, Scott L. Menger
Recent court rulings and proposed bill SB690 are pushing back against CIPA lawsuits targeting website technologies, like IP ad...
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Why it's time to retire the 'little unhappy' speech in mediation
By Robert S. Mann
In mediation, instead of using the cliché "a good settlement leaves everyone a little unhappy," it might be more effective to ...
Judges and Judiciary
Navigating California's new opt-out magistrate judge program
By Thomas V. Wynsma, Kristine Avena
The Central District of California's new opt-out program gives attorneys a short amount of time to decide between district and...
Ethics/Professional Responsibility, Civil Procedure
'Of counsel' attorneys' expanded exposure to frivolous pleading and motion sanctions
By William Slomanson
An Arizona judge sanctioned two law firms and Alan Dershowitz for a frivolous voting system lawsuit, with the Ninth Circuit se...
Labor/Employment
Skip PAGA's early evaluation conference, proceed to mediation
By Allison Eckstrom
California's 2024 PAGA amendments expand employers' ability to cure Labor Code violations but create a complicated early evalu...
Labor/Employment
Rule of Professional Conduct 1.11 and taking your practice private
By David M. Majchrzak
Former government lawyers face unique ethical challenges under Rule of Professional Conduct 1.11, which extends broader confid...
Environmental & Energy
San Francisco v. EPA: Requiem for receiving water limitations?
By Davin A. Widgerow
In City and County of San Francisco v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2025), the U.S. Supreme Court struck down...
Labor/Employment, Entertainment & Sports, Contracts
Talent managers penalized by a law that doesn't say so
By Kevin J. Greene
The Labor Commission, by misinterpreting the TAA, has left the communities of personal managers, attorneys, producers, publici...
Letters
Judge Murphy: Tough on rules, fair in court - no room for courtroom antics
By Robert B. Packer
Seventeen attorneys are seeking the disqualification of Judge Mary Ann Murphy, but based on her track record, she is known to ...
Technology, International Law
Navigating the global playground: A look at video game laws around the world
By Tom K. Ara, Ryan Black
As the gaming industry evolves from physical sales to digital platforms, developers must navigate an intricate web of internat...
Labor/Employment, Civil Rights
Implicit bias training checks the box, but not the behavior
By Elana R. Levine
Despite California's mandated implicit bias training, little progress has been made in addressing systemic discrimination affe...
Law Practice
Are you missing out on business by not talking to your clients?
By George Brandon
Lawyers who actively maintain relationships with clients through proactive communication, education, and follow-up are more li...
Technology, Insurance
Growing pains: The first 25 years of cyber insurance
By Richard DeNatale
Cyber insurance has experienced rapid growth, market volatility, and evolving risks, and has not yet developed into a mature m...
Mergers & Acquisitions, Contracts
Tariffs in flux: M&A deals at risk in 2025
By Scott M. Wornow
Amid tariff uncertainty and market chaos, thoughtless 'copy and paste' M&A approaches will prove problematic as standard c...
LA Fires, Insurance
Holding insurance regulators' feet to the fire as wildfires and hurricanes test accountability
By Benjamin R. Fliegel, Matthew B. Weaver
California and Florida's differing responses to the insurance crisis show how crucial oversight and transparency are for prote...
The Rhode Island case SCLS Realty v. Town of Johnston brings the issue of "pretext" back into the spotlight, as prope...
Judges and Judiciary
Public criticism of judges undermines justice
By Richard Alexander, Eugene M. Hyman
Publicly criticizing individual judges, as seen in the case of San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, harms judicial ...
Labor/Employment
The curiosity gap: How attorneys miss revenue opportunities
By Thomas Riebs
Legal specialization, while essential for excellence, often stifles the curiosity needed to understand clients deeply and unco...
Torts/Personal Injury
Montoya ruling shifts the burden on causation in medical malpractice and beyond
By Benjamin T. Ikuta, Michael J. Jeandron
Montoya v. Superior Court places the causation burden on the defense when a negligent omission results in missing evi...