Unhappy consumers will drive the next wave of AI lawsuits

If your company is using AI to make decisions or provide guidance, expect pushback when people don’t like how that impacts them, an AI legal specialist says.

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 15, 2025

Trump’s antitrust approach will share traits with Biden, litigator predicts

Corporate America expects big change at the DOJ and FTC, but Trump populism will mean continuity on many issues, an antitrust specialist contends.

By Justin Bachman • Jan. 14, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Legal Dive

Legal leaders look at practical generative AI use cases and get tough on outside counsel spend, among other priorities this year.

By Legal Dive staff

Do lawyers have a duty to report a struggling colleague?

Across the profession, lawyers struggle with mental health issues, substance abuse and cognitive decline, but there are resources to help.

By Justin Bachman • Jan. 10, 2025

ESG tops in-house counsel litigation concerns

Organizations bringing lawsuits are finding more ways to tie company actions to impacts, a report finds.

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 10, 2025

Cyberattacks, tech disruption ranked as top threats to business growth

Forty percent of executives view data breaches and leaks as the most financially burdensome man-made threats, a Chubb study found.

By Alexei Alexis • Jan. 8, 2025

6 in-house legal trends to watch in 2025

AI adoption and ROI, interstate litigation and increased settlements in M&A approvals are among the topics in-house counsel can expect to feature prominently in 2025.

By Justin Bachman , Robert Freedman • Jan. 8, 2025

Criminal prosecution possible for employing illegal workers but enforcement is lax

A one-year snapshot taken during the first Trump term shows no company criminally prosecuted for having workers not authorized to be in the country, a Syracuse University project shows.

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 6, 2025

FCC net neutrality rule among first to fall in Loper Bright’s aftermath

No longer bound by deference to regulators, a Sixth Circuit panel ruled that the Biden administration cannot enforce stricter regulation policy on internet service providers.

By Justin Bachman • Jan. 3, 2025

Did Costco just reset the narrative around DEI?

In contrast to a slew of companies, the warehouse retailer has forcefully rejected an anti-DEI shareholder proposal as bad for business.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 3, 2025

Who’s on Trump’s short list for next SCOTUS justice?

James Ho of the highly conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is one judge who’s on the top of the list for Trump 2.0. Judge Amul Thapar of the Sixth Circuit also comes up a lot. 

By David Weisenfeld • Dec. 20, 2024

Generative AI is great for legal work — but make sure it’s monitored, judges say

Magistrates say lawyers must understand how their AI tools work, supervise their teams, check results carefully and not fear experimenting with ways to use them.

By Justin Bachman • Dec. 20, 2024

FanDuel, DraftKings inquiry could shape antitrust enforcement in digital markets

If the companies are found to be targeting critical inputs and partnerships essential to smaller competitors, they could be unlawfully restraining trade. 

By David Balto • Dec. 19, 2024

Preparing your labor force for Trump 2.0? Start with employee audits.

Employers can expect heavy scrutiny of workers’ immigration status, worksite inspections and likely changes to U.S. visa programs.

By Justin Bachman • Dec. 18, 2024

FTC cracks down on junk fees

The bipartisan Junk Fees Rule takes aim at “bait-and-switch pricing” for lodging, as well as live-ticket events.

By Noelle Mateer • Dec. 17, 2024

Former OpenAI training employee dead in apparent suicide

The ChatGPT researcher had publicly expressed concerns about fair use for AI model training and might have played a witness role in copyright lawsuit.

By Justin Bachman • Dec. 16, 2024

FTC plots new course on antitrust, Big Tech under Trump nominees

Current commissioner Andrew Ferguson will become chair under Trump and Mark Meador, a former Senate counsel, will join the commission.

By Justin Bachman • Dec. 11, 2024

Deputy GC is becoming a key Microsoft communicator

Rima Alaily is using public communications to position the world’s third-largest company as a champion of transparency.

By Robert Freedman • Dec. 9, 2024

How to adopt GenAI within your legal department or law practice

Capital spending and ROI will be top of mind for legal executives moving forward with AI legal tools in 2025. Here are some best practices.

By Justin Bachman • Dec. 9, 2024

Big tech likely to stay in crosshairs under Trump’s DOJ antitrust pick

Gail Slater, who would take over from Jonathan Kanter as the agency’s competition enforcer, is “not known as a friend of big tech” and her choice isn’t “good for Google,” CNBC analyst Jim Cramer says.

By Robert Freedman • Dec. 5, 2024

Crypto leaders have knives out for attorneys leaving the SEC

Coinbase and Ripple executives want law firms not to hire lawyers who worked on lawsuits against them.

By Robert Freedman • Dec. 4, 2024

What’s driving M&A into 2025? Companies seeking AI capabilities

The race into generative artificial intelligence is fueling many deals, while contingent considerations are bridging valuation gaps, Cooley’s M&A team says.

By Justin Bachman • Dec. 3, 2024

FTC rule change splits Republican commissioners after Trump win

The telemarketing rule expansion is designed to protect seniors from consumer tech sales scams. One commissioner says the “lame duck” FTC should stand down.

By Justin Bachman • Dec. 2, 2024

Why smart firms are rethinking the billable hour using new AI tools

As more legal work is automated, forward-thinking law firms will focus on self-service and new billing methods, the chief revenue officer of Definely predicts.

By Justin Bachman • Nov. 30, 2024

Reverse discrimination claims might rise under Trump

Companies should take a look at their DEI initiatives to avert allegations of reverse discrimination, an attorney says.

By David Weisenfeld • Nov. 26, 2024

Keeping your skilled workers in the face of stepped-up immigration enforcement

Expect to face higher costs and more compliance complexity but if your employees’ visas are in order, your company should be fine, a specialist says.

By Robert Freedman • Nov. 25, 2024