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

James Ho of the highly conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas 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

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

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

In business-friendly Delaware decision, company wins OK to move to business-friendly Nevada

The Trade Desk needed only a simple majority vote to reincorporate in Nevada after a Chancery Court ruling found a supermajority vote wasn’t needed.

By Robert Freedman • Nov. 20, 2024

Gibson decision undermines DOJ antitrust case against algorithms

Courts have been hesitant to equate the use of common pricing algorithms with illegal price-fixing conspiracies. As a result, algorithmic pricing has gained acceptance across industries. 

By Jonathan Koch • Nov. 19, 2024

Trump’s DOJ pick has backed tough antitrust actions against big tech

Even if the controversial nominee is confirmed, it’s not yet clear if his “surprising” antitrust positions will be adopted in the Trump administration, analysts said.

By Alexei Alexis • Nov. 19, 2024

FTC sees big drop in consumer relief per dollar spent on enforcement

The agency blames the Supreme Court’s 2020 AMG decision, which said courts had been improperly allowing the FTC to obtain money as part of an injunction against company practices. 

By Robert Freedman • Nov. 18, 2024

Fannie Mae investigates potential multifamily mortgage fraud

The government-sponsored enterprise admitted in its Q3 report that it had experienced financial losses due to loan misrepresentation.

By Mary Salmonsen • Nov. 14, 2024

Trump’s contentious AG choice presents Senate majority a test

The selection of ex-congressman Matt Gaetz serves as an early loyalty exam for Senate Republicans, and may point to several Trump recess appointments.

By Justin Bachman • Nov. 14, 2024

Only 16% of global companies on track for 2050 net-zero goals: Accenture

“The fact that so few of the G2000 companies are on track to reach net-zero emissions is alarming,” the director of shareholder advocacy at Trillium Asset Management told ESG Dive.

By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 14, 2024

Don’t let Musk ‘hissy fit’ ruin states’ corporate law role, legal expert says

Trump’s incoming "efficiency czar” has talked about handing corporation law to the federal government. That’s a bad idea, Stephen Bainbridge of UCLA says.

By Robert Freedman • Nov. 13, 2024

How a tech GC views AI-enabled efficiencies and regulation

PagerDuty’s top in-house counsel sees legal AI tools as a way to scale resources without adding headcount while focusing lawyers on their high-value work.

By Justin Bachman • Nov. 12, 2024