Legal Slice

?? Paul Weiss Dropped by Client After Trump Executive Order ?? Paul Weiss has revealed in a court filing that Stephen Schwartz, a former executive facing criminal bribery charges, has dismissed the firm as his legal counsel due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order. ?? Trump’s order directs his administration to strip Paul Weiss employees of government security clearances and rescind government contracts involving the firm and its clients. ?? As a result, Paul Weiss has requested a federal judge in New Jersey to allow them to withdraw from the case. ?? Legal experts warn that this move threatens the independence of law firms. Writing for Bloomberg Law, David Zimmer and Edwina Clarke argue that major firms must unite and speak out against targeting lawyers for their work. ?? What are your thoughts? Does this set a dangerous precedent for legal independence? ?? #LegalIndustry #PaulWeiss #Trump #ExecutiveOrder #LawAndPolitics Subscribe to Legal Slice if you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends in the legal world: ?? https://lnkd.in/dZp_tvpt

?? The Future of Law: AI & Human Skills Must Coexist ?? Despite the rise of AI in legal services, human traits like empathy and soft skills will remain critical for law firms over the next decade, according to the Simmons & Simmons ‘Law Firm of the Future’ survey. ?? Key insights from 500 legal leaders: ?? 78% believe soft skills will still be in high demand ?? 77% expect lawyers' roles to evolve, requiring tech & multidisciplinary expertise Julian Taylor, Senior Partner at Simmons & Simmons, noted: “Legal advisers from some of the world’s biggest companies expect the law firm of a decade from now to look dramatically different.” ?? As AI reshapes the industry, the challenge will be blending human expertise with technological innovation. ?? What skills do you think will be most valuable for future lawyers? Let’s discuss! ?? #LegalTech #FutureOfLaw #AIandLaw #SoftSkills #LegalIndustry #Innovation Subscribe to Legal Slice if you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends in the legal world: ?? https://lnkd.in/dZp_tvpt

?? U.S. Businesses Move Away from Diversity References in Annual Reports Over 200 of America’s largest corporate groups have removed mentions of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from their annual reports, according to recent data analyzed by the Financial Times. This shift comes in the wake of President Trump’s executive order aimed at curtailing federal DEI programs. As noted by Joshua Robbins of Buchalter, this move could face legal challenges and underscores the need for companies to carefully document their compliance strategies. As DEI remains a contentious issue, businesses must navigate these changes with caution to ensure alignment with evolving regulations and expectations. #DEI #CorporateResponsibility #Compliance #DiversityInclusion #BusinessStrategy Subscribe to Legal Slice if you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends in the legal world: ?? https://lnkd.in/dZp_tvpt

100m Americans exposed to tap water contaminated with PFAS Nearly 100m Americans are being exposed to tap water contaminated with chemicals linked to cancer and autism, according to USGS researchers. A quarter of the country relies on groundwater wells contaminated with PFAS, also known as forever chemicals. Major cities like New York, Miami, and Chicago have the highest levels of PFAS in their drinking water, while rural areas have lower levels. Researchers tested 1,200 public and domestic wells nationwide to generate a first-of-its-kind interactive map showing the worst-affected areas. A total of 72% of people relying on public wells nationwide, which supply nine in ten Americans, are thought to be drinking water contaminated with PFAS. New HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Junior has vowed to remove cancer-causing PFAS and other "forever chemicals" from the public food and water supply. Subscribe to Legal Slice if you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends in the legal world: ?? https://lnkd.in/dZp_tvpt

White House denies ignoring court order The White House has denied that it violated?a judge’s order to halt?the deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador.?CNN?says that, if this did occur, "[it] would take legal showdowns over the administration’s claims of vast presidential power closer to the edge of a constitutional crisis."? The deportation operation followed a move by Judge James Boasberg to?block?President?Donald Trump's?use of the?Alien Enemies Act's?wartime powers to rapidly deport more than 200 alleged members of gangs linked to kidnapping, extortion and contract killings.?White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Sunday evening said: “The Administration did not ‘refuse to comply’ with a court order. The order, which had no lawful basis, was issued after terrorist . . . aliens had already been removed from U.S. territory,” adding, “A single judge in a single city cannot direct the movements of an aircraft carrier full of foreign alien terrorists who were physically expelled from U.S. soil.” Subscribe to Legal Slice if you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends in the legal world: ?? https://lnkd.in/dZp_tvpt

Law firms struggle with profitability The 2025 Annual Law Firm Finance Report by BigHand has highlighted the financial challenges facing law firms, revealing that 85% of firms have seen a rise in client demand for financial transparency. The report, based on a survey of 813 senior legal finance professionals, indicates that while many firms achieved double-digit growth, they are also experiencing increased write-offs and discounts. The research found that 72% of firms experienced write-offs last year, with 75% predicting further growth in the year ahead. Meanwhile, 48% of firms noted rising client demand for proof of value. Subscribe to Legal Slice if you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends in the legal world: ?? https://lnkd.in/dZp_tvpt #law #legal #LawFirms

The evolution of inhouse lawyers A survey by CLM company Summize suggests that the role of the inhouse lawyer is evolving, with 77% saying their role has changed in the last two years and a third saying it has transformed significantly. Summize chief executive Tom Dunlop said: “Inhouse legal professionals are no longer confined to traditional legal tasks. They now face increased demands for compliance, more governance around data and security protocols, plus the need to integrate technology to aid and enhance their business function.” Subscribe to Legal Slice if you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends in the legal world: ?? https://lnkd.in/dZp_tvpt #Lawyers #law #Legal #InhouseLawyers

Senate committee approves McKernan's CFPB nomination The U.S. Senate Banking Committee has voted 13 to 11 to advance the nomination of Jonathan McKernan as the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The party-line decision allows Mr. McKernan's nomination to proceed to the full Senate for consideration. The Trump administration has been actively working to limit the agency's powers, making the nomination significant. Meanwhile, the CFPB is allowing some offices to resume their functions, after an order last month from acting director Russell Vought to?cease “all supervision and examination activity” and “shareholder engagement." Subscribe to Legal Slice if you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends in the legal world: ?? https://lnkd.in/dZp_tvpt

Tech firms weigh the future of legal AI The National Law Review examines the effect of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools in the legal sector after surveying a number of leaders in the tech industry on issues such as whether AI will replace lawyers, what the adoption of AI means for the billable hour model, and other questions. Scott Stevenson, chief executive of legal AI company Spellbook, says: “We see almost no hesitation from the small and mid-sized law firms we serve. Larger law firms are secretly hesitant due to the billable hour.” Daniel Lewis of LegalOn Technologies added: “Law firms are hesitant to adopt AI over risk and liability concerns — accuracy and client confidentiality matter most. They need professional-grade AI that is accurate and secure." He advises that if that issue can be solved, "immense value" for both firms and their clients will result. Subscribe to Legal Slice if you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends in the legal world: ?? https://lnkd.in/dZp_tvpt #law #Legal #LegalTech #LegalAI

Fired federal workers respond with class action-style complaints U.S. government employees dismissed during the Trump administration's recent purge are launching class action-style complaints, asserting that the mass firings are unlawful and demanding their reinstatement. Lawyers Christopher Bonk and Daniel Rosenthal have filed six appeals with the federal Merit Systems Protection Board and plan to submit about 15 more. Bonk observed: "There are regulations in place to make sure that layoffs . . . are done with intentionality," claiming that the administration has disregarded these laws. The appeals target various agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Environmental Protection Agency. Subscribe to Legal Slice if you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends in the legal world: ?? https://lnkd.in/dZp_tvpt