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  • What DEI Changes Mean for Employers Featuring Patice Holland

    As political and public scrutiny of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs grows, employment attorney Patice Holland of WoodsRogers joins the Emerging Litigation Podcast to explain how employers—especially federal contractors—can reassess DEI initiatives while staying compliant with discrimination laws, navigating shifting enforcement priorities, and managing legal, operational, and reputational risk. Tune in now!

  • Arson Investigations: Best Practices for Establishing Fraud and Avoiding Bad Faith

    Arson-related insurance claims are rising—and so are the risks for insurers who don’t investigate thoroughly and by the book. Guest contributor Melissa A. Segel breaks down how carriers can use modern tools, smart strategy, and legal precision to uncover fraud while steering clear of costly bad faith pitfalls. A must-read for anyone navigating the intersection of fire science and insurance law.

  • Facing PFAS lawsuit, Apple claims watch bands are safe, but what does the evidence say?

    Amid rising concerns about toxic chemicals in consumer products, Apple finds itself under scrutiny. Guest contributor Justin Ward examines the controversy surrounding Apple’s smartwatch bands after researchers detected elevated levels of PFAS, or “forever chemicals.” While Apple insists its products are safe, a class action lawsuit alleges deceptive marketing and health risks, raising broader questions about accountability and chemical transparency in tech and apparel.

  • AI tool that summarizes evidence from cracked phones wades into uncharted constitutional waters

    As law enforcement agencies adopt cutting-edge AI to process digital evidence, constitutional questions are quickly coming into focus. Guest contributor Justin Ward explores how Cellebrite’s new AI-driven tool—capable of scanning and summarizing entire phone contents—may clash with Fourth Amendment protections. While the tech promises efficiency, civil rights advocates argue it opens the door to warrantless digital dragnets, with court interpretations varying widely across jurisdictions.

  • Valid Antitrust Concerns or Partisan Objectives: Which Will Guide Trump’s FTC?  

    Concerned that the spirit of retribution that drove executive orders against some of the nation's largest law firms will carry over to business deals, Tom Hagy writes about recent changes at the Federal Trade Commission and some of the comments from the new chair that suggest infusion of retribution into the process of examining business deals is inevitable.

  • AI tools may be the cause of the explosion in nuclear verdicts — and also the solution

    Guest contributor Justin Ward discusses how artificial intelligence is both fueling and fighting the rise of “nuclear verdicts.” Plaintiff attorneys are using AI to identify high-damages cases, favorable jurisdictions, and winning arguments—driving a spike in verdicts over $10 million. At the same time, defense lawyers and insurers are adopting tools like NaVeL to spot high-risk cases early and craft smarter strategies. As AI reshapes legal practice, the very technology accelerating massive awards may also be the best hope for containing them.

Emerging Litigation Podcast

Natural Gas Bans and Bans on Bans

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently struck down Berkeley, California's ban on natural gas infrastructure in new buildings as a violation of federal law. As we will continue to see more such bans, our guest shares insights on how similar cases may be treated -- and much more.

Pixel Litigation Tests Old Privacy Law

New litigation alleging violations of the Video Privacy Protection Act -- which came well before online video streaming -- demonstrates how plaintiff attorneys are creatively applying traditional causes of action to litigate modern privacy issues in the absence of a federal law. Listen now for insights.

Hair Relaxer Injury Litigation

Last year the Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz law firm filed the first class action against L’Oréal and Softsheen-Carson for injuries, primarily to Black women, allegedly caused by hair relaxers and straighteners. Now, many cases are consolidated in multidistrict litigation. Listen for unique insights from a leading plaintiff attorney.

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Emerging Litigation Journal

How Companies Seeking to Leave China for Mexico Can Mitigate Their Legal Risks and Protect Against New Ones

The Author Dan Harris (dan@harrisbricken.com) is co-founder of Harris Bricken where he focuses his practice on international law and protecting businesses in their foreign operations. A leading authority on the subject, he is also editor of the highly regarded China Law Blog, and a valued member of the Editorial Board of Advisors for the Journal of Emerging Issues in Litigation. Interviews with leading attorneys and other subject matter experts on new twists in the law and how the law is responding to new twists in the world. How Companies Seeking to Leave China for Mexico Can Mitigate Their Legal Risks and Protect Against New Ones "Chinese manufacturers commonly seek retaliation against foreign buyers that cease buying product from them. For this reason, it is critical that you line up your new suppliers (preferably in a country other than China) and have them ready to go before you even hint to anyone in China that you might cease or reduce production with an existing China supplier." Abstract: The author, one of the leading authorities on the legal issues related to international manufacturing, discusses the risks companies will face if they move their manufacturing out of China, what they should do to mitigate those risks, and what new risks they will face in a new country, such as Mexico. He comments on a variety of concepts, including manufacturing agreements, protection of intellectual property, strategies for a safe departure, potential retaliation tactics, and even personal security matters. Download the article now!

Climate Change, Property Rights, and Conservation: Highlights from a Decade of Environmental Law (2013–2023)

The Author Victoria Kline (linkedin.com/in/victoria-kline) just graduated from the University of Miami School of Law, and is an incoming associate at Jones Day. She focused her studies on environmental law, which also will be her area of practice. (Congratulations to Victoria on her graduation and getting her start at Reed Smith!) Interviews with leading attorneys and other subject matter experts on new twists in the law and how the law is responding to new twists in the world. Climate Change, Property Rights, and Conservation: Highlights from a Decade of Environmental Law (2013–2023) Abstract: The author discusses nine recent decisions—all but one handed down by the Supreme Court—that demonstrate the ongoing debate over responsibility for the effects of climate change, how the courts are essentially asked to strike a balance between environmental protection and economic development, the intersection of property rights and conservation, and how litigants fared with their arguments over different aspects of this important and, many would say, existential dilemma. The author concludes with an update from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the establishment of a loss and damage fund for countries harmed by climate change. "The past decade has seen numerous legal challenges and landmark rulings in environmental law, reflecting the growing recognition of the critical importance of protecting the environment for current and future generations. From the Supreme Court’s decision in Michigan v. EPA to the recent Juliana v. United States case, the judicial branch has dramatically changed the way litigation can be used to protect the interests of the earth and its inhabitants." Download the article now!

Procedural Challenges to the IRS’s Compliance With the APA and Its Impact on Tax Litigation

The Author Jeffrey S. Luechtefeld (jeff.luechtefeld@chamberlainlaw.com) is a tax controversy and litigation attorney with Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams, and Aughtry (Atlanta, Georgia) where he focuses his practice on resolving tax disputes with the Internal Revenue Service, administratively or through litigation. Jeff previously was a Special Trial Attorney for the IRS Office of Chief Counsel as well as a director in the tax controversy practice of a big four accounting firm. Interviews with leading attorneys and other subject matter experts on new twists in the law and how the law is responding to new twists in the world. Procedural Challenges to IRS Compliance With the APA and Its Impact on Tax Litigation Abstract: The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) places specific requirements on agencies of the federal government when engaged in a “rule making” that has the force and effect  of law. Recently, the APA has become a focal point in tax litigation, due in large part to the IRS’s history of refusing to comply with the process mandated by the APA. This article focuses on procedural challenges to the IRS’s compliance with the APA based on the IRS’s history of non-compliance with the APA’s notice-and-comment requirement. It highlights recent trends in tax litigation and considers the future of APA challenges in this area. "IRS’s level of APA non-compliance matters significantly ... "APA challenges predicated on the IRS’s failure to adequately follow the APA’s notice-and-comment process are inherently fact-intensive endeavors ... "The challenging party should gauge the usefulness of the relief requested and balance that against the cost required to prevail ... "Ultimately, APA challenges are important, and may be necessary for a taxpayer to get to argue the merits of their case, but they do not often end the dispute with the IRS." Download the article now!

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