Legal Operations
Process improvement, spend management, vendor selection, legal project management, and efficiency tools
Spellbook Rolls Out AI-Powered Autonomous Contract Management System
Spellbook launched its Autonomous Contract Management system on June 30, 2026, automating contract workflows for 4,500 legal teams worldwide.
New Study Shows AI Boosts Legal Department Efficiency Amid Governance Gaps
Litera survey reveals widespread AI adoption in legal teams, with efficiency gains but governance and data risk gaps present.
CMS finalizes Medicare drug price negotiation rules for 2029 start
CMS finalizes rules establishing permanent Medicare drug price negotiation starting in 2029, impacting drug pricing and compliance for legal and healthcare professionals.
Opus 2, Artificial Lawyer Webinar on AI in Litigation Slated for July 23
Opus 2 and Artificial Lawyer host July 23 webinar on integrating AI into litigation workflows for better decision-making and efficiency.
Deloitte: AI Will Handle 30% of In-House Legal Work by 2031
Deloitte predicts AI agents to automate 30% of corporate legal tasks within five years, reshaping in-house legal teams and workflows.
Judge Stops DOT From Freezing $16B Hudson Tunnel Funds Over DEI Review
A federal judge blocks DOT’s attempt to halt $16 billion Hudson Tunnel funding over DEI compliance, impacting key legal and infrastructure stakeholders.
LA Homeless Agency Sues HUD Over $220M Funding Suspension
LA Homeless Services Authority sues HUD after $220M funding suspension amid fraud allegations, risking thousands losing housing support.
Judge Denies Acquittal for Ex-Google Engineer in AI Trade Secret Case
A judge rejected acquittal motions for former Google engineer Linwei Ding, convicted of stealing AI trade secrets, highlighting challenges in tech espionage cases.
SCOTUS Justices Report 2025 Travel, Gifts, Royalties in Disclosures
Supreme Court justices disclosed 2025 travel gifts and over $2 million in royalties and teaching income, revealing ongoing ethics scrutiny.
DOJ Declines to Prosecute Bosch Under New Corporate Enforcement Policy
The DOJ declined to prosecute Bosch for export violations under a new enforcement policy, signaling a shift in corporate compliance approaches.
Ninth Circuit Revives Religious Discrimination Suit Against Alaska Airlines Union
Ninth Circuit allows Christian flight attendants' religious discrimination claims against Alaska Airlines and its union to proceed to trial.
Federal DEI Rule Now Covers Leases, Concessions Starting 2026
The FAR clause implementing Executive Order 14398 now extends to leases and concessions, requiring legal teams to review compliance policies by 2026.
Texas and Colorado Jointly Enforce AML Rules on Money Transmitter
Texas and Colorado impose $200K penalty and demand compliance upgrades in a joint AML enforcement action against a money transmitter, signaling rising multistate scrutiny.
John Bolton Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Retention of Classified Info
Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton pleads guilty to unlawfully retaining classified information, settling DOJ espionage charges and facing sentencing.
California's $310B 2026-27 Budget Cuts Deficit, Boosts Legal-Linked Programs
California's 2026-27 budget reduces deficit by $1.8B, funds education, legal compliance, and disaster recovery, impacting corporate and public interest law.
Texas Appeals Court Affirms Conviction Despite Defendant’s Absence After Suicide Attempt
Texas Court of Appeals upholds conviction despite defendant missing trial for suicide attempt, clarifying waiver of right to be present in criminal cases.
UAE Central Bank Fines Foreign Bank $5.4M for AML Failures
The UAE Central Bank imposed a $5.4 million fine on a foreign bank and its compliance officer for anti-money laundering violations, signaling increased regulatory scrutiny.
Davis Polk, Cravath Match Milbank’s $225K Associate Salaries in 2026
Major U.S. law firms, led by Milbank, have increased first-year associate salaries to $225K as of July 2026, intensifying compensation competition.
Most Lawyers Use AI, But Few Firms Leverage It Strategically
While 79% of legal pros use AI tools, only 34% of law firms have formal AI policies, limiting productivity and revenue growth.
Hung Jury in 2025 Palisades Fire Arson Trial
A federal jury deadlocked on arson charges against Jonathan Rinderknecht in the 2025 Palisades Fire case, underscoring prosecutorial challenges.