Above the Law
Breaking legal news, commentary, and analysis on the business and culture of law.
Articles from Above the Law
Quinn Emanuel Fined $3M, Ordered to Create Ethics Training After Court Sanction
A federal court fined Quinn Emanuel $3M and ordered it to create an ethics class for attorneys after misleading conduct in a pharma lawsuit, spotlighting BigLaw ethics risks.
Tennessee man gets $835K after wrongful arrest over Facebook post on Charlie Kirk
Larry Bushart wins $835,000 settlement after being jailed for a Facebook meme about Charlie Kirk, raising new questions about First Amendment rights and law enforcement practices.
Law Professors Face Scrutiny Over Role in Constitutional Crises
Debate grows on whether law professors should intervene or advise during constitutional emergencies, as recent academic events highlight questions on their influence and responsibilities.
Coalition Urges White House to Tighten No Surprises Act Arbitration
A coalition of 48 employer and consumer groups presses the administration to reform the No Surprises Act arbitration process, alleging conflicts and rising costs.
BigLaw Firms Expand While Slashing Staff as Tech Transforms Operations
Major law firms like Foley & Lardner and Baker McKenzie are growing and adopting AI, but also laying off staff, signaling a shifting BigLaw business model.
Quinn Emanuel and Greenberg Glusker Lose Veteran Partners in May
Quinn Emanuel and Greenberg Glusker mourn the May 2026 deaths of influential senior partners Harry A. Olivar, Jr. and Arthur N. Greenberg, raising questions about firm leadership.
Westlaw and ROSS Battle Over UpCodes Ruling in AI Copyright Appeal
Thomson Reuters and ROSS both cite the recent UpCodes court ruling as they argue over copyright and AI training before the Third Circuit.
Brooklyn woman gives birth in court, prompting calls to review detention care
A Brooklyn defendant gave birth during her arraignment, raising questions about detention and court protocols for pregnant women and sparking calls for urgent investigation.
Trump Drops $10B IRS Lawsuit; DOJ Unveils $1.776B Compensation Fund
Donald Trump withdraws $10B tax lawsuit as DOJ announces a $1.776B fund for alleged victims of government targeting, drawing legal and political scrutiny.
DOJ Sues D.C. Bar to Halt Discipline for Trump-Era Federal Lawyers
The DOJ filed a May 2026 lawsuit against D.C. Bar authorities to stop ethics proceedings against former Trump administration lawyers, escalating state-federal oversight disputes.
DLA Piper Faces Discrimination Suit Over Firing Palestinian Lawyer
DLA Piper is sued by Yasmeen Elagha, a Palestinian Muslim lawyer, who alleges discrimination and retaliation after her job offer was revoked due to her pro-Palestinian activism.
A&O Shearman Eyes Nonequity Partner Tier After BigLaw Shift
A&O Shearman is considering a nonequity partner tier, joining a growing number of elite law firms changing their partnership structure in 2024 and 2025.
Exterro unveils AI Subpoena Manager with pay-as-you-go pricing at CLOC
Exterro launched its AI Subpoena Manager at CLOC Chicago, offering automated subpoena processing and flexible pricing to help legal teams manage rising workloads and compliance needs.
Anthropic adds legal AI integrations and plugins to Claude for law firms
Anthropic expands Claude for Legal with new AI plugins and integrations, as Freshfields deploys platform firmwide and legal tech investment heats up.
Shearman & Sterling Loses 8% of Partners as BigLaw Lateral Moves Surge
Shearman & Sterling reports 8% partner attrition—reflecting escalating lateral movement and structural shifts in U.S. BigLaw. Lateral hiring reached a six-year high in early 2026.
Supreme Court Blocks AI in Its Deliberations, Endorses Human Judgment
The US Supreme Court formally rejects artificial intelligence in its deliberations, affirming reliance on human judgment for top-level judicial decision-making. Legal tech adoption in courts faces ...
CLOC Global Institute 2026 Puts AI at Center of Legal Ops in Chicago
The CLOC Global Institute 2026 heads to Chicago, spotlighting AI's impact on legal operations strategies as legal departments face rising workload and tighter budgets.
Federal Judges Push Back on DOJ Subpoenas in Trans Youth Care Cases
Federal judges and hospitals challenge DOJ subpoenas seeking transgender youth healthcare data, raising legal and strategic implications for healthcare counsel and compliance teams.
John Quinn Steps Down as Quinn Emanuel Managing Partner After 40 Years
Quinn Emanuel founder John Quinn steps down as managing partner after 40 years, with new co-leaders at one of the world's top litigation law firms.
DOJ Launches West Coast Strike Force to Target Health Care Fraud
The DOJ has formed a West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force to intensify enforcement in Arizona, Nevada, and Northern California, signaling heightened legal risks for providers.