Law360's Pro Say - News & Analysis on Law and the Legal Industry

Whether it's Russian meddling, the Equifax breach or Facebook's user-data scandal, every day seems to bring a new cyber security crisis. What can Washington do to address these threats? What about private businesses? This week we’re joined by a guest who knows the cyberthreat landscape well, Secretary Jeh Johnson, who led the Department of Homeland Security during the Obama administration. Also th...

On the heels of the billion dollar March Madness tournament, we’re taking up a big question this week: Should college athletes be paid? Senior sports reporter Zach Zagger comes on the show to talk about a major case headed to trial that may squarely answer that question. Also this week, we talk about a Supreme Court ruling on overtime pay; a judge saying courts improperly used the fees from PACER;...

BigLaw firm Munger Tolles found itself in hot water this week after word leaked that it was forcing summer associates to sign mandatory arbitration agreements that would keep harassment lawsuits out of court. Munger quickly dropped the agreements, and two more major firms soon did the same. Will more follow? Was this BigLaw’s first #MeToo moment? Senior reporter Natalie Rodriguez joins us to discu...

Latham & Watkins, one of the most prestigious law firms in the world, saw chairman Bill Voge resign this week after revelations that he’d engaged in a pattern of reckless behavior. But how did the saga unfold, and how did it become public? This week we’re joined by senior reporter Sam Reisman, who broke the Voge story with his exclusive reporting. Also this week, we discuss a controversial copyrig...

The #MeToo and #TimesUp movements have gained significant traction this year, but lawsuits against alleged abusers have not always addressed the institutions that enabled the abuse. This week we’re joined by Chicago court reporter Diana Novak Jones, who tells us about a case using a novel legal approach to tackle that problem. Also this week, we discuss the White House blocking a proposed $117 bil...

This week we’re talking about the President Trump’s efforts to reshape the judicial branch — both his progress so far and what to expect in the years ahead. We’re joined first by Ed Beeson, to talk us through some forces that could slow down Trump’s progress, and then by Jimmy Hoover, to talk about one district court that has been overlooked. Also this week, we discuss Trump’s controversial trade...

In honor of the Oscars this weekend, we’re presenting the first annual Academy Lawards, a celebration of achievements in cinema focusing on the law. Join us as we hand out awards for Best Argument in film, Most Disparaging Portrayal of a Lawyer and many more. Also this week, we touch down on a Second Circuit ruling that discrimination against gay employees is barred under federal law.

The Supreme Court is poised to answer a digital privacy question with huge implications: Can U.S. prosecutors force Microsoft to turn over personal email data that's stored on overseas servers? With arguments set for next week, Microsoft head of litigation David Howard comes on the show to walk us through his company's case. Also this week, we discuss a former BigLaw attorney who pleaded guilty to...

Law firms are full of people with the title “partner,” but what exactly does that mean? After years of change, the title ain’t always what it used to be. Senior reporter Andrew Strickler comes on the show this week to talk about “partners,” particularly as it relates to the wave of gender bias suits filed against BigLaw firms. Also this week, we discuss a big ruling on the destruction of New York...

Ninth Circuit Judge Alex Kozinski was under investigation for sexually harassing clerks. Amid the scandal the judge retired, and now the probe has been called off. Senior reporter Natalie Rodriguez comes on the show to talk about how the end of the investigation highlights a need for significant reforms to how the judicial branch handles sexual harassment. Also this week, we discuss looming change...

Google and Uber, two Silicon Valley behemoths, are set to square off next week in a high stakes trial that could determine the future of self-driving cars. Senior intellectual property reporter and Pro Say co-host Bill Donahue walks us through what we need to know about the billion-dollar trial. Also this week, we discuss an appeals court “swiping left” over age discrimination on the dating app Ti...

It’s not every day that a BigLaw firm goes under, but that’s just what happened to legal stalwart Sedgwick LLP, which formally closed shop last week. What went wrong? Our business of law reporter Sam Reisman, who spent months covering the firm’s demise, comes on the show to give us the scoop. Also this week, we discuss how a court ruling forced Starbucks to keep stores open during the “Retail Apoc...

Can your lawyer go against your wishes if they think it’s in your best interest? That’s the tricky question the Supreme Court weighed this week in a case where a lawyer admitted his client committed murder in a failed effort to spare him the death penalty. On this week’s show, Supreme Court reporter Chuck Stanley joins us to break down the case. Also this week, we discuss the wave of legal challen...

You've definitely heard about the recent conviction of “pharma bro” Martin Shkreli, but what about Evan Greebel? He was Shkreli's BigLaw attorney, and he was convicted of securities fraud, too. Manhattan courthouse reporter Stewart Bishop comes on the show to break down the case against Greebel -- and how it's a cautionary tale for other lawyers. Also on this week’s show, we discuss a court blocki...

What do you do when jurors think they know more than the experts on the witness stand? Senior trials reporter Daniel Siegal joins us to talk about his recent story on modern jurors who are emboldened by too many Google searches and episodes of Law and Order. Also on this week’s show, we discuss Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ move to ramp up enforcement of federal marijuana laws; Paul Manafort’s s...

The law was at the center of 2017's biggest news stories. To catch up on the year that was, we're running down the five most important legal stories of the year, including: The wave of sexual misconduct scandals and their connections to the legal community; President Trump's efforts to reshape the courts; the slew of lawsuits aimed at checking the new administration; Robert Mueller’s investigation...

This week the Federal Communications Commission overturned Obama-era net neutrality rules mandating that internet service providers treat all online content equally, handing industry groups a win and offering ISPs leeway to try out “fast” and “slow” lanes for web traffic. Our senior telecom reporter Kelcee Griffis was in person for the vote and joins us from Washington to talk about what happens n...

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week in the closely-watched case over whether a Colorado baker had the right to refuse to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple. Law360’s Supreme Court reporter Jimmy Hoover was on the scene, and gives us some insight about the crucial swing vote in the case. Then, senior court reporter Pete Brush joins us to talk about an ongoing trial over a multi-billi...

What happens when two people lay claim to leadership of the same federal agency? This week, in the surreal case of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, we found out. Senior banking reporter Evan Weinberger joins us to break down the background, the court case, and the infamous bag of donuts. Also on this week’s show, we discuss revelations that delayed the battle between Waymo and Uber on the...

On this week’s special holiday show, we’re doing something a little different -- taking a look back at our favorite offbeat stories of the year. We revisit a bananas Ninth Circuit oral argument about a monkey who took a selfie; a comedy duo facing legal trouble for pranking a Wisconsin morning show; a copyright suit over a 24-year-old Meat Loaf hit; and every pun you can imagine to describe a lobs...

Republicans have long grumbled that the ABA has a liberal bias, but the group’s four recent rejections of Trump judicial nominees have pushed things toward open conflict. We’re joined by senior reporter Michael Macagnone to talk us through the growing showdown over the role the ABA plays in picking judges. Also on this week’s show, we discuss a BigLaw leader who resigned after claiming on Fox News...

The sexual assault scandal surrounding Hollywood titan Harvey Weinstein expanded this week into BigLaw. It was revealed that Weinstein’s long-time lawyer David Boies played a part in hiring a private spy firm to help Weinstein suppress a New York Times article detailing the harassment allegations, even though the Times was also a client of Boies Schiller. Senior legal ethics reporter Andrew Strick...

The opioid epidemic has recently been put in the spotlight by Washington policy makers, but that’s not the only venue where the issue is being tackled. Law360 senior reporter Andrew Westney comes on the show to walk us through a wave of lawsuits filed against drugmakers and retailers over their alleged role in fueling the crisis. Also on this week’s show, we discuss special counsel Robert Mueller’...

The Supreme Court is set to weigh two privacy cases this term that could be game changers, including one about personal cloud data stored overseas and another about search warrants for cell phone location data. Andy Pincus, a partner at Mayer Brown who has argued 27 cases before the high court, joins the show to break down the cases and what impact they could have. Also on this week’s show, we run...

The NFL has had no shortage of controversies lately. President Trump has blasted players staging on-field protests of racial injustice and the league has been criticized over its response to allegations of domestic violence perpetrated by players. Senior sports reporter Zach Zagger joins the show to give us an overview of the legal battles that are heating up over these issues. Also on this week’s...