Contracts

Legal writing pro is helping teach AI to draft contracts (podcast)

Ken Adams has brought his contract expertise to a Pittsburgh artificial intelligence startup. The transactional lawyer stopped practicing law “the regular way,” as he puts it, in 2006 and devoted himself full time to his interest in contract language. After constant exploration on the topic, the 57-year-old 2009 ABA Journal…

Sep 12, 2018 6:00 AM CDT

Judge rules Johnny Depp can void unwritten contract with lawyer; is ‘handshake culture’ at risk?

A Los Angeles judge ruled on Tuesday that actor Johnny Depp can void an oral contract with his former lawyer because California law requires contingency agreements to be put in writing. Judge Terry Green said Depp’s 1999 oral agreement with lawyer Jacob Bloom is a voidable contingency-fee agreement because it…

Aug 30, 2018 6:00 AM CDT

Judge says narrow drafting dooms bid by Trump campaign to arbitrate bias suit

A narrowly drafted arbitration clause in a confidentiality agreement doesn’t require arbitration of a bias suit filed by a former Trump campaign staffer, according to a New York judge. Judge Arlene Bluth of the trial-level Supreme Court of New York ruled there is no need to send the case to…

Aug 17, 2018 3:31 PM CDT

Trump Organization accuses Omarosa’s book publisher of tortious interference with hush agreement

Lawyers for the Trump Organization have dispatched a letter to the publisher of Omarosa Manigault Newman’s tell-all book, Unhinged: An Insider Account of the Trump White House.

Aug 17, 2018 1:47 PM CDT

Law firms, tech companies partner to build new blockchain-based platform for smart contracts

A group of law firms and tech companies have teamed up to develop the Agreements Network, a platform that will aid in the creation, use and sale of smart contracts for lawyers.

Jul 30, 2018 6:05 AM CDT

The small country making a big impact on blockchain adoption

Ian Gauci tells Ari Kaplan: “We are a small nation without any particular resources, save for the sun and the sea. Other than that, we have human capital, so we always try to create niches to prosper.”

Jul 20, 2018 7:05 AM CDT

Dog on a lease? Woman surprised to learn pet she paid for was a rental

New York could become the third state to ban animal rentals after the state attorney general filed a fraud suit against a chain called The Pet Zone that includes allegations about a misleading leasing option. One of the people who complained about The Pet Zone is Chelsea Walrath. She told…

Jul 19, 2018 11:10 AM CDT

Can law students improve contracts drafted by accomplished lawyers?

I had had great teachers of contracts, but they emphasized theory, not practice. I resolved to prepare law students to tackle the costly, time-consuming problems of contract ambiguities. Many years of practice allowed me to make good on this resolution.

Jul 16, 2018 7:15 AM CDT

Does Roseanne Barr have a valid legal claim for cancellation of her show?

The First Amendment restricts the government from interfering with free speech rights, but it doesn’t cover job-related consequences for private employees--or even star comedians.

May 31, 2018 11:22 AM CDT

Harper Lee’s estate settles litigation over Broadway adaptation of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

The estate of Harper Lee has reached a settlement in litigation over its objections to a Broadway adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird. The estate and the production company Rudinplay announced the settlement Thursday, but provided few details. The New York Times and Law360 have coverage. The estate had claimed…

May 11, 2018 11:47 AM CDT

Ex-Playboy model settles suit claiming faulty lawyering nixed her deal to remain silent on Trump

A former Playboy model reached a settlement with the publisher of the National Enquirer on Wednesday allowing her to go public with allegations of an affair in 2006 with President Donald Trump. Karen McDougal won’t have to return the $150,000 she was paid by American Media Inc., the New York…

Apr 19, 2018 1:09 PM CDT

After social media outcry, Munger Tolles will no longer require mandatory arbitration

Munger, Tolles & Olson will no longer require any of its employees to sign mandatory arbitration agreements after a copy of its agreement was leaked.

Mar 26, 2018 10:00 AM CDT

Here’s the lowdown on contract analytics software

Updated: It's time for another post focusing on a specific type of software, explaining how it will solve a problem for your law firm, and discussing the options available. In this column I’ll cover contract analytics software, a new breed of legal software grounded in machine learning that assists lawyers in analyzing contracts more effectively and efficiently.

Mar 23, 2018 8:30 AM CDT

Lawyer’s failure to explain fine print nixes deal to stay silent on Trump, ex-Playboy model says

A former Playboy model has filed a lawsuit claiming she has no obligation to stay silent about her relationship with Donald Trump because of alleged failures by her own lawyer.

Mar 20, 2018 5:08 PM CDT

Stormy Daniels could have to pay at least $20M in liquidated damages, Trump lawyer tells court

Stormy Daniels has violated a confidentiality agreement at least 20 times, requiring her to pay possible liquidated damages of at least $20 million, according to a court document filed on Friday. The figure was included to show the amount in controversy in a notice of removal that moves Daniels’ state…

Mar 19, 2018 12:02 PM CDT