Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

From the FTC’s recent attempts to implement a nationwide ban on non-competes to the nuances of state-specific laws in California, Texas, and beyond, there are essential developments that every employment lawyer should know. That’s why Matt Greer is welcoming seasoned attorneys Eric Tate and Joe Ahmad to explore the evolving landscape of non-compete agreements and restrictive covenants.Eric and Joe share insights on the enforceability of non-competes, what constitutes a “protectable interest,” and how courts are viewing confidentiality agreements as potential de facto non-competes. They also discuss the practical implications for lawyers advising clients in today’s hybrid work environment, where remote work and state law differences create unique challenges. Whether you’re representing employers or employees, this episode provides crucial strategies and legal insights to help you navigate restrictive covenants effectively.Eric Akira Tate is co-chair of the Global Employment and Labor Group, representing companies in trade secrets cases, internal investigations, employment litigation, and advising on compliance and employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions globally.Joseph Y. Ahmad is a founding partner of Houston law firm AZA and a nationally recognized lawyer for executives, representing them in breach of contract, trade secrets, non-compete, fiduciary duty, and other matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unpack the complexities of pay equity and transparency with esteemed attorneys Erin M. Connell, representing employers, and Anne B. Shaver, representing employees. Throughout the episode, we’ll explore the legal nuances of fair pay practices, explain the difference between “pay equity” and the “pay gap,” and examine how new pay transparency laws are transforming workplaces across the U.S. and beyond.Erin and Anne also discuss recent trends, including why leveling the job before hiring is crucial, the impact of salary disclosure laws in states like Colorado and California, and how companies are adapting to increased pressure for fairness from both employees and shareholders. Together, they provide practical insights for navigating these changes, whether you’re an employer or employee. Plus, they touch on the growing influence of AI in hiring and compensation decisions and highlight what’s on the horizon for labor and employment law.Erin M. Connell is Co-chair of Orrick's EEO & OFCCP Compliance Group, representing employers in high-stakes employment litigation and leading in equal employment law, pay equity, and compliance.Anne B. Shaver, a partner specializing in employment and antitrust class actions, represents certified classes of female employees in equal pay and gender discrimination cases against Google and Goldman Sachs, and workers impacted by no-poach agreements in fintech and franchise industries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legal aid staff in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina discuss their wide-ranging hurricane response efforts on Talk Justice. In the wake of devastating hurricanes in the southeast, legal aid organizations are mobilizing to provide emergency assistance and recovery services. The legal aid providers stress the importance of legal services becoming engrained in the disaster response ecosystem so that other recovery organizations know to refer people to legal aid, and legal aid knows where to refer clients with non-legal issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode’s discussions around the Community Table: Returning Guest Danielle Hendon, CPA, founder of 4 Corners CFO, explores what lawyers and law firms should, and should not, be doing in the fourth quarter of 2024. Learn the common mistakes firms make as the year winds down.  Take the time to understand the story your business “numbers” are telling you. Do you see where your business is going and what you should be thinking about as you forecast for next year? Be intentional about your growth. Don’t let things “happen to” your firm, make them happen.  It’s OK to spend as needed at the end of the year, especially if you’re thinking of taxes. But you’ve got to be looking ahead, too. What’s important, how do you manage a budget, understand what’s budgeting and what’s forecasting? Don’t spend just for short term tax advantages, plan for the unexpected too.  Mentioned in This Episode:Danielle Hendon, previously on the Un-Billable Hour, “Is Your Small Firm Missing A Chief Financial Officer? Rent One.”4 Corners CFO, “A Framework to Reveal Your Path to Profit”The Un-Billable Hour, Legal Talk NetworkQuickbooksClio Legal Trends ReportClioCliocon 2025Join the next Community Table live. What’s on your mind? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Using positive psychology tailored to the unique needs of lawyers and law students, attorney Jordana Confino helps others in the profession improve their wellbeing and thrive in legal practice. JoAnn Hathaway and Molly Ranns talk with Jordana about her methods for cultivating a healthy self-care mindset amidst the pressures and stresses of legal work. They discuss the practice of identifying and prioritizing your core values, reining in perfectionism, and practicing self-compassion.Mentioned in this Episode:Chronicles of a Recovering Type A+ Perfectionist Blog — Jordana ConfinoJordana Confino is an attorney, professional coach, and founder of JC Coaching & Consulting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Baseball. America’s favorite pastime. A wonderful game, with its share of controversy. On October 30th, 2024, the World Series wrapped with the LA Dodgers beating the NY Yankees 4-1 in the series. In the third game of the series, at Yankee Stadium, there was a controversial play involving LA Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts and two New York Yankees fans, who tried to rip the ball out of the glove of Betts during a play- a prime example of fan interference. According to the Yankees, the fans were ejected from the game due to their “egregious and unacceptable physical contact."In this episode, Craig is joined by Dr. Paul Finkelman, a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Law to spotlight baseball, the law, and regulation. Craig & Paul take a look at everything from fan interference to who owns a ball. We will also discuss baseball and how it all relates to the Constitution, and the American legal system.Mentioned in this episode: Baseball and the American Legal Mind by by Spencer W. Waller, Neil B. Cohen, and Paul FinkelmanIn Dispute on Legal Talk Network-The Chicago Black Sox Trial: How 8 Players Went From the Dugout to the Courtroom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zack gets real about meetings with Matt Homann. They take on meeting fatigue, the power of asynchronous communication, and the real cost of that all-team morning standup. Listen in to hear what makes a meeting a success and what small changes you can make right now to make your office more effective.  Links from the episode:   Sign up for the Lawyerist KPI Webinar December 11th  Check out Tabs3  Meeting design canvas (we need to ask for this from Matt, but he mentions it in the episode.) He sent a PDF  Connect with Matt  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of the incredible harm caused by the opioid crisis, the outcome of the Purdue Pharma case argued in the United States Supreme Court garnered national attention. What impacts might this case have in bankruptcy court proceedings in the future? To unpack the details and gain understanding of the bankruptcy issues at play, Rocky Dhir talks with attorneys Elias Yazbeck and Michael Wombacher. They discuss the backstory of Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family, the journey of the case through the courts, and insights into the reasoning behind the Supreme Court’s decision, with a particular focus on the conflict over nonconsensual third-party releases. Learn more about the case here: 23-124 Harrington v. Purdue Pharma L.P. (06/27/24) Elias M. Yazbeck is an associate attorney in the Houston office of McGinnis Lochridge, LLP. Michael Wombacher is an associate attorney at McDermott Will & Emery in Dallas, Texas. Michael represented the Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Robertshaw case:  Case number: 8:23-bk-80004 - Ebix, Inc. - Texas Northern Bankruptcy Court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s the next big thing coming in AI? Autonomous agents, that’s what! Currently, you have to drive the process of genAI by honing the iterations of your prompt. But, an autonomous agent can do that stuff without you worrying your pretty little head, dear lawyer. So, what’s there to know about this latest tech evolution? Jared’s here to talk about attorney use cases and whether this tech may be used for good or ill.Later, the AI apocalypse isn’t upon us yet, so let’s enjoy some awesome music. Jared welcomes Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Richie Furay who, among other accomplishments, was a member of the great American bands Buffalo Springfield and Poco. Jared and Richie talk through his history, digging into many colorful moments from his experiences in the music industry. Richie performs live on the podcast, and he and Jared discuss his upcoming documentary. -----Need more Richie? Jared's got you covered. -----Mentioned in this Episode:Spellbook Associate, effectively acting as a junior associate in a law firm. Spellbook Launches Gen AI Agent that Can Plan and Execute Complex Transactional Workflows | LawSites by Bob AmbrogiLawNext Podcast: Ep 256: All About Spellbook’s New AI Agent, Capable of Performing Complex Legal Tasks, with CEO Scott StevensonRichie Furay Documentary — Richie Furay Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That Governing Document Can't Stop Me Because I Can't Read!-----Sammy Alito openly defies the Constitution with European knighthood. Chicago Law tapes classes but isn't interested in letting students actually use those recordings. Students are, unsurprisingly, pissed. Professor Richard Epstein brags about replacing scientists with judges. Yes, the same guy who said COVID would only kill 500 people and got the first Trump administration sold on the idea. And mark your calendars for the lawyer movie from Hallmark's holiday season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices