Keep your finger on the legal world's pulse
14th July 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Most of the DOJ unit defending Trump policies in court have quit
Sixty-nine of the approximately 110 lawyers in the Federal Programs Branch, the U.S. Justice Department unit charged with defending against legal challenges to signature White House policies, including restricting birthright citizenship and cutting funds to Harvard University, have quit. They have voluntarily left the unit since President Donald Trump's election in November or have announced plans to leave, according to a list compiled by former Justice Department lawyers and seen by Reuters. "Many of these people came to work at Federal Programs to defend aspects of our constitutional system," observed one exiting lawyer, who added: "How could they participate in the project of tearing it down?"
LAW
Trump defends Bondi amid backlash over Epstein files
U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly defended Attorney General Pam Bondi amid criticism from some supporters regarding the Justice Department's handling of the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's death. Trump observed "nobody cares about" Epstein, and in a nearly 400-word post on Truth Social, said: "They're all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! We're on one Team, MAGA, and I don't like what's happening." In a joint memo, the FBI and Justice Department have said there was no evidence to support conspiracy theories about Epstein's death in federal custody in 2019 and his alleged clientele.
Ethics adviser ousted by Bondi
Attorney General Pam Bondi has dismissed her personal ethics adviser, Joseph Tirrell, who had served nearly 20 years at the Justice Department. His termination on July 11 was executed without a stated reason, following a pattern seen in other recent dismissals within the department. Tirrell, who previously worked at the FBI, was responsible for overseeing ethics matters, including financial disclosures and conflict of interest waivers for senior officials. His removal coincides with the firing of approximately 20 employees linked to Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigations.
LEGAL TECH
AI could cut in-house legal outsourcing by 13%
A new LexisNexis-commissioned study by Forrester suggests that scaled use of AI by in-house legal teams could reduce external law firm work by 13%, based on matter volume, for a hypothetical $10bn company. Additional projected efficiencies include a 25% reduction in time spent advising the business and a 50% cut in paralegal admin hours. However, the findings are based on interviews with just four legal leaders and extrapolated into a model scenario, limiting their empirical weight. Still, if even partially realised across the Fortune 500, such shifts could significantly dent Big Law revenues, underscoring AI’s disruptive potential in corporate legal departments.
LAWSUITS
Judge halts immigration raids in California
A federal judge in Los Angeles has ordered the Trump administration to cease indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in seven California counties, including Los Angeles. The lawsuit, filed by immigrant advocacy groups, claims that the administration is targeting individuals based on their skin color. The plaintiffs include detained immigrants and U.S. citizens. One citizen was detained despite presenting identification. Judge Maame E. Frimpong noted a “mountain of evidence” indicating violations of the Fourth and Fifth amendments. Additionally, she barred the federal government from restricting attorney access at a Los Angeles detention facility. The White House has responded by asserting that “no federal judge has the authority to dictate immigration policy.”
New Jersey's school segregation case heats up
The New Jersey appellate court has agreed to hear the case of Latino Action Network v. New Jersey, which addresses the ongoing racial and socioeconomic segregation in the state's public school system. The lawsuit, filed in 2018, claims that New Jersey's requirement for students to enroll in their hometown school districts perpetuates segregation across over 600 districts. Robert Kim, executive director of Education Law Center, expressed confidence that the court will recognize the trial court's error in not ruling that the segregation violates constitutional rights. The case could have significant implications nationwide, especially as policies promoting diversity and inclusion face challenges. The plaintiffs argue that the state's delay tactics aim to push the resolution to the next administration, with Gov. Phil Murphy, nearing the end of his term. A court date has yet to be scheduled.
Georgia Republican accused of Ponzi scheme
Brant Frost IV, a prominent Georgia Republican, is accused by federal officials of orchestrating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded 300 investors of at least $140m. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a civil lawsuit alleging that Frost's company, First Liberty Building and Loan, misled investors about its operations, which involved high-interest loans. Instead of generating profits, the company reportedly used new investments to pay earlier investors. Frost allegedly misappropriated over $19m for personal expenses, including luxury items and political contributions. As of May 30, First Liberty had only $2.67m in cash, raising concerns about its financial viability.
CASES
Settlement agreed by Boeing with relative of 737 MAX crash victims
Boeing has reached a settlement with Paul Njoroge, a Canadian man whose family perished in the Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crash in March 2019, although the terms of the agreement remain undisclosed. This settlement comes ahead of a scheduled trial in Chicago and follows Boeing's previous settlements related to the two fatal crashes that collectively claimed 346 lives.
APPOINTMENTS
New partners boost Paul Hastings finance team
Corey Wright and Lisa Collier have joined Paul Hastings as partners in its finance practice in New York City, leaving Latham & Watkins after a brief tenure. The pair specialise in advising banks and financial institutions on leveraged finance transactions, including high-yield bonds and leveraged buyouts. Their impressive client roster includes Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley. The duo previously worked together at Cahill Gordon & Reindel, showcasing a strong collaborative history.
K&L Gates appoints new U.S. regional managing partner
David Wochner has been appointed as the U.S. regional managing partner of K&L Gates, succeeding Thomas Smith, who held the position since 2019. Wochner, who has been with the firm for 12 years, will also continue his role as the managing partner of the Washington, D.C. office.

 
Law
OTHER
Luxury goods market challenged by 'superfake' handbags
The Wall Street Journal reports that a new wave of highly realistic "superfake" luxury handbags is challenging the traditional luxury goods market. These counterfeits, often indistinguishable from genuine products without X-ray or forensic tools, are made with high-quality materials and cost between $500 and $5,000. Sold via encrypted platforms and promoted by influencers, superfakes appeal to younger consumers disillusioned by luxury markups. Factories in China, sometimes run during ghost shifts, use insider knowledge, stolen tech packs, and even genuine items as templates. While some see fakes as potential stepping stones to future customers, others warn of lost sales and eroded brand trust. Despite the threat, the Wall Street Journal notes that luxury brands still invest more in advertising than in anti-counterfeiting measures.

 

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