Blog Archives
Solomon: Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts 4th
December 15, 2020
Simply stated, the case evaluation process includes determining strengths and weaknesses, risks and probabilities, and the upsides and downsides of the case and of the opponent's case. The evaluation should be done from both factual and legal perspectives and from the interrelated and importantperspective of damages and costs. Thanks to Lou Solomon for again citing my work in his well-known handbook on commercial litigation.
December 15, 2020
Simply stated, the case evaluation process includes determining strengths and weaknesses, risks and probabilities, and the upsides and downsides of the case and of the opponent's case. The evaluation should be done from both factual and legal perspectives and from the interrelated and importantperspective of damages and costs. Thanks to Lou Solomon for again citing my work in his well-known handbook on commercial litigation.
Don Philbin Recognized in Who’s Who Legal: Mediation 2020
December 8, 2020
Attorney-Mediator Don Philbin is included on the Who’s Who Legal: Mediation 2020 list. The directory selects its honorees through independent research featuring input from general counsel and private-sector attorneys.
December 8, 2020
Attorney-Mediator Don Philbin is included on the Who’s Who Legal: Mediation 2020 list. The directory selects its honorees through independent research featuring input from general counsel and private-sector attorneys.
As worst-case scenarios for law firms fail to materialize, some trends emerge, new report says
December 7, 2020
Through the first nine months of 2020, average law firm revenue grew 5% over the same period last year, according to the report, released Tuesday and available here. The growth was largely due to an increase in the value of total hours worked and firms collecting on strong midyear inventory levels. At the same time, total expenses were down 2.1%, driven in large part by a decrease in operating expenses. Law firm retreats were canceled, travel was curtailed, and major capital spending projects...
December 7, 2020
Through the first nine months of 2020, average law firm revenue grew 5% over the same period last year, according to the report, released Tuesday and available here. The growth was largely due to an increase in the value of total hours worked and firms collecting on strong midyear inventory levels. At the same time, total expenses were down 2.1%, driven in large part by a decrease in operating expenses. Law firm retreats were canceled, travel was curtailed, and major capital spending projects...
Bexar County judge conducts first-ever virtual trial
December 4, 2020
SAN ANTONIO – The first-ever virtual civil jury trial wrapped up on Thursday in Judge Angelica Jimenez’s 408th District Court in Bexar County. “It’s been a challenge,” Jimenez said. “I have gotten to know so much more technology since March.” In March, a moratorium on in-person jury trials was ordered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Judges divided on extension of jury trial moratorium in Bexar County Jimenez said the trial, which she called a success, was also a challenge...
December 4, 2020
SAN ANTONIO – The first-ever virtual civil jury trial wrapped up on Thursday in Judge Angelica Jimenez’s 408th District Court in Bexar County. “It’s been a challenge,” Jimenez said. “I have gotten to know so much more technology since March.” In March, a moratorium on in-person jury trials was ordered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Judges divided on extension of jury trial moratorium in Bexar County Jimenez said the trial, which she called a success, was also a challenge...
2020 Legal department strategy survey
December 2, 2020
Organizations are investing in technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), natural language processing(NLP), and robotic process automation (RPA), and they’re transforming their approach to contract lifecyclemanagement (CLM). According to respondents, 63% of organizations are deploying CLM solutions to analyzeCOVID-19 impacted contracts, and 89% of these organizations anticipate enhancements in their CLM function. More than half of all respondents expect to increase engagement with alternate...
December 2, 2020
Organizations are investing in technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), natural language processing(NLP), and robotic process automation (RPA), and they’re transforming their approach to contract lifecyclemanagement (CLM). According to respondents, 63% of organizations are deploying CLM solutions to analyzeCOVID-19 impacted contracts, and 89% of these organizations anticipate enhancements in their CLM function. More than half of all respondents expect to increase engagement with alternate...
Google Must Disclose Emails in Russian Oligarch’s Divorce
November 29, 2020
Google was ordered by a U.S. judge to turn over the content of emails of the son of Farkhad Akhmedov to the Russian oligarch’s former wife in her pursuit of a 450 million-pound ($601 million) divorce judgment. The skirmish over the email accounts is part of one of London’s largest divorce fights -- involving a super yacht in Dubai and litigation funder Burford Capital Ltd. -- which landed before a judge in San Jose, California, in the federal court closest to Google’s...
November 29, 2020
Google was ordered by a U.S. judge to turn over the content of emails of the son of Farkhad Akhmedov to the Russian oligarch’s former wife in her pursuit of a 450 million-pound ($601 million) divorce judgment. The skirmish over the email accounts is part of one of London’s largest divorce fights -- involving a super yacht in Dubai and litigation funder Burford Capital Ltd. -- which landed before a judge in San Jose, California, in the federal court closest to Google’s...
A Game Changer For Zoom Classes: Live Transcription By Otter.ai
November 21, 2020
Josh Blackman (South Texas), A Game Changer for Zoom Classes: Live Transcription by Otter.ai: I've discovered a game-changer. It is possible to automatically transcribe a Zoom call in real-time. Yes. As you speak, closed captions are generated. And, a running transcript is created that students can access during, or after class. The software is known as Otter.ai. And it now interacts with Zoom. The easiest way to understand how this software works is to review a transcript. Here...
November 21, 2020
Josh Blackman (South Texas), A Game Changer for Zoom Classes: Live Transcription by Otter.ai: I've discovered a game-changer. It is possible to automatically transcribe a Zoom call in real-time. Yes. As you speak, closed captions are generated. And, a running transcript is created that students can access during, or after class. The software is known as Otter.ai. And it now interacts with Zoom. The easiest way to understand how this software works is to review a transcript. Here...
SwRI to test AI-created flying car designs
November 20, 2020
Southwest Research Institute received a four-year, $7.2 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency to test air taxi designs created by artificial intelligence systems, according to a Tuesday news release. Austin Whittington, a senior computer scientist at San Antonio-based SwRI and the project's principal investigator, will lead a team that will analyze the AI’s designs and evaluate its capabilities for air taxis — electric flying vehicles that carry a few passengers...
November 20, 2020
Southwest Research Institute received a four-year, $7.2 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency to test air taxi designs created by artificial intelligence systems, according to a Tuesday news release. Austin Whittington, a senior computer scientist at San Antonio-based SwRI and the project's principal investigator, will lead a team that will analyze the AI’s designs and evaluate its capabilities for air taxis — electric flying vehicles that carry a few passengers...
How Should You Ask for Forgiveness?
November 19, 2020
Link to podcast below. Here’s where you can learn more about the people and ideas in this episode: SOURCES Robert Emmons, professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, and the founding editor-in-chief of The Journal of Positive Psychology.Marty Seligman, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and director of the Positive Psychology Center.Ben Ho, economist at Vassar College.John List, economist at the University of Chicago.Christine Carter, author...
November 19, 2020
Link to podcast below. Here’s where you can learn more about the people and ideas in this episode: SOURCES Robert Emmons, professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, and the founding editor-in-chief of The Journal of Positive Psychology.Marty Seligman, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and director of the Positive Psychology Center.Ben Ho, economist at Vassar College.John List, economist at the University of Chicago.Christine Carter, author...
SCOTX to Hear Reinstated Petition in Oil & Gas Arbitration Dispute
November 18, 2020
On Friday, the Supreme Court of Texas agreed to hear oral argument following reinstatement of a petition for review regarding whether a non-signatory assignee may be compelled to arbitration following an indemnity dispute. The facts of the case were discussed in a previous Disputing blog post: In Wagner Oil Co. v. Apache Corp., No. 19-0243, Texas-based Wagner Oil Company (“WOC”) purchased certain Louisiana oil and gas assets from Apache Corporation by executing...
November 18, 2020
On Friday, the Supreme Court of Texas agreed to hear oral argument following reinstatement of a petition for review regarding whether a non-signatory assignee may be compelled to arbitration following an indemnity dispute. The facts of the case were discussed in a previous Disputing blog post: In Wagner Oil Co. v. Apache Corp., No. 19-0243, Texas-based Wagner Oil Company (“WOC”) purchased certain Louisiana oil and gas assets from Apache Corporation by executing...
