News Type: Media Mentions

Lara Shortz lent her expertise to SHRM on an essential issue—preventing retaliation in the workplace. In an article titled, Avoid Retaliation ‘Witch Hunts’, Lara underscores the importance of anti-retaliation strategies under both federal and state laws, including California’s strict statutes. She also highlights the need for managers to fully understand the legal consequences of their actions and the importance of consulting HR before making decisions that may impact employees who have lodged complaints. Lara’s insights serve as a reminder that fostering a transparent, compliant workplace culture is key to minimizing retaliation claims.

Lara Shortz, our Los Angeles Office Managing Partner, recently commented on esteemed mediator David Rosen in a Daily Journal feature. Known for his calm demeanor and deep expertise, Rosen brings clarity to complex legal matters, a quality Lara lauded as instrumental in high-stakes mediations. Her insights reflect the trust she places in Rosen’s thoughtful, client-centric approach—a hallmark appreciated by business leaders and executives alike.

The recent SCOTUS decision overturning Chevron deference is causing ripples across industries, especially in sectors like insurance. As Elizabeth Tosaris highlights in a recent Insurance News Net article, this ruling opens the door for more legal challenges to agency interpretations, potentially reshaping the regulatory landscape. With insurers now considering litigation to counter agency rulings, Tosaris emphasizes how businesses with vested interests may lean on this decision to rethink their regulatory strategies. A more litigious and uncertain future lies ahead, but with expert guidance, insurers can navigate the evolving complexities.

Exciting news! The L.A. Times and other top outlets like Law360 and the Recorder are shining a light on Lara Shortz’s elevation to Los Angeles Office Managing Partner at M&R. As reported, Lara’s leadership and vision will further strengthen our presence in L.A. as she takes the helm to guide strategic growth, champion workplace culture, and continue advancing recruitment and diversity initiatives. Congratulations, Lara, on this well-deserved recognition.

Stacey Chiu has offered her insights into the ongoing debate over gig worker classification following the California Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Proposition 22. In an article published by Employee Benefit News, Stacey emphasized the importance of employers remaining vigilant despite the ruling in California, as future litigation and potential new laws could still reshape the gig economy. She also noted that balancing flexibility with worker protections is critical and advised employers to closely monitor developments going forward.

Jeff Farrow has been featured in an IAM article, offering key insights on the reversal of a $72 million verdict in Zunum Aero v. Boeing. Our Trade Secrets, Financial Fraud & Executive Disputes Chair highlighted the critical importance of clearly identifying trade secrets in litigation, noting that if a trade secret cannot be succinctly described, it may not withstand scrutiny in court. Jeff’s analysis underscores the intellectual rigor courts apply when assessing the validity of trade secret claims.

World IP Review has turned to Jeff Farrow for comment on the high-stakes legal battle between Pegasystems and Appian over alleged trade secret misappropriation—where a $2 billion verdict was recently overturned. In an article published last week, Jeff highlighted the critical importance of courts adhering to legal standards when assessing damages. In reference to a recent court filing in the Pegasystems case, he emphasized that, regardless of the strength of a misappropriation claim, the harm must be directly tied to that misappropriation.

Omer Er has been quoted extensively in the July 2024 issue of Mealey’s International Arbitration Report. The publication included Omer’s insights on the critical standards of review and disclosure rules for arbitrators and the importance of finding a balance between flexibility and impartiality in the arbitration process. His commentary provided to Mealey’s underscores the necessity of consistent and transparent disclosure standards to enhance the legitimacy and trustworthiness of arbitration globally.

Lara Shortz shared with Law360 her take on the recent California Supreme Court decision regarding Proposition 22, which permits app-based companies to classify their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. Lara noted that while Proposition 22 specifically targets app-based drivers, its framework might inspire similar legal carveouts for other industries and open doors for broader applications beyond app-based drivers, potentially influencing independent contractor classifications in other sectors.

Jeffrey Farrow’s insights were featured in a recent article in The Recorder titled, “Tesla Sues Chinese Auto Parts Company Over ‘Dangerous’ Supercharger Compatibility Claims.” The piece covers a lawsuit filed by Tesla against JecoEV alleging false advertising and trademark dilution in connection with a charging adapter product marketed to drivers who want to charge non-Tesla electric vehicles at Tesla’s Supercharger network. Jeff’s commentary, including his nod to the potential impact of JecoEV’s claims on consumer confidence in EVs, underscores the critical role of accurate product representation in sustaining trust within the EV community amidst Tesla’s ongoing efforts to expand charging infrastructure globally.