Megan Penick has been quoted in a Law360 article titled, “Market Headwinds And Geopolitical Risks Muddle IPO Plans.” She commented on the difficulty for underwriters to put together deals given the multiple challenges—economic and otherwise—facing current IPO prospects.
Mark Robinson was a recent guest on Insurance Banter with Burand & Borup, podcasting about Managing General Agents, what they are and what insurance professionals should keep top of mind when considering starting or doing business as an MGA.
Mona Hanna, Tim Gorry and M&R’s Trial Advocacy Program (TAP) were the focus of an extraordinary article published by AmLaw’s Litigation Daily, titled “Why This Midsize Firm Decided to Take Trial Training In House.” Congratulations to Mona and Tim on this year’s TAP mock trial, which was a huge success. Kudos as well to everyone in the firm who has participated in TAP and has worked to make it such a distinguishing feature that helps M&R stand in a class of its own when compared to other notable law firms nationwide.
In a podcast interview with Hotel News Now, Dana Kravetz provides commentary on Acheson Hotels v. Laufer, a case recently argued before the U.S. Supreme Court that centers around a plaintiff who sued a hotel company over not providing the required description on its website of the accessibility features at one of its hotels. The question at issue is whether the plaintiff had standing to sue the hotel if she did not intend to actually stay there and, instead, was simply acting as a “tester.”
Dana Kravetz has been quoted in a Law360 article titled, “Newest Senator Brings Mixed Wage-Hour Record To Role.” The piece covers the appointment of Laphonza Butler to the U.S. Senate to fill Dianne Feinstein’s seat and the apparent split in her record on employment issues—she worked to raise California’s minimum wage, yet has also served as an adviser to gig companies regarding wage and hour issues at the federal level.
Jeffrey Farrow has been quoted at length in an article published this week by IAM titled, “Apple’s ‘aggressive’ trade secrets enforcement in Rivos case fuels noncompete clause debate.” The case at the center of the story revolves around Apple’s allegation that former employees retained a significant amount of trade secret information when moving to another employer (Rivos). In his comments, Jeff shines a light on Rivos’s claim that the litigation is less about trade secrets and more about restricting the ability of employees to leave Apple in favor of different professional pursuits.
Law360 turned to Lauren Varnado for comment in an article published this week titled, “In Texas Power Pricing Fight Finale, Law May Not Trump All.” The piece covers a pending review by the Texas Supreme Court of the validity of emergency power pricing orders enacted by state utility regulators in 2021. For her part, Lauren reflects on the need for predictability in what is currently an uncertain and unpredictable Texas electricity market.
AI is front and center in an article published by Law.com titled, ‘”Cautious but Optimistic’: After Slow Adoption, Midsize Firms See Vast Potential for Gen AI.” Dana Kravetz was one of four law firm leaders extensively quoted in the piece. He commented on M&R’s plan on leveraging a customized AI platform for internal purposes in the near future and the technology being a core component of the firm’s new three-year strategic plan.
Law360 has published a comprehensive Q&A with Kelly Hagemann regarding the landscape of the addiction recovery industry and the U.S. Supreme Court’s pending decision whether to weigh in on Costa Mesa’s discrimination suits over its sober living home laws. In the piece, titled “Sober Living Homes Await Potential High Court Intervention,” Kelly emphasizes the need for behavioral health care to be treated the same as medical care, all in an effort to fight the continued stigma against mental health and substance use disorders.
Mark Robinson has been extensively quoted in an article published by PropertyCasualty360 titled, “California insurance regulation reforms applauded as move in right direction.” The piece focuses on changes being offered up by California Department of Insurance to stabilize and strengthen the state’s home insurance network. Mark’s remarks cast the steps taken by the DOI as positive and much needed in order to allow insurance companies to get rate increases that they need in order to stay in the state and continue writing policies.
