=09

Mexican luxury hospitality developer Murano and a special-purpose acquisi= tion company on Tuesday announced their plans to merge that would take the = combined entity public at an estimated $810 million, in a deal guided by fo= ur firms.

Construction

WEDNESDA= Y, MARCH 15, 2023

=20

=20 =20

TOP NEWS

=20

4 Firms Guide Mexican Developer's $810M SPAC Merger

=09

By Grace Dixon

Mexican luxury hospitality develop= er Murano and a special-purpose acquisition company on Tuesday announced th= eir plans to merge that would take the combined entity public at an estimat= ed $810 million, in a deal guided by four firms.

Read full article »

=20

DC Appeals Court Upholds District's Local Hiring Law

=09

By Nate Beck

The D.C. Court of Appeals on Tuesd= ay rejected a challenge from a construction industry trade group against a = Washington, D.C., law that sets city resident hiring requirements on constr= uction projects paid for by the city.

=20 Opinion attached |=20 Read full article »

=20

Chinese Fugitive's Co. Seeks Acquittal In LA Bribery C= ase

=09

By Gina Kim

A real estate company convicted of= bribing a former Los Angeles City Council member has asked a California fe= deral judge for an acquittal or new trial, arguing the prosecution's strate= gy was to "front-load the jury" with evidence about the councilor's indepen= dent criminal acts and pay-to-play scheme.

=20 Motion attached |=20 Read full article »


=

=20

Enviros Blast Biden Admin. Over ConocoPhillips' Drilli= ng Plan

=09

By Lauren Berg

The Biden administration authorize= d ConocoPhillips' massive Willow oil and gas project in the National Petrol= eum Reserve-Alaska, despite knowing it would harm Arctic communities, wildl= ife and the climate, the Sierra Club and five other environmental groups al= leged in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Alaska federal court.

=20 Complaint attached |=20 Read full article »

=20

Assa Abloy Judge Questions 'Unreal World,' Review Gami= ng

=09

By Bryan Koenig

The new D.C. federal judge oversee= ing the U.S. Department of Justice challenge of Swedish lock giant Assa Abl= oy AB's planned $4.3 billion pickup of Spectrum Brands' hardware and home i= mprovement business gave the parties homework on Tuesday, telling them to b= etter explain how she should view the companies' divestiture plans.

Read full article »

LITIGATION

=20

Trade Court Backs Feds On Conduit Duty Classification<= /a>

=09

By Rae Ann Varona

The U.S. Court of International Tr= ade sided with the federal government's tariff classification of steel elec= trical conduit tubing over a classification endorsed by a conduit importer = after finding the importer's interpretation concerning the conduit's insula= tion too broad.

=20 Opinion attached |=20 Read full article »

=20

Universal Won't Have To Pay $5M To Theme Park Ride Bui= lder

=09

By David Minsky

A Florida federal judge has cleare= d Universal Studios from paying more than $5 million to a builder hired to = design a Jimmy Fallon-themed ride at its amusement park in Orlando, saying = that Universal didn't have to pay the invoices because it terminated the re= lationship for cause.

=20 1 document attached |=20 Read full article »

=20

Green Groups Cite Road Project Threat To Calif. Redwoo= ds

=09

By David Holtzman

A group of environmental advocates= has asked a California state court to block a roadway project through Rich= ardson Grove State Park, saying the work is unnecessary and could harm nume= rous old-growth redwood trees.

=20 Petition attached |=20 Read full article »

=20

Enviros Ask DC Circ. To Make DOE Rethink Gas Exports

=09

By Micah Danney

Environmental groups asked the D.C= . Circuit to force the U.S. Department of Energy to decide their request th= at it create rules for determining whether gas exports are in the public in= terest, saying the agency let 10 years pass without responding.

=20 Petition attached |=20 Read full article »

PEOPLE

=20

Wilkinson Barker Adds FCC Associate Division Chief In = DC

=09

By Jack Rodgers

An attorney who most recently work= ed in a leadership role with the U.S. Federal Communication Commission has = left the agency to join Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP in Washington, D.C., th= e firm announced Monday.

Read full article »

EXPERT ANALYSIS

=20

What To Expect From A Litigation Finance Industry Rece= ssion

=09 =09

There's little data on how litigat= ion finance would fare in a recession, but a look at stakeholders' incentiv= es suggests corporate demand for litigation finance would increase in a rec= essionary environment, while the number of funders could shrink, says Matth= ew Oxman at LexShares.

Read full article »

<= td align=3D"right">

=20 =09 =09

=20

LEGAL INDUSTRY

=20

SEC Says Covington Aiming To 'Distract' In Breach Prob= e

=09

By Allison Grande

The U.S. Securities and Exchange C= ommission is doubling down on its bid to force Covington & Burling LLP = to hand over the names of clients affected by a 2020 cyberattack, arguing T= uesday that Covington and the 80-plus law firms backing it are trying "to d= istract the Court by making hyperbolic and exaggerated claims" about the ag= ency's conduct.

=20 Response attached |=20 Read full article »

=20

Ex-DLA Atty Says She Was Fired After Parental Leave Re= quest

=09

By Andrea Keckley

A former intellectual property ass= ociate with DLA Piper is accusing the firm of discrimination, claiming= in a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charge that she was= fired just six days after submitting a formal request for maternity leave.=

=20 1 document attached |=20 Read full article »

=20

Atty Gives Up Supreme Court Argument To Avoid 'Infight= ing'

=09

By Jimmy Hoover

An arbitration case involving Coin= base Inc. set to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court next week shows the tho= rny issues that can arise after the justices refuse to divide argument time= between two unrelated respondents, with one of the attorneys feeling compe= lled to give up the chance to argue the case out of fear that "infighting" = will lead to it being dismissed.

Read full article »

Interview

Catching Up On Patent Litigation With Judge Albright <= /a>

=09

By Dani Kass

U.S. District Judge Alan Albright'= s reputation as a go-to jurist for patent owners has been left in limbo as = the Western District of Texas adjusts to a rule making it harder for any on= e judge to amass patent suits. In a wide-ranging recent interview with Law3= 60, the former patent litigator discusses how that rule is playing out, wha= t jury trials have been like and why his dog has an unusual name.

Read full article »

=20

Federal Courts Need Nearly 70 More Judges, Congress To= ld

=09

By James Arkin

The United States Judicial Confere= nce recommended that Congress add two permanent judgeships to the Ninth Cir= cuit and add dozens more district judges to overloaded courts, particularly= in California, Texas and Florida.

=20 1 document attached |=20 Read full article »

=20

Ga. Artist Escapes Ginsburg Photo Copyright Suit, For = Now

=09

By Lauren Berg

An Atlanta federal judge on Monday= threw out a photography agency's lawsuit over a Georgia artist's alleged u= nlicensed use of a photograph of late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader= Ginsburg, saying the agency doesn't have standing to sue, but will allow i= t to rework its complaint.

=20 Order attached |=20 Read full article »

=20

Walmart, HP Among Cos. Graded F On Pay Gap Disclosure<= /a>

=09

By Michele Gorman

Facing mounting pressure from stak= eholders, public companies like Target, Starbucks and Visa are increasingly= disclosing their racial and gender pay gaps and working to narrow them. Bu= t a whopping 25 companies were given an F grade for failing to disclose qua= ntitative data on their gaps, according to a new analysis.

Read full article »

=20

Lockheed Martin GC Earned More Than $6M Last Year<= /p> =09

By Michele Gorman

Lockheed Martin Corp. general coun= sel Maryanne Lavan, who has been with the global security and aerospace com= pany for three decades, received more than $6.4 million in total compensati= on in 2022, according to a recent U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission f= iling.

Read full article »

=20

Merchant & Gould Names 1st Female Managing Directo= r

=09

By Jasmin Jackson

Merchant & Gould PC has instal= led its first female managing director in its more than 120-year history, t= he firm said Tuesday.

Read full article »

=20

Greenberg Traurig Set For JV With Saudi Arabian Law Fi= rm

=09

By Tracey Read

Greenberg Traurig LLP will expand = its presence in the Middle East by operating a joint venture in Riyadh, Sau= di Arabia, the firm announced Tuesday.

Read full article »

=20

Dentons Combination To Fill ASEAN 'Hole' In Philippine= s

=09

By Tracey Read

Dentons is expected to combine wit= h Philippines-based PJS Law by the end of the year, putting it one step clo= ser to its goal of becoming the leading global law firm in the Association = of Southeast Asian Nations, global Dentons CEO Elliott Portnoy told Law360 = Pulse on Tuesday.

Read full article »

=20

Edelson, Tousley Brain Seek $121M Fees In Online Casin= o Suit

=09

By Lauren Berg

Attorneys from Edelson PC and Tous= ley Brain Stephens PLLC, representing consumers "suffering in the grip of t= he social casino industry," asked a Washington federal judge Monday to gree= nlight their request for nearly $121.5 million in attorney fees after inkin= g a $415 million settlement with a Seattle-based social casino game develop= er.

=20 1 document attached |=20 Read full article »

=20

Global Norms Differ On Atty Malpractice Insurance, IBA= Says

=09

By Emily Sawicki

Little uniformity exists in the le= gal profession globally when it comes to rules surrounding indemnity insura= nce, but the International Bar Association is hoping a new report shared Tu= esday will help attorney groups in different countries learn about the cove= rage requirements, or lack thereof, in other jurisdictions.

=20 Report attached |=20 Read full article »

Exclusive

NY Senate Demands Judicial Escort Data Or $10M Budget = Cut

=09

By Frank G. Runyeon

Albany lawmakers are seeking to im= pose a $10 million budget penalty on the state judiciary if it continues to= withhold information on how much judicial chauffeurs and security cost tax= payers – perks the former chief judge kept after her resignation.

Read full article »

=20

Surfside Judge Quits Fla. Bench, Seeks 'Next Chapter'<= /a>

=09

By David Minsky

The Miami-Dade County Circuit Cour= t judge overseeing the Champlain Towers collapse litigation has announced t= hat he will resign at the end of March after 12 years of service.

Read full article »

=20

Mich. Commission Report Focuses On Civil Legal Aid=

=09

By Danielle Ferguson

The Michigan Supreme Court's Justi= ce for All Commission on Monday released its annual report, which zeroed in= on debt collection case biases, the impact of civil legal aid and making c= ourt forms easier for pro se litigants to understand.

=20 Report attached |=20 Read full article »

=20 =20

<= img src=3D"https://sli.law360news.com/imp?s=3D734819&li=3D201&m=3Dd120cdb40= 65a859edc70326799a21fe8&p=3D188467" border=3D"0" width=3D"100%" style=3D"wi= dth: 100%; max-width:300px !important;margin-bottom:0;"/>

=20 =09 =20

=09 =20

COMPA= NIES IN TODAY'S NEWS

Association of Corporate Counse= l

Baker Hughes Co.

Bank of America Corp.

Center for Biological Divers= ity Inc.

Change Healthcare Inc.

Cigna Corp.

Citigroup Inc.

Citizens Financial Group Inc.

Coinbase Global Inc.

ConocoPhillips Co.

Costco Wholesale Corp.

DaVita Inc.

Delaware Riverkeeper Network

DexCom Inc.

Discover Financial Services Inc.=

Earthjustice

Expedia Group Inc.

Fortune Brands Home & Secur= ity Inc.

George Washington University

IDEXX Laboratories Inc.

International Bar Association

International Game Technology = PLC

Lex Machina Inc.

LexShares Inc.

LexisNexis Group Inc.

Lincoln National Corp.

LinkedIn Corp.

Lockheed Martin Corp.

Lowe's Cos. Inc.

Marriott International Inc.

Marsh & McLennan Co. Inc.

Quest Diagnostics Inc.

RELX PLC

Shamrock Building Materials Inc.=

Sierra Club

Spectrum Brands Inc.

Spectrum Management Holding Co.

Starbucks Corp.

Surfside

Texas Instruments Inc.

The Bank of New York Mellon Cor= p.

The Charles Schwab Corp.

The Home Depot Inc.

The Internet Association

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Pew Charitable Trusts

The TJX Cos. Inc.

The Walt Disney Co.

Twitter Inc.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Universal Studios Inc.

Verizon Communications Inc.

Walmart Inc.

Wells Fargo & Co.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Inc.

eBay Inc.


<= img src=3D"https://sli.law360news.com/imp?s=3D734824&li=3D201&m=3Dd120cdb40= 65a859edc70326799a21fe8&p=3D188467" border=3D"0"/>

=20

LAW = FIRMS IN TODAY'S NEWS

Davis Wright Tremaine

Herbert Smith Freehills

Hogan Lovells

Holland & Knight

Intellectual Property Law Group

Steptoe & Johnson LLP

GOVE= RNMENT AGENCIES IN TODAY'S NEWS

Bureau of Land Management

California Department of = Transportation

California Natural Resources = Agency

Equal Employment Opportun= ity Commission

Federal Communications Commissi= on

Federal Reserve System

Federal Trade Commission

NAFTA

New York State Senate

New York State Unified Court = System

Off= ice of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia

U.S= . Attorney's Office for the Central District of California

U.S. Co= urt of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

U.S. Customs and Border Protect= ion

U.S. Department of Energy

U.S. Department of Homeland S= ecurity

U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Di= strict Court for the Central District of California

U.S. District Court= for the District of Alaska

U.S. District Cou= rt for the District of Columbia

U.S. Distri= ct Court for the Middle District of Florida

U.S. Dist= rict Court for the Northern District of Georgia

U.S. Di= strict Court for the Western District of Washington

U.S. Securities and Excha= nge Commission

U.S. Supreme Court

=20

<= td>

<= /tr>

<= img src=3D"https://sli.law360news.com/imp?s=3D125920709&li=3D201&m=3Dd120cd= b4065a859edc70326799a21fe8&p=3D188467" width=3D"2" height=3D"6" border=3D"0= " />

<= /td>