Law/Legal
Here's a look at documents from law firms and legal groups
Featured Stories
The Daily Journal Names Robyn Crowther to 2026 List of Leading Commercial Litigators
WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Steptoe, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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The Daily Journal Names Robyn Crowther to 2026 List of Leading Commercial Litigators
Los Angeles) - The Daily Journal has named California regional managing partner Robyn Crowther to its 2026 list of Leading Commercial Litigators in California. The annual award series recognizes attorneys who have served as lead counsel on major litigation in California or on national litigation that impacted California substantially.
Robyn is a trial lawyer focusing on commercial disputes. She represents individuals, multinational
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Steptoe, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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The Daily Journal Names Robyn Crowther to 2026 List of Leading Commercial Litigators
Los Angeles) - The Daily Journal has named California regional managing partner Robyn Crowther to its 2026 list of Leading Commercial Litigators in California. The annual award series recognizes attorneys who have served as lead counsel on major litigation in California or on national litigation that impacted California substantially.
Robyn is a trial lawyer focusing on commercial disputes. She represents individuals, multinationalcorporations, municipalities, and small businesses. She has experience in provisional and preliminary remedies, pleading attacks, and motions for summary adjudication and summary judgment. Robyn brings exceptional first-chair trial and arbitration experience to complex commercial disputes, intellectual property litigation, and high-stakes contractual matters, consistently delivering strategic and favorable outcomes for her clients.
Robyn has particular experience in employee mobility and trade-secret matters, copyright enforcement and contractual disputes. Her cases have involved civil trials and arbitration before various tribunals, including JAMS, AAA, FINRA and various state and federal courts. In recent matters, she has successfully disposed of claims asserted against Elite Model Management at the pleading stage that improperly sought to subject Elite to certain, inapplicable, provisions of the California Labor Code. She is currently representing a major Chinese manufacturer of mobile phones, smartwatches and other devices against trade secret claims asserted by Apple, Inc. and pursuing trade secret claims on behalf of a financial institution against a competitor.
Visit The Daily Journal's website (https://www.dailyjournal.com/special_reports?report_type=Commercial+Litigators) for profiles of all of the winning lawyers (subscription required).
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About Steptoe
In more than 110 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients and innovative thinking before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
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Original text here: https://www.steptoe.com/en/news-publications/the-daily-journal-names-robyn-crowther-to-2026-list-of-leading-commercial-litigators.html
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Partial Victory for Bozzuto in New Jersey Antitrust Litigation
NEW YORK, April 4 -- Hughes Hubbard and Reed, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Partial Victory for Bozzuto in New Jersey Antitrust Litigation
Federal court narrows claims in attorney general lawsuit involving RealPage rental pricing software.
Highlights
* New Jersey federal court partially dismissed claims in state attorney general antitrust suit.
* Ruling marks a partial victory for Hughes Hubbard client Bozzuto Management Company.
* Litigation remains ongoing against RealPage and certain landlord defendants.
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Hughes Hubbard secured a partial victory for Bozzuto Management
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, April 4 -- Hughes Hubbard and Reed, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Partial Victory for Bozzuto in New Jersey Antitrust Litigation
Federal court narrows claims in attorney general lawsuit involving RealPage rental pricing software.
Highlights
* New Jersey federal court partially dismissed claims in state attorney general antitrust suit.
* Ruling marks a partial victory for Hughes Hubbard client Bozzuto Management Company.
* Litigation remains ongoing against RealPage and certain landlord defendants.
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Hughes Hubbard secured a partial victory for Bozzuto ManagementCompany after a New Jersey federal court partially dismissed claims in an antitrust suit brought by the state attorney general concerning the use of rental pricing software.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, names RealPage Inc. and several large landlords, including Bozzuto, and alleges violations of state and federal antitrust and consumer protection laws. The state claims the defendants unlawfully coordinated rental pricing practices through the use of algorithmic software.
U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo partially granted motions to dismiss, narrowing the scope of the state attorney general's claims. The ruling remains under seal pending proposed redactions.
Law360 reported on the partial dismissal.
Philip Giordano leads the Hughes Hubbard team, which includes Steven DiCesare, Kristin Millay and Fara Tabatabai.
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Original text here: https://www.hugheshubbard.com/news/partial-victory-for-bozzuto-in-new-jersey-antitrust-litigation
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Morgan Lewis Lawyers & Professionals Selected to Serve on 31 Law360 Editorial Advisory Boards
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, April 4 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Morgan Lewis, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Morgan Lewis Lawyers & Professionals Selected to Serve on 31 Law360 Editorial Advisory Boards
NEW YORK: Law360 selected 31 Morgan Lewis lawyers and professional staff who work across an array of services and industry sectors to serve on its various editorial advisory boards for 2026.
Composed of leaders in their field, Law360's boards feature those who are positioned to provide insights into the particular practices, sectors, or geographic legal markets helping
... Show Full Article
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, April 4 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Morgan Lewis, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Morgan Lewis Lawyers & Professionals Selected to Serve on 31 Law360 Editorial Advisory Boards
NEW YORK: Law360 selected 31 Morgan Lewis lawyers and professional staff who work across an array of services and industry sectors to serve on its various editorial advisory boards for 2026.
Composed of leaders in their field, Law360's boards feature those who are positioned to provide insights into the particular practices, sectors, or geographic legal markets helpinginform Law360's coverage. Our representatives include first-time members as well as those who were asked to return for additional terms.
Morgan Lewis's 2026 Law360 editorial advisory board members are as follows:
* Jane Accomando, Energy
* Jody Barillare, Delaware
* Craig Bitman, Benefits
* Amanda Bruno, Legal Industry
* Jennifer Bullock, Florida
* Allen Denson, Fintech
* Rachelle Dubow, Massachusetts
* Loyaan Egal, Telecommunications
* Patty Eakes, Washington
* Will Gorrod, Tax Authority State & Local
* William Jauquet, Banking
* Bryan Killian, Appellate
* Rachel Lewis, Real Estate
* Malaika Lindo, Diversity & Inclusion
* Deanne Miller, Trials
* Sarah-Jane Morin, Tax Authority Federal
* Rachel Nguyen, Legal Ethics
* Sergio Oehninger, Insurance Authority
* Mark Parise, Connecticut
* Michelle Pector, Aerospace & Defense
* Manita Rawat, California
* Steven Reed, In-House
* Christine Schleppegrell, Securities
* Marcus Schmidbauer, Tax Authority International
* Amy Schuh, Compliance
* Vishnu Shankar, Cybersecurity & Privacy
* Michelle Silverman, New Jersey
* Mark Stolzenburg, Employment Authority Labor
* Rachel Strong, Access to Justice
* Stephanie Sweitzer, Employment Authority Discrimination
* Matthew Thurlow, Environmental
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Original text here: https://www.morganlewis.com/news/2026/04/morgan-lewis-lawyers-and-professionals-selected-to-serve-on-31-law360-editorial-advisory-boards
McDonald Hopkins Issues Commentary: PropCo/OpCo Divide in Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living: - Why Owners are Turning to ESOPs
CLEVELAND, Ohio, April 4 -- McDonald Hopkins, a law firm, issued the following commentary on April 3, 2026, by member Todd Baumgartner and associate Nolan Nadler:
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The PropCo/OpCo divide in skilled nursing and assisted living: Why owners are turning to ESOPs
Skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities are typically structured under a Property Company/Operating Company model, commonly known as PropCo/OpCo, which separates the real estate from day-to-day healthcare operations. While this structure offers clear advantages during the life of the business, it creates a fundamental
... Show Full Article
CLEVELAND, Ohio, April 4 -- McDonald Hopkins, a law firm, issued the following commentary on April 3, 2026, by member Todd Baumgartner and associate Nolan Nadler:
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The PropCo/OpCo divide in skilled nursing and assisted living: Why owners are turning to ESOPs
Skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities are typically structured under a Property Company/Operating Company model, commonly known as PropCo/OpCo, which separates the real estate from day-to-day healthcare operations. While this structure offers clear advantages during the life of the business, it creates a fundamentalproblem at exit for the OpCo: the PropCo, backed by tangible real estate, can command a strong price on the open market. However, the OpCo, without owning any real property, often has little or no saleable value to a third-party buyer. With limited buyers and constrained lending markets for standalone operating companies, owners are increasingly turning to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or ESOP, as the most practical vehicle for monetizing the OpCo -- a strategy that also addresses one of the industry's most persistent challenges: employee retention.
The value divide: Why the PropCo is worth more than the OpCo
PropCos attract investors because they offer steady rental income backed by real property. A buyer might acquire a 120-bed nursing home building and lock in a 25-year lease with annual rent increases, collecting reliable checks regardless of how well the operator runs the business. Even if the operator fails, the building still has value -- it can be re-leased to a new operator or sold.
The OpCo is a very different story. A buyer of the operating company inherits staffing headaches, razor-thin margins, and revenue that can depend on Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement rates set by the government. Without the building or land on the balance sheet, there is nothing of lasting value to recover if the business fails or if the landlord terminates the OpCo's operating lease.
The result is a stark imbalance at exit. An owner can sell the PropCo to a real estate investment trust or private equity fund and walk away with a strong price. But finding a buyer for the standalone OpCo, especially when interest rates are high and margins are tight, is far harder, and lenders are reluctant to finance OpCo-only deals.
The ESOP solution: Selling operations to employees
Because so few outside buyers want a standalone OpCo, the ESOP has become a popular exit for the operating side of the business. An ESOP is a federally regulated retirement plan that gives employees an ownership stake in the company -- at no cost to them. In a typical deal, the owner sells the operating company to the ESOP. If the owners maintain ownership of the PropCo, the PropCo can enter into a lease with the now ESOP-owned OpCo as a tenant, which would generate passive income for the owners of the PropCo.
In an ESOP transaction, the company sets up a trust that buys some or all of the owner's shares either with a loan from a third-party lender or a note from the seller shareholder(s). The leveraged shares are held in a suspense account within the ESOP as collateral for the loan. The company repays the loan over time from its own revenue, and as the debt shrinks, shares are released from the suspense account and allocated participant ESOP accounts, thereby gradually transferring ownership to the employees. A CNA earning $18 an hour never writes a check, they accumulate shares just by doing their job, and when they retire, the company pays their value. Owners can sell all at once or in stages, and they can stay on and keep running the day-to-day business operations -- flexibility that a sale to an outside buyer rarely offers. If the owners sell in stages and maintain 51% of the controlling interest in the OpCo, the owner will maintain control of the OpCo.
Addressing the staffing crisis through employee ownership
Turnover in long-term care remains stubbornly high, according to Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service, CNAs have annual turnover rates of 42%. ESOPs help because an aide or nurse who is building an ownership stake has a direct financial reason to stay.
The data backs this up. ESOP participants earn 33% more in median income, hold 92% more household wealth, and stay in their jobs 53% longer than comparable workers at non-ESOP companies. A 2025 study found their median tenure was three years longer. They also retire with about 2.2 times the savings of employees in typical 401(k) plans -- a meaningful benefit in an industry where many frontline workers have had little access to employer-sponsored retirement.
Tax benefits
The owners can sell on a tax-advantaged basis if the transaction is appropriately structured. Capital gains may be deferred if the employer is a C corporation, the ESOP purchases at least 30% of the employer's issued and outstanding stock, and certain other requirements are satisfied. Comparatively, the owners would immediately incur capital gains tax upon the sale of the company to a third-party purchaser.
If an ESOP-owned company is set up as an S corporation, the company can achieve a near-zero or zero effective federal income tax rate because the portion of earnings attributable to the ESOP's share of ownership is not subject to tax at the corporate level. The company's income flows through to the ESOP, which, as a qualified tax-exempt entity, does not pay current taxes on its share of the company's income. This unique structure allows the business to retain significantly more cash flow to fund operations, pay down acquisition debt, or reinvest in future growth.
Looking ahead
The PropCo/OpCo model is unlikely to change -- skilled nursing and assisted living facilities will continue to separate real estate from operations and there will continue to be stand-alone operators -- and the OpCo's limited saleable value will remain a persistent exit problem. For owners who cannot find a willing buyer for their OpCo at a fair price, owners that desire to transfer their business to employees, incentivize their employees and desire a tax-advantaged sale, the ESOP is an attractive strategy. Turning an otherwise unsaleable operating company into real money in the owner's pocket while preserving the owner's legacy and rewarding the workforce that sustains the business. In an industry where quality of care depends entirely on the stability of the workforce, that alignment of interests may be the most consequential benefit of all.
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Todd Baumgartner
Member
tbaumgartner@mcdonaldhopkins.com
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Nolan Nadler
Associate
Nnadler@mcdonaldhopkins.com
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Original text here: https://www.mcdonaldhopkins.com/insights/news/the-propco-opco-divide-in-skilled-nursing-and-assisted
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Littler: Policy Week in Review - April 3, 2026
SAN FRANCISCO, California, April 4 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Policy Week in Review - April 3, 2026
Congressional and Administrative News
At a Glance
The Policy Week in Review, prepared by Littler's Workplace Policy Institute (WPI), sets forth WPI's updates on federal legislation, regulations, and congressional activity affecting the workplace.
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White House Releases FY27 Budget Request
The White House released its FY27 budget proposal this morning, which seeks $2.2 trillion for the federal government. As stated in the preamble, which reveals the president's
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, April 4 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Policy Week in Review - April 3, 2026
Congressional and Administrative News
At a Glance
The Policy Week in Review, prepared by Littler's Workplace Policy Institute (WPI), sets forth WPI's updates on federal legislation, regulations, and congressional activity affecting the workplace.
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White House Releases FY27 Budget Request
The White House released its FY27 budget proposal this morning, which seeks $2.2 trillion for the federal government. As stated in the preamble, which reveals the president'spriorities, the proposal constrains non-defense spending, proposing a 10% cut compared to FY26 non-defense levels; maintains investments in border security and immigration enforcement; and requests $1.5 trillion for national defense, a 44% increase.
The Department of Labor would receive $9.9 billion, a $3.5 billion or 25.9% decrease, with investments in workforce development to promote post-secondary education and training options. In an effort to centralize and strengthen the Department's national security function, the budget proposes to reorganize the Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC), which enforces the legal obligations of U.S. employers to prove American workers are not available before they hire foreign workers, under the Office of the Secretary of Labor. Program cuts and eliminations include: Job Corps (-$1.6 billion); Senior Community Service Employment Program (-$395 million); Worker Protection Agencies (-$234 million); Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (-$101 million); and Bureau of International Labor Affairs (-$46 million).
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Department of Homeland Security Shutdown Continues
While Congress is still out another week for the spring congressional recess, pressure to end the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown is mounting. When the members return, House leadership is expected to try to pass the Senate-approved DHS funding bill, which funds the entire Department except funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). As a next step, in the following months, Republican leaders will try to use budget reconciliation to fund ICE and CBP for three years - taking the funding issue off the table for the duration of the Trump administration. As context, a bill can pass through budget reconciliation with a simple majority vote in the Senate, bypassing the 60-vote filibuster threshold in the Senate, but only if provisions meet the Byrd rule, which restricts extraneous non-budgetary matters.
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DOL Seeks to Modernize Registered Apprenticeships by Integrating AI-Related Training
In an effort to prepare America's workforce for the jobs of the future, the Department of Labor announced a new initiative through the Department's Employment Training Administration to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills into registered apprenticeship programs nationwide. Through a national contracting opportunity, a contractor will be selected to serve as a national intermediary to work with employers, industry associations, and workforce development groups.
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Authors
Shannon Meade
Executive Director, Workplace Policy Institute
Washington, D.C.
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James A. Paretti
Shareholder
Washington, D.C.
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Alexander T. MacDonald
Shareholder
Washington, D.C.
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Maury Baskin
Shareholder
Washington, D.C.
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Original text here: https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/asap/policy-week-review-april-3-2026
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
LexDana Rankings Recognize Dinsmore's Patent Prosecution Activity Before the USPTO
CINCINNATI, Ohio, April 4 -- Dinsmore and Shohl, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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LexDana Rankings Recognize Dinsmore's Patent Prosecution Activity Before the USPTO
Dinsmore and two of its intellectual property attorneys have been recognized in the LexDana Patent Prosecution Rankings, a data driven ranking of the most active patent prosecution law firms and attorneys before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), based on filing volume, participation frequency and client engagement.
As a firm, Dinsmore climbed five spots, ranking No. 34 overall, highlighting
... Show Full Article
CINCINNATI, Ohio, April 4 -- Dinsmore and Shohl, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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LexDana Rankings Recognize Dinsmore's Patent Prosecution Activity Before the USPTO
Dinsmore and two of its intellectual property attorneys have been recognized in the LexDana Patent Prosecution Rankings, a data driven ranking of the most active patent prosecution law firms and attorneys before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), based on filing volume, participation frequency and client engagement.
As a firm, Dinsmore climbed five spots, ranking No. 34 overall, highlightingthe depth and consistency of its patent prosecution practice. In addition, two attorneys earned notable increases in their individual rankings.
* Cesare Scalfani (Detroit) moved up 46 spots to No. 67 overall.
* Weston Gould (Groton) moved up eight spots to No. 180 in the biotech category.
Dinsmore's Intellectual Property Practice advises clients on both domestic and global patent portfolios, representing Fortune 500 companies, multinational corporations and high growth innovators across a wide range of industries. The Firm's attorneys combine deep technical knowledge with strategic insight to manage complex patent prosecution matters before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and foreign patent authorities worldwide. With experience spanning biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, chemical sciences, advanced manufacturing, engineering and software, Dinsmore helps clients protect, expand and maximize the value of their intellectual property from early innovation through commercialization and long term portfolio management.
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Original text here: https://www.dinsmore.com/news/lexdana-rankings-recognize-dinsmores-patent-prosecution-activity-before-the-uspto/
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Holland & Knight Named Largest Healthcare Law Firm for 2026 by Modern Healthcare
MIAMI, Florida, April 4 -- Holland and Knight, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Holland & Knight Named Largest Healthcare Law Firm for 2026 by Modern Healthcare
TAMPA, Fla. - Holland & Knight has been named the largest healthcare law firm for 2026 by Modern Healthcare, a leading source of healthcare business and policy news, research and information. The annual Largest Healthcare Law Firms rankings are determined by the number of attorneys dedicating at least 50 percent of their time to healthcare or life sciences as of the end of 2025.
With 530 healthcare attorneys, Holland
... Show Full Article
MIAMI, Florida, April 4 -- Holland and Knight, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Holland & Knight Named Largest Healthcare Law Firm for 2026 by Modern Healthcare
TAMPA, Fla. - Holland & Knight has been named the largest healthcare law firm for 2026 by Modern Healthcare, a leading source of healthcare business and policy news, research and information. The annual Largest Healthcare Law Firms rankings are determined by the number of attorneys dedicating at least 50 percent of their time to healthcare or life sciences as of the end of 2025.
With 530 healthcare attorneys, Holland& Knight's Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Group has a particular focus on identified sectors in the market, including hospitals and health systems, post-acute care, ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient care, private equity, physician practice management, behavioral health, digital health, managed care, pharmacies and life sciences.
Holland & Knight is recognized as a 2025 Health Care Practice Group of the Year by Law360 and by Chambers USA in its 2025 Healthcare: The Elite nationwide listing. The Firm is also ranked by the American Bar Association's Health Law Section as one of the largest healthcare practices in the South, Southeast, Northeast and Washington, D.C.
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Original text here: https://www.hklaw.com/en/news/pressreleases/2026/04/holland-and-knight-named-largest-healthcare-law-firm-for-2026
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
