Featured Stories
Lewis Rinaudo Cohen and Gary Kalbaugh to Speak at Fordham Law's Blockchain Regulatory Symposium
NEW YORK, Oct. 5 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Cahill Gordon and Reindel, a law firm, posted the following news:
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Lewis Rinaudo Cohen and Gary Kalbaugh to Speak at Fordham Law's Blockchain Regulatory Symposium
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Cahill partner and co-chair of CahillNXT Lewis Rinaudo Cohen and partner Gary Kalbaugh will each speak on a panel at Fordham Law School's 2026 Blockchain Regulatory Symposium.
Lewis' panel, "Year Behind, Year Ahead," will examine key blockchain developments from the past year and what can be expected ahead. The panel will discuss the aftermath of the CLARITY Act, cooperation between
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Oct. 5 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Cahill Gordon and Reindel, a law firm, posted the following news:
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Lewis Rinaudo Cohen and Gary Kalbaugh to Speak at Fordham Law's Blockchain Regulatory Symposium
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Cahill partner and co-chair of CahillNXT Lewis Rinaudo Cohen and partner Gary Kalbaugh will each speak on a panel at Fordham Law School's 2026 Blockchain Regulatory Symposium.
Lewis' panel, "Year Behind, Year Ahead," will examine key blockchain developments from the past year and what can be expected ahead. The panel will discuss the aftermath of the CLARITY Act, cooperation betweenthe SEC and CFTC, real-world asset tokenization to stablecoins and blockchain's increasing overlap with traditional finance. The panel will also explore other current topics such as OCC trust charter activity, GENIUS Act implementation, and digital ID developments.
Gary will moderate the final panel, "Derivatives & Prediction Markets," discussing how perpetual futures and prediction markets fit imperfectly within existing derivatives frameworks. The panel will also consider the insider trading questions raised by these emerging financial technologies.
Fordham Law's Blockchain Regulatory Symposium brings together prominent law firm partners and in-house counsel for an invitation-only conference at the nexus of financial technology and regulatory policy.
To learn more about this year's Blockchain Regulatory Symposium, click here.
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Original text here: https://www.cahill.com/news/events/2026-10-05-lewis-rinaudo-cohen-and-gary-kalbaugh-to-speak-at-fordham-law-blockchain-regulatory-symposium
Littler: California Amends Its WARN Act
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Oct. 3 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following news:
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California Amends its WARN Act (Again)
By Shawn Matthew Clark, Robert Wilger, and Kerry Notestine
October 2, 2026
At a Glance
* California Senate Bill 951, signed on September 30, 2026, adds disclosure requirements to the California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act for certain reductions caused by artificial intelligence or other automated technology.
* The changes take effect on January 1, 2027, while the law's existing coverage thresholds, 60-day notice period, and penalties remain
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Oct. 3 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following news:
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California Amends its WARN Act (Again)
By Shawn Matthew Clark, Robert Wilger, and Kerry Notestine
October 2, 2026
At a Glance
* California Senate Bill 951, signed on September 30, 2026, adds disclosure requirements to the California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act for certain reductions caused by artificial intelligence or other automated technology.
* The changes take effect on January 1, 2027, while the law's existing coverage thresholds, 60-day notice period, and penalties remainunchanged.
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On September 30, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 951, which amends the California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (Cal-WARN) to require additional disclosures when a mass layoff, relocation, or termination is caused by artificial intelligence (AI) or other automated technology. The law does not change Cal-WARN's coverage thresholds, 60-day notice period, or penalty provisions. Instead, it adds new notice content requirements, directs the Employment Development Department (EDD) to publish summaries of these "technology displacement" notices, and requires the EDD to report to the state legislature on AI's effects on hiring. These changes will take effect on January 1, 2027.
SB 951 was signed almost one year to the day Governor Newsom signed SB 617, which expanded the required contents of Cal-WARN notices effective January 1, 2026. Employers planning reductions in California in 2027 now need to account for both sets of requirements.
What SB 951 Requires
Definition of Artificial Intelligence
SB 951 amends Labor Code section 1400.5 to define "artificial intelligence" or "AI" as "an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments." The bill does not separately define "other automated technology," "technological displacement," or "in substantial part."
Additional Notice Content for AI-Related Reductions
New Labor Code section 1401(d)(1) provides that when a covered mass layoff, relocation, or termination is "caused in whole or in substantial part by an AI system or other automated technology replacing or automating employment positions" the employer's notices must include all of the following in its Cal-WARN notices, in addition to the content already required:
1. The number of layoffs substantially attributable to replacement or automation by AI or other automated technology, including the classifications or occupations and work locations involved.
2. The job functions performed by affected workers that will be automated by AI or other automated technology.
3. The specific category or type of AI system or other automating technology that substantially resulted in the technological displacement.
4. The statement "This notice is for a technology displacement" at the top of the notice.
Public Reporting by the EDD
Under new section 1401(d)(2), the EDD must publish summaries of notices involving technological displacement and a quarterly statewide summary of reported technological displacements.
Report on AI and Hiring
New Labor Code section 1402.7 requires the EDD to submit a report to the state legislature on or before January 1, 2028, on AI's effects on business hiring practices, including its impact on industries and occupations at the state and regional level. The report must include one or more of several enumerated items, one of which is recommendations regarding a public notice requirement for employers or businesses engaged in "technological cessation in hiring," defined as "the permanent ending of hiring or contracting for a particular occupation or position caused in whole or in part by the employer's use of artificial intelligence or other automated technology," regardless of whether any workers in that occupation or position remain employed or under contract and regardless of whether the cessation results in an overall reduction in occupations or positions. Section 1402.7 imposes no obligation on employers, and it is repealed by its own terms on January 1, 2029. It does, however, signal that the state may consider a separate notice obligation for employers that permanently stop hiring for particular positions because of AI.
What Remain Unchanged and Open Questions
SB 951 leaves Cal-WARN's core framework intact. The statute continues to apply to a "covered establishment" that employs, or has employed in the preceding 12 months, 75 or more persons, and the 60-day notice requirement to affected employees, the EDD, and specified local officials is unchanged. Remedies under Labor Code section 1402 (back pay and benefits) and the civil penalty of up to $500 per day under section 1403 are also unchanged. The SB 617 content requirements that took effect on January 1, 2026, also remain in place.
The new law leaves several questions unanswered. For example, the statute does not define when a reduction is caused "in substantial part" by AI or automated technology or suggest how to handle layoffs where only part of the workforce is affected by AI or automated technology. In fact, the statute uses seemingly different causation phrasing in different places: The trigger in section 1401(d)(1) is "in whole or in substantial part," the required disclosures refer to layoffs "substantially due to" technology that "substantially resulted in" the displacement, while section 1402.7 uses "in whole or in part."
Workforce reductions frequently have multiple causes, and the reasons for eliminating particular positions may not be uniform. The statute does not explain how employers should evaluate a broader reduction in which AI or automated technology affects only certain positions or functions. In those circumstances, employers may need to identify and disclose the portion of the reduction substantially attributable to the technology while distinguishing positions eliminated for other reasons.
Also, only "artificial intelligence" is defined. The scope of "other automated technology" is not. Whether and under what circumstances conventional automation, robotics, or software outside the AI definition triggers the new disclosure requirements remain unclear.
As Cal-WARN is a statute focused on layoffs of employees at covered establishments only, it might seem unusual for the legislature to require the EDD to issue a report by January 1, 2028, about the broad effects of AI on business hiring practices or the level of exposure certain industries or occupations have to technological cessations in hiring. It remains to be seen how the EDD will gather the information necessary for this report and what the legislature might do with that information.
Recommendations for Employers
Employers with California operations should consider the following steps before January 1, 2027:
1. Update Cal-WARN notice templates to include a technology displacement section, for use when applicable, containing the three new data points and the required statement at the top of the notice.
2. Clearly and contemporaneously document the business reasons for the reduction, including the extent to which AI or automated technology contributed to the elimination or automation of particular positions or functions, so the company can evaluate, with counsel, whether a reduction is caused "in whole or in substantial part" by AI or other automated technology.
3. Confirm consistency between Cal-WARN notices, OWBPA disclosures, separation agreements, and internal and external communications, so that the stated reasons for the reduction (which may be summarized publicly by the EDD) do not conflict.
Employers with questions about SB 951 or Cal-WARN compliance should contact counsel with experience in complying with WARN notice obligations and the use of AI in the workplace.
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Authors
Shawn Matthew Clark
Shareholder
New York
smclark@littler.com
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Robert J. Wilger
Shareholder
San Jose
rwilger@littler.com
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Kerry E. Notestine
Shareholder
Houston
knotestine@littler.com
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Original text here: https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/asap/california-amends-its-warn-act-again
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Law360 Names McGuireWoods a North Carolina Powerhouse for Third Year in a Row
RICHMOND, Virginia, Oct. 3 -- McGuireWoods, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Law360 Names McGuireWoods a North Carolina Powerhouse for Third Year in a Row
October 2, 2026
McGuireWoods again has been named a North Carolina Powerhouse by Law360, which recognized significant litigation victories and corporate transactions as examples of the firm's leadership in the Tar Heel State. Law360 highlighted the firm's accomplishments in a Sept. 28, 2026, story, marking the third consecutive year McGuireWoods was honored as a North Carolina Powerhouse.
"With lawyers having a wide range
... Show Full Article
RICHMOND, Virginia, Oct. 3 -- McGuireWoods, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Law360 Names McGuireWoods a North Carolina Powerhouse for Third Year in a Row
October 2, 2026
McGuireWoods again has been named a North Carolina Powerhouse by Law360, which recognized significant litigation victories and corporate transactions as examples of the firm's leadership in the Tar Heel State. Law360 highlighted the firm's accomplishments in a Sept. 28, 2026, story, marking the third consecutive year McGuireWoods was honored as a North Carolina Powerhouse.
"With lawyers having a wide rangeof skill sets, the firm is well positioned to take advantage of North Carolina's evolving legal landscape," noted Law360.
The article covered litigation and transactional successes stemming from McGuireWoods' long relationship with client Falfurrias Capital Partners, a private equity firm founded by Hugh McColl. These included representing Global Plasma Solutions, a Falfurrias portfolio company, through a False Claims Act investigation by the Department of Justice. The probe ended in October 2025 with the DOJ concluding Global Plasma Solutions did nothing wrong, a result Charlotte partner Robert Muckenfuss called "a significant vindication." The firm is also pursuing a $1 billion defamation claim against the world's largest scientific publisher for Falfurrias.
Law360 also recognized the firm's work enabling Falfurrias to merge John H. Northrop & Associates, Coherent Technical Services and Expansia Group into a single defense technology platform that helps provide services including digital engineering and advanced fabrication support for a range of defense players. That deal was led by Charlotte partner Chris Nesbit.
The publication also cited McGuireWoods' advocacy for 21 autistic children and their families against the state of North Carolina after policymakers slashed Medicaid reimbursement for a widely used autism treatment. After the firm, led by Raleigh partner Michael Easley Jr., secured a preliminary injunction to halt the cuts, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein restored the funding.
In interviews with Law360, partners Elizabeth Zwickert Timmermans and Brian Kahn said McGuireWoods is uniquely positioned to meet the evolving needs of clients in the region's most dynamic economic sectors.
Timmermans, managing partner of McGuireWoods' Raleigh office, noted how corporate deals, private equity and technological developments were driving the firm's legal work in the state capital. The tech sector, she added, fuels AI-related transactional work and privacy-related litigation. "I think data breach and [personally identifiable information] issues are very hot," Timmermans said.
Kahn, managing partner of the Charlotte office, added, "One of the things that I think makes McGuireWoods stand out from a lot of other firms is how strong and deep our healthcare practice is." From helping with legal advice on a startup idea, to corporate structure, all the way through to selling a company or litigation post-sale, he said, "[W]e've done it before, and we're really good at it."
Kahn added McGuireWoods is lucky to have found so many "amazing, dedicated professionals that love what they do" -- helping clients, building relationships and innovating every day.
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Original text here: https://www.mcguirewoods.com/news/press-releases/2026/10/law360-names-mcguirewoods-a-north-carolina-powerhouse-for-third-year-in-a-row/
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Jackson Walker Congratulates 11 Attorneys Named to 'Lawdragon 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers' List
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 3 -- Jackson Walker, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Jackson Walker Congratulates 11 Attorneys Named to 'Lawdragon 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers' List
October 2, 2026
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of 11 attorneys to the "Lawdragon 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers" list for 2027.
Congratulations to the following Labor & Employment and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation attorneys named to this list:
* Jamila Brinson - Labor & Employment
* Chuck Campbell - Executive Compensation & Benefits
* Greta Cowart - Executive
... Show Full Article
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 3 -- Jackson Walker, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Jackson Walker Congratulates 11 Attorneys Named to 'Lawdragon 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers' List
October 2, 2026
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of 11 attorneys to the "Lawdragon 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers" list for 2027.
Congratulations to the following Labor & Employment and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation attorneys named to this list:
* Jamila Brinson - Labor & Employment
* Chuck Campbell - Executive Compensation & Benefits
* Greta Cowart - ExecutiveCompensation & Benefits
* G. Scott Fiddler - Labor & Employment, esp. Litigation
* Richard Garza - Labor & Employment
* Dawn Holiday - Labor & Employment Litigation
* John Jansonius - Labor & Employment
* Sarah Mitchell Montgomery - Labor & Employment, esp. Litigation
* Jay Rutherford - Labor & Employment
* David Schlottman - Labor & Employment Litigation
* Lionel (Lonnie) Schooler - Employment Law, Litigation & Arbitration
Launched in 2005, Lawdragon is a legal media company that features news, editorial features, and a variety of guides to the nation's top legal professionals who lead in a particular practice area or industry and who have handled significant matters within the past year. For information about the selection process, view the Lawdragon website.
Meet Jackson Walker
Since 1887, Jackson Walker has represented some of the most influential companies and business leaders in the world. Today, we remain firmly rooted in Texas while serving clients around the globe. With more than 500 attorneys, we are the largest Texas-based law firm. Jackson Walker consistently ranks among leading firms in Chambers and Partners, Best Law Firms(R) by Best Lawyers, and as a BTI Client Service A-Team based on feedback from corporate counsel.
Our Labor & Employment group is nationally recognized for its strategic counsel on workplace issues, litigation, and compliance. In addition to being named a "BTI Employment Litigation Leader" for the past two years, Jackson Walker has earned repeated honors in the Texas Lawyer Best Of awards and includes attorneys inducted into the Hall of Fame for excellence in employment law. The firm has also been ranked among the top Texas firms in the Chambers USA Guide for Labor & Employment since 2013, as well as recognized among the Best Law Firms(R) by Best Lawyers, with 27 national and 142 metropolitan rankings in the 2026 edition.
Complementing this strength, our Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation group advises clients on the design, implementation, and compliance of benefit plans and executive compensation arrangements. The group is known for its deep experience navigating ERISA, tax, and corporate governance complexities.
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Original text here: https://www.jw.com/news/jackson-walker-lawdragon500-corporate-employment/
[Category: BiLaw/Legal]
Cooley: Armadin Raises $255.5 Million Series B
PALO ALTO, California, Oct. 3 -- Cooley, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Armadin Raises $255.5 Million Series B
Reston October 1, 2026
Cooley advised Armadin, an AI-native cybersecurity company building effective autonomous security, on its $255.5 million in Series B funding co-led by Andreessen Horowitz and Accel that brings the company's valuation to more than $2.5 billion.
The round includes participation from new investors Bain Capital Ventures and Redpoint, as well as existing investors 8VC, Ballistic Ventures, Google Ventures, In-Q-Tel, Kleiner Perkins and Menlo
... Show Full Article
PALO ALTO, California, Oct. 3 -- Cooley, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Armadin Raises $255.5 Million Series B
Reston October 1, 2026
Cooley advised Armadin, an AI-native cybersecurity company building effective autonomous security, on its $255.5 million in Series B funding co-led by Andreessen Horowitz and Accel that brings the company's valuation to more than $2.5 billion.
The round includes participation from new investors Bain Capital Ventures and Redpoint, as well as existing investors 8VC, Ballistic Ventures, Google Ventures, In-Q-Tel, Kleiner Perkins and MenloVentures.
Lawyers Mike Lincoln, Eddie Sniezek and Ty Chung led the Cooley team advising Armadin.
Cooley previously advised Armadin on its $189.9 million Seed and Series A in March 2026.
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About Cooley LLP
Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters, and high-stakes litigation.
Cooley has nearly 1,400 lawyers across 19 offices in the United States, Asia and Europe, and a total workforce of more than 3,000 people.
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Original text here: https://www.cooley.com/news/coverage/2026/2026-10-01-armadin-raises-$255-5-million-series-b
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Clark Hill: California Enacts CIPA Reform, Curtailing Some Website Tracking Claims
BIRMINGHAM, Michigan, Oct. 3 -- Clark Hill, a law firm, issued the following legal update:
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California Enacts CIPA Reform, Curtailing Some Website Tracking Claims
October 2, 2026
Authors
Madison Shepley , Simone McCormick
On September 30, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 690 (SB 690), significantly narrowing the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) claims private plaintiffs may bring based on tracking technologies used on websites and applications.
SB 690 addresses a theory that has become increasingly common in CIPA litigation: alleging website technologies
... Show Full Article
BIRMINGHAM, Michigan, Oct. 3 -- Clark Hill, a law firm, issued the following legal update:
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California Enacts CIPA Reform, Curtailing Some Website Tracking Claims
October 2, 2026
Authors
Madison Shepley , Simone McCormick
On September 30, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 690 (SB 690), significantly narrowing the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) claims private plaintiffs may bring based on tracking technologies used on websites and applications.
SB 690 addresses a theory that has become increasingly common in CIPA litigation: alleging website technologiessuch as cookies, pixels, analytics tools, and similar technologies are "pen registers" or "trap and trace devices" in violation of California Penal Code Section 638.51 when they collect or transmit information such as IP addresses and other identifying information.
The wave of CIPA litigation has been substantial. According to Reuters, more than 4,700 lawsuits involving digital wiretapping claims have been filed since 2022, with approximately two-thirds including a CIPA pen-register claim. CIPA's statutory damages provision, which permits recovery of $5,000 per violation, has created potentially significant exposure for businesses facing these claims.
In his signing message, Governor Newsom said SB 690 addresses this "vexatious use of CIPA lawsuits and demand letters to extract settlement money from small businesses." He also urged further reform to strike "a fair balance between protecting private information and preventing rapacious litigation."
What Changes?
Effective January 1, 2027, SB 690 eliminates the private right of action for alleged Section 638.51 violations arising from conduct on an internet website, online application, or mobile application. For covered conduct, enforcement against private parties will instead rest with the California Attorney General.
Governor's Announcement: https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SIGN-msg-SB-690.pdf
Importantly, the amendment is retroactive and includes pending claims in actions commenced during the two years preceding its operative date.
What Businesses Should Know
* Existing Section 638.51 claims deserve a fresh look. Businesses currently defending website or app-based pen-register claims should evaluate whether SB 690's retroactive application provides a basis to challenge those claims.
* One significant source of settlement pressure is being removed. Private plaintiffs will no longer be able to pursue covered Section 638.51 claims.
* Expect the theories to shift, not disappear. SB 690 does not eliminate private claims under other provisions of CIPA, including Section 631 against wiretapping and other privacy laws.
* Website compliance still matters. Businesses should continue evaluating what technologies are appropriate for their business needs, and analyze their website technology, notices, and policies in line with those needs. They should determine what information is collected and transmitted, who receives it, and whether disclosures and consent mechanisms accurately reflect those practices. They should test if the technology functions properly and as expected to minimize risks from unintended misalignments.
* Further CIPA reform may be coming. In his signing message, Governor Newsom called for additional legislative action in 2027 to address other provisions of the decades-old statute.
The immediate takeaway is significant: SB 690 gives businesses a strong basis to challenge pending website-based pen-register claims and reduces a major source of statutory-damages exposure and settlement pressure. But the broader risk remains. Businesses should promptly reassess existing matters and continue evaluating exposure under Section 631 and other applicable state and federal privacy laws based on their industry.
This publication is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or a solicitation to provide legal services. The information in this publication is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional legal counsel. The views and opinions expressed herein represent those of the individual author only and are not necessarily the views of Clark Hill PLC. Although we attempt to ensure that postings on our website are complete, accurate, and up to date, we assume no responsibility for their completeness, accuracy, or timeliness.
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Original text here: https://www.clarkhill.com/news-events/news/california-sb-690-limits-cipa-website-tracking-claims/
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Alston & Bird Advises Ready Capital on $225 Million Senior Secured Notes Offering
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 3 -- Alston and Bird, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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October 1, 2026
Alston & Bird Advises Ready Capital on $225 Million Senior Secured Notes Offering
Alston & Bird represented Ready Capital Corporation and one of its subsidiaries, ReadyCap Holdings II LLC, in the private placement of $225 million in aggregate principal amount of 10% senior secured notes due 2031.
The Alston & Bird team advising Ready Capital included partners Michael Kessler, Paul Hespel, Rebecca Valentino, and David Rutherford; senior associates Boran Ding, Misbah Mohiuddin, Sarah
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 3 -- Alston and Bird, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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October 1, 2026
Alston & Bird Advises Ready Capital on $225 Million Senior Secured Notes Offering
Alston & Bird represented Ready Capital Corporation and one of its subsidiaries, ReadyCap Holdings II LLC, in the private placement of $225 million in aggregate principal amount of 10% senior secured notes due 2031.
The Alston & Bird team advising Ready Capital included partners Michael Kessler, Paul Hespel, Rebecca Valentino, and David Rutherford; senior associates Boran Ding, Misbah Mohiuddin, SarahMcClellan, and Yemisi Falade; and partners Sarah Ma and Stephen Ornstein.
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URL: Ready Capital
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Original text here: https://www.alston.com/en/insights/news/2026/10/ready-capital-225m-notes-offering
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
