Law/Legal
Here's a look at documents from law firms and legal groups
Featured Stories
McDonald Hopkins Issues Commentary: Instructure Canvas Incident - What Happened and What's Next?
CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 13 -- McDonald Hopkins, a law firm, issued the following commentary on May 12, 2026, by member Blair Dawson and associate Jane Petoskey:
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The Instructure Canvas incident: What happened and what's next?
In early May 2026, Instructure, Inc. (Instructure), the operator of the learning management Canvas software, experienced a network security incident that had a widespread impact on educational institutions across the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia. Instructure is a private, Utah-based company founded in 2008 with a reported revenue in 2023 of $530.2 million,
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CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 13 -- McDonald Hopkins, a law firm, issued the following commentary on May 12, 2026, by member Blair Dawson and associate Jane Petoskey:
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The Instructure Canvas incident: What happened and what's next?
In early May 2026, Instructure, Inc. (Instructure), the operator of the learning management Canvas software, experienced a network security incident that had a widespread impact on educational institutions across the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia. Instructure is a private, Utah-based company founded in 2008 with a reported revenue in 2023 of $530.2 million,and the company reportedly aims to reach $1 billion in revenue by 2028. Instructure states that it has over 8,000 customers, including K-12 schools and college, with over 19 million "unique visitors" on an annual basis, which is used in over 100 countries.
What happened?
On May 6, 2026, the Canvas platform had an outage for approximately six hours, and certain users subsequently experienced intermittent issues or restricted access. During this time, certain students and faculty received ransom notes from the ShinyHunters threat actor group on their Canvas login screens that claimed that Canvas had been breached and user data would be leaked if the ransom was not paid. On May 7, 2026, Instructure reported on its website that Canvas was available for most users. Instructure further stated that it "will continue to provide updates as appropriate through other channels and is now communicating directly with impacted customers to provide organization-specific information and support." In the meantime, certain institutions across the country are publishing notices regarding the incident.
How should affected educational institutions respond?
Educational institutions affected by the Canvas incident may be required to notify their involved users, as well as respective State Attorneys' Generals, and potentially consumer reporting agencies under certain U.S. state data breach notification statutes. Additionally, certain K-12 institutions may be required to comply with certain record requirements under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
To comply with applicable U.S. state data breach notification laws, Instructure, as the service provider, is required to provide the affected educational institutions (i.e., the data owners) with the involved users' names and associated data elements that were accessed and/or acquired in the incident. Users generally include students, faculty/employees, and students' parents. The Utah System of Higher Education reported on May 8, 2026, that according to Instructure, "the incident resulted in the compromise of names, email addresses, student ID numbers, and user messages[,]" where Instructure "does not believe that passwords, dates of birth, government identifiers, or financial information were compromised." Generally, such limited information does not trigger notification under U.S. data breach notification statutes; however, the extent of information contained in the user messages will need to be reviewed further to assess whether any additional personal information was contained in the messages.
At this point, most affected educational institutions will remain in a holding pattern to hear further from Instructure regarding the names of individual users and their data elements involved, as well as whether Instructure may notify individuals on behalf of the affected institutions. Upon receipt of this information, affected institutions will be able to assess what, if any, legal obligations they have as a result of this third-party incident.
Next steps
Educational institutions affected by the incident should assess whether they need to notify their cyber/privacy carrier regarding any first-party and potential third-party coverage afforded under their policy. Consulting with the broker of the policy can assist with this decision.
Additionally, the affected entities should engage their Incident Response Plan (IRP), including consulting with outside legal counsel to assist with any required response, including potential notice obligations. Outside legal counsel can provide attorney-client privilege over the affected entity's investigation of the incident. Additionally, as many affected entities face now, outside legal counsel can help with legally voluntary, but operationally necessary, communications to students, parents, employees, trustees, and other involved parties regarding the incident and next steps.
Further, affected institutions should follow their Business Continuity Policy (BCP)/Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP), as well as Instructure's recommended steps with respect to Canvas security, including "enforcing [multi-factor authentication ("MFA")] on privileged accounts, reviewing admin[istrative] access, and rotating [Application Programming Interface ("API")] tokens or keys where applicable."
If you have any questions regarding your educational institution's response to the Canvas incident, please reach out to the McDonald Hopkins' national Data Privacy and Cybersecurity practice group.
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Blair Dawson, MS CyS, FIP, CIPP/US, CIPP/E, CIPM
Member
bdawson@mcdonaldhopkins.com
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Jane Petoskey
Associate
jpetoskey@mcdonaldhopkins.com
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Original text here: https://www.mcdonaldhopkins.com/insights/news/the-instructure-canvas-incident-what-happened-and-whats-next
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Mayer Brown's Tom Kiriakos Named Among 2026 "Top 100 Restructuring Professionals" by Global M&A Network
CHICAGO, Illinois, May 13 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Mayer Brown, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Mayer Brown's Tom Kiriakos named among 2026 "Top 100 Restructuring Professionals" by Global M&A Network
Mayer Brown Restructuring partner Tom Kiriakos has been named to Global M&A Network's "Top 100 Restructuring Professionals" list for 2026. He was one of 50 lawyers included on the 13th annual list, which features a successful and innovative group of lawyers, investment bankers, and consultants from the global restructuring and turnaround communities.
Tom represents clients in restructuring
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, May 13 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Mayer Brown, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Mayer Brown's Tom Kiriakos named among 2026 "Top 100 Restructuring Professionals" by Global M&A Network
Mayer Brown Restructuring partner Tom Kiriakos has been named to Global M&A Network's "Top 100 Restructuring Professionals" list for 2026. He was one of 50 lawyers included on the 13th annual list, which features a successful and innovative group of lawyers, investment bankers, and consultants from the global restructuring and turnaround communities.
Tom represents clients in restructuringtransactions and bankruptcy cases spanning a wide range of industries, including real estate, construction, retail, manufacturing, hospitality, energy, transportation, and financial services, among others.
His broad experience across diverse sectors enables him to navigate complex restructuring matters and deliver strategic tailored solutions tailored to each client's unique circumstances.
His recent deals include representing a REIT holding senior debt and a preferred equity investment in the restructuring and deed in-lieu of foreclosure transfer of a mixed-use project in Portland, Oregon and representing the original administrative agent and lead lender, under a $200 million multi-lender first lien secured facility to FrontPoint Security Solutions, LLC, a major alarm security company, and its affiliates.
Recognized as a top restructuring and bankruptcy practitioner by Chambers USA, Tom is described as "a great communicator, a great persuader, and an excellent negotiator" who "always has his client first in mind."
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Original text here: https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/news/2026/05/mayer-browns-tom-kiriakos-named-among-2026-top-100-restructuring-professionals-by-global-m-and-a-network
Littler Issues Commentary: Bloomington, Minnesota Repeals Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance Due to State Law. Will Remaining Cities Follow Suit?
SAN FRANCISCO, California, May 13 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary on May 12, 2026, by knowledge management counsel Sebastian Chilco, associate Claire E. Wilson and shareholders Holly M. Robbins and Stephanie L. Mills-Gallan:
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Bloomington, Minnesota Repeals Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance Due to State Law. Will Remaining Cities Follow Suit?
On April 27, 2026, Bloomington, Minnesota repealed its Earned Sick and Safe Time Ordinance. As explained in the corresponding meeting agenda packet, "the primary purpose of Bloomington's ESST ordinance, to guarantee paid sick
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SAN FRANCISCO, California, May 13 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary on May 12, 2026, by knowledge management counsel Sebastian Chilco, associate Claire E. Wilson and shareholders Holly M. Robbins and Stephanie L. Mills-Gallan:
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Bloomington, Minnesota Repeals Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance Due to State Law. Will Remaining Cities Follow Suit?
On April 27, 2026, Bloomington, Minnesota repealed its Earned Sick and Safe Time Ordinance. As explained in the corresponding meeting agenda packet, "the primary purpose of Bloomington's ESST ordinance, to guarantee paid sickand safe time, has been fulfilled by the statewide law."
Bloomington is the second Minnesota city to repeal its paid sick and safe leave ordinance due to the application of statewide standards. Rather than continuing to maintain a parallel framework, Duluth repealed its ordinance effective January 18, 2024, shortly after the state law took effect.
As Bloomington's meeting packet noted, "[s]tate law periodically changes." Since Bloomington last amended its ordinance to align with state law, the state statute has been amended twice, and forthcoming state rules could further affect how the state law is interpreted. Accordingly, Bloomington's ordinance did not fully align with state law and the city acknowledged that "significant staff time is needed to track, review, and update the ordinance to align it with state law."
Bloomington also observed that "the positives of a dual system do not outweigh the negatives of requiring employers to navigate overlapping rules that are substantially similar in purpose and effect." Many are now watching to see whether Minneapolis and Saint Paul - both of which have also been playing "catch up" based on changes to state law - will follow suit and reduce multi-jurisdiction compliance challenges for employers with Minnesota operations.
Employers that were previously subject to Bloomington's ordinance should review and, if necessary, update their paid sick and safe (or general paid time off) policies and plans. They also should consider removing or revising any workplace postings, employee notices, handbook provisions, or other communications that specifically refer to the now-repealed Bloomington ordinance. Additionally, employers that remain subject to the Minneapolis and Saint Paul ordinances should continue to monitor developments from, or consider outreach to, the city councils, the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights, or the Saint Paul Department of Human Rights & Equal Economic Opportunity concerning whether the city will continue revising, or will repeal, their ordinance in light of the state law. Finally, employers with Minnesota operations should keep an eye out for final state rules from the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry regarding the state law.
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Authors
Sebastian Chilco
Knowledge Management Counsel
San Francisco
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Stephanie L. Mills-Gallan
Shareholder
Milwaukee
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Holly M. Robbins
Shareholder
Minneapolis
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Claire E. Wilson
Associate
Minneapolis
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Original text here: https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/asap/bloomington-minnesota-repeals-paid-sick-and-safe-time-ordinance-due-state-law
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Latham and Watkins: Announcing the 2026 Global Pro Bono Guide
NEW YORK, May 13 -- Latham and Watkins, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Announcing the 2026 Global Pro Bono Guide
The sixth edition offers high-level guidance on the evolving pro bono landscape across more than 100 jurisdictions.
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Latham is proud to announce the 2026 Global Pro Bono Guide. This comprehensive project -- undertaken in partnership with Pro Bono Institute (PBI), Thomson Reuters Foundation, and leading local law firms -- offers a practical guide to the provision of free legal services around the world.
Covering more than 100 jurisdictions, the guide delivers
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, May 13 -- Latham and Watkins, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Announcing the 2026 Global Pro Bono Guide
The sixth edition offers high-level guidance on the evolving pro bono landscape across more than 100 jurisdictions.
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Latham is proud to announce the 2026 Global Pro Bono Guide. This comprehensive project -- undertaken in partnership with Pro Bono Institute (PBI), Thomson Reuters Foundation, and leading local law firms -- offers a practical guide to the provision of free legal services around the world.
Covering more than 100 jurisdictions, the guide deliversjurisdiction-specific insight to help legal professionals navigate pro bono frameworks and strengthen access to justice.
In addition to expanded global coverage, the 2026 edition offers:
* Dedicated guidance on in-house counsel engagement in pro bono, reflecting the growing role of corporate legal teams in the pro bono ecosystem
* Examples of how innovative technology and artificial intelligence are being used by pro bono providers
* Awards, lists, and rankings related to pro bono work
* Practical descriptions of regulatory and insurance requirements, local and regional pro bono initiatives, and areas of unmet legal need
The 2026 guide marks the sixth time Latham has participated in this project, which began as a joint effort between Latham and PBI to advance pro bono services. The first guide, published in 2005, covered just 11 jurisdictions, mostly in Europe. The goal of each iteration of the guide has been to make information about global pro bono legal services more useful and accessible to a variety of audiences, from in-house counsel to academics to private practitioners.
"Through its summaries of key elements of pro bono frameworks worldwide, the 2026 Global Pro Bono Guide aims to make it easier for lawyers to devote their time and talents to those in need. We are grateful to the numerous Latham lawyers who contributed to this project as well as to our colleagues at over 80 law firms around the globe, PBI, and Thomson Reuters Foundation, for their tireless efforts to produce this useful resource," said Laura Atkinson-Hope, Public Service Counsel and Director of Global Pro Bono at Latham & Watkins.
The Latham team included more than 140 lawyers across 15 offices, managed by partner Prue Criddle; counsel Jennifer Cadet; associates Harry Redford and Medha Vikram; Lauren Meyer; Deputy Public Service Counsel -- EMEA; Alex Webster, Pro Bono Senior Coordinator; Flavia Leme, Attorney Support PROS Coordinator; and Emma Roberts, Innovation Attorney.
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View guide here: (https://probonoguide.trust.org/)
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Original text here: https://www.lw.com/en/news/announcing-the-2026-global-pro-bono-guide
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Kilpatrick Attorneys Recognized in Business North Carolina's 2026 Power List
ATLANTA, Georgia, May 13 -- Kilpatrick Townsend and Stockton, a law firm, issued the following news release on May 12, 2026:
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Kilpatrick Attorneys Recognized in Business North Carolina's 2026 Power List
NORTH CAROLINA - Kilpatrick announced today that Business North Carolina has once again named Kilpatrick's Winston-Salem Office Managing Partner Steve Berlin, Employee Benefits Team Lead Lois Colbert, and Raleigh Office Managing Partner Ford Robertson to the 2026 Power List.
The 2026 Power List is based on nominations, source interviews, considerable research, and years of experience covering
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, May 13 -- Kilpatrick Townsend and Stockton, a law firm, issued the following news release on May 12, 2026:
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Kilpatrick Attorneys Recognized in Business North Carolina's 2026 Power List
NORTH CAROLINA - Kilpatrick announced today that Business North Carolina has once again named Kilpatrick's Winston-Salem Office Managing Partner Steve Berlin, Employee Benefits Team Lead Lois Colbert, and Raleigh Office Managing Partner Ford Robertson to the 2026 Power List.
The 2026 Power List is based on nominations, source interviews, considerable research, and years of experience coveringNorth Carolina's business community from the magazine's unique statewide perspective.
Business North Carolina profiles each 2026 Power List honoree:
Steve Berlin: An experienced environmental litigator, Berlin has worked about 40 years at Kilpatrick's Winston-Salem office, where he is Managing Partner. In February, he joined the national Keep America Beautiful Board of Directors. He received the N.C. Bar Association's Citizen Lawyer Award in 2023 for his longtime advocacy of the arts. He serves on the UNC School of the Arts Board of Trustees and chairs the Board of the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. The Atlanta-based law firm has about 650 attorneys, including 60 in Winston-Salem, 36 in Raleigh, and five in Charlotte.
Lois Colbert: Colbert has spent her 33-year career focusing on employee benefits, joining Kilpatrick in 1993. She leads the national firm's employee benefits practice group. An author and editor of several professional publications and frequent speaker on employee benefits and equity compensation, Colbert has been consistently recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America(R), and other industry journals for her expertise in employee benefits and executive compensation.
Ford Robertson: Robertson joined Kilpatrick's Raleigh office in 2004 and became its Managing Partner in 2017. The N.C. Bar Association recognized him with its Citizen Lawyer Award last year. He practices in all areas of commercial real estate, with a focus on development, leasing, and joint venture formation. He helped attract the United States Golf Association's second headquarters to Pinehurst. Robertson's real estate expertise consistently lands him on top lawyers lists by industry publications. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Wake County and Communities in Schools.
Click here (https://issuu.com/businessnc/docs/business_north_carolina_power_list_2026) to read Steve, Lois, and Ford's columns on pages 91, 92, and 100, respectively.
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About Kilpatrick
Kilpatrick is trusted counsel to the world's most innovative companies. To serve our ground-breaking clients, we strive to be at the forefront of client service and on the cutting edge of law and technology. With recognized strength in the technology sector and a full range of service offerings, we deliver practical, business-centric solutions built upon strong and enduring connections.
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Original text here: https://ktslaw.com/en/insights/news/news%20release/2026/5/kilpatrick%20attorneys%20recognized%20in%20business%20north%20carolinas%202026%20power%20list
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Jones Day Again Named a Top Firm for Associate Satisfaction
CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 13 -- Jones Day, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Jones Day again named a top firm for associate satisfaction
Jones Day has once again been recognized among the nation's leading law firms for associate satisfaction in the BTI Associate Satisfaction A-Listers 2026 report, an independent survey of law firm associate experience in the United States. Ranked in all seven Overall categories, the Firm ranked Band 1 ("Best of the Best") in five categories and Band 2 (Leaders) in the remaining two categories as follows:
Band 1 (Best of the Best)
* Best at Helping Associates
... Show Full Article
CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 13 -- Jones Day, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Jones Day again named a top firm for associate satisfaction
Jones Day has once again been recognized among the nation's leading law firms for associate satisfaction in the BTI Associate Satisfaction A-Listers 2026 report, an independent survey of law firm associate experience in the United States. Ranked in all seven Overall categories, the Firm ranked Band 1 ("Best of the Best") in five categories and Band 2 (Leaders) in the remaining two categories as follows:
Band 1 (Best of the Best)
* Best at Helping Associatesin Their Career
* Best Access to Training
* Best at Mentoring Associates
* Best Opportunity to Grow Within Their Firm
* Partners Invested in Individual Associates' Success
Band 2 (Leaders)
* Highest Number of Extremely Satisfied Associates
* Best Paid Associates
BTI also separately ranked firms in the same categories based on just the women associates surveyed and again Jones Day ranked Band 1 or 2 in every category.
"This recognition means a great deal to us because it comes straight from our associates," said Sharyl Reisman, the partner who leads recruiting at Jones Day. "At Jones Day, mentoring isn't a box to check, and training isn't a module to complete. Our partners genuinely care about helping associates find their path and thrive. That personal investment is something you feel when you walk through our doors, and it shows in these results. Our commitment to meaningful mentoring, best-in-class training, and genuine career development is not a program -- it is who we are."
The BTI Associate Satisfaction A-Listers report is based on an extensive independent survey of associates at law firms across the country, evaluating key drivers of job satisfaction including career development, training, mentoring, compensation, growth opportunities, and partner investment in associate success.
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Jones Day is a global law firm with 2,500 lawyers in 40 offices across five continents. The Firm is distinguished by: a singular tradition of client service; the mutual commitment to, and the seamless collaboration of, a true partnership; formidable legal talent across multiple disciplines and jurisdictions; and shared professional values that focus on client needs.
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Original text here: https://www.jonesday.com/en/news/2026/05/jones-day-again-named-a-top-firm-for-associate-satisfaction
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Arnold & Porter Secures Complete Victory for NRCO in LNG Project Arbitration
WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Arnold and Porter, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Arnold & Porter Secures Complete Victory for NRCO in LNG Project Arbitration
Arnold & Porter secured a complete victory for NRCO Engineering, S.A. in an ICDR arbitration in Houston arising from a cross-border liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply venture in Eastern Europe. NRCO is owned by Ovik Mkrtchyan, an engineer and businessman from Uzbekistan who founded Gor Investment Limited, a global enterprise focused on advancing sustainable, innovative technologies.
The tribunal found a Texas energy company and its
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Arnold and Porter, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Arnold & Porter Secures Complete Victory for NRCO in LNG Project Arbitration
Arnold & Porter secured a complete victory for NRCO Engineering, S.A. in an ICDR arbitration in Houston arising from a cross-border liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply venture in Eastern Europe. NRCO is owned by Ovik Mkrtchyan, an engineer and businessman from Uzbekistan who founded Gor Investment Limited, a global enterprise focused on advancing sustainable, innovative technologies.
The tribunal found a Texas energy company and itspresident liable for breach of contract and ordered them to pay all damages, attorneys' fees, and interest that NRCO requested.
The dispute arose from an LNG project to supply natural gas to Bulgaria. The underlying transaction involved multiple energy-infrastructure components, including potential supply strategies through Poland and Lithuania, equity participation in an energy company, project development obligations, and a performance security bond connected to a European gas pipeline.
Following a five-day final hearing, the tribunal awarded NRCO the complete relief it sought. The tribunal also rejected the Respondents' equitable and other defenses, finding that the president of the Texas energy company had spread false and disparaging information about Mr. Mkrtchyan that caused harm to him and his family in Uzbekistan.
The arbitration team was led by litigation partner Ryan Hartman, who is co-chair of the firm's Energy and Infrastructure group, with Sally Pei and Volodymyr Ponomarov, in close collaboration with John Bellinger, who leads the firm's Global Law and Public Policy practice. The victory adds to Arnold & Porter's deep experience representing clients in complex energy, infrastructure, and cross-border disputes.
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Original text here: https://www.arnoldporter.com/en/perspectives/news/2026/05/arnold-porter-secures-complete-victory-for-nrco-in-lng-project-arbitration
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
