Boston Managing Partner Kenneth Walton and Partner Patricia Gary recently obtained summary judgment for an insurer and its third-party administrator in a dispute with a municipality over coverage for a firefighter’s disability benefits. 

Washington, D.C. Partner Rosario Palmieri will present a webinar on legal effects of the incoming administration on labor and employment law in the aftermath of the 2024 elections, hosted by the Chicago Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Committee on November 13 at 12:15 p.m. CT.

Fort Lauderdale Partner Michael G. Platner will lead a “Going Liquid” workshop on strategic planning and liquidity exclusively for C-Level owners and key executive officers of private companies, hosted at Northern Trust's office in Fort Lauderdale on December 5 at 8:00 a.m. ET.

New York Partner Alecia Walters-Hinds will present on the legal defense of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at an upcoming Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) webinar on November 12 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Wilmington Partner Sean Brennecke recently published an article in ABA's Business Law Today concerning how Delaware courts analyze noncompete agreements.

Mr. Brennecke opens the article, titled "Covenants Not to Compete: The Current State of Delaware Law," by observing that, while Delaware courts tend to be wary of noncompetes, they have historically enforced such provisions. He writes that, while the applicable standard for assessing noncompetes has "remained nominally consistent," recent decisions indicate that "these provisions are being scrutinized more closely."

Lewis Brisbois Managing Partner Gregory S. Katz recently spoke with Law360 Pulse for an article on changes in the firm’s leadership and its strategies for continued success.

The article, titled “Lewis Brisbois' Leader on Steering the Firm Forward,” begins by describing recent changes that Lewis Brisbois made to its leadership, including expanding the management committee and hiring new C-suite talent. Mr. Katz told Law360 Pulse that the firm’s management committee has grown from 10 to 15 members and now includes six women as well as several members who have been at the firm for less than seven years. He noted that the committee’s new composition “demonstrates that there’s a lot of opportunity to be involved in management at this firm,” adding, “I’m very proud of the management team we have in place and the hard work everybody puts in to help us move forward, be well positioned for the future, and modernize our operations.” 

Lewis Brisbois is pleased to announce that Wilmington Partner Scott D. Cousins has been appointed co-chair of the firm’s Bankruptcy & Insolvency Practice. Mr. Cousins will serve in his new position alongside Los Angeles Partner Amy Goldman, who previously served as chair of the practice and will now serve as co-chair.

After a ten-day jury trial in San Francisco Superior Court, Partner Alex Graft recently secured a defense verdict in a legal malpractice action arising out of underlying litigation with the claimants’ homeowners association. The claimants alleged his client attorneys negligently advised them that the terms of the settlement agreement would result in the creation of a so-called independent board of directors for the homeowners association. It did not come to fruition. After the attorneys withdrew, they sued for their outstanding fees, which elicited a cross-complaint alleging malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation. 

San Bernardino Partner Bryan R. Reid was elected national treasurer of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) at the ABOTA National Conference and Board Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee on October 26. He will serve a one-year term beginning January 2025.

Reno Partner Ellen Jean Winograd recently secured the dismissal of a contentious, eight-year-long wage and hour dispute on behalf of Western Range Association – a non-profit member association of ranchers – when the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada and the Nevada Supreme Court granted Lewis Brisbois’ motions to dismiss. 

The plaintiffs initially filed this matter as a class action lawsuit in 2016, alleging that Western Range underpaid the wages of H-2A non-immigrant, foreign sheepherders and goatherders by more than $25 million. In addition to demanding the alleged underpayment, the plaintiffs sought interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs.