Atlanta Partner Jonathan D. Goins will moderate a panel on the landscape of sports betting at the upcoming Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA) 44th Annual Conference, hosted in San José del Cabo, Mexico on November 15 at 10:20 a.m. MT. 

Lewis Brisbois is pleased to welcome Nathan Sheffield to its New York office as a partner in the firm’s Entertainment, Media & Sports Practice. With more than two decades of experience in the entertainment industry, Mr. Sheffield focuses his practice on representing clients involved in live events and theater. He has successfully represented producers, investors, talent, and creative team members in more than 100 productions on Broadway, West End, and Off-Broadway. Mr. Sheffield offers clients full-service production counsel, advising on matters such as acquiring underlying rights, commissioning script creation, developmental productions, and commercial runs. 

Lewis Brisbois is pleased to welcome Mack Reed to its Minneapolis office as a partner in the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice. For almost two decades, Mr. Reed has litigated complex business and employment matters on behalf of a range of clients, developing a rare depth and breadth of experience. He consistently achieves the objectives of Fortune 500 companies, small business, and individuals in discrimination, whistleblower, and breach of contract actions, including those involving restrictive covenants. Mr. Reed also regularly advises clients on an array of employment issues. In the business litigation space, Mr. Reed has successfully handled matters including closely-held shareholder/member disputes, trade secret misappropriation cases, breach of fiduciary duty actions, and financial markets litigation before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Notably, at various points in his career, Mr. Reed represented plaintiffs, which has allowed him to apply a unique perspective to his defense-side practice.

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.” 

In response to President Biden’s October 2023 Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence, on October 17, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) published its long-awaited guidance on Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) and Worker Well-Being. The DOL guidance provides a roadmap to ensure that employers’ use of artificial intelligence enhances job quality and safeguards, rather than undermines workers’ rights and well-being. Although the DOL notes that this guidance is neither binding nor intended to modify or supplant existing law, regulations, or policies, employers should take note because the DOL’s guidance is a blueprint for best practices to follow across all sectors and workplaces.

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. 

On October 9, 2024, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published best practice recommendations (Guidance) for complying with the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Noting that "[E]very export – every single one – has a related financial transaction,” BIS is providing direction to financial institutions on how best to comply with its regulations so banks can spot red flags and avoid being used to facilitate sanctions violations.

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.

On October 21, 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) Division of Examinations (“Division”) released its 2025 examination priorities. The examination priorities outline the key risks, examination topics and priorities that the Division intends to focus on in the coming year when conducting examinations and inspections of SEC-registered investment advisers, investment companies, broker-dealers, transfer agents, municipal advisers, securities-based swap dealers, clearing agencies, and self-regulatory organizations.

For fiscal year 2025, in addition to typical areas such as disclosures and governance practices, the Division plans to also examine for compliance with new rules, the use of emerging technologies, and controls intended to protect investor information, records, and assets.