Business Law and Corporate Law

International restaurant expansion often generates legal problems before anyone believes there is much legal work to do. A team finds a location and negotiates the lease before confirming that the hours, the liquor service, and the patio are permitted at that address. An executive chef flies in to train the kitchen on a visitor stamp.

On July 9, 2026, the United States District Court for the Central District of California issued its decision in So Cal Storage, LLC et al. v. UNITS Franchising Group, Inc., 2026 WL 2045621 (C.D. Cal. July 9, 2026), granting a franchisor's motion to dismiss the franchisees’ claims arising from alleged misrepresentations, software failures, vendor restrictions, and misuse of advertising fund contributions.

Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Arthur M. Blank Sports and Entertainment, Nick Brown, discusses his transition from private practice to the business side of sports, sharing insights on overseeing operations for an ownership group with franchises spanning multiple professional leagues. The conversation explores the skills that shaped his career, the unique challenges of working in a multi-team sports organization, and the evolving legal and business landscape of professional sports.

Following a federal court order in Medani v. Trump, the U.S. Department of State has resumed issuing Diversity Immigrant Visas after a nine-month pause that began in December 2025. DV-2026 selectees now face a critical deadline of September 30, 2026, to complete their visa processing or permanently lose their opportunity for permanent residence through the diversity visa lottery program.

U.S. citizens and Green Card holders can reunite with their foreign spouses through a structured immigration process involving Form I-130, proving a genuine marriage, and navigating consular procedures. Understanding the differences between immediate relative and family-preference categories, financial sponsorship requirements, and conditional residence rules is essential for successful family reunification through marriage.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a significant ruling on web scraping that addresses the intersection of automated data collection and agentic AI systems. This decision provides new legal clarity on the boundaries of permissible web scraping activities and their implications for emerging AI technologies that autonomously gather and process online information.

Corporate legal departments increasingly use third party platforms and managed billing services to review outside counsel invoices. In many cases, the client selects the system and directs its law firms to submit bills through it. Some of these services now use artificial intelligence, automated review, or a combination of technology and human reviewers to examine individual time entries and recommend billing reductions.

A recent California lawsuit alleges that AI-based employee selection tools discriminated against workers on protected leave and those with disabilities during a reduction in force. The case highlights critical legal risks for employers deploying AI in high-stakes employment decisions, particularly around how AI systems handle productivity metrics for employees who are absent or working under accommodations.

In C.S. v. Brick Recycling Co., the New Jersey Appellate Division vacated a trial court decision requiring the disclosure of documents relating to an attorney-led workplace investigation into sexual harassment. In doing so, the court provided important guidance on the discoverability of documents relating to such investigations.

As the Silent and Baby Boomer generations transfer an estimated $84.4 trillion in wealth through 2045, estate planning attorneys anticipate a surge in probate disputes driven by complex family structures, cognitive decline, and DIY estate documents. This analysis examines the key factors fueling the Great Wealth Transfer litigation wave and explores proactive strategies families can employ to minimize future conflicts.

When multiple family members seek estate planning services together, can one attorney represent everyone? This article examines the complex ethical boundaries that govern attorney-client relationships in family estate planning, exploring when joint representation is permissible and when conflicts of interest require separate counsel.

As the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers prepare to transfer an estimated $84-90 trillion in wealth over the next two decades, families face critical decisions about estate planning, tax strategies, and asset protection. This comprehensive analysis explores how changing tax laws, evolving family structures, and complex asset portfolios require thoughtful planning to preserve wealth across generations while avoiding unnecessary taxes, legal disputes, and family conflicts.