Mid Cap
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February 21, 2025
Real Estate Recap: 'Park Ave' Effect, Federal Leases, Atty Hires
Catch up on this past week's key developments by state from Law360 Real Estate Authority — including a fourth-quarter "Park Avenue Phenomenon" seen by top brokerages, industry reaction to the potential federal lease slimdown, and a senior analyst's projection for family office investment in commercial real estate.
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February 21, 2025
Under The Radar: Bankruptcy News You May Have Missed
Sticky's Chicken asked a New York bankruptcy judge to flip its Chapter 11 case to a Chapter 7 after cold and congestion pricing undercut its plans to reemerge from bankruptcy a healthier company, a former Silicon Valley Bank employee asked a bankruptcy judge to approve her late submission of a claim in the bankruptcy case of SVB's defunct parent and FTX defended adversary cases it brought over alleged fraud in the debtor's prebankruptcy acquisition of a stock trading platform.
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February 21, 2025
Prime Core Crypto 'Hopelessly Commingled,' Plan Admin Says
Counsel for the administrator of cryptocurrency custodian Prime Core's Chapter 11 wind-down plan on Friday defended its decision to treat the debtor's cryptocurrency as property of the estate, even when it came from customers.
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February 21, 2025
First Horizon Says Ex-CEO Is Dropping Claims To Avoid Loss
First Horizon Bank told a Florida federal judge that a former bank CEO cannot drop claims against individual bank directors to shield himself from an inevitable adverse judgment in the suit, which accused the bank and its directors of setting up the CEO as a scapegoat in the legal fallout of attorney Scott Rothstein's $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme.
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February 21, 2025
'Unsupported Conclusions' Doom Ad App Suit Against Google
A California federal judge has permanently tossed an antitrust suit accusing Google of kicking a now-defunct advertising app maker out of the Play Store in order to squelch a potential digital advertising rival, finding that the act alone was not enough to show harm to the market from the alleged monopolization.
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February 21, 2025
Bank Says Nostrum's Second Investment Banker Unnecessary
Citizens Bank, a creditor of New Jersey drugmaker Nostrum Laboratories Inc., objected to Nostrum's request to retain another investment banker in its Chapter 11 case, arguing that Raymond James is already serving in that role and that the additional $1 million in retention costs provides no "discernible benefit" to the debtor.
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February 21, 2025
Why EV Maker Nikola Pulled Into Ch. 11
Nikola Corp., maker of electric and hydrogen-powered trucks, struggled with financial difficulties common to its field, the costs of litigation in which it became embroiled and expenses tied to a voluntary battery recall, cumulatively leading it to bankruptcy.
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February 21, 2025
Paul Hastings Seeks To End GenapSys Malpractice Action
Paul Hastings LLP has moved for summary judgment in a malpractice action from GenapSys Inc., saying the case is barred because the genomic sequencing company failed to disclose its possible claim until after confirmation of its bankruptcy plan.
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February 21, 2025
Lowenstein Sandler Keeps Up Battle With NJ Dispensary
Shortly after accusing a cannabis dispensary it is suing for unpaid legal fees of acting in bad faith, Lowenstein Sandler LLP asked a New Jersey Superior Court judge on Friday to reject an investment group's similar bid to prevent it from pursuing certain claims in its suit.
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February 21, 2025
Latham Promotes 19 Counsel To Partner In US, Europe & Asia
Less than three months after electing two dozen associates to the partnership, Latham & Watkins LLP said it has elevated 19 counsel from 14 offices around the world to partner, effective March 1.
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February 20, 2025
Select SPAC Targets Are Soaring Ahead Of The Pack
A select breed of companies that went public through mergers with special purpose acquisition companies are performing well lately — hailing mostly from a few specific industries — in stark contrast to the vast majority of SPAC merger targets that have flopped over the past few years, according to data released on Thursday.
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February 20, 2025
Meet The Attys Guiding EV Maker Nikola's Ch. 11
A group of lawyers from Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is guiding Nikola Corp., a manufacturer of electric and hydrogen-powered trucks, in its Chapter 11, as the company plans to sell its assets after facing financial struggles that stemmed from a battery pack recall in 2023.
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February 20, 2025
Law Firm Can't Ax Sex Assault Claim In Ch. 11, Court Told
A former intern for the bankrupt Law Office of George T. Peters PLLC has sued the New York City firm's bankruptcy estate, seeking to ensure that her sexual assault claim against its name partner is not discharged in Chapter 11.
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February 20, 2025
EV Maker Nikola Aims For Quick Ch. 11 Sale
Counsel for Nikola Corp., which makes electric and hydrogen-powered trucks, told the Delaware bankruptcy court on Thursday the company hopes to hold a bankruptcy auction by the end of March and find a buyer before its cash runs out in mid-April.
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February 20, 2025
Drug Co. InvaTech Says Loan Terms Pushed It Into Ch. 11
InvaTech Pharma Solutions LLC, a New Jersey-based developer of generic prescription drugs, chose to enter Chapter 11 with up to $50 million in debt in part because some of its secured loans were inhibiting the company's growth, according to its bankruptcy counsel and court papers.
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February 20, 2025
Forensic Firm Can't Take Control Of Giuliani Assets
A New York federal judge has denied a request by the forensic firm hired to probe Rudy Giuliani's assets to intervene in a lawsuit launched by two former Georgia poll workers who won a $148 million defamation award against him, preserving a settlement that the election workers and Giuliani reached last month.
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February 19, 2025
Ex-Perella Weinberg Partner Denies Plot To Split Firm
A former Perella Weinberg partner on Wednesday testified that he had no plans to break off and start his own restructuring advisory shop before the investment banking firm fired him for purportedly violating his nonsolicitation provisions of his partnership agreements.
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February 19, 2025
Catching Up With New Bankruptcy Case Action
A New Jersey-based generic-drug maker entered Chapter 11, listing up to $50 million in debt and saying two secured loans were inhibiting its growth. A media production company that helps brands like Target sought Chapter 11 protection and disclosed $53.5 million in liabilities, noting that its struggles included being overleveraged. And a sustainable resource recovery company entered Chapter 7 with liabilities exceeding $100 million.
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February 19, 2025
NJ Lawyer Sanctioned, Barred From New SDNY Petitions
A New Jersey lawyer is blocked from filing new petitions in Southern District of New York bankruptcy court and must pay a $2,000 fine to a local Legal Aid Society following an alleged pattern of filing and then abandoning bankruptcy cases, according to a Wednesday sanctions order.
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February 19, 2025
Biora Ch. 11 Loan Approved After Creditors Reach Deal
Biotech company Biora Therapeutics Inc. received final approval Wednesday for its $46 million Chapter 11 financing package after the postpetition lenders and the unsecured creditors committee reached a deal to allow the loan to go forward on a fully consensual basis.
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February 19, 2025
Backup Infowars Bidder Wants Judge To Restart Auction
The backup bidder for Alex Jones' Infowars program has asked a Texas bankruptcy judge to restart an auction for the assets after a previous sale to the parent company of satirical newspaper The Onion was rejected in December.
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February 19, 2025
Creditors Committee Tapped In Liberated Brands Ch. 11
The U.S. Trustee's Office has appointed seven parties, including landlords and vendors, to the official committee of unsecured creditors in the Chapter 11 case of Liberated Brands, as the clothing retailer works to deal with some $226 million in debt and wind down operations.
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February 19, 2025
Meet The Attys Illuminating Splashlight's Path Through Ch. 11
New York City-based media production company Splashlight Holding LLC has assembled a trio of attorneys from Goetz Platzer LLP to see it through the Chapter 11 case the debtor filed to sell its assets and address $53.5 million in liabilities.
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February 19, 2025
EV Maker Nikola Hits Bankruptcy After Battery Recall
Nikola Corp., maker of electric and hydrogen-powered trucks, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday in Delaware, listing about $98 million of funded debt and blaming a sprawling battery pack recall for its financial troubles.
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February 18, 2025
Reed Smith Removed In $102M Shipping Group Award Fight
A New York federal judge granted a request by the purported new owners of Eletson Holdings Inc. and removed Reed Smith LLP as counsel in a $102 million breach of contract suit the firm brought on behalf of the international shipping group in 2023.
Expert Analysis
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General Counsel Need Data Literacy To Keep Up With AI
With the rise of accessible and powerful generative artificial intelligence solutions, it is imperative for general counsel to understand the use and application of data for myriad important activities, from evaluating the e-discovery process to monitoring compliance analytics and more, says Colin Levy at Malbek.
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Rite Aid's Reasons For Ch. 11 Go Beyond Opioid Suits
Despite opioid-related lawsuits being the perceived reason that pushed Rite Aid into bankruptcy, the company's recent Chapter 11 filing reveals its tenuous position in the pharmaceutical retail market, and only time will tell whether bankruptcy will right-size the company, says Daniel Gielchinsky at DGIM Law.
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Navigating Discovery Of Generative AI Information
As generative artificial intelligence tools become increasingly ubiquitous, companies must make sure to preserve generative AI data when there is reasonable expectation of litigation, and to include transcripts in litigation hold notices, as they may be relevant to discovery requests, say Nick Peterson and Corey Hauser at Wiley.
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Finding Focus: Strategies For Attorneys With ADHD
Given the prevalence of ADHD among attorneys, it is imperative that the legal community gain a better understanding of how ADHD affects well-being, and that resources and strategies exist for attorneys with this disability to manage their symptoms and achieve success, say Casey Dixon at Dixon Life Coaching and Krista Larson at Stinson.
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A Look At DOJ's New Nationwide Investment Fraud Approach
Investment fraud charges are increasingly being brought in unlikely venues across the country, and the rationale behind the U.S. Department of Justice's approach could well be the heightened legal standards in connection with prosecuting investment fraud, says Jonathan Porter at Husch Blackwell.
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Decoding The Digital Asset Landscape In Bankruptcy
Recent cases show the explosion of cryptocurrency as an asset class has created new challenges for debtors-in-possession, bankruptcy trustees, and federal and state receivers, and fiduciaries will have to consider a number of legal and practical considerations when determining how to manage these assets in insolvency, say David Castleman at Otterbourg and Anthony Facciano at Stretto.
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How Fla. Bankruptcy Ruling May Affect Equity Owners
A Florida bankruptcy court’s recent ruling in Vital Pharmaceuticals — which rejected the Third Circuit’s Majestic Star decision that determined a bankrupt corporation’s flow-through status was not protected by the automatic stay — may significantly affect how equity owners can mitigate the impact of flow-through structures in bankruptcy, say Eric Behl-Remijan and Natasha Hwangpo at Ropes & Gray.
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Calif. Ruling May Open Bankruptcy Trustees To Tort Liability
In Martin v. Gladstone, a recent California appellate court decision, the application of tort concepts to bankruptcy trustees could pose a new concern for trustees and federal receivers when controlling and maintaining commercial property, says Jarrett Osborne-Revis at Buchalter.
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Co. Directors Must Beware Dangers Of Reverse Factoring
New accounting requirements governing the disclosure of so-called reverse-factoring programs have revealed billions of dollars worth of hidden liabilities on companies’ ledgers, and directors of corporate boards should review their companies’ books for this hidden danger, say Garland Kelley at Looper Goodwine, Amin Al-Sarraf at Locke Lord and Jill Basinger at Discovery Land.
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Attorneys, Law Schools Must Adapt To New Era Of Evidence
Technological advancements mean more direct evidence is being created than ever before, and attorneys as well as law schools must modify their methods to account for new challenges in how this evidence is collected and used to try cases, says Reuben Guttman at Guttman Buschner.
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Why 7th Circ. Libel Ruling Is Crucial For The Media
As more defamation plaintiffs attorneys argue that allowing a published statement to remain online after additional evidence of falsity emerges equates to actual malice, the Seventh Circuit's recent National Police Association v. Gannett opinion should be lauded by the media and online publishers as a favorable decision, say attorneys at Vedder Price.
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Tips For Litigating Against Pro Se Parties In Complex Disputes
Litigating against self-represented parties in complex cases can pose unique challenges for attorneys, but for the most part, it requires the same skills that are useful in other cases — from documenting everything to understanding one’s ethical duties, says Bryan Ketroser at Alto Litigation.
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3 Cases Show Tensions Between Arbitration And Insolvency
The intersection of international arbitration and insolvency may influence the formulation of litigation strategy on a global scale, and several recent cases illustrate the need for counsel to understand how courts are varying in their approaches, say attorneys at Skadden.