Keep your finger on the legal world's pulse
9th May 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
McDermott and Schulte plan to merge
McDermott, Will & Emery and Schulte, Roth & Zabel are "actively finalizing" a merger deal that is expected to become official in the coming months, the firms have said in a joint statement. “We are operating from a position of shared strength, and our vision is to deepen our ability to serve our clients at the highest levels. We anticipate an official combination in the coming months,” the statement said. The deal would create a combined law firm with more than $2.8bn in gross revenue last year, and would likely place it among the country’s 20 largest by that metric, Bloomberg Law notes.
LAWSUITS
Federal lawsuit claims UCLA medical school uses race-based admissions process
A federal class action lawsuit has been filed against UCLA's medical school, alleging that race is improperly considered in admissions, violating state law and Supreme Court rulings. The lawsuit, initiated by the activist group Do No Harm, Students for Fair Admissions, and Kelly Mahoney, claims that UCLA officials engage in "intentional discrimination on the basis of race and ethnicity." Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, chairman of Do No Harm, said: "Do No Harm is fighting for all the students who have been racially discriminated against by UCLA under the guise of political progress." The lawsuit also claims that Black applicants with lower GPAs and MCAT scores are admitted while white and Asian applicants face stricter standards. The Department of Justice is investigating UCLA for potential violations of admissions practices, and the university has said it will cooperate fully.
Indigenous community files $200m lawsuit against Ottawa
Pikangikum First Nation has filed a $200m lawsuit against Ottawa, citing a failure to provide clean drinking water and sanitation services to its community of about 4,000 members. The lawsuit claims that the government breached its constitutional obligations by not ensuring access to basic infrastructure. Chief Paddy Peters said: “In 2025, our people still draw their drinking water from the lake because there is no trust that our treated water is safe to drink.” The First Nation had previously requested $60m for immediate repairs to its water and wastewater system, but the request remains unapproved. The community has faced numerous emergencies due to inadequate water supply and sanitation facilities. Only 29 of 521 housing units having piped water service.
CASES
U.S. judge sides with FDA
U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman has upheld the Food and Drug Administration's decision to remove Eli Lilly's weight loss and diabetes drugs, Zepbound and Mounjaro, from the list of medicines in short supply. The decision has significant implications for patients seeking access to more affordable alternatives. The ruling also affects compounding pharmacies that had been producing copies of these drugs during the shortage. Lee Rosebush, Chairman of the Outsourcing Facilities Association, expressed disappointment, saying: "Drug shortage determinations affect patient access to medical treatment and should be based on sound reasoning and verifiable data." The judge's order means that compounding pharmacies must cease production, which could limit patient access to these essential therapies.
Meta wins verdict against spyware firm
Meta Platforms has secured a $168m verdict against Israeli spyware firm NSO, concluding a lengthy legal battle over NSO's exploitation of a vulnerability in WhatsApp to deploy spyware. The jury awarded Meta $444,719 in compensatory damages and $167.3m in punitive damages, marking a significant victory for privacy and security against illegal spyware practices. NSO plans to review the verdict and may pursue legal remedies.
CYBERSECURITY
Ransomware group Lockbit hit by hack
The notorious ransomware group Lockbit has reportedly experienced a breach of its own, as indicated by a rogue post on one of its darkweb sites. The message, stating "Don't do crime CRIME IS BAD xoxo from Prague," included a link to what appears to be a cache of leaked data. Christiaan Beek, senior director of threat analytics at Rapid7, said that "The leaked information looks real." He highlighted the aggressive tactics Lockbit employs to extract even small payouts from victims. Some darkweb sites linked to Lockbit were found to be inoperative, suggesting potential disruptions in their operations. Lockbit, often referred to as "the Walmart of ransomware groups," has previously survived significant law enforcement actions, demonstrating its resilience in the cybercrime landscape.
APPOINTMENTS
Sheppard Mullin Recruits Linas Grikis
Linas Grikis has joined Sheppard Mullin, Richter & Hampton as a partner in its healthcare practice in Chicago. Grikis, who previously worked at Polsinelli, serves as lead counsel in various strategic transactions, including mergers and acquisitions. He provides guidance to large hospitals, community health systems, and private equity firms on forming affiliations and joint ventures.
Orrick Hires Adam Moncrieff
Adam Moncrieff has joined Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe as an energy partner in Singapore, focusing on large-scale energy and infrastructure projects. His expertise spans the natural gas value chain, including upstream natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and gas-to-power, as well as renewable energy and energy transition initiatives. Moncrieff previously worked at A&O Shearman.
CORPORATE
Hudson's Bay Co. looks to repay senior debt with liquidation sale proceeds
Hudson's Bay Co. is seeking court approval to repay as much as C$165m owed to its senior lenders, as the retailer's liquidation sales continue to clear out its stores across the country. The court filing also revealed that company insiders, including executive chairman Richard Baker, are not bidding on any of the company’s assets. Hudson’s Bay, its advisers and the monitor overseeing the process, are now reviewing multiple bids for both the store leases and part or all of the company’s assets and operations, which include its intellectual property.
REGULATION
Cryptocurrency regulation efforts hampered by Trump crypto ventures
Tensions in Congress have escalated over former President Donald Trump's cryptocurrency ventures, leading to the cancellation of a key hearing on digital asset legislation. Representative Maxine Waters objected to the hearing, citing concerns about potential conflicts of interest stemming from Trump's promotion of his own crypto projects, including a meme coin called $Trump. The development threatens the bipartisan momentum that had been building for cryptocurrency regulation, as lawmakers express frustration over the intertwining of Trump's business interests and legislative efforts.
OTHER
The pope who showed support for workers
Chicago-born Cardinal Robert F. Prevost was on Thursday named the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and the first American pope, taking the name Leo XIV. Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Matt Hamilton takes a look at the life of Pope Leo XIII, who served as pontiff from 1878 to 1903. In 1891, he used his platform to defend union organizing and the rights of workers in his encyclical, “Rerum Novarum.” He condemned “wealthy owners and all masters” who sought to profit off “the indigent and destitute.” His writing launched a latter-day focus by successive popes on the underclasses, capitalism and the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the few, Hamilton writes.

 

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