Emerging Litigation Podcast
FTC Warns Law Firms: Rethink Your Diversity Collaborations
The FTC has warned dozens of major U.S. law firms that participation in diversity certification programs could raise antitrust concerns. This episode examines the agency’s cautionary letters regarding the Mansfield Certification program, the potential for coordinated diversity efforts to be viewed as labor-market collusion, and the broader regulatory pressure facing law firms and media organizations. It also explores recent court decisions, executive branch enforcement trends, and the growing intersection of antitrust law, free speech, and diversity initiatives. As scrutiny intensifies, firms must navigate evolving legal risks while maintaining independence and competitive integrity.
Cannabis Laws & Workplace Drug Testing: What Employers & Employees MUST Know in 2026
As cannabis laws continue to evolve nationwide, employers and employees are facing new questions about drug testing, workplace safety, and legal compliance. In this episode, labor and employment attorney Keya Denner of Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete explains how changing cannabis policies intersect with the ADA, privacy rights, and fitness-for-duty requirements. The discussion covers documentation best practices, reasonable accommodation, and how legal drug use affects workplace policies. Essential listening for HR professionals, business leaders, and anyone navigating substance use, safety obligations, and employment law in a rapidly shifting legal landscape.
An Innovative New Law Firm Self-Ranking Tool with Molly Huie and Sara Lord
What if law firms could measure success using more than just headcount and revenue? In this episode, Molly Huie of Bloomberg Industry Group joins data strategist Sara Lord of Reed Smith to discuss Bloomberg’s innovative Leading Law Firms self-ranking tool. The program blends financial strength, talent, innovation, growth, and excellence metrics into an interactive platform that helps firms benchmark performance in a more meaningful way. The conversation explores how the tool benefits business development leaders, managing partners, and firms of all sizes seeking data-driven insights.
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Critical Legal Content was founded by Tom Hagy, former Editor & Publisher of Mealey’s Litigation Reports and VP at LexisNexis, founder of HB, current litigation podcaster and editor-in-chief. CLC’s mission is to help smaller firms and service providers not only create content — blogs, articles, papers, webinars, podcasts (like the stuff on this site) — but also to get it out there. How? Via social media, this website, your website, and potential via our podcast and journal which we publish in collaboration with vLex Fastcase and Law Street Media. The goal is to attract readers and dizzy them with your brilliance.
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Emerging Litigation Journal
FTC Warns Law Firms About Diversity Certifications – This Time Alluding to Antitrust
The FTC has warned major U.S. law firms that participation in diversity certification programs could raise antitrust concerns, framing coordinated diversity efforts as a potential labor-market competition issue. This article examines the Commission’s cautionary letters regarding the Mansfield Certification program, the broader pattern of executive branch pressure on law firms and media organizations, and recent court decisions addressing discrimination claims and government retaliation. It also explores how antitrust enforcement, free speech concerns, and regulatory scrutiny are converging to reshape the legal and media landscapes. As political pressure and enforcement intensify, firms must reassess collaborative initiatives while preserving independence and competitive integrity.
FTC Warns Law Firms: Rethink Your Diversity Collaborations
The FTC has warned dozens of major U.S. law firms that participation in diversity certification programs could raise antitrust concerns. This episode examines the agency’s cautionary letters regarding the Mansfield Certification program, the potential for coordinated diversity efforts to be viewed as labor-market collusion, and the broader regulatory pressure facing law firms and media organizations. It also explores recent court decisions, executive branch enforcement trends, and the growing intersection of antitrust law, free speech, and diversity initiatives. As scrutiny intensifies, firms must navigate evolving legal risks while maintaining independence and competitive integrity.
Using AI to Strengthen Law Firm Content Development – JD Supra ‘Office Hours’ with Tom Hagy
In a JD Supra Office Hours session, legal content strategist Tom Hagy shared practical guidance on how law firm marketers can use AI to strengthen — not replace — their content development process. Framing AI as an editorial assistant rather than an author, Hagy explained how marketers can use the technology to generate better ideas, improve structure, translate legal complexity for business audiences, and repurpose existing firm content more effectively. He also emphasized that human judgment remains essential for accuracy, voice, and credibility. The discussion offers a clear, practical roadmap for integrating AI into law firm marketing workflows while maintaining editorial standards and client trust.
HB Webinars on CeriFi LegalEdge
The DOJ’s Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program 2025 : Take the CLE Webinar
The Department of Justice’s new Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program is reshaping how insider reporting is incentivized in fraud-related antitrust cases. In this CLE webinar, leading whistleblower attorney Julie Bracker and veteran antitrust litigator Dan Mogin explain how the program works, who qualifies, and what types of violations may lead to monetary awards of up to 30% of criminal fines. The session covers whistleblower protections, antitrust enforcement fundamentals, strategic considerations, and current DOJ priorities—offering essential guidance for counsel navigating this rapidly evolving enforcement landscape.
Maryland Child Victims Act: Defending & Pursuing Insurance Coverage for Abuse Claims | Get CLE
Maryland’s Child Victims Act has opened the door to a surge of revived abuse claims, raising significant challenges for institutions, insurers, and counsel. In this CLE webinar, Cameron Argetsinger, Brian Della Torre, Glen Feinberg, and Sean Gugerty examine the law’s key provisions, emerging litigation trends, and complex insurance coverage issues. The program explores liability risks for schools, nonprofits, and religious organizations, and offers practical guidance on locating historic policies, managing notice obligations, and navigating insurer defenses. Essential insight for anyone handling CVA-related litigation or insurance recovery.
Sexual Abuse & Insurance
Join Marshall Gilinsky and John Lacey of Anderson Kill, along with Brian Della Torre of ARMR, for a CLE webinar focused on navigating sexual abuse claims through insurance recovery. Learn how to locate and leverage historic liability policies, understand allocation and occurrence issues, and overcome common insurer defenses. Discover how institutions can access valuable coverage through strategic claims, litigation tactics, and insurance archaeology.
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