Nathan Miles

Wow, what a great story about M&S corporate lawyer Joseph Ward and his dozen years of coaching the Transactional Law Team at his alma mater, the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. “Under Ward’s mentorship, students learned to prioritize client needs, anticipate issues, collaborate effectively, and draft precise legal documents," the article says. "My clear favorite thing was working with the students and watching them develop and grow,” added Joe. “Seeing them actually start to think creatively because they understood the concepts and learned how to move forward was a very gratifying and exhilarating experience.” Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e4NcSbVP #Mentor #TransactionalLaw #CorporateLaw #Mergers

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With court-ordered arbitration on the rise book your session conveniently online with Alabama's largest arbitration and mediation firm. Select from our experienced neutrals, adept in both virtual and in-person proceedings. Take charge of your schedule with our user-friendly website and intuitive calendar system. Streamline your arbitration experience with us today. #schreiberadr #mediation #arbitration #accomplished #dedicated #responsive

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On June 27, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a Maryland district court judgment that confirmed arbitral awards issued in favor of Seiden Law’s client, the Estate of Ke Zhengguang. The case has been discussed on Law360 and Bloomberg Law; articles on the case can be found in the link after the jump. The underlying arbitration concerned a complex dispute related to real property in mainland China, which culminated in an arbitration before the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC).   Between 2018 and 2020, the HKIAC issued a series of awards.  The Estate filed a petition to confirm the awards in a Maryland district court against one of the arbitral respondents, Stephany Yu, who lives in Maryland.  In January 2023, the district court confirmed the awards and issued a $4 million judgment in favor of the Estate. The Fourth Circuit’s unanimous twenty-three-page decision addresses important questions related to the enforcement of international arbitral awards in the United States, including the availability of a forum non conveniens defense under the New York Convention, and whether arbitral awards that are denominated in a foreign currency can be converted into US dollar judgments.  The Fourth Circuit held that a forum non conveniens defense was inapplicable under the facts of this case, even if such a defense is available under the Convention. The Fourth Circuit also held that it was reasonable for the district court to enter judgment in US dollars, notwithstanding that the arbitral panel’s merits award was denominated in Chinese Renminbi (RMB). Seiden Law partner and litigation chair Amiad Kushner argued the appeal. Senior counsel Jennifer Blecher and Senior Associate Xintong Zhang were on the brief. Paralegal Lily Dempsey provided invaluable assistance. https://lnkd.in/eNQPgVax https://lnkd.in/eFD4zniu

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James Hankins III, partner Goodman McGuffey LLP, wins summary judgment in UM coverage case where the Plaintiff argued the UM rejection form with an electronic signature did not comply with Georgia law. In Smith-Allen v. Pearson-Kendrick, et. al., the Plaintiff filed a lawsuit against Mr. Pearson-Kendrick, and initially, the Plaintiff served Esurance as his purported UM carrier. When Esurance filed its answer to the case, the Plaintiff then amended his complaint and asserted a breach of contract claim against Esurance. Esurance moved for summary judgment, arguing the Plaintiff had rejected UM coverage on the policy, providing the UM rejection form. Plaintiff initially argued the UM rejection form did not comply with Georgia law because it contained an electronic signature. Then, the Plaintiff argued the signatures on the different policy documents varied, and thus, there was an issue of fact on whether the Plaintiff elected to reject UM coverage. In support of its motion, Esurance offered evidence to show how an insured like the Plaintiff would navigate the portal to make changes to an insured’s policy, and Esurance showed that the computer forms in the system created and populated an electronic signature into the form when an insured selected that he/she accepted the changes. The Court agreed with Esurance that the Plaintiff rejected UM coverage and then granted Esurance’s motion for summary judgment.  https://lnkd.in/gTBRm2-J

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The 2024 Diversity Survey, conducted by our friends at Leopard Solutions, a Surepoint company, in collaboration with ATL, explored the experiences of diverse attorneys at large law firms. More than 600 lawyers shared their insights, and earlier this month, we highlighted some of the results.  The survey reveals that law firm partnership remains the career objective for most of the lawyers surveyed. A majority of participants (64%) reported that their goal upon entering a top 200 law firm was to make partner. Almost the same number (65%) indicated that their goals remained unchanged after joining the firm.  . . . #diversity #communication #humanresources #diversityinlaw #diversityequityinclusion #womeninlaw #leadership #progress #transparency #accountability #lawfirms #atlantalawyer #legalrecruiting #AtlantaLegalRecruiters #theRMNagency #legalrecruitingfirm #legalrecruiter #legalrecruiters #legalsearch #atlantalegalrecruiters #atlantalawfirms #biglaw #smalllawfirm #inhousecounsel #associate #partner

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Navigating the journey of adoption in Virginia can be uniquely challenging for LGBTQ+ families. This blog post by Stephanie Sauer, Partner & Family Law Group Chair, and Cassidy Stoneback, our LGBTQ+ Outreach Coordinator, covers the types of adoptions available and how to protect your growing family. Having a supportive and knowledgeable attorney by your side can make the adoption process much smoother. If your family is considering adoption, contact us to schedule a consultation (consults@thegellerlawgroup.com). #LGBTQAdoption #FamilyLaw #AdoptionInVirginia #GellerLawGroup #LGBTQFamilies

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You can count on our neutrals to be experienced and empathetic to all parties involved. Follow our page for regular insights from our neutrals and timely updates on the mediation and arbitration practice. ALABAMA'S LARGEST MEDIATION FIRM | SCHREIBER ADR Accomplished. Dedicated. Responsive. #mediation #arbitration #schreiberadr

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📢NEW PUBLICATION by Associate Attorney, Gianna N. Elliot, Esq.: “How Attorneys and Social Workers Can Unite to Confront Human Trafficking”. The National Law Journal Click the link below to read the full publication 🔗👇 https://lnkd.in/eyRRDsBq

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👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Columbia Law School is No. 2 on Law.com's list of 2024 Go-To Law Schools for getting a job in Big Law. See the full list and insights here: 🟦 The 2024 Top 50 Go-To Law Schools: Big Law https://lnkd.in/gDxt2qVR

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On April 17, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Thornell v. Jones, a case implicating the test for ineffective assistance of counsel—and the first and only oral argument in a death penalty case scheduled this term. Arizona appealed the Ninth Circuit’s decision vacating the death sentence of Danny Lee Jones, which found that Mr. Jones was prejudiced by his attorney’s failure to present key mitigating evidence as to Mr. Jones’ brain damage, childhood physical and sexual abuse, and psychiatric problems. The case marks the second time the Supreme Court has considered a Ninth Circuit ruling on ineffective assistance of counsel in Mr. Jones’ case; the Court summarily overturned the Ninth Circuit’s 2011 decision in his favor. (See DPIC’s earlier reporting on the case.) Under Strickland v. Washington (1984), an attorney is ineffective when 1) his performance is deficient, and 2) the deficient performance prejudices the defendant. When an attorney fails to present certain evidence, a court weighs the new evidence alongside the aggravating and mitigating factors present in the case and asks whether there is a “reasonable probability” that the outcome might have been different if the attorney had presented the new evidence at trial. All parties in this case agreed on the first prong—that Mr. Jones’ attorney, Lee Novak, performed deficiently at trial—but the oral arguments focused on whether the appellate courts properly weighed the factors when determining prejudice. Click to read more. . . . #deathpenalty #SCOTUS

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Legal Precedents and Their Impact: Lessons from the Maryland Paralegal Case https://lnkd.in/gkykJ6Xy #Legal #Law #Paralegal #Rights #Change

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BME’s Michael Terry is quoted in a Daily Report | ALM article on the Supreme Court of Georgia's ruling determining that the March 2020 COVID-19 judicial emergency order can toll the state's five-year medical malpractice statute of repose, reversing a previous Georgia Court of Appeals decision. According to Terry, the decision comes with broader implications and is important for several reasons: “All cases arising before or during the COVID Emergency and subject to a statute of repose are directly impacted by this holding. This ruling may result in longer periods to file products liability cases for the next six years, for example.” Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eUU-DXWZ

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Ever tuned into courtroom audio out of Virginia? It's a goldmine for lawyers, law students, and anyone interested in staying up-to-date with the legal landscape. But let's face it, the Virginia Supreme Court and Court of Appeals have their content on platforms that are far from user-friendly. Here's the game-changer: by downloading these public domain recordings and running them through AI, it's possible to strip out all the filler words and unnecessary pauses. What's left is a crisp, clean audio, perfect for integrating with some strategic commercials for a law firm. This is not just about providing a service; it's about making legal proceedings more accessible to the public. And guess what? Once it's done, it's unlikely anyone else will jump in because the stage is already set. For those curious about how this works and maybe even want to replicate it in their own state, the door is open. It's a straightforward process and can make a real impact. To get the full scoop on this innovative approach, make sure to listen to the latest episode of The Renegade Lawyers Podcast. Full episode: https://pbp.li/trlp39. #LegalTech #Innovation #CourtroomAudio #RenegadeLawyers #PublicDomain #LawFirmMarketing #VirginiaLaw #AccessToJustice

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Can we please drop "by and through the undersigned counsel"? Your signature is at the bottom of the motion. That is all--for now 😁 Follow Patrick Hagen and click the 🔔 to get my next legal writing tip.

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#LegalTermTuesday: Appellate 📚 Did you know some lawyers specialize in appellate practice? These attorneys focus on handling appeals, aiming to overturn or defend trial court decisions. At UMLC, our appellate lawyers are dedicated to ensuring justice is upheld.

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Governor signs Seth’s Law, advancing mental health reforms in KY Passage was a legislative priority of the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health In a significant step forward for mental health reform in Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear has signed into law House Bill 385, known as Seth’s Law. It is named in honor of the late Seth Stevens, former attorney for the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health (KJCMH). Crafted from KJCMH recommendations, Seth’s Law aims to improve guardianship and competency proceedings across the commonwealth. The bill was signed April 9 after the Kentucky General Assembly passed HB 385 earlier in its session with overwhelming bipartisan support. The 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly will conclude today (April 15). The section of Seth’s Law focusing on guardianship reform was modeled after similar legislation enacted three years ago in Indiana. Other sections of Seth’s Law focus on competency evaluations ordered by a court. Unlike the current law, which mandated evaluations at the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center (KCPC), HB 385 will allow outpatient evaluations in various settings, including jails and community facilities. The diversification of evaluation locations is geared toward alleviating the strain on KCPC. With a waitlist averaging 12 months, capacity issues have hindered timely assessments, affecting defendants and the judicial system. Statistics indicate that approximately 70% of defendants evaluated at KCPC are deemed competent to stand trial. By implementing outpatient evaluations, those defendants should undergo assessment within a significantly shorter timeframe of three to five weeks. The bill honors the memory of Seth Stevens, a passionate advocate for mental health reform, who died by suicide in 2023. Established in August 2022, the KJCMH meets quarterly and is divided into three committees, each focusing on one of these topics: criminal justice, civil and family justice, and treatment and access. Each committee has workgroups on juvenile justice; competency; prearrest/diversion; reentry; dependency, neglect and abuse; domestic violence; guardianship and commitment; strengthening community responses; court responses; and intellectual and developmental disabilities. The public is invited to become involved with the KJCMH. To learn more about the commission or join a workgroup, please visit kcoj.info/KJCMH or email JCMH@kycourts.net.

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