EU Must Walk Tightrope With Carbon Tax Under WTO Rules

Eleanor Butler

Lawmakers behind the European Union's carbon import tax say the policy supports global climate action while remaining compliant with World Trade Organization rules — although experts note that treating all traders equally can be tricky in practice.

Ruling May Further Erode IRS' Post-Loper Bright Authority

Natalie Olivo
Senior Tax Correspondent

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims recently held that a general congressional grant of authority by itself cannot support tax regulations, potentially weakening a foothold the IRS had planned to use after the U.S. Supreme Court's 2024 Loper Bright ruling.

Atty Hopes AI Tool Can Make Tax Court More Accessible

Kat Lucero

An attorney has developed an artificial intelligence-powered tool that aims to give practitioners a new window into the U.S. Tax Court's sprawling docket with analyses of judge and attorney workloads, daily opinion summaries and real-time case updates. Michael Coverstone, counsel at Kostelanetz LLP, spoke to Law360 about what it can do.

Judges On AI: Examining Administrative, Organizational Uses

U.S. District Judge Alan Albright of the Western District of Texas examines how artificial intelligence could transform a court's ability to deal with administrative work and organize materials when preparing for hearings or drafting opinions, thereby affording judges more time to resolve contested issues.

Being A Magician Makes Me A Better Lawyer

The skills I've developed as a lifelong magician have translated directly into tangible benefits in the courtroom because performing magic and trying cases both live at the intersection of psychology, storytelling, timing and disciplined rehearsal, says Mark Dombroff at Fox Rothschild.

Choral Singing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Singing in the New York City Bar Chorus — a hobby partly inspired by the late U.S. District Judge Richard Owen, who infused my clerkship year with opera music — has improved my legal career by refining my abilities to listen, exude confidence and develop emotional intelligence, says Bonnie Baker at Friedman Kaplan.

Power To The Paralegals: Burnout As A Structural Problem

Law firm leadership can best retain their paralegals not by encouraging self-care, but by seeking top-down structural solutions for the quiet proliferation of responsibilities and the vicarious exposure to client trauma that particularly drive burnout in this vital role, says Erika Sneeringer at Brockstedt Mandalas.

Managing Post-IEEPA Tariff Refunds, Replacements And Risks

Companies and investors reeling from the rapid changes resulting from February's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act doesn't authorize tariffs should focus on understanding the duty refund process, the likely replacement tariffs and the operational ways they can minimize their tariff exposure, say attorneys at Debevoise.

Economic Questions To Ask Amid Tariff Refund Class Actions

The U.S. Supreme Court's recent holding that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act doesn't authorize the president to impose tariffs has sparked class actions, but determining whether a retailer received a windfall is complex, even if it passed tariff costs into consumer prices before receiving a refund, say economists at Ankura Consulting Group.

Cow Horse Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Moving an unwilling 800-pound cow while riding a horse at high speed is exhilarating, a little unhinged and, at least for me, a surprisingly effective training ground for litigation — both demand focus, preparation over rigid planning and the willingness to act despite fear, says Ashley Zitrin at Glenn Agre.

Checking For AI Errors Is Now A Two-Way Street

A handful of recent federal and state cases demonstrate the importance of checking for errors generated by artificial intelligence not only in your own court submissions, but also your opponent's, as well as when catching opposing counsel's AI mistakes could result in an award for attorney fees, says Tamara Barago at Hollingsworth.

5 Things Associates Must Ask About Their Firm's Merger Plan

The associates who navigate law firm mergers best ask the right questions early, such as inquiring about partners' plans, to assess how the merger could affect their workflow and career path, says Jackie Bokser-LeFebvre at Major Lindsey.

2 'Rocket Dockets' And The Rules That Propel Them

The fastest civil trial courts in the country are currently in the Eastern District of Virginia and the Southern District of Florida, and their chief judges provide insights into the court rules that keep them ahead, says Robert Tata at Hunton.

Your Next Litigation Hold Should Cover AI Chat Logs

The Delaware Chancery Court’s recent decision in Fortis Advisors v. Krafton to treat a CEO’s artificial intelligence chats as substantive evidence is being read as a discovery warning to litigators, but there is a second duty-to-preserve lesson that is especially pertinent to in-house counsel, say attorneys at Faegre Drinker.

Studying Foreign Languages Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Studying Italian and Japanese has shown me that learning a new language can benefit a legal career in several ways, including by demonstrating the importance of approaching problems from a fresh perspective and the value of practicing patience with colleagues and clients, says Anna King at Genworth Financial.

Sold Inventory May Drive Tax Treatment Of Tariff Refunds

Companies determining the tax treatment of refunds expected following the U.S. Supreme Court's February decision invalidating tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act should consider whether the tariff costs have already reduced their income considering the cost of goods sold, say attorneys at McDermott.