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S.D.N.Y.Litigation

New York City sues personal injury firm Asher & Associates under RICO over alleged fabricated claims

New York City sued Manhattan personal injury firm Asher & Associates and principals Ryan Asher and Roberta Asher in federal court in Manhattan, alleging the firm falsely blamed clients' injuries on defective city roadways. The complaint, filed on Sunday, October 4, 2026, seeks treble damages under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and penalties under city and state false claims laws.

Filing (Bloomberg Law) → · ABA Journal
N.Y.Regulation

New York declares measles disaster emergency, expands who can vaccinate

Governor Kathy Hochul issued Executive Order No. 65 on October 5, declaring a statewide disaster emergency over a measles outbreak after New York recorded 108 cases through October 3, including 92 since mid-July in rural communities across 18 counties. The order authorizes paramedics, advanced EMS providers, pharmacists and midwives to administer MMR vaccine and allows nurses to order measles testing. The emergency runs through November 4.

Text (Governor Kathy Hochul) → · WIXX (Reuters)
D.C.People moves

Latham hires Baker Botts' Lisa Kattan as ITC practice co-chair in Washington

Latham & Watkins said on October 5, 2026, that Lisa Kattan has joined its Washington, D.C., office from Baker Botts as a partner in its intellectual property litigation practice and co-chair of its International Trade Commission practice. Kattan represents technology and life sciences companies in Section 337 investigations and related patent disputes and earlier spent five years at the ITC as a senior investigative attorney.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · PR Newswire
N.Y.People moves

Dechert hires former CFTC official Carl Kennedy to lead commodities and derivatives

Dechert said on October 5, 2026, that Carl Kennedy has joined as a partner and head of commodities and derivatives in its financial services group in New York. Kennedy, who joins from Katten Muchin Rosenman, represents swap dealers, futures commission merchants, and market infrastructure clients, advises prediction market platforms, and previously served as senior counsel and policy advisor at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Announcement (PR Newswire) → · Bloomberg Law
UKResearch

Law Society report warns justice system in England and Wales is not ready for agentic AI

The Law Society of England and Wales said on October 5, 2026, that the justice system is not ready for agentic AI, publishing a foresight study on how AI systems that act on users' behalf could reshape justice over the next decade. It said such tools could ease administrative pressures but warned that errors could spread quickly and accountability could fragment, and called for meaningful human oversight.

Paper (The Law Society) → · Legal Futures
N.Y.People moves

RPC opens first U.S. office in New York with insurance partner Scott Schechter

London-headquartered RPC said on October 5, 2026, that it has opened a New York office, its first in the United States, with the hire of insurance coverage partner Scott Schechter from Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan. Schechter will build a dedicated New York insurance team focused on claims with U.S. exposure, particularly in financial lines and cyber, working with RPC's insurance lawyers in the UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Announcement (PR Newswire) → · The Lawyer, Legal Business, Nonbillable
D.C.People moves

Squire Patton Boggs hires Womble Bond Dickinson capital markets partner Reid Avett

F. Reid Avett has joined Squire Patton Boggs as a partner in its global corporate practice in Washington, D.C., from Womble Bond Dickinson, the firm announced on October 5, 2026. Avett, a licensed CPA, advises on capital markets transactions, corporate governance, securities law compliance, shareholder matters, M&A, and stock exchange listing requirements.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Law360 Pulse

Rulings this week

All court orders

D.C.People moves

O'Melveny hires SEC enforcement lawyer D. Mark Cave as Washington partner

O'Melveny & Myers said on October 5, 2026, that D. Mark Cave has joined its white collar defense and corporate investigations practice as a partner in Washington, D.C., from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's enforcement staff. Cave advises corporations, financial institutions, investment advisers, broker-dealers, executives, and boards in SEC enforcement proceedings and related regulatory matters.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Law360 Pulse
U.S.Court order

Supreme Court declines to hear Corporate Transparency Act challenges

The U.S. Supreme Court on October 5, 2026, declined to hear two cases challenging the constitutionality of the Corporate Transparency Act, the federal beneficial ownership reporting law. The petitions argued the law violates the Fourth Amendment and exceeds Congress's commerce power; the denials came in the order list on the first day of the court's 2026 term.

Order (Bloomberg Law) → · MLex, Law360 Tax Authority, National Law Journal
UKPeople moves

Morrison Foerster hires Ashurst Perkins Coie tech M&A co-head Chris Grey in London

Morrison Foerster has hired Chris Grey, formerly global co-head of tech M&A at Ashurst Perkins Coie, as a partner in its London M&A practice and UK tech sector lead, The Lawyer and Nonbillable reported on October 5, 2026. Grey is the tenth transactional partner to join MoFo's London office since July 2025, and his arrival takes the London partnership to 25.

Announcement (The Lawyer) → · Nonbillable
U.S.Court order

Supreme Court vacates rulings on Washington legislative map, orders Ninth Circuit review under Callais

The Supreme Court granted certiorari in Garcia v. Hobbs and Trevino v. Hobbs, vacated the judgments and remanded both cases to the Ninth Circuit for further consideration in light of Louisiana v. Callais. The challengers, including a Republican state lawmaker, had argued that Washington's court-drawn Yakima Valley legislative map was a racial gerrymander after a 2023 ruling found the prior map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

Order (Supreme Court of the United States) → · Courthouse News Service, Democracy Docket, Campaign Legal Center
U.S.Court order

Supreme Court declines Maine lobstermen's Fourth Amendment challenge to boat tracking

The U.S. Supreme Court on October 5, 2026, declined to review a challenge by Maine lobstermen to a state Department of Marine Resources rule requiring continuous tracking of vessels that hold federal lobster permits. The denial leaves in place a First Circuit ruling that the rule does not violate the Fourth Amendment's protection against warrantless searches because commercial fishing is a closely regulated industry.

Order (Bloomberg Law) → · Law360
ILL.People moves

Sidley hires Kirkland investment funds partner Ryan McNish in Chicago

Sidley Austin said on October 5, 2026, that Ryan McNish has joined its investment funds practice as a partner in Chicago from Kirkland & Ellis. McNish structures and forms private investment funds and related general partner and management company vehicles for private equity sponsors, and Sidley said expanding its private equity fund formation capabilities is a key strategic priority.

Announcement (Law.com) → · Sidley Austin, Bloomberg Law
U.S. FEDPeople moves

Baker McKenzie hires Kirkland's Allison Murphy to co-lead congressional investigations

Kirkland & Ellis partner Allison Murphy joined Baker McKenzie on October 5, 2026, to co-lead its congressional investigations practice with former Justice Department official Rod Rosenstein. The hire comes weeks before midterm elections that will decide the balance of power in Congress, as large firms build out their congressional investigations benches.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Law360 Pulse, Law.com
FLA.People moves

Carlton Fields elects Richard Choi to succeed longtime CEO Gary Sasso in 2028

Carlton Fields has elected Richard Choi, managing shareholder of its Washington, D.C., office and a veteran financial services lawyer, as its next chief executive officer, the National Law Journal and Law360 reported on October 5, 2026. Choi will succeed Gary Sasso, who has led the firm as president and CEO for two decades, on January 1, 2028.

Announcement (The National Law Journal) → · Law360 Pulse
N.Y.People moves

Kelley Drye names Michael Lynch chair and adds co-managing partners Jackson and Zalman

Kelley Drye & Warren said on October 5, 2026, that Michael Lynch will become chair on January 1, 2027, succeeding Paul Rosenthal, and that Bill Jackson and David Zalman will serve as co-managing partners. Current managing partner Dana Rosenfeld will become senior advisor to the leadership team as the New York-based firm moves to a co-managing partner structure it says reflects its growth and the increasing complexity of running the firm.

Announcement (GlobeNewswire) → · Law.com, Law360 Pulse
HONG KONGPeople moves

Hogan Lovells Cadwalader hires Kirkland private capital partner Paul Guan in Hong Kong

Hogan Lovells Cadwalader said on October 5, 2026, that private capital and M&A partner Paul Guan has joined its Hong Kong office from Kirkland & Ellis. Guan advises private equity sponsors, institutional investors, and financial institutions on Asia-Pacific deals with a focus on real estate and data centers, and reunites with former Paul Hastings partners David Wang and Meka Meng as the firm continues Asia hiring after its July combination with Cadwalader.

Announcement (Hogan Lovells Cadwalader) → · Law.com International
UKPeople moves

Wolf Theiss opens London office led by Warsaw M&A partner Anna Dąbrowska

Vienna-headquartered Wolf Theiss said on October 5, 2026, that it is opening a London office led by partner Anna Dąbrowska, who previously led the firm's M&A team in Warsaw and is relocating from Poland. The office will connect London-based investors, corporates, and international law firms with the firm's teams across Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Europe, focusing on transactional, disputes, and compliance work.

Announcement (The Global Legal Post) → · Wolf Theiss
DENMARKFunding

Pandektes raises €13.5M Series A led by Alstin Capital to expand legal research platform

Copenhagen-based legal research company Pandektes announced on October 5, 2026, that it raised a €13.5 million Series A led by Munich-based Alstin Capital, with PROfounders, Scale Capital, and existing investors participating. The company says more than 500 organizations use its platform and that revenue grew sixfold over the past year; it plans to expand beyond Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland into more of Europe and North America and to widen API access to its structured legal data.

Announcement (The Next Web) → · Tech Funding News, Startbase
MASS.Regulation

Healey declares energy emergency, orders winter heating relief in Executive Order 659

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed Executive Order 659 on October 5, 2026, proclaiming an energy emergency through April 30, 2027. It directs agencies to create a one-time heating-oil benefit for households at 60 to 100% of state median income, supplement HEAP, fund removal of the SMART solar charge for at least three months, cut Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard costs by half and enforce against petroleum price gouging. The governor's office put the package at nearly $150 million.

Text (Mass.gov) → · Cape Cod Times
MICH.Regulation

Michigan adds gift card fraud to its organized retail crime felony, effective January 3, 2027

Michigan enacted Public Act 109 of 2026 (HB 4598), amending MCL 752.1084 of the Organized Retail Crime Act. Starting January 3, 2027, it is a crime to knowingly, and with intent to defraud, acquire gift cards or redemption information, alter or tamper with them, exploit holders, issuers or sellers, or use such cards to obtain value. Organized retail crime is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both.

Enrolled text (Michigan Legislature) → · MI House Republicans (gophouse.org), Governor Whitmer (michigan.gov)