Civil Law

Morning At AI Summit: Tech Debt, Cultural Debt, Whack-A-Mole, And The Benefits Of “I Don’t Know“

Business leaders from Unilever, EY, and NBC Universal shared a consistent message at the AI Summit: embrace the ‘I don’t know’ and think holistically about AI transformation.

The contrast with how most law firms approach AI couldn’t be more striking. While other industries talk about reimagining entire workflows, legal still treats AI as something to bolt onto existing processes.

They also discussed the concept of  “cultural debt”:following the cow path just because it’s visible, even when it leads nowhere productive. Sound … Read the rest

Civil Law

The 2026 ‘burning issues’ confronting firm leaders

Keywords: Uncertain, Unstable, Changing, Chaotic, Complex, Technology, AI, Private Equity, Talent, Litigation Finance

[Editor’s note: This post is an large excerpt from Patrick’s and Michael’s annual survey of law firm leaders. By a wide margin, what makes this year’s survey so interesting are the numbers of issues that five or ten years ago, no one would have seen coming—AI, PE investment in law firms. Many thanks to Patrick and Michael for sharing these interesting and provocative findings. wdh.]

Everybody wants … Read the rest

Civil Law

Hourly Wages Plus Productivity Bonuses Survive California Court of Appeal Challenge

Recently, in Mora v. C.E. Enterprises, Inc., the California Court of Appeal upheld a trial court’s decision in favor of an auto dealership alleged to have used an improper “piece rate” or “flag hours” compensation model.

Two former service technicians alleged that the dealership’s compensation system violated requirements for compensating for productive and non-productive time and failed to comply with Labor Code section 226.2. They claimed they were not fully compensated for all hours worked and sought relief under … Read the rest

Civil Law

Healthcare & Life Sciences Private Equity Deal Tracker: Vance Street Acquires Injectech

Vance Street Capital has announced its acquisition of Injectech from The West Group (TWG).

Injectech, founded in 1998 and based in Fort Collins, Colorado, is a manufacturer of luer locks, bond-in luers, check valves, tube to tube connectors and spikes for the medical industry.

Vance Street, founded in 2007 and based in Los Angeles, is a middle market private equity firm that invests in several sectors, including medical technology and life science. The firm typically pursues companies with between $ … Read the rest

Civil Law

FCA PS25/17: The SI regime for bonds and derivatives including Discussion Paper on equity markets

On 28 November 2025, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published Policy Statement 25/17: The SI regime for bonds and derivatives including Discussion Paper on equity markets (PS25/17).

Background

In November 2024, the FCA published Policy Statement 24/14 which introduced new bond and derivative transparency rules for trading venues from 1 December 2025. The regulator also included in chapter 9 of the Policy Statement a short section for discussion on the future of the systematic internaliser (… Read the rest