GUEST COLUMNS
Friday, April 17, 2026
U.S. military interventions are costly and often ineffective, leaving instability abroad while increasing financial, human, and political strain at home.
An ongoing oil shock is exposing California's energy vulnerability and the limits of Title 24, which, while improving efficiency, is increasingly misaligned with electrification, AI-driven demand and climate resilience needs.
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
A California appellate decision confirms that ignorance is no defense for prime contractors when payroll records show no apprentices.
AI adoption is already widespread, making bans unrealistic and strategically unsound; instead, leaders must distinguish value-enhancing use from risky shortcuts--often by asking better questions.
Monday, April 13, 2026
When the Pasadena/Altadena wildfires left rental housing standing but uninhabitable, the problem was not the law but its enforcement--making the writ of mandate a particularly sharp tool for closing that gap.
Human performers rely on privacy and publicity rights to control their brand. But when the performer is an animal, those doctrines fall away--leaving trademark law to fill the gap.
Friday, April 10, 2026
California's new 2026 construction laws limit retentions on private projects and create a structured claims process to speed payments and reduce disputes.
Futures prediction markets raise questions about legality, insider trading, and unpaid bets, with the Supreme Court poised to decide the limits of federal preemption and states' rights.
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Retirement plan disclosures are about to get less digital and more complicated, as the Labor Department's proposal would require certain benefit statements to be furnished on paper, even when plans otherwise rely on electronic disclosure.
The California Legislature has enacted a slew of AI regulations for employers to contend with, increasing litigation risks and compliance costs as employers increasingly use AI tools in their hiring and workforce management.
Monday, April 6, 2026
The Supreme Court is considering whether President Trump can use an executive order to reinterpret the 14th Amendment and undermine birthright citizenship, raising critical questions about presidential power and constitutional limits.
Illinois v. Trump highlights the clash
between federal power and state control over the National Guard, showing how
the Posse Comitatus and Insurrection Acts restrict presidential use of military
force at home.
Friday, April 3, 2026
The Supreme Court is considering whether President Trump can use an executive order to reinterpret the 14th Amendment and undermine birthright citizenship, raising critical questions about presidential power and constitutional limits.
California's bar ethics committee has a new warning for attorneys using AI -- but the real problem isn't hallucinations, it's the missing accountability layer that only a licensed attorney can fill.
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
California's expanded military diversion law gives lawyers a vital tool to secure just outcomes for veterans by addressing service-related conditions instead of defaulting to conviction.
California's aggressive tax regime is now targeting luxury car owners and dealers using out-of-state schemes like the Montana loophole, turning what once seemed like routine tax avoidance into a growing wave of audits, penalties and even criminal prosecutions.
Monday, March 30, 2026
CARE Court has gone from experiment to scoreboard, with counties now judged on filings, outcomes and their ability to turn court orders into real-world treatment.
As cross-border disputes involving China increase, U.S. counsel must recognize fundamental differences in discovery, judicial roles, evidentiary rules, precedent, timing and enforcement between U.S. and Chinese litigation systems.
Friday, March 27, 2026
Most law firm business plans fail not from poor strategy but from weak execution, including vague goals, limited partner buy-in, and disconnects among marketing, client service, and business development.
The IRS's new guidance on qualified production property (QPP) clarifies eligibility, allocation and recapture rules, giving taxpayers a significant opportunity to claim accelerated depreciation for property used in manufacturing, refining or production.
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
The 9th Circuit puts ideology above women's privacy, forcing a Korean spa to abandon centuries-old traditions, religious beliefs and the safety of its patrons.
Every lawyer should know a few key tax rules that can shape what plaintiffs actually take home after a case resolves. Settlement wording, the claims involved and even how checks and Forms 1099 are issued can change the tax result.
Monday, March 23, 2026
The guidance shows how Treasury intends to integrate the Trump Account program into the IRS's existing administrative framework rather than building an entirely new benefit-delivery system.
Courts already function largely online; completing the transition to a near-fully remote system would deliver meaningful cost savings while improving access, efficiency and convenience for the public.
Friday, March 20, 2026
In light of recent U.S. military action against Iran, this article analyzes the definition of war, the constitutional allocation of war powers between Congress and the President, and the War Powers Resolution and exceeded presidential authority.
With construction costs projected to stay high through 2026, developers can no longer depend on historical pricing or boilerplate contracts, particularly on high-rise and mixed-use projects where risk and feasibility are tightly linked.
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