A cassette tape labeled "A" is placed on a clear plastic case next to a pair of over-ear headphones and a cassette player on a white surface.

The Legal Tightrope: Using Secret Recordings in California Litigation

"Everything" is Recorded . .  . . With smartphones in everyone's pockets, secretly recording conversations has become almost second nature for some. These recordings might seem like the ultimate evidence in legal battles, but beware: they're usually inadmissible in court and often illegal to obtain. So, what happens when your "smoking gun" is an illegal

Two businessmen interacting with futuristic digital interfaces, displaying data security and technology graphics, in a stylized office setting.

Deepfakes and the Legal Avenues to Combat Them

Deepfakes — sophisticated AI-generated videos capable of seamlessly grafting a person's face and voice onto another body — are stark examples of the challenges faced with AI technologies. Deepfakes are hyper-realistic fabrications that blur the lines between truth and fiction, presenting a formidable threat in the realm of misinformation. Deepfakes also have political implications, painting

HB logo on gray background

Welcome to the Jungle: The Rise of the Paper Tiger and Aggressive Litigation Tactics

Lawyers Are Becoming Less Civil In the world of litigation, the rise of what I've come to call the "paper tiger" has become increasingly prevalent. California Rule of Court 9.7 requires all attorneys to conduct themselves with dignity, courtesy, and integrity, and most states have similar ethical standards in place. The American Bar Association's Model

Evidence spoilation

Evidence Preservation 101: Don't Let the Delete Button Win!

Stop. Do not hit delete. When a dispute might lead to litigation, it is crucial to press pause on the delete button and press save instead. In California, the duty to preserve evidence triggers when a party reasonably should know of its relevance. There is nothing worse than having to explain in the middle of

international litigation

How One Bad Deposition Can Damage a Strong Case

How One Bad Deposition Can Damage a Strong Business Case A deposition is where one underprepared witness can undo months of careful work. The company assembles its documents and settles on its legal theory, and its damages get worked out to the dollar. Then an executive guesses at a figure, or calls a routine practice

A man and woman in a courtroom.

Expert Witnesses 101

As most litigators would tell a client, choosing the right expert in litigation can be the difference between winning and losing. I have litigated many cases and I have seen first-hand how picking the right or wrong expert can have an incredible impact on the outcome of the case. Litigators often say that a case

cyrpto airdrops

The Current Legal Status of Staking in the Crypto World

The Legal Status of Staking in the Crypto World With BTC, ETH, and other cryptocurrencies trending upward in Q4 2023 and into 2024, it is a good time to revisit an issue I have been thinking about lately. What is the legal status of staking? The Basics About Staking According to Coinbase, staking is multifaceted

International contract lawyer

The Importance of Choice of Law Provisions in Sales Contracts

Choice-of-Law Provisions in Contracts Few contract provisions are as important and yet often overlooked as the choice-of-law provision. This provision determines which jurisdiction's legal framework will govern the contract and shapes how disputes will be resolved and how legal rights will be interpreted. It is essentially the legal compass guiding the contractual relationship. Making the

Subscribe To Our Blog

Explore the latest legal news and insight regarding China, cannabis, international law, immigration, dispute resolution and Web3.