BUSINESS TRIAL LAWYERS

Process servers are now required to show proof of due diligence when serving parties in California. AB 747, the bill known as the SPARE (“Service of Process Accountability, Reform, and Equity”) Act was signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom and is set to take effect on January 1, 2027. The act introduces significant […]

The recent decision in Chong v. Mardirossian Akaragian LLP, B341157 (Cal. Ct. App. Jan. 8, 2026) takes up the issue of how to determine contingency fee arrangements when an attorney is fired before the end of a case. This case concerns a settlement agreement negotiated by the attorney but unratified by the client until after […]

The California legislature has passed several laws expanding employees’ rights that are set to go into effect in early 2026. Several employment-related laws are set to go into effect in 2026. Minimum wage Increase and New Exempt Employee Thresholds Beginning January 1, 2026, California’s minimum wage increases to $16.90 per hour (this is increased from […]

Recently, the Maloney Firm’s Greg Smith secured a significant victory for our client Andy Cruz, the Olympic gold medal-winning boxer and undefeated lightweight contender. Judge Orrick of the Northern District of California ruled a 2023 promotional agreement between Cruz and New Champion promotions was invalid and unenforceable. Cruz is now able to continue advancing his […]

Update February 20, 2026 Since we first published this post, the stakes surrounding AI in the legal profession have increased. Alongside cases emerging nationwide involving issues with artificial intelligence-induced citation hallucinations, there are increasing instances of attorneys using heretofore trustworthy sources for research that have been found to be laden with errors. We have become […]

Attorneys looking to transition their career into private mediation or arbitration will still need to maintain their active State Bar licenses, according to a recent ruling by the California Court of Appeal. Getzels v. State Bar of California, 2025 No. B338089 (Cal. Ct. App., 2d Dist., Div. 4, June 26, 2025) reinforces California’s regulatory approach […]