Independence and objectivity are critical to the credibility of any internal investigation. If stakeholders perceive any bias or undue influence, the investigation’s findings might be compromised, and the company’s reputation could suffer. Ensuring impartiality requires thoughtful planning around who conducts the investigation, appropriate reporting lines within the company, and maintaining confidentiality throughout the process. Best […]

Miller Johnson employment attorneys Rebecca Strauss and Sarah Willey break down the $11.5 million jury verdict against SHRM, yes, the Society for Human Resource Management itself. They walk through the real case facts, explain where things went wrong, and offer takeaways for HR professionals to avoid similar (and costly) mistakes. Tune in to explore how: […]

Sedlik v. Von Drachenberg et al., Case No. 24-3367 (9th Cir. 2026) On January 2, 2026, the Ninth Circuit affirmed a jury verdict finding that tattoo artist Katherine Von Drachenberg (also known as Kat Von D) and her tattoo parlor, High Voltage Tattoo, did not infringe photographer Jeffrey Sedlik’s copyright in an iconic photograph of […]

What should employers know about DOJ enforcement? In this episode, Miller Johnson employment attorney Rebecca Strauss sits down with her colleague, Jennifer McManus, a former federal prosecutor, to discuss what businesses need to know about internal investigations, criminal liability, and civil enforcement trends. Jennifer shares insights from her time with the Department of Justice and explains how private […]

Illinois Tamale Co., Inc. v. LC Trademarks, Inc., 2026 WL 125544 (7th Cir. Jan. 16, 2026) Be vigilant of how the public perceives your trademark, because if the primary significance of your mark has become the generic name of a good, you may lose your trademark. In Illinois Tamale Co., Inc. v. LC Trademarks, Inc, […]

Corporate investigations do not happen in a vacuum. They operate within a complex legal landscape shaped by wide-ranging regulatory obligations, employment laws, data-privacy rules, and privilege considerations. Navigating this framework requires not only legal expertise but also a deep understanding of how those contexts intersect. A misstep in any of these areas can undermine the […]

Vetter v. Resnik, 2026 WL 82842 (5th Cir. Jan. 12, 2026) The Fifth Circuit’s January 2026 decision in Vetter v. Resnik squarely addresses a fundamental question in copyright law: does termination recapture only U.S. rights, or does it restore the worldwide rights originally conveyed? In answering that question, the Court did more than simply side […]

Professional tennis is facing one of its most consequential legal battles in decades.  In March 2025, the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) filed federal antitrust lawsuits against the sport’s governing bodies—the ATP Tour, WTA Tour, International Tennis Federation (ITF), International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), and later the four Grand Slam tournaments—alleging coordinated practices that suppress […]

Micron Tech., Inc. v. Longhorn IP LLC, 2025 WL 3672528 (Fed Cir. Dec. 18, 2025) Instead of decking the halls for Christmas, the Federal Circuit decked Longhorn by dismissing its appeal for lack of jurisdiction. Idaho, and over 30 other states, have taken patent law conduct into their own hands, enacting legislation to punish bad […]

On December 10, the Federal Circuit affirmed the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”)’s decision to cancel Game Plan, Inc. (“Game Plan”)’s registered trademark and dismiss its opposition to Uninterrupted IP, LLC (“UNIP”)’s pending applications.  The dispute centered on whether a party can acquire priority over a registered mark by purchasing common law trademark rights […]