Tax Law

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.28.19

* Law firm diversity score cards are here, and.... African-American lawyers are still not being represented. Yikes. [Law.com] * Judge Kozinski may be gone from the Ninth Circuit, but it is still hard work to change the culture there. [Big Law Business] * Oakland is the second city looking to decriminalize hallucinogenic mushrooms. Plan your vacations accordingly. [The Hill] * In a continuing embarrassment to NYC, Rudy Giuliani wants a new role in the 2020 Trump campaign. [Politico] * 5 firms have been cut out of the NFL concussion case. [Law360] * Ted Wells for the defense, in New Jersey tax incentives case. [National Law Journal] * Will New York strengthen sexual harassment laws? Well, maybe. But at least they're having hearing on the issue. [New York Law Journal]

By Kathryn Rubino
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.22.19

* President Donald Trump has appealed a federal judge's order allowing the House Oversight and Reform Committee's subpoena of his financial records to the D.C. Circuit, where — GASP! — Merrick Garland serves as chief judge. The fact that Garland is involved apparently matters a lot to the MSM, you guys. [The Hill] * “The memo says they don’t have to assert a legitimate legislative purpose — or any purpose at all.” According to a confidential draft IRS memo, tax returns must be given to Congress upon request, unless the president claims executive privilege. This pretty much blows up Trump’s rationale for refusing to turn over his taxes thus far, but opens up a whole new way for him to avoid doing so. [Washington Post] * “The Supreme Court is stacked against us for the first time in my lifetime. I feel like it’s scarier than ever before.” As hundreds of people protested state abortion bans before the Supreme Court, Democratic presidential candidates joined in, lending their support to all the women gathered. [Reuters] * Meet Leonard Leo, the Federalist Society executive Vice President who serves as Trump’s unofficial judicial adviser to make the federal judiciary “great” (i.e., extremely conservative) again. How’s he doing that? With millions upon millions of dollars of “dark money.” He didn’t want to talk about that part of it. [Washington Post] * Buckley, the law firm formerly known as Buckley Sandler, has filed suit against Johnny Depp, claiming that the actor skipped out on about $350K in legal fees and costs. Leave the poor man alone, he’s got better things to spend his money on... like scarves. [American Lawyer]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.08.19

* Feeling cute, might not allow Mueller to testify, idk: According to White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, President Donald Trump’s “feeling on the matter” is that special counsel Robert Mueller shouldn’t be permitted to testify before the House. [Huffington Post] * As it turns out, according to recently revealed tax transcripts for the years 1985 to 1994, Trump was in some deep financial doo-doo. His lawyer, Charles J. Harder of Gawker takedown fame, says the tax documentation is not only “demonstrably false,” but that the paper of record’s statements about it is “highly inaccurate.” [New York Times] * In case you missed it, former White House counsel Don McGahn is still following Trump’s orders. He ignored a House Judiciary Committee subpoena for his testimony and records, citing a letter from current White House counsel Pat Cipollone on executive privilege. [National Law Journal] * Michael Avenatti has been given right days to hire a defense attorney in the federal bank fraud case he’s facing, lest he wish to disclose his financials to the court for a public defender to be appointed. [Courthouse News Service] * Do we really need another law school? That’s the hope down in Shreveport, Louisiana, where Southern University may be opening another campus following a study to determine its viability. [710 KEEL]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.28.19

* Uh-oh! In the wake of Michael Cohen's testimony, Chairman Rep. Elijah Cummings of the House Oversight Committee sent letters to President Trump's tax attorney from Morgan Lewis and the Trump Organization's outside counsel from Michael Best requesting their appearance for a “transcribed interview.” [National Law Journal] * After widespread rebuke, the Florida Bar has officially opened an ethics investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz's alleged witness tampering of Michael Cohen via tweet prior to his testimony before the House Oversight Committee. [Daily Business Review] * Milbank's profits exceeded the $1 billion mark in 2018, which the firm is absolutely thrilled about. The firm less thrilled about its all-male partner class, and unlike in prior years, they haven't been listed in a press release. [New York Law Journal] * Hot on the heels of announcing it intends to become a nonprofit, Florida Coastal Law asked a court to dismiss the accreditation suit it filed against the ABA, saying it's "no longer necessary to protect the interests of our students." [ABA Journal] * "For decades a lot of young lawyers have missed opportunities to build families and this technology puts that ability back into their hands." Bill now, procreate later? Lawyers are flocking to freeze their eggs and embryos. [American Lawyer]

By Staci Zaretsky