Non-Sequiturs: 07.14.16

* Some thoughts from Brad Smith, president and chief legal officer of Microsoft, on his company's big win before the Second Circuit. [On the Issues] * Before the Second Circuit, Microsoft enjoyed a lot of support from amici -- which can make a difference before the U.S. Supreme Court, according to this analysis by Adam Feldman. [Empirical SCOTUS] * Nell Minow, the corporate governance guru (and sister of Harvard Law Dean Martha Minow), has some assigned reading for America's politicians: Professor William Birdthistle's Empire of the Fund: The Way We Save Now (affiliate link). [Huffington Post] * My former colleague Maura Grossman, ediscovery queen of Wachtell Lipton, has left the firm to open her own consulting practice and serve as a research professor. [Am Law Daily] * Social media for lawyers: it's all fun and games until someone loses their good reputation. [Reboot Your Law Practice] * If you are a lawyer between 24 and 49 who's currently working in the northeast, a Ph.D. student would like to talk to you about debt (which you most likely have lots of -- although none is needed to participate in the study). [Abby Stivers] * A final reminder for our L.A. readers that the law firm battle of the bands is taking place tonight -- so come out to support a good cause (and have a great time)! [Family Violence Appellate Project]