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When Lawyers Can Speak: Self-Defense Exception to Confidentiality

Under Rule 1.6(c)(4) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct — and similar rules in many states — a lawyer may disclose confidential client information “to the extent the lawyer reasonably believes necessary” to defend against criminal charges, civil claims, or disciplinary actions arising from allegations of misconduct.

In other words, if a client sues for malpractice or accuses her former counsel of misconduct, the lawyer can reveal confidential communications — but only those strictly necessary to defend themselves.

This is not, of course, an invitation to expose our client’s …

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Best Practices for Effective Defense Counsel in Non-Profit Board Settings

Non-profit boards are the backbone of countless community institutions – from homeowners associations and religious congregations to private schools and arts organizations. Yet, when these boards face litigation, the dynamics of representation differ significantly from those in the corporate world. Defense counsel must not only manage legal strategy but also navigate the interpersonal and structural complexities of volunteer-led governance.

This article outlines best practices for insurance defense attorneys representing non-profit boards, with a focus on fostering effective attorney-client relationships that support efficient, ethical, and successful …

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New Associate: Now What?

The only constant is change. Most lawyers will, at one time or another, make a lateral move. Whether for money, a more convenient commute, or simply averting burn out, lawyers, like most professionals, are drawn to new opportunities. There are a lot of firms in the US – over 417,000 – so the competition for talent is fierce.

Indeed, while lateral hiring cooled following the pandemic, the lateral hiring market began to heat up again in 2024. According to the National Association of Law Placement …

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Two Recent Cases Reveal Consequences of Poor AI Practices in Preparing Legal Documents

Goldberg Segalla partner Frank Ramos, a renowned artificial intelligence thought leader and advocate for the ethical adoption of AI by the legal industry, spoke with Texas Lawyer regarding two more occurrences of fake AI-generated cases being included in court filings.

The article, “Fake Case Citations Put 2 Lawyers on Hot Seat,” by Laura Lorek, explores instances in Texas and Pennsylvania that center around attorneys including alleged fake cases in court filings that cannot be found or verified by respective opposing counsel or courts. The …

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Tax Season = Phishing Season

Most professionals are aware of the April 15 tax deadline. We know that fraudsters certainly are! As Tax Day approaches in the U.S., we encourage all to be mindful of several phishing campaigns that Microsoft has observed using tax-related themes for social engineering to steal credentials and deploy malware. These campaigns notably use redirection methods such as URL shorteners and QR codes contained in malicious attachments and abuse legitimate file-hosting services (Dropbox, OneDrive…etc.) and business profile pages to avoid detection.

Every tax season, threat actors …

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Lawyers Beware: Litigation Funding Leads to Malpractice

As recently reported by Law360, a Pennsylvania lawyer and a litigation funder are facing racketeering and malpractice claims. A Pennsylvania federal judge recently declined to dismiss claims brought by a client accusing his former lawyer of engaging in a conspiracy to improperly charge him inflated legal fees to cover high-interest litigation loans.

In the underlying matter, the client/plaintiff retained the lawyer to represent him in a lawsuit claiming he suffered neurological issues stemming from a titanium medical implant after installing a pole with a …

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New Jersey Attorney Cleared of Alleged Malpractice

The New Jersey Superior Court, Law Division, in Bergen County, granted a motion for summary judgment in a legal malpractice case against a New Jersey attorney defended by Goldberg Segalla.

Goldberg Segalla’s client was the second lawyer of three representing homeowners in an action against their insurance company for breach of contract and consumer fraud claims related to a water loss in their home. The underlying action was removed from the trial calendar so the parties could pursue private mediation. When mediation was unsuccessful, the …

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Andrew Reynard

International Defense Attorney Returns to the U.S., Bringing Distinct Skills to Goldberg Segalla

Goldberg Segalla is pleased to announce that attorney Andrew H. Reynard has joined our Management and Professional Liability practice group in the Manhattan office, bringing more than 20 years of experience encompassing diverse areas of law and managing high-profile cases impacting the financial services, investment management and insurance industries.

“We are excited to welcome Andy to our expanding national practice,” said Jonathan Ziss, co-chair of the firm’s Management and Professional Liability practice. “Andy has built a sterling reputation as an innovative and effective litigator. …

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Dwindling Returns: Failing to Read LPL Policy Cost Millions

A quirky reality of litigation is that the amount of recoverable dollars often dictates the strategy and approach. Maybe no one said it better than Biggie: “mo money, mo problems.” Especially in the context of an insured defendant, the applicable policy limits and coverage terms play a large role in shaping the litigation.

In a recent legal malpractice dispute, a plaintiff alleges that his former counsel misguided him during litigation — an underlying legal malpractice claim — by failing to appreciate the impact …

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Fervent Defense Brings Favorable Outcome in Long-Running Malpractice Case

A fervent and insightful defense waged by Goldberg Segalla partner Michael D. Shalhoub and attorney Rebecca R. Rabideau secured a defense verdict in favor of a dentist accused of malpractice in a lawsuit that dragged on for years to become the central New York county’s longest-running court case.

The plaintiff claimed in her lawsuit that the extraction of nine teeth and subsequent placement of implants — all of which failed — exacerbated a neurological condition causing “neuropathic pain.” As a result, she claimed to experience …

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