Conner O'Keefe

Conner works with lawyers, law firms, and legal marketers to assist in strategic business development. He enjoys running around Wallingford, watching Gonzaga basketball, and attending Seattle Mariners games.

Ten Blogs joining the LexBlog Network

By Conner O'Keefe on February 14, 2017

Happy Valentines Day! If you are in search of a perfect last minute gift for him or her, make sure to check out lexblog.com (mostly joking). Since our last “New to the Network” post, we have welcomed two new clients while launching ten new blogs.

LexBlog would like to give a warm welcome to Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz who has now joined the network with the creation of Focus On The Data. Frankfurt-based out of NYC started as a boutique firm focusing on the entertainment industry but has now grown to become a full-service firm. Focus On The Data is authored by Frankfurts privacy and data security team, and provides insights and practical guidance on complex information privacy matters through every stage of the cycle.
Also new to the network, we have CJ Lee & Associates with the Indian Law Blog. CJ also known as Calvin Lee Jr., focuses his practice on supporting Native Americans in their varied endeavors.
Third, the Health Care Law Observer from the Boyce Law Firm out Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Observer will not only cover regional health care updates but legal alerts at the federal level as well. Kudos to attorney Tommy Johnson, who has led Boyce in increasing their online presence with their second blog.
Next, we have New Nuclear from Hogan Lovells, a blog following the legal and regulatory developments shaping the future of advanced nuclear reactor industry. LexBlog has always said find a niche topic, and this is about as niche as it gets with not very many nuclear law blogs out there.
Property taxes in Minnesota are based on real estate values, making the laws surrounding the taxes complicated and nuanced. So in comes the Minnesota Property Tax Review by Larkin Hoffman.
Ballard Spahr has launched Money Laundering Watch – ‘Insights and news on the world of financial corruption’, a blog focused on covering the latest news and developments in the area. I’m excited to the see content MLW churns out as Ballard Spahr’s other finance related blog, “CFPB Monitor” led by Barbara Mishkin, is recognized as an ABA Journal Top 100 Blawg.
Next up we have another financial services blog in The FinTech Report by Perkins Coie. The blog covers everything fintech from pre-seed startups to complex multinational organizations.
And yet another financial services blog, Dykema has launched the NextGen Financial Services Report. NextGen sums up why we are seeing so many finance related blogs, saying “The Financial Services Industry has gone through a tremendous amount of regulatory and operational IT change in recent years, and with a new presidential administration more changes and developments are on the way.”
Just in time for tax season. McNeese Wallace & Nurick LLC out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is starting up the Adding Value – ‘McNees PA Tax Blog‘.
Lastly, Robinson+Cole is continuing to grow their blogging network with the addition of the ERISA Claim Defense Blog. They now have ten total blogs and have quickly launched two in the new year.

Ten New Law Blogs Launched At LexBlog

By Conner O'Keefe on January 24, 2017

At LexBlog, we recently welcomed ten new blogs to the network spanning from Data Privacy to Family Businesses. If the trend continues, 2017 will be a big year for law firms and blogging, as we see more firms continually moving away from the traditional newsletter and legal alerts.

Be sure to check out the Data Privacy & Security Observer from Balch & Bingham LLP. Joining what is a thriving community of blogs in the area, this publication takes aim at keeping companies apprised of the latest and biggest data risks.
Davis Polk’s new blog Tax Reform and Transition covers the latest developments in tax reform, as well as shedding light on the background and context in which tax reforms will be considered. Given one-party control of the government and big campaign promises by President Donald Trump, tax reform seems to be one of the top priorities for the 115th Congress.
In the midst of President Donald Trump turning his company over to his sons, Murtha Cullina LLP launched their Family Business Perspectives blog. In the blog’s first post, editor Michael Connolly summed up the publication by saying, “This Blog is designed to identify and comment on common legal issues and current cases and developments that affect family-owned and controlled businesses.”
Attorney Barry Seidel launched the Probate and Estates Blog. Barry has been running his own law practice since 1982, starting out as a general practitioner and moving on to probate matters. He says “Most (probate) cases involve three questions, which are: 1. Is there a Will or not? 2. Is the situation friendly or unfriendly? 3. Are you the person who will be handling the Estate or a person affected by the handling of the Estate.”
The Fiduciary Advisor by Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP offers an online resource covering emerging and new developments in laws and news affecting trust and estate administration as well as estate planning.
Perform Law, a management consulting firm, is now offering advice to small and mid-size firms on their Law Firm Management Concepts blog. They’ll be posting “detailed analysis and advice for putting concepts into practice.”
Education & Public Agency Law Blog by Ball Janik attorneys, reports on the “legal topics affecting real property developments and construction for school districts, universities, and public agencies.”
From McCarthy Tétrault we have the International Arbitration Blog, where their practice team will discuss recent court and arbitration decisions that deal with complicated and important issues as well as new and applicable legislation in relevant jurisdictions, and commentary on new rules or procedures provided or adopted by arbitral bodies.
Robinson+Cole launched their 9th blog, Health Law Diagnosis, “Monitoring the Pulse of Health Care and Life Sciences.” The blog will be covering a wide range of health care matters, ranging from Medicare to mergers and acquisitions.
Lastly, we have Immigration Edge from Lane Powell which offers insight not only to individuals but regional, national, and international corporations seeking immigration advice.

Country Lawyer; Franchising your Business, and ADR Advice: New Blogs joining the LexBlog Network

By Conner O'Keefe on January 5, 2017

Well the Holidays are over and unfortunately so is the NFL regular season. Which means we are back into the grind of the new year, and as we welcome in 2017 at LexBlog, we are also welcoming a few new blogs to the network:

Jerry Moberg & Associates has launched the Trial Attorneys blog. Jerry is a self described “country lawyer” as you can see in his opening post, and currently represents a number of municipalities, including school districts, cities and towns, counties, and special services districts.
LexBlog is happy to have launched a 17th blog with Mintz Levin, this one being on alternative dispute resolution. The blog ADR: Advice From the Trenches will “provide updates, analyses, and advice regarding the law and practice of international and domestic arbitration, mediation, and more esoteric forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution.”
The Minnesota firm Larkin Hoffman has launched their first blog, titled “Franchisor Attorneys.” We are very excited to have them on the network as Larkin Hoffman had already published more than a hundred articles and columns on franchise law and industry issues.

Top 10 in Law Blogs: MasterCard, Galaxy Note 7, and China Employment Laws.

By Conner O'Keefe on September 20, 2016

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Before you dig in to our Top 10, make sure to check out our #ClioCloud9 coverage over on LXBN. Now here’s Tuesdays Top 10 in Law Blogs:

Federal Court in D.C. Rules Against FEC in Important Disclosure Case – Chair of Covington & Burling’s nationally recognized Election and Political Law Practice Group, Robert Kelner writes on the Global Policy Watch blog.
School of Hard (Dread) Locks: EEOC Loses Appeal Over Hairstyle Ban – J. William Manuel, partner at Bradley Arant writes on the firms Labor & Employment Insights blog.
Effective Business Development Strategies Are Built On This – Chief Marketing Officer at Liskow & Lewis, Eric Fletcher writes on the Marketing Brain Fodder blog.
MasterCard faces one of the UK’s first class-action lawsuits – Chris Webber and Helen Cain of Squire Patton Boggs write on the UK Finance Disputes and Regulatory Investigations Blog.
Exploding Batteries in Galaxy Note 7 Force Recall – Domenic B. Sanginiti Jr. of Stark & Stark writes on the Personal Injury Law Journal.
Payment Processor Challenges CFPB’s Allegation That It Engaged in Unfair Practices – Kurt Lentz and Justin Opitz of McGuire Woods write on the Subject to Inquiry blog.
Getting the Scoop on Calculating Texas Appellate Deadlines – Maitreya Tomlinson, partner at the Smith Law Group, write on the Texas Appellate Law blog.
Back to the Bulgarian Bad Guy, So Say the Justices – Charles Sartain of Gray Reed & McGraw writes on Energy and The Law.
New Transgender Anti-Discrimination Law – What You Need to Know – Thomas Gallitano and Daryl Zules of Conn Kavanaugh write on the Massachusetts Business & Litigation Resource.
Eight Keys for Navigating China’s Employment Laws – Grace Yang of Harris Moure writes on the China Law Blog.

Top 10 in Law Blogs: Self-Driving Cars, Solar Energy, and the NLRB.

By Conner O'Keefe on September 16, 2016

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The weekend is here, and the Mariners are in the midst of an 8-game winning streak, can it get any better? Well now onto the real content, here’s Fridays Top 10 in Law Blogs:

Why Does the NLRB Tolerate Racist and Sexist Conduct? – Baltimore attorney Fiona W. Ong of Shawe Rosenthal writes on the firms Labor & Employment Report.
Is the Technology for Self-Driving Cars Patent-Eligible? – San Diego attorney and shareholder at Weintraub Tobin, Jo Dale Carothers, writes on The IP Law Blog.
One for Two or Two for Two with CCOs?: The Chief Compliance Officer Debate – Carolyn Casey of AccessData writes on In-House Ops by the Metropolitan Corporate Counsel.
Part 1: In Brief – The FCC’s Ground Rules for the IP Transition – Douglas Jarrett of Keller and Heckman writes on the Beyond Telecom Law Blog.
European Commission’s e-commerce sector inquiry – increasing antitrust heat – Falk Schoening and Peter Citron of Hogan Lovells write on the Global Media and Communications Watch blog.
Privileged Materials Provided Without Taxpayers’ Consent Should Not Waive Privilege – Laura L. Gavioli and Andrew Roberson of McDermott Will & Emery write on the Tax Controversy 360 blog.
The US-Africa Business Forum: Investing in solar energy – Witney Schneidman of Covington & Burling writes on the Cov Africa.
SEC Shines Spotlight on Employee Confidentiality Provisions – Crescent Moran Chasteen and Ian Roffman of Nutter McClennan & Fish write on the Executive Comp Exchange.
The Upper Midwest Continues to Fill the Gap Between the East and West Coasts on Paid Sick Leave – Christina Niro of Frantz Ward writes on the firms Labor & Employment Law Navigator.
MIPS Pick Your Pace: What Will You Choose to Do? – Martie Ross, principal at PYA Healthcare & Consulting writes on the Bridging Business & Healthcare blog.

Top 10 in Law Blogs: Drinking Water, Cannabis Trademarks, and Value in the Legal Industry.

By Conner O'Keefe on September 15, 2016

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Over on LXBN, Zosha Millman interviewed Greg McLawsen, managing attorney and founder of Sound Immigration . Now here’s Thursdays 10 in Law Blogs:

EEOC Supports NLRB’s Joint-Employer Standard before DC Circ. – Obermayer attorney Gregory J. Eck writes on the firms Employment Law Updates & Best Practices for Employers.
Senate Approves $4.9 Billion for Drinking Water – Davis Wright Tremaine attorney Richard Glick writes on the firms Energy & Environmental Law Blog.
Toys On Demand? A Child’s Best Friend – Kansas City attorney Kris Kappel of Husch Blackwell writes on the firms Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation Industry Insider.
Cannabis Trademark Basics: What Makes a Mark Weak? – Seattle attorney Alison Malsbury of Harris Moure writes on the Canna Law Blog.
Time Is Running Out for Employers to Make Important Decisions to Comply with New DOL Overtime Exemption Rule – Michael S. Kun of Epstein Becker Green writes on the firms Wage & Hour Defense Blog.
Important Federal Circuit Decision Provides More Clues on Software Eligibility – Cleveland attorney Brendan Clark of Baker Hostetler writes on the firms IP Intelligence blog.
D.C. Circuit Judge to NLRB: Stop Tolerating Racist and Sexist Behavior by Strikers – Partner at McGuire Woods, Seth Borden, writes on Labor Relations Today.
Emergency lawyering: giving advice in extreme situations – Karen Rubin of Thompson Hine writes on The Law for Lawyers Today.
Is Value Over-Hyped in the Legal Industry? – Kenneth Grady of Seyfarth Shaw writes on the SeytLines blog.
Investing in solar energy – Witney Schneidman of Covington and Burling writes on Global Policy Watch.

Top 10 in Law Blogs: Ninth Circuit, Hillary, and Section 83(b)

By Conner O'Keefe on September 14, 2016

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Here’s Wednesdays Top 10 in Law Blogs:

NY Court Says No Grand Theft of Stars’ Publicity Rights. What About California? – Norton Rose Fulbright attorneys Susan Ross (US) and Saul Perloff write on The Brand Protection Blog.
Ninth Circuit Upholds CDA Immunity Against Plaintiff’s Attempt to “Push[] the Envelope of Creative Pleading” – San Francisco attorney Samuel Edwards of Covington & Burling writes on the firms Inside Privacy blog.
Be Careful Not to Withhold Key Information When Courting a Potential New Hire or Business Partner – Burns & Levinson partner Shep Davidson publishes on The In-House Advisor blog.
Third Circuit Sets Framework for Numerosity Requirement – Columbus, Ohio attorney and partner at Baker Hostetler, Robert J. Tucker, writes on the firms Class Action Lawsuit Defense blog.
Consumer data breach litigation standing – the walls are crumblin’ down – Peter Sloan of the Information Governance Group writes on the recently launched, Information Bytes blog.
Can Hillary Clinton Take FMLA Leave for Pneumonia? And Can Her Campaign Give Her the Boot Because She’s a Key Employee? – Partner at Franczek Radelet, Jeff Nowak, publishes on FMLA Insights.
FCC Chairman Wheeler Charts Course for Successful Deployment of 5G, Calls this an Historic Era for the Wireless Industry – Cara Schenkel of Hogan Lovells writes on the Global Media and Communications Watch blog.
A Founder’s Guide to Making a Section 83(b) Election – Seattle associate Kevin E. Criddle of DLA Piper, sets out six of the most commonly asked questions by his clients regarding Section 83(b), on The Venture Alley blog.
Pandora and Amazon Negotiating Agreements with Record Labels – Why They Don’t Just Rely on the CRB Rates? – David Oxenford, partner at Wilkinson Barker Knauer writes on the Broadcast Law Blog.
Advanced Nuclear Reactor Legislation Moving Forward in Congress – Amy Roma of Hogan Lovells writes on Focus on Regulation.

Top 10 in Law Blogs: Employment Matters, Rule of Law, and the Duets Blog.

By Conner O'Keefe on September 13, 2016

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Here’s Tuesdays Top 10 in Law Blogs:

#ClioCloud9 Preview – Sarah Glassmeyer – LexBlogs Zosha Millman kicks off her coverage of ClioCloud by interviewing one of the speakers next week, Sarah Glassmeyer, a librarian, lawyer, and advocate of justice.
Answer These 20 Questions to Develop Your Law Firm’s Social Media Strategy – Stephen Fairley of the The Rainmaker Blog sets aside 20 questions “you need answer answer to ensure you are developing a social media strategy that will actually help you achieve your overall law firm marketing goals.”
Supreme Court Refuses to Stay Senate Subpoena, Highlights the Difficulties Inherent in Challenging a Congressional Subpoena – Covington & Burling Attorney Brian D. Smith writes on Inside Political Law.
Preparing for FHA PACE: What Mortgagees Need To Know Before September 17 – Erika J. Sontroem of Bradley LLP, writes on the firms Financial Services Perspectives blog.
Avoiding the Seven Self-Inflicted, Destructive and Deceptive Industry (and Leadership) Behaviors that Create Victims, Critics and Often Enemies – Duets Guest Blogger James E. Lukaszewski writes on the Duets Blog.
Maybe That Lawsuit Brought By Your Employee Isn’t So Frivolous – “Legal Rebel” Daniel Schwartz of Shipman & Goodwin writes on the Connecticut Employment Law Blog.
Negotiating with Chinese Companies: Contract Preliminaries and Courtship Rituals – Mathew Alderson of Harris Moure writes on The China Law Blog.
How does premarital cohabitation affect division of marital property – Michelle O’Neil writes on the Dallas Divorce Law Blog.
New Jersey – At the Intersection of the Scientific Method and the Rule of Law – Michelle Yeary writes on Drug & Device Law.
Lawsuit by Algorithm, the Latest Big Data Rage – Mintz Levin attorney Robert Sheridan writes on the the firms Employment Matters blog.

Top 10 in Law Blogs: Cannabis DUI’s, Insider Trading, and Bank Privacy.

By Conner O'Keefe on September 8, 2016

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Here’s Thursdays Top 10 in Law Blogs:

As Decriminalization Moves Forward, Let’s Readdress How We Test Cannabis DUIs – Our own Zosha Millman publishes once again on the LexBlog Network.
A Brief History of Bank Privacy – Jeffery S. Heuer of Husch Blackwell writes on the firms Byte Back blog.
DOJ’s Major Insider Trading Victory: a Blueprint for post-Newman Convictions? – Lawrence E. Ritchie and Louis Tsilivis of Osler, Hiskin, & Harcourt write on the firms Risk Management & Crisis Response blog.
Second Circuit Blazes New Trail in Set-Top Box Cases: Cable Service and Boxes Are Not Separate Products – Jennifer R. Scullion of Proskauer Rose writes on the firms New Media and Technology Law Blog.
Rainmaking Recommendation from Jaimie Field: The “Key” to Creating Content That Gets Read – Lindsay Griffiths writes on her Zen and The Art of Legal Networking blog.
The Silver Lining in the FCC’s UHF Discount Order – Ari Meltzer of Wiley Rein writes on Wiley on Media
Don’t help your client hide assets: clear case leads to lawyer’s disbarment – Thompson Hine’s Karen Rubin writes on the firms The Law for Lawyers Today.
Don’t Cede Our Future to Technologists – Seyfarth Shaw’s Kenneth Grady writes on the firms SeytLines, ‘Changing the Practice of Law.
FTC Cracking Down on Social Media Sponsorships – Matthew Landis of Russell, Krafft, & Gruber writes on the firms Lancaster Law Blog.
App Developer Not Liable Under TCPA For User-Initiated Texts – Grant C. Schrader of Morrison Foerster writes on the firms Socially Aware blog.

Top 10 in Law Blogs: Fox News, Barclays Premier League, and Trader Joe’s

By Conner O'Keefe on September 7, 2016

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Wednesdays Top 10 in Law Blogs:

Supplement-not-Supplant under Title I: Department of Education Releases Proposed Regulations – Midwest attorneys John Borkowski & Aleks Ostojic Rushing of Husch Blackwell, write on the firms K-12 Legal Insights blog.
Why people ignore security advice, and what to do about it – Information Governance Group attorney, Deborah “Debbie” Juhnke, writes on the firms recently launched Information Bytes blog.
What Does the Fox News Settlement with Gretchen Carlson Mean for Ordinary Employers? – Patrick D. Smith of Bradshaw Fowler Proctor & Fairgrave, writes on his very own Iowa Employment Law Blog.
Is Predicting the Future of Energy Like Driving Down a Dirt Road at Night with No Lights On? – Fox Rothschild attorney Melissa J. Lyon writes on the firms Energy Law Today blog.
Steptoe Cyberlaw Podcast – Interview with Scott DePasquale – Steptoe & Johnson attorney Stewart Baker interviews Scott DePasquale, CEO of Utilidata, on his latest podcast.
Wheels For Wheelchairs: Massachusetts Mandates Accessible Ride-Sharing – Senior Associate at Seyfarth Shaw, Michael D. Fleischer, writes on the firms ADA Title III blog.
Ninth Circuit Revives Trader Joe’s Federal Trademark Claims Brought In Washington Against “Pirate Joe’s” Operating In Canada – Ira S. Sacks and Patricia M. Carlson of Akerman LLP write on Marks, Works, & Secrets.
Back on the International Stage – Spotlight on Climate Change Policy, the Paris Agreement, and Carbon Pricing Mechanisms – Partner at McCarthy Tetrault, Selina Lee-Anderson, writes on the firms Mining Prospects blog.
Football Transfer Spending- high risk leading to high reward? – Leeds based attorneys Laura Crawford and Jon Chesman of Squire Patton Boggs write on the firms eSquire Global Crossings blog about the high spending that recently went on in the Barclays Premier League.
“All Risk” Coverage Is Not Equal to “All Loss” Coverage Under Customary Provisions in California Builder’s Risk Policies – Tamara Beck of Stoel Rives writes on the firms Ahead of Schedule.