Litigation Law, Mediation Law and Arbitration Law

The Director of the USPTO has invoked authority to extend the deadline for requesting Director Review of institution decisions from 14 to 30 days, addressing concerns about changed circumstances that arise after initial deadlines pass. This precedential decision also clarifies when exceptional circumstances may warrant further extensions and establishes new standards for terminating IPR proceedings based on parallel litigation outcomes.

Arizona’s business community has long been defined by closely held companies: family owned enterprises, real estate ventures, professional practices, and entrepreneur led startups built on trust and shared vision.

A California appellate court examines whether familial relationships between class representatives and their attorneys automatically invalidate consumer class actions, addressing the boundaries of probable cause in malicious prosecution claims. The decision explores how courts balance adequacy requirements for class representatives against the viability of underlying consumer protection claims when conflicts of interest are alleged.