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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

PARTNER PROMOTIONS PUSH THROUGH - In a year that featured slowing demand and a hit to profits, growing one's equity partner ranks may not seem to make much business sense. But when has that ever stopped Big Law? According to data compiled by The American Lawyer, dozens of law firms in both the Am Law 100 and Second Hundred have reported a net increase in their equity ranks between 2021 and 2022. To be fair though: an argument could be made that these moves actually were business savvy from a culture and retention standpoint. As Law.com's Andrew Maloney reports, firm leaders have generally acknowledged the additional equity partners meant additional mouths to feed, but also pointed to a desire to make long-term investments in certain people and practices.

EVERYBODY'S ENTERED THE CHAT -  Since OpenAI's ChatGPT burst on the scene in late November 2022, generative AI has been all the rage. Microsoft, Google and, now, Meta are all in what's been called an "AI arms race" to come out ahead in the growing generative AI movement. Whoever wins will have a significant impact on the legal industry going forward, in part because these major players will be the only ones with enough resources to train the large language models as they become more advanced, experts told Law.com's Stephanie Wilkins. One thing is certain: The Big Tech battle for AI supremacy is sending a clear signal to legal that AI is a technology it can't afford to ignore.

ON THE RADAR - Talkspace, an online and mobile therapy company, was hit with a consumer class action Wednesday in California Northern District Court. The suit, filed by Edelson PC, accuses the defendant of automatically enrolling patients into recurring subscription plans without permission. Counsel have not yet appeared for the defendant. The case is 5:23-cv-00912, Weizman v. Talkspace Inc. Stay up on the latest deals and litigation with the new Law.com Radar. 

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