One of the most common complaints about the U.S. patent system is that inventors are claiming ownership of basic, widely understood ideas. In a case set for oral arguments this Friday, the Federal Circuit has a chance to mollify those critics--or to create new ones.

In a once-sleepy corner of the Treasury Department, regulation of overseas conduct is going strong. That's bad news for European banks, but good news for American foreign policy--and a handful of well-positioned firms that excel at both litigation and bank regulation.

Over the past two years, Reed Smith has expanded its products liability practice group, taken on some big cases representing major companies (especially within the pharmaceutical industry), and racked up several impressive wins. Here, Michael K. Brown, chair of the firm's life sciences health industry group, talks about his team's docket this past year.

The courts have largely ground to a halt for the holidays, though there's still time for few more decisions in 2012 that could ensure a happy or gloomy New Year for the litigators involved. In the meantime, here are some of the biggest rulings we're looking forward to in 2013.