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It usually is so in our face: The trash-talk by a salesperson about how much better their product/service is compared to what competitors provide. And it usually is a turn-off. What we really need is intel about how the offering is the unique fit for our specialized needs. So, the world keeping score on the AI dog fight might be wondering if the new Microsoft approach to sales will succeed. Essentially, the sales team has been instructed to take swipes at OpenAI, Anthropic and Google. As TechCrunch reports, it's framed this way:  “'Everyone else is selling parts — we’re selling the full end-to-end system. That’s the story that we all need to get out there and tell in FY27,' [Microsoft] Executive Vice President Jay Parikh reportedly told the room." However, maybe the demand is for parts. Maybe the tone and content scream desperation. Maybe, under scrutiny, that end-to-end solution isn't comparable to those of competitors. As many know, Microsoft and some of the oth...

  There's the old joke: The best, brightest and most ambitious in college go on to law school not an internship on Wall Street because they're lousy at math. They know that. Even if they could fast-talk their way into Goldman or JPMorgan they recognize they could never keep up with the quantitative stuff. But once they climb the ladder in Big Law those math-challenged embrace counting. Everything. Political science major in college Paul, Weiss partner Brad Karp would glow about the numbers for Profits Per Equity Partner  and more.  When a partner at Jones Day Mark Hermmann would crow about how many readers there were for his out-of-the-box guide for new lawyers.  A later book didn't do so hot and the crowing stopped. Adler legal heavyweight John Tarantino leveraged the number of viewers of his first Ted Talk to reinforce the powerhouse message about forgiveness.  And I, when a legal influencer, harnessed more and more influence through posting the numbers. An ov...

  Those crunching the numbers have decided that inflation isn't so bad now. At least compared to where it had been. That could affect your 2027 Social Security COLA - negatively. Remember how we were supposed to get a big fat increase.  CNBC reports: "The  Social Security COLA  may be 3.7% in 2027, estimates Mary Johnson, an independent Social Security and Medicare analyst. That figure is one full percentage point below the 4.7% COLA for 2027 Johnson estimated last month." Are we ordinary folks missing something if we feel hit so hard by inflation, ranging from keeping a roof over our head to eating healthy? Perhaps we are the last of our species experiencing financial reality. 

  Ever since Paul, Weiss was parachuted in by Fox in 2016 to investigate allegations of misconduct those kinds of investigations have become a major practice niche for law firms.  But early in the game there have been questions about how objective those probes are. For example, does the corporation give the marching orders to the law firm to be prosecutorial in how it frames the investigation? Also, there has been ongoing scrutiny of Dechert's 2021 investigation of Apollo co-founder Leon Black's payment of $158 million to Jeffrey Epstein. Now, the very credibility of such probes has been under a global microscope. That has been triggered by the investigations of KPMG by law firms Allens and Ashursts.  There had been a whistleblower complaint of misuse of confidential client data. How the law firms went about their investigation is under scrutiny. What issues did they pursue and which did they not pursue? Was justice shortchanged? Law Fuel reports: " ...  both...

Law firm Paul, Weiss took a major hit as UK law firm Linklaters poached two FIFA top lawyers. FIFA  is the Federation Internationale de Football Association, the global self-regulatory governing body for sports such as association football, soccer and futsal. From way back in 1930 it has organized the World Cub. This might be called The British Invasion. For a while UK Magic Circle law firm Linklaters has been trying to get traction in the US legal market. This could do it.  Linklaters  hired two FIFA legal stars: "Paul, Weiss partner Christopher Boehning has joined as Chair of its global sports practice and US strategic disputes, while Daniel Levi will serve in the firm’s litigation, arbitration and investigations practice, both in the New York office." Overall, there's been a surge of interest in sports legal talent. Driving that are the increase in private equity investments, complex regulations and litigation. Sports has evolved from a niche to a full-service corporat...

  The classic example of "hutzpah" - that is unbelievable gall - had been this. A kid kills his parents. In court he demands mercy since, get this, he's now an orphan. That same almost comical move seems to be put in play by close associate of Jeffrey Epstein Kathy Ruemmler. She could nudge out that outrageous kid to be the new forever example of hutzpah.  As a result of the disclosure of that powerhouse Epstein connection, she's stepped down from the big job at Goldman Sachs. Gifts impose obligation. She accepted many of those from Sweetie Uncle Jeffrey. But now, as The Wall Street Journal documents, she has taken to blame others for the reputational disaster she's stuck in - which may be getting worse because of her aggressive public relations efforts. For instance, The New York Times opinion piece defending her motivation for being so chummy with Epstein didn't go well in myriad circles.   Well, here's the blame snippet of hutzpah:  "She has blam...