Damien Riehl
Minnesota
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Articles by Damien Riehl
Inside Berkeley Law’s New AI Policy, and What It Means for Legal Education
12 minutes read AI Summary Berkeley Law just published what might be the most restrictive student AI policy in legal education. The rule, effective Summer 2026, prohibits AI use for almost every part of a student's substantive work, from brainstorming to outlining to exam prep, with limited carve-outs for professor opt-in and basic research. The policy gets some things right, including a clear default rule and the responsibility it places on students for citation accuracy.
AI Hallucinations in Legal Filings: How to Avoid Them and What to Do When You Find Them
9 minutes read AI Summary AI hallucinations, fake case citations or real cases cited for propositions they don’t support, are the most-discussed risk in legal AI right now. Across roughly 40 million U.S. court cases filed since January 2023, only about 955 have included a documented AI hallucination. But the lawyers and pro se litigants who do file them keep getting caught, sanctioned, and named in published opinions.
How Lawyers Use AI to Boost Billable Hours and Improve Work-Life Balance
10 minutes read AI Summary Lawyers are leveraging AI to reclaim administrative hours and increase billable capacity by as much as 25%, directly boosting firm profitability. By automating routine tasks like time tracking, research, and drafting, legal professionals can reduce burnout and achieve a more sustainable work-life balance without sacrificing quality. Like this summary? Manage AI can create summaries like this for your cases and documents.
Courts Are Starting to Pick AI Tool Winners: Breaking Down Morgan v. V2X Inc.
7 minutes read AI Summary A Colorado federal court has set a new standard for AI use in litigation. In Morgan v. V2X Inc., Judge Braswell ruled that pro se litigants can claim work product protection over AI-generated materials, but that no party may upload confidential information into any AI tool unless the provider is contractually prohibited from training on confidential data, retaining uploaded materials, or disclosing them to third parties beyond what is necessary to complete their services.
What ABA TECHSHOW 2026’s Startup Alley Tells Us About Where Legal Tech Is Going
6 minutes read AI Summary At ABA TECHSHOW 2026's Startup Alley, the pitch competition Clio has sponsored for a decade, this year's finalists showed a clear shift. Legal tech startups have moved past chatbots into agentic AI, vertical practice-area tools, and products that meet lawyers inside the software they already use. The winner, Collbox, automates accounts receivable for law firms. For firms watching where legal technology is headed, these startups offer a practical preview of what's coming.
How to Summarize Legal Documents With AI: Tools, Risks, and Workflow Best Practices
11 minutes read AI Summary AI document summarization enables lawyers to reclaim valuable time lost to manual review, shifting focus toward high-level strategy and client relationships. By integrating AI tools into legal workflows, firms can mitigate the inefficiencies of contract and case law review while maintaining professional standards through informed risk management and best practices. Like this summary? Manage AI can create summaries like this for your cases and documents.
Why You Should Have a Legal AI Assistant in Your Firm
10 minutes read AI Summary Legal AI assistants allow law firms to scale revenue four times faster than headcount by automating administrative friction and routine drafting. By integrating directly with your practice management platform, these matter-aware tools provide the context and security necessary to reduce cognitive load and enhance client service without compromising ethical obligations or professional judgment. Like this summary?
Does Using AI Waive Attorney-Client Privilege? Breaking Down the United States v. Heppner Case
5 minutes read AI Summary In United States v. Heppner, a defendant used a free public AI chatbot on his own to generate defense strategies, without his lawyer’s involvement or confidentiality protections. The court ruled the materials were not privileged. Does that mean lawyers shouldn’t use legal AI? Not exactly, but there’s one important conversation you should have with your clients. Like this summary? Manage AI can create summaries like this for your cases and documents.
From Missed Calls to More Clients: How AI Employees Help Law Firms Scale Service and Revenue
9 minutes read AI Summary Growth-oriented law firms can overcome operational bottlenecks and scale efficiently by deploying AI employees as digital teammates to handle time-consuming administrative tasks. Expand billable capacity by reclaiming hours lost to administrative drag, potentially generating nearly $20,000 in additional revenue per lawyer annually.
AI Legal Compliance for Law Firms: What Lawyers Need to Know in 2026
8 minutes read AI Summary As U.S. law firms rapidly integrate AI, compliance with existing ethical rules is non-negotiable; firms must have a clear strategy to address the risks associated with this transformative technology. Uphold Competence by exercising an appropriate degree of independent verification of all AI output. Prevent Confidentiality risks by implementing robust safeguards against the unauthorized disclosure of client information.
AI, UPL, and the justice gap
A profession at the crossroads By Damien Riehl Since November 2022, when ChatGPT raised the world’s consciousness of the power of generative AI tools such as large language models (LLMs), the legal profession has debated a particular question: Might LLMs—and the companies that run them—be performing the unauthorized practice of law (UPL)?
We need to talk about ChatGPT
A lawyer’s introduction to the exploding field of AI and large language models By Damien Riehl “The development of AI is as fundamental as the creation of the microprocessor, the personal computer, the internet, and the mobile phone.” — Bill Gates The legal profession has long been characterized by daunting hours, high-stress environments, and difficulty in balancing personal and professional lives.
Building - And Monetizing - A Successful Newsletter
It feels as if everyone has a newsletter in 2023 and there is nothing wrong with doing it just for fun. But if you are interested in turning your newsletter into one that has a substantial audience and perhaps makes a bit of money, it can be a daunting challenge. My TooMuchTV newsletter began as a bit of an afterthought. Just a place to highlight pieces I had posted on my AllYourScreens.com site.
#ChatGPT as #Legal Briefwriting Tool
Damien Riehl Damien Riehl VP, Litigation Workflow and Analytics Content Published Jan 29, 2023 A theorem that is playing out today — and will likely continue for the foreseeable future: (Machines + Humans) > ((Humans) OR (Machines)) [#Gestalt #Centaur] An example: My newest adventure in #ChatGPT for #law: I asked #ChatGPT to craft #legal #arguments responding to OpenAI's Motion to Dismiss the #CoPilot litigation.
GameStop Sued Over Sharing Zendesk Communications
This week, GameStop received a class-action complaint alleging that the company wiretapped visitors through Zendesk, shared those visitors’ transcripts to third parties. Filed in the Central District of California, the putative class’s claims include violations of the California Invasion of Privacy Act (“CIPA”) under California Penal Code § 631.
Student Loan Servicer Nelnet Faces Class Action Over Data Breach
On Wednesday, a putative class action commenced against Nebraska-based student loan servicer Nelnet Servicing, LLC over an apparent data breach. The complaint was filed by named plaintiffs who were among the 2.5 million account holders whose personal data were allegedly affected by the Nelnet incident.
Music Ally Focus #59: Ed Sheeran's plagiarism court case shows how music copyright law could change for the better - with technology lawyer and musician Damien Riehl, and technologist Noah Rubin by The Music Ally Podcast
Music Ally Focus #59: Ed Sheeran's plagiarism court case shows how music copyright law could change for the better - with technology lawyer and musician Damien Riehl, and technologist Noah Rubin In this fascinating and entertaining episode, we're joined by two people who are asking complicated questions about the nature of music copyright: Damien Riehl, technologist, technology lawyer and musician, and coder and technologist Noah Rubin.
Covering Hollywood From Minnesota: How I Turned My Side Hustle Into A Successful Media Business
When I launched my own web site about 20 years ago, it was more of a place to post archived freelance pieces and stories that weren't a great fit for my "real" job. But after I was laid off 3 times in two years about a decade ago, I began freelancing fulltime. And that web site of mine eventually became a full-time business. I'll walk you through how I made it happen, from the revenue side of the business to the logistics of covering the entertainment business from halfway across the country.
Why all melodies should be free for musicians to use
By Damien Riehl Get a daily email featuring the latest talk, plus a quick mix of trending content. By subscribing, you understand and agree that we will store, process and manage your personal information according to our Privacy Policy
How Data Reveals Key Answers for Dispositive Motions
Dispositive motions win (and lose) cases. Whether seeking summary judgment, dismissal, or judgment on the pleadings, these high-stakes motions can (quite literally) make or break a case. Given their importance, these motions provide fertile ground for data-driven lawyers to use analytics to answer key questions. But can data reveal any factors that correlate with dispositive motions being denied or granted? Case types are a great place to start.
New Attorney Sanctions Analytics Reveals Litigation Risks
Being on the receiving end of a motion for sanctions is among any lawyer’s most-dreaded scenarios. If a sanctions motion is granted: even worse. How can judicial analytics inform the likelihood of this nightmare scenario? In which case types are sanctions motions more common? How long do these motions typically take to resolve?
Cannabis Companies in Michigan Trade Allegations Over “Breeze” Trademarks
Cannabis company Trucenta Holdings LLC and its fellow Michigan competitor Breeze Smoke LLC have filed cross-claims of trademark infringement and unfair competition over each other’s use of the word “BREEZE” in their cannabis products. The litigation continues disputes over related trademark applications and trademarks before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, as well as at least two disputes before the USPTO’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB).
Sanderson Farms Sued Again Over Proposed Acquisition by Cargill and Continental Grain
On Friday, Sanderson Farms was sued in the Eastern District of New York, alleging violations of the securities laws related to Cargill’s proposed acquisition of Sanderson. This suit follows two other recent, similar securities lawsuits filed against Sanderson in the Southern District of New York — one on September 10 and a second on September 15. All suits were brought by individual Sanderson shareholders, and all relate to the proposed acquisition of Sanderson by Cargill and Continental Grain.
Merck and Others Sued for Antitrust Over Cholesterol Drugs and Related Patents
On Wednesday, drug manufacturer Merck & Company, Inc. (and its related companies) and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. were sued in New Jersey federal court over allegations of state and federal antitrust violations and common-law claims, all concerning generic versions of the cholesterol-reducing drugs Zetia and Vytorin.
Kellogg Sued in Class Action Alleging False and Misleading Statements about Protein Content
On Wednesday, Kellogg Company was sued in a putative class action regarding its packaging’s representations regarding the amount of the products’ protein content. The products at issue include various products under the Kellogg brands MorningStar Farms, Special K, RX, and Bear Naked.
Ruling Favors Coalition of Washington Tribes in Fishing Grounds Dispute
A federal court in Washington state has held that the court’s nearly 50-year-old ruling on tribal fishing grounds was ambiguous, and the tribe is prohibited from using those fishing grounds. The disputed area is near Whidbey Island, north of Seattle between Puget Sound and Everett, Washington — including Saratoga Passage and Skagit Bay (the Disputed Waters). As a result of the ruling, the Lummi Nation is prohibited from using the Disputed Waters. The litigants include several tribes.
Ranch Sues Bureau of Land Management Over Elimination of Land Grazing
On Wednesday, the Oregon ranch company Cahill Ranches sued the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over the bureau’s decision to eliminate grazing in a pasture in Oregon. The suit argues that the BLM’s decision to close grazing on the land at issue — Sucker Creek pasture of the Rahilly-Gravelly allotment in the BLM Lakeview Resource Area — was arbitrary and capricious. The complaint asks the court to balance the needs of grazing and the conservation of the sage grouse.
Minnesota Appeals Dismissal of Federal Suit About Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has appealed the District of Minnesota’s sua sponte dismissal of its federal lawsuit seeking declaratory judgment regarding the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and its tribal-court lawsuit over Enbridge Energy and the Line 3 oil pipeline.
Class Action Against Over Mac & Cheese and Phthalates Transferred to N.D. Illinois
On Friday, a putative class action against Kraft over the alleged presence of phthalates in its Kraft Macaroni & Cheese products was transferred from the Northern District of California to the Northern District of Illinois — joining an Illinois suit with similar allegations. Similar cases filed in Massachusetts and New York may similarly be transferred to Illinois. The suit transferred from California (Clarke v.
Class Action Against Over Mac & Cheese and Phthalates Transferred to N.D. Illinois
On Friday, a putative class action against Kraft over the alleged presence of phthalates in its Kraft Macaroni & Cheese products was transferred from the Northern District of California to the Northern District of Illinois — joining an Illinois suit with similar allegations. Similar cases filed in Massachusetts and New York may similarly be transferred to Illinois. The suit transferred from California (Clarke v.
AGs File Amended Complaint in States’ Antitrust Case Against Google
On Saturday, a coalition of state attorneys general filed an amended complaint in their antitrust suit against Google. The lawsuit, which alleges violation of the Sherman Act and its monopoly and restraint-of-trade provisions, has the same causes of action found in the original complaint, which was filed in July 2021. The newly amended complaint provides many of the same factual allegations to bolster the prior allegations, but now those facts are unredacted.
Class-Action Complaints Stream in Over T-Mobile Data Breach
On August 15, reports began circulating that T-Mobile suffered a data breach that may have affected between 53 million and 100 million customers. Only four days later, putative class actions began being filed across the country. Two of those putative class actions, Espanoza et al v. T-Mobile USA Inc and Daruwalla et al v. T-Mobile USA, Inc., were filed in the Western District of Washington, where T-Mobile USA is headquartered.
Anonymized, Aggregate Patient Data Subpoenaed in Antitrust Suit over Medical Devices
On Wednesday, biotech company Biosense Webster, Inc., which is within the Johnson & Johnson family of companies, filed a motion to enforce a subpoena against Abbott Laboratories in the Northern District of Illinois, seeking evidence related to a pending antitrust action in the Central District of California.
Celgene, BMS Sued Over Merger's Effects on Drug Development Contract
On Friday, biotechnology company Nimbus Therapeutics sued two pharmaceutical companies, Celgene Corporation and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS), over BMS’s acquisition of Celgene. Plaintiff Nimbus alleges that the acquisition effectively breaches the Nimbus-Celgene contract and violates antitrust laws.
Nexstar sues Comcast in Retransmission Dispute After Station Purchase
Texas-based local television company Nexstar Media Inc. has sued Philadelphia-based Comcast Cable Communications, LLC over alleged breaches of contract regarding retransmission of local New York television station WPIX. At issue was the parties’ retransmission consent agreement where cable television companies pay media providers for programming.
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