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He knows trademark infringement. She speaks fluent Mandarin. Together they make the rounds at trade shows looking for illegal knock-offs of their clients’ products with the aim of friendly persuasion. Say “Ni Hao” to Bruce Patterson and Nan Carr, two lawyers with an unusual approach to their IP practice and a track record of sometimes surprising success. Natalie Posgate has the story.

The Supreme Court’s decision in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis puts to rest one of the most publicized and debated legal issues affecting employees and employers this decade. Now that the Court has spoken, the question for these employers is whether arbitration agreements with class-action waivers is an appropriate and desirable employment practice for their business.

The U.S. Supreme Court has settled the contentious class action waiver issue that has riled courts and confounded employers for the past six years, thereby providing a roadmap for employers to eliminate their largest employment law risk – a class action. In short, until Congress elects to change the law, courts are to enforce arbitration agreements as written, even if they include class action waivers.