David Graeler Comments on California’s 2024 Legal Landscape

David Graeler was quoted in the Law360 article “Calif. Law Firm Leaders Cautiously Enter 2024 With Optimism” (subscription required). The author spoke with several California law firm leaders about issues ranging from the economy and the state of litigation to the future of AI and the evolving regulatory landscape.

In addressing what the new year may hold, David noted that, even in unfavorable economic times amid high interest rates, opportunities abound. Law360 noted, “If the economy does go into a recession…Nossaman should weather it well since about half of its client base is in the public sector.” David elaborated, “A fair number of public sector projects were delayed or slowed in 2023 and even a little before that. Part of it has to do with shaking loose federal funding on projects that have federal funding. A lot of those projects are expected to come online in 2024. So, that should [make] for a very busy year for our project procurement, contracts, eminent domain, construction claims, those kinds of practices.”

Artificial intelligence is an emerging topic including how that technology could impact law firms and the legal industry. As Law360 notes, “[David] remains unsure about how AI will affect the practice of law but sees how its use could substantially impact how law firms operate.” In follow-on comments, David shared that within the firm, “[t]he use of that technology may well end up replacing some things that our younger lawyers do…not unlike online legal research.”

With respect to litigation, the article noted David’s comment that he expects litigation work to remain busy in 2024.