The Northern District of California’s sanctions decision in Guardant Health v. Natera may become one of the most consequential legal ethics rulings of 2026. The court adopted findings that multiple attorneys failed to investigate red flags surrounding confidential clinical trial data, made misleading representations to the court, and declined to correct the record after contrary evidence emerged. The resulting sanctions, ethics referrals, and mandatory training offer a stark reminder of lawyers’ duties of diligence, candor, and supervision.