Aerospace & Defense

  • April 21, 2026

    3 Firms Guide $1.2B Semiconductor Equipment SPAC Deal

    U.S.-based semiconductor materials company Forge Nano said Tuesday it has agreed to combine with blank check company Archimedes Tech SPAC Partners II Co. in a deal that values Forge Nano at $1.2 billion.

  • April 21, 2026

    Feds Pan Nadine Menendez's Bail Bid Months After Appeal

    Prosecutors have urged a New York federal judge to reject a bid by Nadine Menendez for bail while she appeals her bribery and corruption conviction, saying her argument falls short of the high bar for release.

  • April 20, 2026

    Frontier Owes $5M In TSA Security Fees, 10th Circ. Says

    A split Tenth Circuit panel on Monday refused to undo a Transportation and Security Administration determination that Frontier Airlines owes the agency nearly $5.4 million in unpaid security fees, agreeing with TSA that Frontier still owes fees on passengers who eventually canceled their flights.

  • April 20, 2026

    Judge Finds VA Can Toss Bid Lacking Authorization Clause

    A U.S. Court of Federal Claims judge has found the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was justified in eliminating a call-center contractor from consideration after its "good enough" proposal failed to comply with the solicitation's explicit instructions.

  • April 20, 2026

    Contractor DEI Order Will Cause 'Irreparable Harm,' Suit Says

    A coalition of nonprofits, university professors, federal contractors and subcontractors are seeking to block an executive order requiring government contractors to agree they won't engage in "racially discriminatory DEI activities," telling a Maryland federal court Monday that the directive will cause "irreparable harm" to the groups and their members.

  • April 20, 2026

    Ex-Newman Clerks, Judges Back High Court Suspension Fight

    A group of former clerks for Federal Circuit Judge Pauline Newman, as well as former federal judges, have urged the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the challenge to her suspension imposed by her colleagues.

  • April 20, 2026

    Iranian Accused Of Sanctions Dodge Extradited 12 Years Later

    An Iranian man indicted in 2014 by a grand jury on charges he conducted a scheme to help evade trade sanctions against Iran was extradited to the U.S. last week, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington said Monday, unsealing his indictment.

  • April 20, 2026

    Colorado Court Asked To Toss Trans Pilot's Defamation Suit

    A conservative social media influencer accused of defaming a transgender Army National Guard pilot by claiming that she caused the deadly January 2025 collision over the Potomac River has asked a Colorado federal judge to reconsider his decision not to throw out the lawsuit.

  • April 20, 2026

    Colo. Contractor Says Engineer's FCA Suit Shows No Fraud

    A government contractor accused of retaliating against a former chief engineer has asked a Colorado federal judge to dismiss the worker's False Claims Act suit, arguing the former employee's complaint never identified any completed transaction with the government.

  • April 20, 2026

    Judge Largely Axes Protest Over NASA Movie Production Deal

    A NASA contracting officer lacked the authority to enter into a long-term contract with a movie production company, a Court of Federal Claims judge said, axing the company's claims that NASA breached an implied agreement to lease space at a Louisiana facility for 10 years.

  • April 20, 2026

    House Panel Probes Reports Of Missing, Killed Scientists

    Two Republican U.S. congressmen announced a probe Monday into reports of about a dozen scientists or government employees with ties to American nuclear and space programs who were killed or reported missing, penning letters seeking information from NASA, the Department of Energy, the FBI and the Defense Department.

  • April 20, 2026

    Frontier Sues American Over Planes Clipping Wings In Boston

    Frontier Airlines has brought a lawsuit against American Airlines in Massachusetts federal court over a plane collision on the tarmac at Boston's Logan International Airport, alleging the incident caused more than half a million dollars of damage to a Frontier aircraft. 

  • April 20, 2026

    Catching Up With Delaware's Chancery Court

    The Delaware Chancery Court this past week delivered another mix of procedural rulings, fiduciary duty disputes and deal litigation, highlighting both the court's gatekeeping role and its continued focus on stockholder rights and transactional fairness.

  • April 20, 2026

    Illinois' Suit Over Trump's National Guard Deployment Tossed

    An Illinois federal judge on Monday threw out a lawsuit filed by the state and the city of Chicago challenging the deployment of National Guard troops to Illinois, agreeing with the Trump administration that the case is now moot because the troops have been demobilized or withdrawn and the orders authorizing their presence "are no longer alive."

  • April 20, 2026

    SpaceX, Calif. Agency Strike Sealed Deal To End Launch Suit

    SpaceX and the California Coastal Commission have said they reached an agreement that would settle a lawsuit that accused board members of trying to stifle the company's effort to launch more rockets from a military base in Santa Barbara County.

  • April 20, 2026

    Justices Won't Consider Union's Right To Seek SpaceX Appeal

    The U.S. Supreme Court shut the door Monday on a challenge to a Fifth Circuit ruling that enables the National Labor Relations Board's targets to get its cases blocked, turning away a union's appeal of a decision refusing to let it join the case.

  • April 20, 2026

    High Court Turns Away Veteran's Disability Bias Suit

    The U.S. Supreme Court refused Monday to review the dismissal of a veteran's lawsuit alleging he was let go by an aviation training provider because of his post-traumatic stress disorder and other service-related disabilities, despite his assertion that the decision against him contributed to a circuit split.

  • April 17, 2026

    Ex-Rep. Didn't Fund Venezuelan Opposition, Accountant Says

    A forensic accountant testified in Florida federal court on Friday that his investigation into the finances of politician David Rivera found that no funds were given to Venezuelan opposition officials, telling jurors how he followed the money trail of the one-time congressman accused of secretly lobbying for a foreign government.

  • April 17, 2026

    Judge Again Rejects Boeing Whistleblower Suicide Settlement

    A South Carolina court has again refused to approve a $50,000 settlement in a lawsuit accusing Boeing of instigating a "campaign of harassment" against a whistleblower that led to his suicide, saying it can't know whether the deal is fair until it has seen the details of a related settlement.

  • April 17, 2026

    Rocket Lab Beats Investor Suit Over Launch Timeline For Good

    A California federal judge has permanently tossed a proposed shareholder class action alleging that Rocket Lab USA Inc. and its top brass intentionally concealed issues that would delay the test and commercial launches of a vehicle it developed, finding that the suit did not adequately allege a motive for fraud by the defendants.

  • April 17, 2026

    Drone Co. Aevex Joins Defense-Related IPOs, Raising $320M

    Drone-maker Aevex Corp. began trading Friday after raising $320 million in its initial public ‌offering, steered by a Kirkland & Ellis LLP team and with Latham & Watkins LLP advising the underwriters.

  • April 17, 2026

    NorthStar Inks $300M SPAC Deal As Space Debris Risk Rises

    NorthStar Earth & Space said Friday it will merge with a blank-check company in a deal valuing NorthStar at $300 million, as the Canadian company bets that increasingly congested orbits will require continuous monitoring to avoid collisions and service disruptions.

  • April 17, 2026

    Texas Justice Calls Asbestos Dosage Decision 'Troubling'

    Texas Supreme Court justices declined an appeal brought after a lower court did not consider proof of asbestos dosage in its decision, but on Friday, Justice Evan Young wrote that the lower court's failure to do so was "troubling" even if the case wasn't a good fit for high court review.

  • April 17, 2026

    DOD Contractor Gets 2 Years In Prison For $829K Fraud

    The owner of a U.S. defense manufacturing company has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding the federal government of more than $829,000 by providing cheaper, nonconforming parts under 148 U.S. Department of Defense contracts.

  • April 17, 2026

    Lockheed Can't Slip Workers' 401(k) Self-Dealing Suit

    Lockheed Martin can't escape a proposed class action alleging the company breached fiduciary duties under federal benefits law by offering underperforming proprietary target-date fund offerings in several employee 401(k) plans worth approximately $50 billion, after a New Jersey federal judge largely refused to toss the dispute.

Expert Analysis

  • Breaking Down State Legislative Efforts In Telecom Security

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    As the federal government has strengthened national security safeguards for the telecommunications ecosystem, states have also asserted a role in telecom security, with variations among these regimes risking regulatory fragmentation and complicating compliance strategies, say attorneys at Hogan Lovells.

  • 5 Tips For Navigating Your Firm's All-Attorney Summit

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Law firm retreats should be approached strategically, as they present valuable opportunities to advance both the firm's objectives and attorneys' professional development through meaningful participation, building and strengthening internal relationships, and proactive follow-up, says James Argionis at Cozen O’Connor.

  • What's At Stake In High Court's Venue Dispute Case

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    The U.S. Supreme Court’s eventual ruling in Abouammo v. U.S. could fundamentally reshape venue rules for federal criminal prosecutions, highlighting why defense counsel should ensure preservation of colorable venue challenges, particularly where the government's chosen forum lacks a direct connection to the defendant's physical acts, say attorneys at ArentFox Schiff.

  • 5 Gov't Contractor Tips Following Anthropic Risk Designation

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    The Pentagon's designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk is an unprecedented action that raises significant legal questions, and with government contractors already receiving directives and inquiries concerning their use of Anthropic products and services, there are several strategies contractors can use to manage risk, say attorneys at Mayer Brown.

  • How Data Centers Can Prep For Legal Challenges Amid War

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    Amid conflict in the Middle East, data centers may now be exposed to state-level kinetic threats, creating significant legal, regulatory and contractual implications, so operators should update their legal and operational frameworks in order to withstand future disruptions and meet the regulator expectations, say attorneys at Baker Botts.

  • Series

    Coaching Soccer Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Coaching youth soccer for my 7-year-old son's team has sharpened how I communicate with clients, prepare witnesses, work within teams and think about leadership, making me a more thoughtful and effective lawyer in many ways, says Joshua Holt at Smith Currie.

  • Bid Protest Spotlight: Commerciality, Amendments, Evidence

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    Recent decisions from the U.S. Government Accountability Office and the Small Business Administration illustrate the statutory and regulatory preference for acquiring commercial solutions, how failing to acknowledge a solicitation amendment can be fatal to a bid, and a protester's duty to support its allegations with evidence, says James Tucker at MoFo.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: The Human Element

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    Law school teaches you to quickly apply intellect and logic when handling a legal issue, but every fact pattern also involves a person, making the ability to balance expertise with empathy critical to the growth of relationships with clients, colleagues and adversaries, says Rachel Adcox at Adcox Strategies.

  • 4 Ways To Help CBP Curb Shell Co. Import Schemes

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    Shifting to a proactive rather than reactive enforcement posture in addressing shell companies set up to skirt tariffs requires equipping U.S. Customs and Border Protection with enhanced investigative authorities, better intelligence support, and mechanisms to identify and hold accountable the ultimate illicit actors, say attorneys at Kelley Drye.

  • 7 Steps For Gov't Contractors In Post-IEEPA Tariff Landscape

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    In response to U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to strike down tariffs issued by the Trump administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, there are several actions federal contractors should take to preserve their place in any refund waterfall, and to manage audit, overpayment and False Claims Act risk, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

  • A Reliable Liability Shield For Government-Sponsored R&D

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    The Federal Circuit's decision in Arlton v. AeroVironment last month confirms that the Section 1498 liability-shifting framework applies well beyond production contracts, providing powerful assurance that contractors performing government-directed work are shielded from patent infringement liability, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • What We Know About DOJ's New FCA Enforcement Priorities

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    Recent remarks from the leader of the Justice Department’s commercial litigation branch provide key insights on how False Claims Act cases — especially healthcare fraud, trade fraud, antidiscrimination and cybersecurity claims — will be evaluated, prioritized and pursued as heightened enforcement becomes the new normal, say attorneys at Latham.

  • The Benefits Of Choosing A Niche Practice In The AI Age

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    As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly accessible, lawyers with a niche practice may stand out as clients seek specialized judgment that automation cannot replicate, but it is important to choose a niche that is durable, engaging and a good personal fit, says Daniel Borneman at Lowenstein Sandler.

  • Section 122 Tariffs Show Shift In Strategy, Not Trade Policy

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    By imposing temporary tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act as a stopgap measure while it pivots to less transitory statutory authorities, the Trump administration sent a clear message that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Learning Resources v. Trump, invalidating duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, will not precipitate a change in policy direction, say attorneys at Snell & Wilmer.

  • Series

    Podcasting Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Podcasting has changed how I ask questions and connect with people, sharpening my ability to listen without interrupting or prejudging, and bringing me closer to what law is meant to be: a human profession grounded in understanding, judgment and trust, says Donna DiMaggio Berger at Becker.

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