Expert Analysis

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  Calif. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q3

  

  California's financial regulators spent the third quarter of 2026 focusing on consumer protection enforcement at home while resisting federal efforts to displace state oversight — reinforcing the state's intention to shape the compliance landscape for institutions operating within its borders despite federal deregulatory trends, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

• DOJ's Unusual Warning Puts Protests In FARA Crosshairs

  

  The U.S. Department of Justice’s recent atypical press release about Foreign Agents Registration Act liability may signal greater scrutiny of public demonstrations and foreign-directed advocacy — but it does not change the statutory requirements for companies and individuals, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

• Zillow-Redfin Settlement Spotlights Nontraditional-Deal Risk

  

  The Federal Trade Commission's recent settlement with Zillow and Redfin serves as a reminder that authorities are increasingly interested in challenging nontraditional transaction structures that effectively eliminate a market participant, which includes some exclusivity arrangements, say attorneys at Freshfields.

• How States May Enter The Shareholder Proposal Landscape

  

  Rescission of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's shareholder proposal rule doesn't herald the end of shareholder activism, but it allows state legislatures to play a central role in determining the future of shareholder proposals, with that uncertainty creating new opportunities for both issuers and activists, say attorneys at Thompson Coburn.

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  Mentalism Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  Convincing strangers I can read their minds may seem like an unusual second career for a legal practitioner, but both disciplines share several important requirements, including trust and preparation, says Warren Biro at Manatt.

• Why And How To Build A Neurodiversity-Informed Practice

  

  By better understanding neurodiversity and implementing simple accommodations for clients with autism, ADHD or learning differences, attorneys can build stronger relationships with those who may otherwise struggle to obtain and benefit from legal services, while developing good habits that will benefit everyone they represent, says Ting Cheung at Sanford Heisler.

• How FTC Win Charts A Court-1st Merger Litigation Playbook

  

  A New York federal court's recent decision blocking Henkel's acquisition of Liquid Nails marked a decisive trial win for the Federal Trade Commission, and tips for merging parties in similar transactions now include preparing for full-blown federal litigation, including a complete evidentiary trial, say attorneys at Cooley.

• How SEC Is Changing The Shareholder Proposal Landscape

  

  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission continues to place its shareholder proposal rule at the center of its agenda, now with a newly proposed rule that would rescind it entirely, showcasing an agency seeking to narrow its overall focus, say attorneys at Thompson Coburn.

• SEC's Shareholder Activism Role After The '26 Proxy Season

  

  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently proposed eliminating its shareholder proposal rule, but this proxy season's combination of elevated campaign activity, limited formal escalation and measured voting outcomes illustrates why a targeted SEC role remains important, say attorneys at Sidley.

• Understanding Risks Of Employees' AI-Drafted Complaints

  

  As employees increasingly use generative artificial intelligence to draft complaints about workplace misconduct, investigators must adapt their practices so that the process remains fair, thorough and grounded in fact, says Rebecca Foxwell at Bracewell.

• Prediction Market Case Tests Novel Insider Trading Theory

  

  The government's argument in its case against a soldier accused of using classified information to bet on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's capture would represent a sea change in how insider trading wire fraud has been prosecuted for decades, says Alex Blanchard at Holland & Knight.

• Why Importers Should Assess IEEPA Refund Claims Now

  

  Businesses that wait for direction from U.S. Customs and Border Protection or the courts before seeking refunds of their finally liquidated International Economic Emergency Procedure Act duties in court may find them out of reach as the earliest potential limitation deadlines are approaching, says Samuel Finkelstein at LMD Trade Law.

• Abbott FCA Deal Shows Enforcement Adequacy Quandaries

  

  Abbott Laboratories’ recent False Claims Act resolution illustrates several tricky questions that both prosecutors and defense counsel must address when weighing whether a civil enforcement action alone adequately addresses allegedly wrongful conduct, says James Koukios at MoFo.

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  Mich. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q3

  

  We are at an inflection point for Michigan financial services law, with a state Supreme Court decision recently overruling more than 25 years of precedent on the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, and pending legislation that could significantly shift the regulatory landscape, say attorneys and advisers at Dykema.

• FTC Proposal Puts Personalized Pricing On Notice

  

  The Federal Trade Commission’s recent proposed policy statement on undisclosed personalized pricing signals the potential for harm when business practices diverge from consumer expectations, indicating a need to disclose not only data usage, but also how it influences the prices consumers see, says Linda Goldstein at CM Law.