Expert Analysis

• 'A-C-T' Agenda Signals New Regulatory Era At SEC Speaks

  

  At this year's SEC Speaks, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins unveiled his ambitious A-C-T agenda — advance, clarify and transform — to align the federal securities regulatory regime with modern markets, illustrating that the conference was not merely a status update but an action plan, say attorneys at Perkins Coie.

• Opinion

  AI Presents A Make-Or-Break Moment For Outside Counsel

  

  The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence by corporate legal departments is forcing a long-overdue reset of the relationship between inside and outside counsel, and introducing a significant opportunity to shed frustrating inefficiencies and strengthen collaboration for firms willing to embrace the shift, says Intel Chief Legal Officer April Miller Boise.

• 1st AI Acquisition Regulation Raises Contractor Concerns

  

  The General Services Administration’s recently published contract clause addressing artificial intelligence systems is problematic in a number of ways, underscoring the complex legal and practical issues that will need to be addressed as AI becomes more widely deployed in federal contracting, say attorneys at Haynes Boone.

• Series

  Watching Hallmark Movies Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  I realize you may be judging me for watching, and actually enjoying, Hallmark Channel movies, but the escapism and storylines actually demonstrate qualities and actions that lead to an efficient, productive and positive legal practice, says Karen Ross at Tucker Ellis.

• Reel Justice: 'Mercy' And Private Surveillance As Evidence

  

  The near-future depicted in the film “Mercy” reminds attorneys that private surveillance networks are becoming central to the evidentiary ecosystem, shaping what prosecutors can obtain, what defendants must explain and what jurors may interpret as objective truth, says Veronica Finkelstein at Wilmington University.

• How Iran War Might Reshape Proxy Contests This Year

  

  The Iran war may function as a short-term poison pill for proxy contests, not because it strengthens corporate defenses, but because it increases the risks associated with activist commitments, say attorneys at Sidley.

• When Trade Secret Litigation And Criminal Law Collide

  

  An increasing convergence of trade secret litigation and white collar defense, especially with several recent criminal prosecutions from the Justice Department, should prompt businesses and counsel to adapt within the overlapping landscapes, says Kenneth Notter at MoloLamken.

• How DOJ's New Corporate Crime Policy Will Work In Practice

  

  The upshot of the Justice Department's new corporate crimes enforcement framework is uniformity for self-reporting companies, but there is uncertainty around how it will be applied in interaction with the Southern District of New York's more lenient, yet unpredictable, financial crimes enforcement program, say attorneys at Cahill Gordon.

• 7 Employer Tips For Handling Calif. Privacy Risk Assessments

  

  Recent changes to the California Consumer Privacy Act require certain employers to complete detailed risk assessments before handling workforce data in many routine ways, so employers should assess whether previous risk assessments can be reused or combined, assemble a team, and create a plan of action, among other steps, say attorneys at Littler.

• Breaking Down State Legislative Efforts In Telecom Security

  

  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.

• Agentic AI Use May Trigger Existing Consumer Finance Laws

  

  As artificial intelligence agents interact more and more with payment systems, financial institutions should be cognizant of how existing consumer protection laws like the Equal Credit Opportunity Act apply when transactions are executed by automated systems rather than individuals, noting authorization and liability gaps, say attorneys at Sheppard.

• SEC Guidance Further Solidifies Status Of Tokenized Assets

  

  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently released a statement that tokenized securities are securities governed by traditional securities laws, representing continued regulatory clarity and the development of expanded technical standards and risk management guidelines that can only improve the long-term viability of financial markets, say attorneys at Barnes & Thornburg.

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

  Excerpt from Practical Guidance

  

  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

  

  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

  

  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.