Expert Analysis

• Paramount-WBD Deal Would Widen Net For Antitrust Scrutiny

  

  The fresh likelihood of a merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery raises the prospect of added intervention from the U.S. Department of Justice due to the companies' overlaps in key markets, and may signal expanded DOJ scrutiny of potential anticompetitive effects on supply chains, says Shubha Ghosh at the Syracuse University College of Law.

• Planning For M&A Complexity After New State 'Mini-HSR' Laws

  

  After the recent enactment of California's mini-HSR law, and with Indiana poised to pass its own, requiring the submission of Hart-Scott-Rodino premerger notifications to state attorneys general, practitioners should expand their deal planning to include state-by-state reportability as more states adopt similar mandatory merger-notification requirements, say attorneys at McDermott.

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  Playing Piano Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  Playing piano and practicing law share many parallels relating to managing complexity: Just as hearing an entire musical passage in my head allows me to reliably deliver the message, thinking about the audience's impression helps me create a legal narrative that keeps the reader engaged, says Michael Shepherd at Fish & Richardson.

• Considering The Prospects Of A Robinson-Patman Act Revival

  

  Following a flurry of activity under the Biden administration, Federal Trade Commission price-discrimination cases under the Robinson-Patman Act are at a crossroads, and state-level enforcement could become the next frontier in this area, say attorneys at Hogan Lovells.

• New Foreign Bribery Guide Can Help Int'l Cos. Identify Risks

  

  In light of growing global coordination on anti-bribery enforcement, the International Foreign Bribery Taskforce’s recent guide to foreign bribery indicators represents a step forward in the standardization of factors for evaluating corruption risks that multinational companies should consider, say lawyers at Paul Weiss.

• AI-Generated Doc Ruling Guides Attys On Privilege Risks

  

  A New York federal court's ruling, in U.S. v. Heppner, that documents created by a defendant using an artificial intelligence tool were not privileged, can serve as a guide to attorneys for retaining attorney-client or work-product privilege over client documents created with AI, say attorneys at Sher Tremonte.

• 6 Things Bankers Need To Know About AI-Powered M&A

  

  Artificial intelligence is now ingrained in banking mergers and acquisitions, and bankers should learn the key elements of the technology's competency and limits, such as that AI-enhanced reviews do not replace compliance, despite their speed and depth, say attorneys at Spencer Fane.

• The Law Firm Merger Diaries: Leadership Strategy After Day 1

  

  For law firm leaders, ensuring a newly combined law firm lives up to its promise, both in its first days of operation and well after, includes tough decisions, clear and specific communication, and cheerleading, says Peter Michaud at Ballard Spahr.

• How New HSR Thresholds, Fees Could Affect Enforcement

  

  While the Federal Trade Commission's new thresholds and filing fees for the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act are not expected to materially affect the number of required HSR filings, or the percentage or focus of second requests, increased filing fees may give agencies dedicated resources to bring enforcement actions, say attorneys at Sidley.

• Clearing US Legal Hurdles To Biz Opportunities In Venezuela

  

  Companies evaluating foreign investment or activity in Venezuela given the U.S. government's recently announced plans to reinvigorate its natural resources should take specific steps to minimize risks connected to interactions with restricted parties given the web of U.S. counterterrorism, anticorruption and sanctions controls, say attorneys at King & Spalding.

• Mind The Gap: Crafting D&O Straddle Coverage For M&A

  

  A recent Florida federal court decision highlights an often-overlooked risk for those negotiating directors and officers insurance coverage for mergers and acquisitions: the potential for so-called straddle claims, falling in the gap between tail and go-forward coverage, say attorneys at Reed Smith.

• Calif.'s Civility Push Shows Why Professionalism Is Vital

  

  The California Bar’s campaign against discourteous behavior by attorneys, including a newly required annual civility oath, reflects a growing concern among states that professionalism in law needs shoring up — and recognizes that maintaining composure even when stressed is key to both succeeding professionally and maintaining faith in the legal system, says Lucy Wang at Hinshaw.

• FCC Satellite Co. Action Starts New Chapter For Team Telecom

  

  The Federal Communications Commission's recent settlement with satellite company Marlink marks a modest but meaningful step forward in how the U.S. regulates foreign involvement in its telecommunications sector, proving "Team Telecom" conditions are not limited to companies with substantial foreign ownership, says attorney Sohan Dasgupta.

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  Trivia Competition Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  Playing trivia taught me to quickly absorb information and recognize when I've learned what I'm expected to know, training me in the crucial skills needed to be a good attorney, and reminding me to be gracious in defeat, says Jonah Knobler at Patterson Belknap.

• Ruling Puts Guardrails On FTC Merger Filing Rule Expansion

  

  A Texas federal court recently vacated the Federal Trade Commission's overhaul of the Hart-Scott-Rodino premerger notification form, in a significant setback for the antitrust agencies, say attorneys at Reed Smith.