Public Policy

  • May 12, 2025

    SEC's Atkins Outlines Crypto Policy Plans At Roundtable

    U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins told crypto industry participants on Monday that developing rules for digital asset markets would be a "key priority" of his chairmanship during a keynote address that promised to focus the agency's enforcement approach on fraud and manipulation.

  • May 12, 2025

    UAW Drops Claim Over Frozen Unemployment Benefits

    The United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Workers of America agreed to drop its claim that the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency violated an agreement to better investigate potentially fraudulent claims as long as the agency takes steps to comply with the deal.

  • May 12, 2025

    Feds Ask Tesla For More Info On Texas Robotaxi Launch

    Federal auto safety regulators have asked Tesla Inc. for more information about its upcoming plans to launch robotaxis in Austin, Texas, and whether the company has determined that its Full Self-Driving, or FSD, automated driving technology can achieve "acceptably safe behavioral competency."

  • May 12, 2025

    Duke Renews Push To Duck NC Town's Climate Damages Case

    A town in North Carolina can't pin the global climate crisis solely on Duke Energy Corp., the power giant argued Friday in seeking to scrap a suit accusing it of deceiving the public about the effects of climate change, saying the town's claims exceed the bounds of state law.

  • May 12, 2025

    DC Judge Grapples With Jurisdiction In ABA Grant Row

    A D.C. federal judge wrestled with his court's jurisdiction Monday as the American Bar Association sought a court order reviving terminated federal grant funding for its Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence.

  • May 12, 2025

    CFPB Eyes Reversal Of Biden-Era In-House Proceeding Rules

    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Monday moved to scrap rules from the Biden administration that gave the agency's director more control over in-house enforcement proceedings, a rollback that comes on the heels of President Donald Trump striking two other Biden-era rules on overdraft fees and digital payment supervision.

  • May 12, 2025

    Green Groups Fight Feds' Effort To Rescind Bird Protections

    Environmental groups on Sunday asked a Texas federal court to reject the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's effort to reverse its decision to protect two populations of the lesser prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act.

  • May 12, 2025

    Deny 'ComEd Four' A 'Third Bite' At Posttrial Apple, Feds Urge

    Prosecutors are asking an Illinois federal judge to disregard a former Commonwealth Edison CEO and three lobbyists' bid to use a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling to try again to unwind their bribery convictions, arguing their motion is untimely and ignores the inapplicability of the high court's ruling, the jury instructions and "overwhelming evidence" proving their guilt.

  • May 12, 2025

    ICE Hits LA County With Subpoena Over Noncitizen Benefits

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Monday it has issued a sweeping subpoena to Los Angeles County, demanding records — including immigration status — for recipients of California's Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants.

  • May 12, 2025

    Ex-Trump Attys Can't Dodge Jan. 6 In Ethics Case, Panel Told

    The Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission has told a disciplinary panel the events of Jan. 6, 2021, should be open for discussion at a hearing for attorneys accused of violating ethics rules by filing a challenge to the state's 2020 election results, despite commissioners having no plans to elicit testimony about the protests.

  • May 12, 2025

    More Than Defaults: Google Judge Mulls AI, Search, Browsers

    A D.C. federal judge has three weeks to figure out the last questions he'll ask the U.S. Department of Justice and Google before laying out search monopolization remedies that could help shape the way consumers search, browse and use artificial intelligence.

  • May 12, 2025

    No One Can Challenge Rehab Permit Deal, Conn. Tells Court

    No one is aggrieved by a Connecticut agency settlement that granted a conditional approval to the operator of a substance abuse treatment facility, so no one can challenge it in court, the state attorney general's office argued Monday before the Connecticut Supreme Court.

  • May 12, 2025

    Ohio AG Will Ask 6th Circ. To Revive Social Media Age Limit

    Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Monday that he is appealing a federal court decision blocking the state's law barring social media companies from allowing children under 16 to create accounts without parental consent.

  • May 12, 2025

    DC Judge Declines To Block IRS From Sharing Info With ICE

    A D.C. federal judge rejected Monday a trio of immigration advocacy groups' request to block the Internal Revenue Service from sharing with immigration enforcement agencies the names and addresses of people suspected of being in the country illegally.

  • May 12, 2025

    DHS To Terminate Temporary Protections For Afghans

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is terminating temporary protections for Afghan nationals, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Monday, saying that conditions in the country do not meet the requirements for a temporary protected status designation.

  • May 12, 2025

    Unions Tell Justices To Protect Privacy In Social Security Case

    Two unions and an advocacy group argued Monday that there's no need for the U.S. Supreme Court to make it easier for the Department of Government Efficiency to access the Social Security Administration's data on millions of Americans, claiming requiring the supposed fraud-busting team to follow protocol doesn't constitute an emergency.

  • May 12, 2025

    Judiciary To Face House Members With $9.4B Budget Request

    Top judiciary officials will make the case this week that they need $9.4 billion in discretionary spending for fiscal 2026, a 9.3% increase over fiscal 2025, in order to rectify past funding shortfalls and meet increasing challenges with judicial threats, among other things.

  • May 12, 2025

    Feds Should Relax CBRS Power Limits, Carriers Say

    Telecom carriers asked the Federal Communications Commission to accept industry proposals to relax power limits for devices in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service in hopes of opening the prime spectrum for more rapid growth.

  • May 12, 2025

    20 AGs Suing HHS Move to Halt Cuts At 4 Affected Agencies

    States challenging the Trump administration's plans for massive cuts to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are asking a Rhode Island federal court to block any planned terminations at four of the department's agencies and programs.

  • May 12, 2025

    Hedge Fund Group Urges Delay On New AML Rules

    A top trade group representing hedge funds is urging the Trump administration to delay enforcement of new Treasury Department anti-money laundering rules applicable to investment managers, part of a broader attempt to persuade financial and securities regulators to slow down or rescind wide-ranging rules.

  • May 12, 2025

    Justice Souter Left His Mark On Arbitration, Too

    Although former U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter, who died Thursday at the age of 85, was not known for his arbitration-related opinions, those that he wrote on the topic left a mark on the practice area that is still felt today.

  • May 12, 2025

    Budget Bill Would Let FCC Auction 600 MHz Of Spectrum

    A sweeping budget bill teed up for a U.S. House of Representatives committee vote Tuesday would allow the Federal Communications Commission to auction at least 600 megahertz of spectrum rights for exclusive wireless company use.

  • May 12, 2025

    Calif. Tribe Can't Halt Decision On $700M Casino, Feds Say

    The U.S. Department of the Interior has urged a D.C. federal court to reject a California tribe's bid to temporarily block the department's decision to rescind gambling eligibility for a $700 million casino project.

  • May 12, 2025

    Ex-Senators, Judges Support Business In Trump Tariff Fight

    A stationery company challenging President Donald Trump's global tariffs has received support from former U.S. senators and retired federal judges who told a Florida federal court that the power to impose trade measures remains squarely with Congress.

  • May 12, 2025

    Full DC Circ. Won't Review Copyright Denial For AI-Created Art

    The D.C. Circuit on Monday denied a computer scientist's request for a three-judge panel rehearing or en banc review of an order that found copyright law protects only human creations, nixing his appeal that attempted to obtain copyright for a two-dimensional artwork made by the computer scientist's artificial intelligence system.

Expert Analysis

  • Preparing For Tariffs On Canadian Power In The Northeast

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    The on-again, off-again risk of import and export tariffs on energy transactions between the U.S. and Canada may have repercussions for U.S. energy stakeholders in the ISO New England and New York Independent System Operator electricity markets — but there are options that could help reduce cost impacts, say attorneys at Husch Blackwell.

  • How Calif.'s Wildfire Insurance Crisis Might Affect Texas

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    Attorneys at Munsch Hardt examine the implications of California's wildfire insurance crisis for Texas, including potential shifts in coverage availability, regulatory differences and how the insurers in the second-largest U.S. state may react to a major wildfire event.

  • New SEC Guidance May Change How Investors, Cos. Talk

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent updates to the Schedules 13D and G compliance and disclosure interpretations may mean large institutional investors substantially curtail the feedback they provide companies about their voting intentions in connection with shareholder meetings, which could result in negative voting outcomes for companies, say attorneys at Cleary.

  • 4 Key Payments Trends For White Collar Attys

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    As the payments landscape continues to innovate and the new administration looks to expand the role of digital currency in the American economy, white collar practitioners should be aware of several key issues in this space, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.

  • Calif. Antitrust Bill Could Alter Enforcement Landscape

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    If enacted, a recently proposed California bill that would strengthen the state’s antitrust law could signal a notable shift in the U.S. enforcement environment, but questions remain about the types of cases the state could pursue, whether other states will follow suit and more, say attorneys at DLA Piper.

  • Series

    Performing Stand-Up Comedy Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Whether I’m delivering a punchline on stage or a closing argument in court, balancing stand-up comedy performances and my legal career has demonstrated that the keys to success in both endeavors include reading the room, landing the right timing and making an impact, says attorney Rebecca Palmer.

  • Opinion

    Upholding Tribal Sovereignty Benefits US And Indian Country

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    The Trump administration's broad moves to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs are negatively affecting many tribal programs, but supporting tribal sovereignty would serve the federal government's deregulatory goals and ensure that tribes have the resources they need, says Ellen Grover at BB&K.

  • Constitutional Foundations Of Gov't-Guaranteed Investments

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    For attorneys advising clients with exposure to government-backed investments, understanding the constitutional guardrails on presidential impoundment offers essential guidance for risk assessment, contract strategy and litigation planning, says Mauni Jalali at Quinn Emanuel.

  • Investor Essentials For Buying Federally Owned Property

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    Investors and developers can take advantage of the Trump administration's plan to sell government-owned real estate by becoming familiar with the process and eligible to bid, and should prepare to move quickly once the U.S. General Services Administration posts the list of properties for sale, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

  • How 2025 Is Shaping The Future Of Bank Mergers So Far

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    Whether the long-anticipated great wave of consolidation in the U.S. banking industry will finally arrive in 2025 remains to be seen, but the conditions for bank mergers are more favorable now than they have been in years, say attorneys at Skadden.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From SEC To BigLaw

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    As I adjusted to the multifaceted workflow of a BigLaw firm after leaving the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, working side by side with new colleagues on complex matters proved the fastest way to build a deep rapport and demonstrate my value, says Jennifer Lee at Jenner & Block.

  • What's Old And New In The CFTC's Self-Reporting Advisory

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    Attorneys at Blank Rome analyze the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's recent advisory that aims to provide clarity on self-reporting violations of the Commodity Exchange Act, and review whether market participants should shift their thinking — or not — when it comes to cooperation with the CFTC.

  • Weathering Policy Zig-Zags In Gov't Contracting Under Trump

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    To succeed amid the massive shift in federal contracting policies heralded by President Donald Trump's return to office, contractors should be prepared for increased costs and enhanced False Claims Act enforcement, and to act swiftly to avail themselves of contractual remedies, says Jacob Scott at Smith Currie.

  • How Trump's Crypto Embrace Is Spurring Enforcement Reset

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent willingness to step away from ongoing enforcement investigations and actions underscores the changing regulatory landscape for crypto under the new administration, which now appears committed to working with stakeholders to develop a clearer regulatory framework, say attorneys at Sheppard Mullin.

  • After CEQ's Rollback, Fate Of NEPA May Be In Justices' Hands

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    The White House Council on Environmental Quality recently announced its intention to rescind its own National Environmental Policy Act regulations, causing additional burdens to existing NEPA challenges, and raising questions for regulated entities and federal agencies that may only be resolved by a pending U.S. Supreme Court case, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

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