Public Policy

January 06, 2026
9th Circ. Says Christian Ministry Can Reject Gay Applicants

The Ninth Circuit ruled Tuesday that a Christian ministry is constitutionally clear to refuse employment to people based on their sexual orientation, explaining that the First Amendment allows religious ministries to prefer candidates who share their beliefs about marriage and sexuality.
January 06, 2026
Bankers Urge Senate To Ban Stablecoin Yield Payments

The American Bankers Association is doubling down on efforts to convince policymakers to outlaw yield payments for stablecoins, urging banking CEOs and their clients to flood U.S. senators with letters and calls as a forthcoming crypto market structure bill presents an opportunity to solidify the prohibition.
January 06, 2026
NJ Bill Aims To Earmark $2.5B In Development Tax Credits

New Jersey would earmark $2.5 billion in economic development tax credits, with up to $300 million designated for sports and entertainment projects, as part of a bill introduced in the state Assembly.
January 06, 2026
Texas Justices Erase ABA Approval In Bar Admissions

The Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday issued an order ending a longstanding rule requiring graduation from a law school approved by the American Bar Association for admittance to the state bar, with the court giving itself the authority for accreditation.
January 06, 2026
Kalshi Seeks To Keep Status Quo Amid Sports Contract Fight

Kalshi is urging the Ninth Circuit to allow it to continue offering sports event contracts as it litigates a patchwork of cases from state gaming regulators arguing that the trading platform is using the contracts to violate sports betting laws.
January 06, 2026
Fulton County Says Feds Can't Force Release Of 2020 Ballots

Fulton County, Georgia's clerk of court called on a federal judge Monday to toss the Trump administration's bid to force her to hand over 2020 election ballots, arguing the government sought the records under the wrong law and in the wrong venue.
January 06, 2026
Rep. McIver To Face All Counts From Detention Center Scrum

U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., must face the full criminal indictment accusing her of assaulting federal officers outside an immigration detention center in Newark, a New Jersey federal judge has ruled.
January 06, 2026
Former Ga. State Legislator Accused Of Pandemic Aid Fraud

A former Georgia state House member was charged Monday with fraudulently obtaining pandemic-era unemployment benefits, the second Democratic lawmaker from the Peach State targeted in a criminal case related to COVID-19 relief in the past month.
January 06, 2026
Fla. 'Grim Reaper' Atty Facing Bar Admonishment Over Appeal

A referee with the Florida state bar recommended that an attorney who appeared on state beaches dressed as the Grim Reaper early in the COVID-19 pandemic face admonishment for listing co-counsel on an appeal in a case against Gov. Ron DeSantis without consent.
January 06, 2026
Indiana Lawmaker Files Marijuana Decriminalization Bill

An Indiana state lawmaker has introduced legislation to decriminalize personal possession of small amounts of marijuana.
January 06, 2026
WH Says Judge Can't Pursue Immigration Contempt Probe

The Trump administration has once again told the D.C. Circuit that U.S. District Judge James Boasberg lacks the constitutional authority to open a contempt probe into the government's removal of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants against his emergency order in March, calling the investigation an "unprecedented criminal fact-finding inquisition."
January 06, 2026
FTC Urges DC Circ. To Unblock Media Matters Probe

The Federal Trade Commission told the D.C. Circuit the agency's investigation into left-leaning watchdog Media Matters for America is about potential collusion in the advertising industry, not retaliation for reporting on Nazi content, and said a lower court was wrong to block the probe.
January 06, 2026
ISP Asks Feds To Preempt SC City Over Fiber Deployment

A broadband provider has urged the Federal Communications Commission to use its preemption authority to block a South Carolina city's requirements for deployment of new internet services.
January 06, 2026
Judgeship Nomination Not Renewed Amid Fla. Charity Probe

The nomination of John Guard, senior counselor to the attorney general of Florida, for a Middle District of Florida federal judgeship, has not been renewed for the new session of Congress after he came under scrutiny in a criminal probe regarding a charity connected to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
January 06, 2026
Creek Nation Fights Okla. Over Tribal Hunting Rights

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation has joined three fellow Oklahoma tribes in asking a federal court to block state wildlife officials from requiring tribal citizens to obtain state licenses to hunt and fish on their reservation lands, arguing that the practice violates its sovereignty and right to self-govern.
January 06, 2026
IRS Appeals Pause Of ICE Info-Sharing Agreement

The Internal Revenue Service is appealing to the D.C. Circuit a federal court order temporarily stopping the agency from sharing confidential taxpayer addresses with immigration enforcement officials, according to a filing Tuesday in D.C. federal court.
January 06, 2026
Tax Firm Says IRS Can't Justify Microcaptive Reporting Rules

A global tax services provider urged a Texas federal court to vacate tax reporting rules for microcaptive insurance companies, arguing that the Internal Revenue Service failed to provide evidence of tax evasion that would justify the regulations.
January 06, 2026
San Diego Sues DHS Over Marines' Border Barrier

The city of San Diego has sued the Department of Homeland Security over what it described as an unauthorized installation of razor-wire fencing by the U.S. Marines in a city-owned protected wildlife habitat area near the southern border.
January 06, 2026
US Imposes Triple-Digit Duties On Indian, German Hexamine

Imported hexamine from certain producers in India and Germany faces triple digit antidumping duties after the Commerce Department finalized a determination late last year that those goods were sold at less than fair value, according to a notice issued Tuesday.
January 06, 2026
German Waived Challenge To $4.6M SEC Tab, 1st Circ. Hints

A German national's failure to formally respond to discovery requests probing whether he is subject to personal jurisdiction in the United States may have undermined his challenge to a $4.6 million default judgment in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission fraud case, a First Circuit panel suggested Tuesday.
January 06, 2026
Top Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice Cases Of 2025

A headline-grabbing $329 million wrongful death verdict against Tesla and a landmark $2.5 billion deal between DuPont and New Jersey over PFAS "forever chemicals" are among Law360's top personal injury and medical malpractice cases from 2025.
January 06, 2026
Ireland Offers Europe's First Tax Break For Unscripted Shows

Ireland is offering a corporate tax credit for unscripted productions that promote Irish and European culture, the Department of Finance said, noting that the initiative is the first of its kind in Europe.
January 06, 2026
Markey Slams 'Reckless' Media Onslaught After CPB's End

Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., blasted the Trump administration for what he described as a relentless attack on public media after the Corporation for Public Broadcasting shut down following the termination of its federal funding.
January 05, 2026
US Chamber Gets Expedited Appeal In $100,000 H-1B Fee Suit

The D.C. Circuit on Monday fast-tracked the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's appeal of a ruling that a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions was within President Donald Trump's "broad authority" to restrict noncitizens' entry.
January 05, 2026
1st Circ. Upholds Block On Trump Admin NIH Funding Cuts

The First Circuit on Monday affirmed a Massachusetts federal judge's order permanently blocking the Trump administration from gutting National Institutes of Health funding for biomedical research, agreeing that the government didn't have the authority to cap indirect costs for research grants.

Editor's Picks

Trump's Legal Battles

States, federal employee unions, various advocacy groups and several individuals have filed over 220 lawsuits challenging the Trump administration's implementation of executive orders and other initiatives. Law360 has created a database of those lawsuits, separated into categories based on their subject matter.

Expert Analysis

How Shareholder Activism Fared In 2025

2025 was a turbulent yet transformative year in shareholder activism, and there are several key takeaways to help companies prepare for a 2026 that is shaping up to be even more lively, including increased focus on retail investors and the use of social media as a tool, say attorneys at Sidley.
2nd Circ. Ruling Shows Procedural Perils Of Civil Forfeiture

The Second Circuit’s recent U.S. v. Ross decision, partially denying the return of an attorney's seized funds based on rigid standing requirements, underscores the unforgiving technical complexities of civil asset forfeiture law, and provides several lessons for practitioners, says Elisha Kobre at Sheppard Mullin.
Justices' Separation-Of-Powers Revamp May Hit States Next

The U.S. Supreme Court's 2024 decision in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jarkesy quietly laid the groundwork for an expansion of the court's separation-of-powers agenda beyond the federal level, but regulated parties and state and local governments alike can act now to anticipate Jarkesy's eventual wider application, say attorneys at Troutman.
Key Trends In Healthcare Antitrust In 2025

The healthcare industry braced for significant antitrust enforcement shifts last year driven by a change in administration, and understanding the implications of these trends is critical for healthcare organizations' risk management and strategic decision-making in the year ahead, say attorneys at Michael Best.
The 5 Most Important Bid Protest Decisions of 2025

In a shifting bid protest landscape, five decisions in 2025 from the Federal Circuit, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the U.S. Government Accountability Office that addressed bedrock questions about jurisdictional reach and the breadth of agency discretion are likely to have a lasting impact, say attorneys at Bradley Arant.
Trending At The PTAB: The Journey Of IPR Institution In 2025

Over the course of 2025, inter partes review institution at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board evolved into a more restrictive, policy-driven regime with reshaped discretionary briefing and assessment, and increasing procedural requirements, say attorneys at Finnegan.
Food Industry Braces For MAHA And Other Challenges In 2026

After the Make America Healthy Again movement kept the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under pressure in 2025, actions in the food safety space are likely to continue this year, including updated Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program dietary guidelines and processed food definitions, say attorneys at Wiley.
Preparing For Congressional Investigations In A Midterm Year

2026 will be a consequential year for congressional oversight as the upcoming midterm elections may yield bolder investigations and more aggressive state attorneys general coalitions, so companies should consider adopting risk management measures to get ahead of potential changes, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.
A Meaningful Shift In FDA's Biosimilarity Analysis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's potential pivot away from routinely requiring comparative efficacy studies for interchangeable biosimilar applications would not lower regulatory standards, but instead allow applicants to allocate resources toward establishing more probative evidence, says Theodore Thompson at Stinson.
Key Trends Shaping ESG And Sustainability Law In 2026

2025 saw a chaotic regulatory landscape and novel litigation around environmental, social and governance issues and sustainability — and 2026, while perhaps more predictable, will likely be no less challenging, with more lawsuits and a regulatory tug-of-war complicating compliance for global companies, say attorneys at Crowell.
How Bank M&A Prospects Brightened In 2025

Even with less-than-ideal macroeconomic conditions in 2025, federal banking regulators' shift away from procedural concerns to focus more on core financial risks boosted M&A in several key ways, including shorter review timelines and increased interest in de novo charters, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.
3 Securities Litigation Trends To Watch In 2026

Pending federal appellate cases suggest that 2026 will be a significant year for securities litigation, with long-standing debates about class certification, new questions about the risks and value of artificial intelligence features, and private plaintiffs' growing role in cryptocurrency enforcement likely to be major themes, say attorneys at Willkie.
5 Tariff And Trade Developments To Watch In 2026

A new trade landscape emerged in 2025, the contours of which will be further defined by developments that will merit close attention this year, including a key ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court and a review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, says Ted Posner at Baker Botts.
What 2025 Enforcement Actions Show About FERC's Priorities

A review of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's 2025 enforcement record suggests that this year, the commission will persist in holding market participants to their commitments, and continue active market surveillance and close cooperation with market monitors, says Ruta Skucas at Crowell & Moring.
Employment Immigration Trends And Challenges For 2026

U.S. companies competing for global talent should brace for a turbulent 2026, with greater compliance burdens, higher costs and the probability of workforce disruptions at every stage of the immigration process, from visa petitions to work authorization renewals, say attorneys at Duane Morris.