Public Policy

  • January 29, 2026

    CFTC's Selig Eyes Prediction Markets Rules In Debut Speech

    U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Michael Selig on Thursday delivered his first public remarks as the agency's leader, laying out an agenda that includes setting rules for prediction markets and collaborating closely with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on a variety of cryptocurrency initiatives.

  • January 29, 2026

    DOL Proposes Pharmacy Benefit Manager Fee Disclosure Rule

    The U.S. Department of Labor's employee benefits subagency Thursday proposed a rule to require new fee disclosures from pharmacy benefit managers, which act as intermediaries between drugmakers, pharmacies and insurers, to help managers of employee health plans ensure PBM services are reasonably priced.

  • January 29, 2026

    4th Circ. Told EPA's W.Va. Haze Approval Broke Law

    Two environmental groups have urged the Fourth Circuit to vacate the U.S. Environmental Protection's approval of a regional air quality plan in West Virginia, arguing it allows power plants in the area to skirt required pollution controls.

  • January 29, 2026

    Boulder County Residents Lose Easement Appeal

    A Colorado Court of Appeals panel found Thursday in a ruling of first impression that adjacent property owners lack standing to challenge the termination of a conservation easement in a group of Boulder County landowners' appeal against the county.

  • January 29, 2026

    7th Circ. Questions Gov't Entering Nonprofit's ADA Fight

    The Seventh Circuit seemed skeptical Thursday that it should allow the U.S. government to intervene in a discrimination lawsuit targeting an Illinois village's refusal to let a nonprofit organization open a substance abuse treatment facility within its borders.

  • January 29, 2026

    Dems Have Questions Over FTC's Unsealed Pepsi Complaint

    Democratic lawmakers have accused PepsiCo Inc. of providing misleading responses to a previous inquiry about the Federal Trade Commission's abandoned price discrimination case, while also raising concerns that the agency dropped the case for political reasons.

  • January 29, 2026

    11th Circ. Shields Deputy In Fatal Drunken-Driving Case

    The Eleventh Circuit ruled Thursday that an off-duty sheriff's deputy who fled the scene after drunkenly crashing his patrol car into another vehicle and killing a man is entitled to qualified immunity on a civil rights claim, ruling the conduct did not clearly violate the Constitution even if it was egregious.

  • January 29, 2026

    DOJ Awards $1M In First For Antitrust Whistleblower Program

    The U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division awarded a whistleblower $1 million for providing information that led to charges and a $3.28 million criminal fine against used-vehicle auction site EBlock, marking the first-ever award under a new antitrust whistleblower program, the DOJ announced Thursday.

  • January 29, 2026

    Feds OK Expansion To Boost Techs In 6 GHz Airwaves

    The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday agreed to new rules expanding use of the 6 gigahertz spectrum band, mainly to drive the growth of devices using the Internet of Things and virtual and augmented reality.

  • January 29, 2026

    Conn. Drug Price Cap Survives Distributor Challenge, For Now

    The Second Circuit has declined a bid to immediately block the state of Connecticut from enforcing a cap on generic and off-patent drug prices while the Healthcare Distribution Alliance, a collection of wholesale distributors, challenges the new law.

  • January 29, 2026

    FCC's Carr Says More Plans To 'Delete' Regs On Way Soon

    The chief of the Federal Communications Commission says more rounds of his "Delete, Delete, Delete" initiative to scale back what he views as obsolete telecom rules will be coming up soon.

  • January 29, 2026

    Valve Scores Partial Win As Its Patent Troll Claims Near Trial

    A Seattle federal judge found Wednesday that inventor Leigh Rothschild breached an intellectual property licensing deal by leveling bogus infringement claims against Valve Corp. in 2022 but left other key questions for jurors to consider when the video game company's patent trolling case heads to trial next month.

  • January 29, 2026

    NYC Sets New Wage Standards For Security Guards

    Security guards at private buildings in New York City will be entitled to the same minimum wage, paid time off and benefits received by security guards at public buildings under a new union-supported city law enacted Thursday.

  • January 29, 2026

    Ex-Boston Activist Given Probation For Fraud Schemes

    A former prominent Boston activist was spared from a prison term by a Massachusetts federal judge Thursday at her sentencing for misusing thousands of dollars in donor funds for personal expenses and fraudulently claiming housing and unemployment benefits.

  • January 29, 2026

    FCC To Collect More Info On Cos.' Ties With US Adversaries

    The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to require companies seeking telecommunications approvals to attest in writing if they are owned or controlled by foreign adversaries in a bid to increase national security in the media and telecom industries.

  • January 29, 2026

    Congress' Limited Tariff Role May Persist After Justices Rule

    The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on President Donald Trump's emergency tariffs could leave the door open for Congress to play a larger role in trade policy heading into November's midterms, but that opportunity may pose few political incentives for lawmakers.

  • January 29, 2026

    Vape Cos. Tell 4th Circ. Not To Stay Block On Va. Regs

    A pair of vape companies is urging the Fourth Circuit not to issue a stay on an order blocking enforcement of a Virginia law prohibiting the sale of unapproved e-cigarettes, saying the district court correctly found that portions of the law were preempted by federal law.

  • January 29, 2026

    Md. Tech Groups Praise Cybersecurity Tax Credit Plan

    Expanding eligibility for Maryland's cybersecurity tax credit would help more customers use tools from companies in the state to protect their data and information systems, industry representatives and the state's Commerce Department director told legislators Thursday.

  • January 29, 2026

    DC Circ. Urged To Revive PJM Watchdog's Access Fight

    The electricity market watchdog for PJM Interconnection on Thursday urged the D.C. Circuit to reconsider its dismissal of its lawsuit over the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission denying it access to certain committee meetings held by the regional grid operator.

  • January 29, 2026

    2nd Circ. Backs Rental Assistance, Medicaid Fraud Conviction

    The Second Circuit has upheld the conviction of a New York City man who was sentenced to 70 months in prison for running a more than $1.8 million rental assistance and Medicaid fraud scheme.

  • January 29, 2026

    USPTO Asked For Clarity On Proposed Foreign Applicant Rule

    A trade group representing intellectual property owners wants clarity on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's proposed requirement for all foreign patent owners to be represented by a domestic-registered patent practitioner and suggested steps to "promote fairness."

  • January 29, 2026

    9th Circ. Says Noem Can't 'Smuggle In' TPS Vacaturs

    The Ninth Circuit has ruled that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem lacked the authority to vacate temporary protected status for Venezuela and Haiti, saying her attempt to do so flouts both Congress' design of the TPS statute and the law's language.

  • January 29, 2026

    Minn. County Appeals 3,000-Acre Land Trust Order At 8th Circ.

    A Minnesota county and two of its townships are appealing to the Eighth Circuit a lower court's order that dismissed a challenge to a U.S. Department of the Interior decision to take more than 3,000 acres into trust for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

  • January 29, 2026

    Bondi Elevates Pa. US Atty Amid Appointments Scrutiny

    The first assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania is being retained and elevated to full U.S. attorney by Attorney General Pamela Bondi, his office announced Thursday, though the appointment will have to remain temporary or he could face the same questions about his appointment as other top prosecutors in President Donald Trump's administration.

  • January 29, 2026

    ADA Settlement Brings Changes To Detroit Courthouses

    A settlement in an Americans with Disabilities Act class action brought by two attorneys and a community activist will lead to ADA-compliant upgrades like private bathrooms, accessible voting machines and new signage at municipal buildings serving Detroit and Wayne County.

Expert Analysis

  • Changes In Crypto, Cybersecurity Defined NY Banking In 2025

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    The major takeaways from 2025 in New York banking policy involve updated guidance, regulations and requirements primarily affecting innovation and digital banking, in areas such as cybersecurity, virtual currencies, and buy now, pay later programs, say attorneys at Steptoe.

  • Opinion

    Justices Should Clarify Loper Bright Doctrine Via Patent Case

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    The U.S. Supreme Court should use the Lynk Labs v. Samsung patent case to provide urgently needed guidance on how last year’s Loper Bright decision should be applied to real-world questions of agency authority in the post-Chevron world, says Timothy Hsieh at Oklahoma City University School of Law.

  • How OECD Tax Update Tackles Mobile Workforce Complexity

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    The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s recently updated model tax convention — a recalibration of international tax principles in response to an increasingly mobile workforce — should prompt companies to reevaluate cross-border operations, transfer pricing policies and tax controversy strategies, say attorneys at Eversheds.

  • Reviewing 2025's Most Pertinent Wiretap Developments

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    2025 was a remarkable year in the world of web tracking wiretapping litigation, not only for the increased caseload but also because of numerous developing theories of liability, with disputes expected to continue unabated in 2026, say attorneys at Squire Patton.

  • 2025 Legal Milestones That Will Shape Psychedelics Sector

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    As 2025 draws to a close, psychedelic drug development stands at an inflection point, experiencing unprecedented momentum through recent sweeping regulatory changes and landmark clinical milestones, amid rapidly evolving regulatory expectations, say Odette Hauke at Odette Alina LLC and Kimberly Chew at Husch Blackwell.

  • M&A Midmarket Shows Resilience Amid 2025 Challenges

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    Midmarket mergers and acquisitions showed a slight decline in volume but climbed in value for much of 2025, particularly in the private equity space, indicating that the middle market M&A environment is cautious but steady heading into 2026, say attorneys at Stoel Rives.

  • Del. Dispatch: Key 2025 Corporate Cases And Trends To Know

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    The Delaware corporate legal landscape saw notable changes in 2025, spurred by amendments to the Delaware General Corporation Law, ubiquitous artificial intelligence fervor, boardroom discussion around DExit, record shareholder activism activity and an arguably more expansive view of potential Caremark liability, say attorneys at Fried Frank.

  • Series

    Nature Photography Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Nature photography reminds me to focus on what is in front of me and to slow down to achieve success, and, in embracing the value of viewing situations through different lenses, offers skills transferable to the practice of law, says Brian Willett at Saul Ewing.

  • 2025 Brought A New Paradigm For Federal Banking Regulation

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    A series of thematic shifts defined banking regulation in 2025, including a fundamental reform of prudential supervision, a strategic easing of capital constraints, steps to streamline merger reviews, and a new framework for fair access and entrants seeking to offer banking services, say attorneys at Simpson Thacher.

  • What 2025 Transpo And Logistics Legal Trends Mean For 2026

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    2025 was challenging for the transportation and logistics sector, with emergent trends including dramatic federal policy shifts, developments in tort risk, and a host of mergers and acquisitions — but a review of these themes offers a useful playbook for where the industry is headed in 2026, says Jonathan Todd at Benesch.

  • How Cos. Can Roll With NY's New Algorithmic Pricing Rules

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    Despite uncertainty from New York’s new ban on artificial intelligence and computer algorithms for setting rents, and efforts to further restrict individualizing prices based on consumers' personal data, property managers, software providers and merchants can take several steps to stay compliant, say attorneys at Foley & Lardner.

  • 2025 State AI Laws Expand Liability, Raise Insurance Risks

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    As 2025 nears its end, claims professionals should be aware of trends in state legislation addressing artificial intelligence use, as insurance claims based on some of these liability-expanding statutes are a certainty, say attorneys at Wiley.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Practical Problem Solving

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    Issue-spotting skills are well honed in law school, but practicing attorneys must also identify clients’ problems and true goals, and then be able to provide solutions, says Mary Kate Hogan at Quarles & Brady.

  • Crypto In 2025: From Federal Deregulation To State Action

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    The cryptocurrency enforcement landscape evolved in 2025, marked by federal deregulatory trends and active state attorney general enforcement, creating both opportunity and risk for businesses navigating the digital asset market, say attorneys at Cozen O'Connor.

  • How CFTC Enforcement Shifted In 2025 And What's Next

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    The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission pivoted sharply under acting Chairman Caroline Pham in 2025, resulting in a pared-back enforcement docket, sweeping policy changes intended to provide greater transparency, and a renewed focus on fraud prevention and maintaining market integrity for the CFTC's core markets, say attorneys at Moore & Van Allen.

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