Public Policy

  • June 06, 2025

    Trump Champions Radio Spectrum Deal In Budget Bill

    President Donald Trump on Friday applauded the electromagnetic spectrum deal brokered among Senate Republicans that is included in one of the chamber's budget reconciliation bills.

  • June 06, 2025

    Tobacco Cos. Sue Philip Morris Over Bid To Void Wash. Deal

    R.J. Reynolds and other tobacco producers have accused Philip Morris USA of trying to derail a deal with Washington state last spring to resolve longstanding payment disputes stemming from Big Tobacco's 1998 master settlement agreement, according to a new lawsuit in Washington state court.

  • June 06, 2025

    US Entry Barriers May Be Red Card For World Cup Fans

    As the U.S. prepares to host some of the 2026 World Cup games, a confluence of heightened border vetting, shifting visa policies and a sweeping new travel ban is fueling concerns about fans' willingness to come and the financial viability of the tournament.

  • June 06, 2025

    Justices Won't Hear Obama Center Site Selection Complaints

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday declined to consider claims that federal agencies failed to complete a full environmental review of plans to construct the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago's Jackson Park neighborhood.

  • June 06, 2025

    LA Fitness Beats DOJ's ADA Suit, For Now

    A California federal judge tossed the U.S. Department of Justice's lawsuit Friday alleging LA Fitness did not accommodate disabled patrons, ruling the government failed to allege a pattern or practice of discrimination or put the gym chain on notice of claims the attorney general determined are of public importance.

  • June 06, 2025

    Fed's Bowman Calls For Oversight Built On 'Pragmatism'

    Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman on Friday previewed a sweeping industry-friendly agenda to ease burdens on smaller lenders, overhaul supervisory ratings and reevaluate capital rules as the central bank's new top regulator, drawing immediate praise from banking industry groups.

  • June 06, 2025

    Legislative Reprieve For Texas Green Energy Isn't Permanent

    Texas renewable energy companies dodged another bullet when several bills that would have restricted development died in the state Legislature a second time, but the industry remains on guard for future attempts to more tightly regulate renewable projects.

  • June 06, 2025

    DC Circ. Backs FERC Extension For Southgate Pipeline Work

    A D.C. Circuit panel on Friday affirmed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's construction deadline extension for the Mountain Valley Pipeline's southern spur, with one judge characterizing a suit challenging it as "typical" of litigation that has stymied American progress.

  • June 06, 2025

    Texas Court Says Doctor Can Be Sued For Service Dog Mauling

    The Texas Supreme Court on Friday greenlit a suit accusing a gynecologist of negligently giving a patient a note stating that she required a service dog which later mauled a toddler, saying the alleged negligence is not a malpractice claim, therefore the plaintiffs did not need a medical expert's opinion.

  • June 06, 2025

    Supreme Court Limits Discovery In FOIA Suit Against DOGE

    The U.S. Supreme Court halted discovery Friday into whether the Department of Government Efficiency is an agency subject to the Freedom of Information Act, but left the door open to future, more tailored inquiries about the inner workings of the initiative.

  • June 06, 2025

    Commerce Dept. Creates Tech-Neutral Plan For BEAD Funding

    Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday unveiled a technology-neutral approach for broadband deployment subsidies under the $42.5 billion program created during the Biden administration, which he argues will speed up the federal effort.

  • June 06, 2025

    Texas Justices Ax Multiplaintiff 'Jurisdictional Loophole'

    The Texas Supreme Court on Friday closed a "gaping jurisdictional loophole" that allowed defendants to challenge jurisdiction in just about any case involving multiple plaintiffs, saying the mere presence of multiple plaintiffs is not enough to invoke appellate review.

  • June 06, 2025

    Denver Tenants Say Lack Of Repairs Made Building Unsafe

    Tenants at a Denver apartment complex have filed a proposed class action against the owner as well as current and former property managers in state court, alleging the property became dangerous and unsanitary because the defendants refused to pay for necessary repairs.

  • June 06, 2025

    Calif. Says Nonprofit Can't Challenge Captive Meeting Law

    California's labor commissioner asked a federal court Friday to toss a lawsuit challenging the state's law prohibiting so-called captive audience meetings, arguing that the nonprofit that sued to block the law lacks standing because it hasn't sufficiently alleged an injury or "a credible threat of prosecution."

  • June 06, 2025

    Bipartisan Bill Would Let Tribes Prosecute Drug Traffickers

    Congressional lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill that would give tribal nations expanded authority to prosecute non-Native drug traffickers and combat the opioid crisis on their reservations.

  • June 06, 2025

    Unions Say Agencies Can't Handle Resignation Offer Dispute

    Three federal worker unions urged a Massachusetts federal judge not to toss their challenge to the president's deferred resignation offer, saying the personnel agencies the government wants to send their suit to can't decide their claims or give them a fair shake.

  • June 06, 2025

    Crypto Groups Want Protections For Developers In House Bill

    A coalition of crypto industry groups urged lawmakers and courts to shield developers from certain legal liabilities if their creations do not take hold of customer funds, including by enshrining protections in a proposal to regulate crypto markets that lawmakers continue to debate.

  • June 06, 2025

    Lobbying Firm Sued Over Deal For White House Meetings

    A lobbying firm, its owner and an employee have been sued in Georgia federal court by a legal and consulting firm for breach of contract after they allegedly accepted partial payment for but never delivered on a $500,000 deal to arrange meetings with senior White House officials: the president, vice president and secretary of state.

  • June 06, 2025

    Ga. Judge Signals '2,000 Mules' Slander Suit May Go On

    A Georgia federal judge signaled Friday that he may leave it up to a jury to decide whether a Peach State voter was defamed by his portrayal as an election fraud operative in the conspiracy movie "2,000 Mules," doubting whether he had enough evidence to prove the film's producers deliberately tried to slander him.

  • June 06, 2025

    NY AG Shuts Down 26 Online Sweepstakes Casinos

    New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Friday that her office has shuttered the in-state operations of 26 online sweepstakes casinos, saying they are prohibited by state law because they involve risking something of value.

  • June 06, 2025

    Ore. Pot Regulators Say No Contract In Firing Suit

    The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission is urging a federal court to throw out a suit from its former deputy director alleging that the OLCC breached his employment agreement by firing him following a whiskey pocketing scandal, saying the state's Statute of Frauds voids the alleged employment agreement.

  • June 06, 2025

    Feds Want Comments On Altering ESA Conservation Rule

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Friday said it's considering altering a Biden-era rule intended to increase participation in voluntary conservation programs, and asked the public for input.

  • June 06, 2025

    NY Tribe Urges Supreme Court To Overturn Eel Fishing Ruling

    A Long Island tribe is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to undo a Second Circuit ruling that rejected its challenge to New York's regulations on eel fishing harvests, arguing that if the decision is held, it would set a precedent allowing district courts to give up their gatekeeping roles on expert testimony.

  • June 06, 2025

    Free Speech Shields Rehab From Permit Suit, Court Says

    A Connecticut drug treatment facility does not have to face claims, including unfair trade practices, lodged by a prospective competitor amid a contentious permit battle, a state appellate panel ruled Friday, finding that the state's anti-SLAPP statute is fatal to the case.

  • June 06, 2025

    Split DC Circ. Says IAF CEO Can Stay In Role

    A split D.C. Circuit panel refused to block the reinstatement of the head of a federal agency that invests in Latin America and the Caribbean, concluding that the Trump administration's firing of the official was "likely invalid."

Expert Analysis

  • Addressing PFAS Risks In Public Company Disclosures

    Author Photo

    As individual lawsuits and class actions over PFAS risks spanning multiple sectors and products increase, and rapidly evolving and often unclear regulatory initiatives on both the federal and state levels proliferate, it's more important than ever for companies to know how and when to complete PFAS-related disclosures, say attorneys at Venable.

  • Crisis Management Lessons From The Parenting Playbook

    Author Photo

    The parenting skills we use to help our kids through challenges — like rehearsing for stressful situations, modeling confidence and taking time to reset our emotions — can also teach us the fundamentals of leading clients through a corporate crisis, say Deborah Solmor at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and Cara Peterman at Alston & Bird.

  • High Court's Ruling May Not Stop Ghost Gun Makers

    Author Photo

    In Bondi v. VanDerStok, a majority of the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Gun Control Act applies to untraceable "ghost gun" kits under certain circumstances — but companies that produce these kits may still be able to use creative regulatory workarounds to evade government oversight, says Samuel Bassett at Minton Bassett.

  • CFPB Vacatur Bid Sheds Light On Agency Decision-Making

    Author Photo

    While the CFPB's joint motion to vacate the settlement it reached with Townstone Financial last year won't affect precedent on the Equal Credit Opportunity Act's scope, it serves as a road map to CFPB decisional processes and provides insight into how other regulators make similar decisions, says Jason McElroy at Saul Ewing.

  • 4 Legislative Proposals Reflect Growing Scrutiny Of Pharma IP

    Author Photo

    Bipartisan legislative momentum in Congress, including a recent package of bills targeting exclusivity strategies that delay generic and biosimilar competition, signals growing scrutiny of life sciences intellectual property strategies, so biologics companies and investors must pay attention to new strategic, compliance and litigation risks, says Olga Berson at Thompson Coburn.

  • Wash. Justices' Moonlight Ruling Should Caution Employers

    Author Photo

    The Washington Supreme Court's recent decision in David v. Freedom Vans, which limited when employers can restrict low-wage workers from moonlighting, underscores the need for employers to narrowly tailor restrictive covenants, ensuring that they are reasonable and allow for workforce mobility, say attorneys at Perkins Coie.

  • The Potential Efficiencies, Risks Of Folding PCAOB Into SEC

    Author Photo

    Integrating the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board into the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission offers the potential for regulatory efficiencies, as well as a more streamlined and consistent enforcement approach, but it also presents constitutional and operational uncertainties, say attorneys at Hilgers Graben.

  • What To Watch For As High Court Mulls NRC's Powers

    Author Photo

    If successful, Texas’ challenges to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s authority — recently heard by the U.S. Supreme Court and currently pending before a Texas federal court — may have serious adverse consequences for aspiring NRC licensees, including potential nuclear power plant operators, say attorneys at Haynes Boone.

  • Tips For Companies Crafting Tariff Surcharge Disclosures

    Author Photo

    As the Trump administration imposes tariffs on imports, retail businesses considering itemizing tariff-related costs separately for consumers must ensure that any disclosures are both accurate and defensible to avoid regulatory enforcement or private suits, says Christopher Cole at Katten.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From NY Fed To BigLaw

    Author Photo

    While the move to private practice brings a learning curve, it also brings chances to learn new skills and grow your network, requiring a clear understanding of how your skills can complement and contribute to a firm's existing practice, and where you can add new value, says Meghann Donahue at Covington.

  • Reviewing Trump Admin's Rapid Pro-Crypto Regulatory Pivot

    Author Photo

    The digital asset industry has received a boost from the explicitly pro-crypto Trump administration, which in its first few months reversed Biden-era rules and installed industry proponents at regulatory agencies, marking one of the biggest regulatory about-faces by a government in recent memory, says Robert Appleton at Olshan Frome.

  • Cos. Face Enviro Justice Tug-Of-War Between States, Feds

    Author Photo

    The second Trump administration's sweeping elimination of environmental justice policies, programs and funding, and targeting of state-level EJ initiatives, creates difficult questions for companies on how best to avoid friction with federal policy, navigate state compliance obligations and maintain important stakeholder relationships with communities, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.

  • Top 3 Litigation Finance Deal-Killers, And How To Avoid Them

    Author Photo

    Like all transactions, litigation finance deals can sometimes collapse, but understanding the most common reasons for failure, including a lack of trust or a misunderstanding of deal terms, can help both parties avoid problems, say Rebecca Berrebi at Avenue 33 and Boris Ziser at Schulte Roth.

  • A 2-Step System For Choosing A Digital Asset Reporting Path

    Author Photo

    Under the Internal Revenue Service's new digital asset reporting regulation, each type of asset may have three potential reporting destinations, so a detailed testing framework can help to determine the appropriate path, says Keval Sonecha at Sonecha & Amlani.

  • NEPA Repeal Could Slow Down Environmental Review

    Author Photo

    As the Trump administration has rescinded the Council on Environmental Quality's long-standing National Environmental Policy Act regulations, projects that require NEPA review may be bogged down by significant regulatory uncertainty and litigation risks, potentially undermining the administration's intent to streamline the permitting process, say attorneys at Mayer Brown.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the Public Policy archive.
Hello! I'm Law360's automated support bot.

How can I help you today?

For example, you can type:
  • I forgot my password
  • I took a free trial but didn't get a verification email
  • How do I sign up for a newsletter?
Ask a question!