Public Policy

  • October 22, 2025

    Fintechs, Banks Clash Over Open Banking Rule Revisions

    Trade groups representing banks and fintechs clashed in comment letters over the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's plans to revise its data-sharing mandate, as banks urged the agency to scrap much of the earlier rule for favoring fintechs, while the tech upstarts argued many of the provisions remain necessary to bust banks' allegedly anticompetitive behavior.

  • October 22, 2025

    Judge Voids HHS Rule Banning Gender Identity Discrimination

    A Mississippi federal judge on Wednesday struck down a Biden-era U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rule that protected gender-affirming care under the Affordable Care Act, ruling that federal officials exceeded their authority by broadening the definition of sex discrimination to cover gender identity.

  • October 22, 2025

    State AGs Push Back In First Amendment Subpoena Fight

    A coalition of state attorneys general is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to safeguard their fundamental investigative authority, warning in an amicus brief filed Tuesday that a New Jersey anti-abortion center's challenge could allow subpoenaed entities to routinely bypass state courts and tie up enforcement actions in federal litigation.

  • October 22, 2025

    Banks Want Ill. Fee Law Block Extended To Card Networks

    Banking industry groups urged an Illinois federal judge Wednesday to permanently block an Illinois law that bans swipe fees on tax and tip portions of payment card transactions, arguing she has already correctly held that national banks are federally preempted from its reach, and that the court should extend that relief to card networks and others involved in the payment process.

  • October 22, 2025

    Trump's Takeover Of Calif. Guard 'Unreviewable,' 9th Circ. Told

    A U.S. Department of Justice attorney told the Ninth Circuit on Wednesday that President Donald Trump's federalization of the California National Guard in June is "unreviewable" by the courts, while an attorney for California said the president's order is reviewable and far exceeded his statutory authority.

  • October 22, 2025

    US Hits Russian Oil Cos. With Sanctions Over Ukraine War

    The U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions targeting Russia's two biggest oil companies Wednesday, citing Russian President Vladimir Putin's "lack of serious commitment to a peace process" to end the war in Ukraine.

  • October 22, 2025

    Holland & Hart Partner Confirmed To Montana Seat

    The U.S. Senate voted 52-45, along party lines, Wednesday evening on the confirmation of William Mercer, a Holland & Hart LLP partner and veteran government attorney, to the District of Montana.

  • October 22, 2025

    NIH Sued For Access To Research On Trans Youth Care

    A conservative government watchdog group sued the National Institutes of Health on Wednesday seeking access to data from a multiyear study on the impact of gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender youth.

  • October 22, 2025

    Ill. Judge Extends National Guard Block For Justices' Review

    An Illinois federal judge's order temporarily blocking the deployment of National Guard troops to the state will remain in place indefinitely as the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether President Donald Trump has the authority to send in hundreds of federalized troops and whether the justices are entitled to review his decision at all.

  • October 22, 2025

    UVA Strikes Deal To End DOJ's Civil Rights Probes

    The U.S. Department of Justice paused five civil rights investigations into the University of Virginia on Wednesday after the school agreed to follow discrimination guidance the DOJ issued in July for federal funding recipients that looked to rein in diversity, equity and inclusion programs and discourage transgender athletes.

  • October 22, 2025

    Texas Book Rating Law Struck Down As Unconstitutional

    A Texas federal judge ruled Tuesday that a Texas law aimed at regulating the types of books available at public school libraries still "misses the mark" on achieving its goal and is unconstitutional for a number of reasons, including forcing booksellers to take on the state government's preferred messages.

  • October 22, 2025

    Ed Dept. Must Face States' Case Over Mental Health Grants

    A Seattle federal judge declined to throw out a lawsuit accusing the U.S. Department of Education of illegally discontinuing grants for student mental health programming, recognizing that Washington and other states have valid claims that the move will cut them off from money meant for reducing violence in schools.

  • October 22, 2025

    DHS Unveils Proposal To Reduce EB-5 Investor Visa Fees

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday rolled out a proposed fee schedule for the EB-5 foreign investor visa program that will see investors paying about 14% less in form fees after a steep fee increase in 2024.

  • October 22, 2025

    USPTO Cuts TM Backlog Below 350K, Surpassing FY25 Goal

    The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office said Wednesday it has reduced the backlog of unexamined trademark applications to under 350,000, exceeding the goal the government agency set to finish the 2025 fiscal year that concluded Sept. 30.

  • October 22, 2025

    Investor Advocates Criticize SEC's New Arbitration Stance

    Two investor advocacy groups are speaking out against a recent U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission decision to allow some newly public companies to adopt mandatory arbitration clauses, arguing that the move undermines shareholder rights and could make the U.S. a less attractive place to invest.

  • October 22, 2025

    Squires Confirms USPTO Has Funds To Last The Year

    The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has enough funds to last through the year in the event that the government shutdown continues, Director John Squires told agency personnel on Wednesday.

  • October 22, 2025

    NC Lawmakers Probe 'Rogue' Legal Services Grants Process

    North Carolina State Bar leaders faced the third degree Wednesday in a state House committee hearing where Republicans sounded the alarm on grants for legal assistance programs going to what the GOP lawmakers view as left-leaning organizations, prompting a funding freeze that has threatened the operations of the state's largest legal aid group, which itself is not political.

  • October 22, 2025

    Energy Secretary Urges EU To Rethink Sustainability Rules

    U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Wednesday urged European leaders to scrap, or at least revise, proposed European Union corporate sustainability rules, claiming they will hamper exports of liquefied natural gas to the continent.

  • October 22, 2025

    Australia Issues Guidance For Minimum Tax Safe Harbor

    Australia released guidance Wednesday detailing when companies can forgo detailed top-up tax calculations for a jurisdiction under a safe harbor for the 15% global minimum tax that is based on country-by-country reporting.

  • October 22, 2025

    Fifth Attorney For Michigan Pastor Exits Zoning Suit

    A Michigan federal judge Wednesday allowed the fifth lawyer who represented a pastor in a zoning ordinance and retaliation dispute against a township to withdraw from the case, a few months after refusing to recuse himself from the case over a comment about the turnover rate for the pastor's counsel.

  • October 22, 2025

    Feds Urge Justices To Back Machinists Fund In Pension Fight

    The federal government wrote in support of trustees of an International Association of Machinists pension fund in a dispute with employers at the U.S. Supreme Court, backing the union's argument that a pension plan actuary could change the methods and assumptions used to calculate withdrawal payments.

  • October 22, 2025

    H-1B Fee May Hinder University Hiring And Gut Programs

    The Trump administration framed recent changes to the H-1B visa program as a way to bolster a homegrown STEM workforce and protect U.S. jobs, but experts think it could do the opposite — shrinking budgets and opportunities for American students the policies are meant to foster.

  • October 22, 2025

    Tax Court Judge Warns Against Unchecked AI Use In Filings

    A U.S. Tax Court judge cautioned attorneys Wednesday against relying on artificial intelligence to write filings without verifying the information it generates, saying recent "unfortunate incidents" have prompted the court to double down on accuracy in using such tools.

  • October 22, 2025

    States Back Boston Hospital In Fight Over Trans Care Records

    A group of states backed a Boston hospital in its bid to block the Trump administration from accessing transgender care records, warning a federal judge that allowing the government's request could expose a wide variety of doctors to criminal charges.

  • October 22, 2025

    'The Right Facts' Can Reduce Cos.' Tariff Impacts, Atty Says

    Multinational companies with U.S. distributors that typically bear fewer business risks and earn low profit margins may be able to mitigate the effect of U.S. tariffs on their business as a whole by having a foreign principal bear the tariff costs, an attorney said Wednesday.

Expert Analysis

  • How GILTI Reform Affects M&A Golden Parachute Planning

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    Deal teams should evaluate the effect of a recent seemingly technical change to U.S. international tax law on the golden parachute analysis that often plays a critical part of many corporate transactions to avoid underestimating its impact on an acquirer's worldwide taxable income following a triggering transaction, say attorneys at MoFo.

  • SEC Rulemaking Radar: The Debut Of Atkins' 'New Day'

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's regulatory flex agenda, published last week, demonstrates a clear return to appropriately tailored and mission-focused rulemaking, with potential new rules applicable to brokers, exchanges and trading, among others, say attorneys at Goodwin.

  • Restored Charging Project Funds Revive Hope For EV Market

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    While 2025 began with a host of government actions that prompted some to predict the demise of the U.S. electric vehicle market, the Trump administration's recent restoration of federal funding for EV charging infrastructure under new terms presents market participants with reason for optimism, says Levi McAllister at Morgan Lewis.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Adapting To The Age Of AI

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    Though law school may not have specifically taught us how to use generative artificial intelligence to help with our daily legal tasks, it did provide us the mental building blocks necessary for adapting to this new technology — and the judgment to discern what shouldn’t be automated, says Pamela Dorian at Cozen O'Connor.

  • Ch. 11 Ruling Voiding $2M Litigation Funding Sends A Warning

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    A recent Texas bankruptcy court decision that a postconfirmation litigation trust has no obligations to repay a completely drawn down $2 million litigation funding agreement serves as a warning for estate administrators and funders to properly disclose the intended financing, say attorneys at Kleinberg Kaplan.

  • A Changing Playbook For Fighting Records Requests In Del.

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    The Delaware Supreme Court's recent decision in Wong v. Amazon, reversing the denial of an inspection demand brought by a stockholder, serves as a stark warning to corporations challenging books and records requests, making clear that companies cannot defeat such demands solely by attacking the scope of their stated purpose, say attorneys at Duane Morris.

  • Tesla Verdict May Set New Liability Benchmarks For AV Suits

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    The recent jury verdict in Benavides v. Tesla is notable not only for a massive payout — including $200 million in punitive damages — but because it apportions fault between the company's self-driving technology and the driver, inviting more scrutiny of automated vehicle marketing and technology, says Michael Avanesian at Avian Law Group.

  • Insuring Against FCA Risk In Shifting Trade Landscape

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    In today's heightened trade enforcement environment, companies should proactively assess whether their insurance programs are positioned to respond to potential False Claims Act or customs-related claims, including reviewing directors and officers, professional liability, and representations and warranties policies for key terms, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

  • What To Expect As Trump's 401(k) Order Materializes

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    Following the Trump administration’s recent executive order on 401(k) plan investments in alternative assets like cryptocurrencies and real estate, the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will need to answer several outstanding questions before any regulatory changes are implemented, say attorneys at Cleary.

  • Demystifying The Civil Procedure Rules Amendment Process

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    Every year, an advisory committee receives dozens of proposals to amend the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, most of which are never adopted — but a few pointers can help maximize the likelihood that an amendment will be adopted, says Josh Gardner at DLA Piper.

  • RI Menopause Law Brings New Considerations For Employers

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    Rhode Island becoming the first state to provide express antidiscrimination and accommodation protections for employees' menopause-related conditions may be a bellwether for similar protections in other jurisdictions, so employers should consider that while such benefits may improve recruitment and retention, complications may arise from voluntarily adding them, say attorneys at Proskauer.

  • A Foreign Currency Breach Won't Always Sink EB-5 Cases

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    Recent court decisions show that, while EB-5 investors must be able to show the lawfulness of their funds and methods of transfer, a third-party currency exchanger's violation of another country’s currency export control law does not, by itself, taint the funds for purposes of U.S. investment, says Jun Li at Reid & Wise.

  • How The 5th, DC Circuits Agreed On FCC Forfeiture Orders

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    The Fifth and D.C. Circuits split this year on the Federal Communications Commission's process for adjudicating enforcement actions, but both implicitly recognized the problem with penalizing a party based on a forfeiture order that has not yet been challenged in any way in court, says Jared Marx at HWG.

  • FTC, CoStar Cases Against Zillow May Have Broad Impact

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    Zillow's partnerships with Redfin and Realtor.com have recently triggered dual fronts of legal scrutiny — an antitrust inquiry from the Federal Trade Commission and a mass copyright infringement suit from CoStar — raising complex questions that reach beyond real estate, says Shubha Ghosh at Syracuse University College of Law.

  • 'Solicit' Ruling Offers Proxy Advisers Compliance Relief

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    The D.C. Circuit recently found that proxy voting advice does not fall under the legal definition of "solicitation," significantly narrowing the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's regulatory power over such advisers, offering stability to the proxy advisory industry and providing temporary relief from new compliance burdens, say attorneys at Sheppard Mullin.

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