Public Policy

December 18, 2025
The Top Trade Secrets Decisions Of 2025

The Ninth Circuit clarified the rules of engagement in trade secrets disputes with guidance on when confidential information must be precisely detailed during litigation, and jurors delivered a $200 million verdict against Walmart over product freshness technology. Here are Law360's picks for the biggest trade secrets decisions of 2025.
December 18, 2025
9th Circ. Revives National Forest Road Injury Claim

A timber worker who suffered injuries when his excavator slid off a Washington road under the control of the U.S. Forest Service will get the opportunity to take his claims to trial, the Ninth Circuit ruled Wednesday, saying a jury needs to decide whether the worker's employer or the federal government was responsible for the road's upkeep.
December 18, 2025
Fed. Circ. Axes Appeal Of $8M Bond Under Idaho 'Troll' Law

The Federal Circuit on Thursday dismissed an appeal by patent assertion entities challenging an $8 million bond imposed on them in an infringement case against Micron Technology, ruling that the order under an Idaho state law discouraging "bad faith" patent litigation is not an appealable final decision.
December 18, 2025
FCC Reworks Reg Framework For Low Power TV

The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday created a new regulatory framework in hopes of advancing the low-power TV industry.
December 18, 2025
UC Researchers Near Reinstating $7B In DOE Grants

A California federal judge said Thursday she's inclined to grant a preliminary injunction ordering the Trump administration to reinstate $7 billion in Department of Energy grants awarded to researchers, saying they were canceled with form letters similar to those she's previously found to violate the Administrative Procedure Act.
December 18, 2025
Fla. High Court Says $5B Bond Deal Can't Be Set Aside

Florida's Supreme Court agreed Thursday that counties and tax collectors could not reopen a bond validation judgment issuing $5 billion in bonds for renewable energy and hurricane mitigation projects, ruling that state law makes clear that if bonds are validated and there is no appeal, the judgment is final.
December 18, 2025
EU Approves Bakery Biz Deal With Plant Sales

European enforcers approved Belgian food group Vandemoortele's proposed acquisition of Délifrance SA from French grain cooperative Vivescia, conditioned on the sale of two production facilities for frozen dough products.
December 18, 2025
Wash. Justices Say Open Gov't Law Covers Seattle Contractor

The Washington State Supreme Court has reinstated a citizen suit seeking information related to downtown Seattle's Metropolitan Improvement District, recognizing in a Thursday opinion that the district's private nonprofit management entity DBIA Services is analogous to a government agency and thus subject to the state's public records law.
December 18, 2025
Ex-Connecticut Utility Regulator Fined Amid Records Brawl

Connecticut's Freedom of Information Commission voted unanimously to fine the former chair of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for the state agency's failure to comply with record requests from an Eversource subsidiary that has accused her of using her position illegally.
December 18, 2025
IRS Guidance Discriminates Against Wind, Solar, Groups Say

Several groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and the city of San Francisco, asked a D.C. federal court Thursday to block the Internal Revenue Service from instituting new tax credit rules that they say illegally discriminate against wind and solar projects.
December 18, 2025
Czech Republic Pulls Opposition To US Min. Tax Exemption

The Czech Republic has shifted to supporting the proposed U.S. exemption from the global minimum tax's international provisions at the global tax policymaking body hosted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the country's Finance Ministry told Law360 on Thursday.
December 18, 2025
Feds Urge Justices To Keep SEC Disgorgement Power Intact

The Trump administration has joined the call for the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve a circuit split over the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's disgorgement powers, urging the justices to find that alleged fraudsters should be required to give up illegal profits even if the government can't show investors lost money.
December 18, 2025
Judge Clears Path For Trump Library Land Transfer

A Florida state judge on Thursday dissolved an injunction blocking the transfer of Miami-Dade College-owned land to the state for the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library and dismissed the suit challenging the transfer.
December 18, 2025
AstraZeneca Can't Block Colo. Law Over Drug Discount Rules

A Colorado federal judge rejected AstraZeneca's effort to block enforcement of a Colorado law surrounding federal 340B drug pricing that requires manufacturers to sell drugs at discounted prices to certain safety net healthcare facilities, ruling Wednesday the law isn't preempted by 340B drug pricing.
December 18, 2025
Dems Urge Scrutiny Of AT&T, SpaceX Spectrum Deals

Congressional Democrats are pushing Trump administration officials to further scrutinize AT&T and SpaceX's plans to obtain wireless spectrum licenses from the telecommunications company EchoStar.
December 18, 2025
Hilton's $70M Tax Value Cut Appealed To Minn. Supreme Court

Drops in the tax valuations of a Hilton hotel and convention center in Minneapolis, including a $70 million cut during one year, were wrongly ordered by the Minnesota Tax Court, the local assessor said, urging the state Supreme Court to review the case.
December 18, 2025
Bad River Band Sues Army Corps Over Pipeline Reroute

A Wisconsin tribe is seeking to void a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit for the construction of a new 41-mile section of Enbridge Inc.'s Line 5 oil pipeline that will encircle its reservation, alleging that the agency failed to conduct required environmental reviews.
December 18, 2025
Calif. AG, Bar Officials Fight Bid To Stop ABS Fee-Sharing Ban

Both the California attorney general and the California State Bar are opposing a California attorney's attempt to block a new law preventing fee-sharing with out-of-state law firms owned by nonlawyers set to go into effect on Jan. 1.
December 18, 2025
NFL's Bears Dangle Ind. Move As Ill. Stadium Plans Stall

The Chicago Bears will consider locations for a proposed new stadium outside the city, including in Indiana, because Illinois lawmakers have not supported their plan for suburban Arlington Heights, team President Kevin Warren said.
December 18, 2025
HHS Proposes Hospital Ban On Gender Care For Minors

The Trump administration moved to block all hospitals that receive federal funding from providing gender-affirming care to minors and issued warning letters to a dozen companies Thursday as part of a sweeping push to halt the care nationwide, even in states with legal protections in place.
December 18, 2025
Dems Offer Bill To Shine Light On High Court 'Shadow Docket'

Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill that would require the U.S. Supreme Court to explain its "shadow docket" rulings, criticizing the high court for issuing "harmful, backwards decisions" that "impact millions of American's lives" but are often unaccompanied by a formal opinion.
December 18, 2025
NC Construction Exec Admits To $6M Bid-Rigging Scheme

A North Carolina construction company executive pled guilty to a conspiracy to rig bids for maintenance and repair on U.S. military installations, according to a Wednesday press release from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Public Affairs.
December 18, 2025
OMB Slammed With Suit Over Federal Watchdog Defunding

A group of nonprofits sued the federal Office of Management and Budget this week to secure permanent funding for the independent agency for federal watchdogs, saying the office overstepped its authority in choosing to defund the organization.
December 18, 2025
Ariz. Bill Would Bar Local Taxes On Residential Sales

Arizona would retroactively bar local taxes on the sales of certain residential properties under legislation proposed in the state Senate.
December 18, 2025
Judge Wants More Info On 1976 Memo In Philly Cops' OT Suit

A Pennsylvania federal judge Thursday held off on deciding whether to send an overtime lawsuit against the city of Philadelphia, its police department and some of the department's leaders to trial, saying he needs additional details, including about a decades-old memorandum amending a civil service regulation.

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

Opinion

Justices Should Clarify Loper Bright Doctrine Via Patent Case

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.
Learning From 2025 FCA Trends Targeting PE In Healthcare

False Claims Act enforcement trends and legislative developments from this year signal intensifying state and federal scrutiny of private equity's growing footprint in healthcare, and the urgency of compliance, says Lisa Re at Arnold & Porter.