Public Policy

  • January 02, 2026

    Patent Policy To Watch In 2026

    After a year of significant shifts in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office policy on patent reviews and patent eligibility, attorneys will be closely following how the changes play out in 2026, along with proposals for further moves, and whether Congress decides to weigh in on patents.

  • January 02, 2026

    Washington Cases To Watch In 2026

    Evergreen State lawyers will be keeping a close eye on the Washington Supreme Court in 2026 as it wades into lawsuits against Amazon over online sales of a chemical used in suicides, along with battles over Trump administration policies that are making their way from federal district courts to the Ninth Circuit. Here are some of the top cases to watch in Washington in 2026.

  • January 02, 2026

    Food & Beverage Cases To Watch In 2026

    There are several issues food and beverage attorneys will want to keep an eye on in 2026, from litigation challenging the marketing of ultra-processed foods, to false advertising claims over the presence of "forever chemicals" and microplastics, to the federal government's efforts to regulate additives. Here, Law360 has rounded up a number of matters that attorneys should be watching.

  • January 02, 2026

    North Carolina Cases To Watch In 2026

    In the new year, North Carolina state and federal courts are set to consider the intricacies of class action certification at the behest of thousands of fast-food workers and whether Chinese company TikTok Inc. is deliberately designing the app to addict children.

  • January 02, 2026

    4 Colorado Cases To Watch In 2026

    In 2026, Colorado will be center stage for legal fights surrounding the guardrails of generative AI platforms, a second trial will take place to determine if the ethylene oxide output of a medical sterilization company caused some Lakewood residents to develop cancer, and the state will continue its fight to stop the move of Space Command's headquarters. Here, Law360 looks at four cases to watch in the state.

  • January 02, 2026

    New Jersey Cases To Watch In 2026

    In the coming year, New Jersey litigators will be watching for the outcome of an appeal in a constitutional challenge to school segregation and an employment discrimination case brought by a former Johnson & Johnson attorney. 

  • January 02, 2026

    Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice Cases To Watch In 2026

    Multidistrict litigation against the biggest tech companies over purported social media addiction and a U.S. Supreme Court case regarding state medical malpractice lawsuit requirements are among those that injury and malpractice attorneys will be following closely in 2026.

  • January 02, 2026

    Privacy & Cybersecurity Policy To Watch In 2026

    States are expected to continue their aggressive push to ensure that companies aren't misusing consumers' personal information in 2026, even as they face growing pressure from the federal government to curtail these efforts, particularly when it comes to the regulation of emerging artificial intelligence technologies. 

  • January 02, 2026

    Michigan Cases To Watch In 2026

    Environmental issues are taking center stage in Michigan courts in 2026, with an upcoming federal bench trial to determine whether the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is liable for how it handled the Flint water crisis, and the Michigan and U.S. Supreme Courts tackling disputes between the state and Enbridge Energy over a pipeline project proposed for underneath the Straits of Mackinac.

  • January 02, 2026

    California Legislation And Regulations To Watch In 2026

    Legal experts expect California lawmakers and regulators to continue to grapple with the artificial intelligence boom, various battles with the Trump administration and new climate disclosure requirements in 2026. Here's a short list of the major developments that Golden State attorneys will be watching.

  • January 02, 2026

    The Legal Fights Set To Define Access To Justice In 2026

    In 2026, the fight for access to justice in the United States will be shaped by high-stakes legal and budgetary decisions affecting immigration, housing and civil rights. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a challenge to President Donald Trump's executive order seeking to restrict birthright citizenship, a case that could deny federal recognition of citizenship to certain U.S.-born children and upend long-settled constitutional law.

  • January 02, 2026

    Gov't Contracts Policies To Watch In 2026

    Congress' ongoing crusade against frivolous bid protests at the U.S. Government Accountability Office and the Trump administration's implementation of the Federal Acquisition Regulation via official rulemaking headline a slate of policy initiatives for government contractors to watch for in 2026. Here, Law360 previews upcoming policy changes with significant potential impacts on government contractors.

  • January 02, 2026

    4 Key Immigration Cases To Watch In 2026

    On the heels of a whiplash year in immigration litigation marked by fast-tracked court fights and U.S. Supreme Court intervention, court battles in 2026 will continue apace with the justices poised to weigh in again on key components of President Donald Trump's immigration agenda.

  • January 02, 2026

    The Top 4 Immigration Policies To Track In 2026

    Following a tumultuous year of navigating President Donald Trump's immigration agenda, attorneys are bracing for more turbulence, anticipating ramped-up worksite enforcement, criminal charges against employers and more curbs on legal immigration. Here, Law360 explores four key immigration policies that could define the president's immigration agenda in 2026.

  • January 02, 2026

    Connecticut Cases To Watch In 2026

    The criminal prosecution of a law firm bookkeeper accused of embezzling $584,000 over a dozen years and the criminal trial of a strip club boss accused of failing to report $5.7 million in cash income to the Internal Revenue Service are just two high-profile cases scheduled for trial in Connecticut dockets in 2026.

  • January 02, 2026

    Crypto To Take On Rulemaking Push, And Pushback, In 2026

    The Trump administration's pledge to make the U.S. the "crypto capital of the world" invigorated a wave of crypto policy efforts from Congress and federal agencies last year, but experts say 2026 will be about sorting the devils in the details.

  • January 02, 2026

    Energy And Environmental Policies To Watch In 2026

    The Trump administration has aggressively pursued deregulatory actions across the federal government, such as proposing to rescind the scientific finding that laid the groundwork for greenhouse gas emissions standards and narrowing the government's jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. Here, Law360 takes a look at these and other policies that could be finalized in 2026.

  • January 02, 2026

    What To Watch In Massachusetts Courts In 2026

    Massachusetts attorneys have their eye on Trump administration policy challenges, state ballot question disputes and False Claims Act enforcement shifts as the calendar turns to 2026.

  • January 02, 2026

    Energy And Environmental Cases To Watch In 2026

    This year promises to be a big one for energy and environmental cases, with courts slated to consider California's authority to regulate vehicle emissions, the federal government's authority to rescind grant funding and whether the president can fire certain agency officials. Here, Law360 takes a look at key energy and environmental cases to watch at the U.S. Supreme Court and elsewhere.

  • January 02, 2026

    Mangione, Trump, Sports Scandals Among NY Cases To Watch

    The coming year's major developments in New York courts include politically charged criminal cases with ties to President Donald Trump, gambling investigations that have snared high-profile athletes and charges against murder suspect Luigi Mangione.

  • January 02, 2026

    3 New Jersey Bills To Watch In 2026

    New Jersey legislators will be busy in 2026 as Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill takes the reins from outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy, while eagle-eyed policy wonks, anti-corruption advocates and environmental groups will be sure to keep close watch as proposals from 2025 make their way through the halls of Trenton.

  • January 02, 2026

    Patent Cases To Watch In 2026

    The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to weigh in on generic-drug skinny labels, while the Federal Circuit is examining an effort by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to shield decisions from review. Here's a look at those cases and others that attorneys will be tracking in 2026.

  • January 02, 2026

    International Trade Developments To Watch In 2026

    Importers expect President Donald Trump will continue expanding the U.S. tariff regime in 2026 regardless of how the U.S. Supreme Court may rule on measures he imposed under a law never used to authorize duties. Stakeholders expect new risks for disputes as a result of the various new tariffs imposed in 2025 and expected in 2026. Here, Law360 previews international trade developments to watch in the coming year.

  • January 02, 2026

    Pennsylvania Legislation To Watch In 2026

    After belatedly passing a budget for the rest of the fiscal year, Pennsylvania's General Assembly is turning its focus to proposals that would expand liability for data breaches and create a new method for designing voter maps.

  • January 02, 2026

    Biggest W&H Issues To Watch In 2026

    In 2026, states and cities will continue to be the centers of experimentation and ever-expanding workers’ rights in higher minimum wages, paid leave reforms and other changes. Here, Law360 explores the trends and policies that will shape the coming year.

Expert Analysis

  • NBA, MLB Betting Indictments: Slam Dunks Or Strikeouts?

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    Recent fraud charges against bettors, NBA players and MLB pitchers raise questions about what the government will need to prove to prosecute individuals involved in placing bets based on nonpublic information, and it could be a tough sell to juries, say attorneys at Ford O'Brien.

  • Tracking The Evolution Of AI Insurance Regulation In 2025

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    As artificial intelligence continues to transform the insurance industry, including underwriting, pricing, claims processing and customer engagement, state regulators, led by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, are increasing oversight to ensure that innovation does not outpace consumer protections, say attorneys at Fenwick.

  • Series

    Knitting Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Stretching my skills as a knitter makes me a better antitrust attorney by challenging me to recalibrate after wrong turns, not rush outcomes, and trust that I can teach myself the skills to tackle new and difficult projects — even when I don’t have a pattern to work from, says Kara Kuritz at V&E.

  • How 11th Circ.'s Qui Tam Review Could Affect FCA Litigation

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    On Dec. 12, the Eleventh Circuit will hear arguments in U.S. ex rel. Zafirov v. Florida Medical Associates, setting the stage for a decision that could drastically reduce enforcement under the False Claims Act, and presenting an opportunity to seek U.S. Supreme Court review of the act's whistleblower provisions, say attorneys at Epstein Becker.

  • Prepping For 2026 Shifts In Calif. Workplace Safety Rules

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    California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health is preparing for significant shifts and increased enforcement in 2026, so key safety programs — including injury and illness prevention plans, workplace violence plans, and heat illness prevention procedures — must remain a focus for employers, says Rachel Conn at Conn Maciel.

  • Series

    The Biz Court Digest: Welcome To Miami

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    After nearly 20 years in operation, the Miami Complex Business Litigation Division is a pioneer upon which other jurisdictions in the state have been modeled, adopting many innovations to keep its cases running more efficiently and staffing experienced judges who are accustomed to hearing business disputes, say attorneys at King & Spalding.

  • How AI Exec Order May Tee Up Legal Fights With States

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    The Trump administration's draft executive order would allow it to challenge and withhold federal dollars from states with artificial intelligence laws, but until Congress passes comprehensive AI legislation, states may have to defend their regulatory frameworks in extended litigation, says Charles Mills, a clerk at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia.

  • Recent Proposals May Spell Supervision Overhaul For Banks

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    A slew of rules recently proposed by the federal banking agencies with approaching comment deadlines would rewrite supervision standards to be further tailored to banks' size and activities, while prioritizing financial risks over process, documentation and other nonfinancial risks, say attorneys at Davis Wright.

  • Where DEI Stands After The Federal Crackdown In 2025

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    The federal government's actions this year have marked a fundamental shift in the enforcement of antidiscrimination laws, indicating that diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that perpetuate allegedly unlawful discrimination will face vigorous scrutiny in 2026, say attorneys at Jackson Lewis.

  • Rule Update May Mean Simpler PFAS Reports, Faster Timeline

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    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recently proposed revisions to the Toxic Substances Control Act's per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances reporting rule would substantially narrow reporting obligations, but if the rule is finalized, companies will need to prepare for a significantly accelerated timeline for data submissions, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.

  • What US Can Learn From Brazil's Securities Arbitration Model

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    To allay investor concerns about its recent approval of mandatory arbitration clauses in public company registration statements, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission should look to Brazil's securities arbitration model, which shows that clear rules and strong institutions can complement the goals of securities regulation, say arbiters at the B3 Arbitration Chamber.

  • Navigating The New Patchwork Of Foreign-Influence Laws

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    On top of existing federal regulations, an expanding wave of state legislation — placing new limits on foreign-funded political spending and new registration requirements for foreign agents — creates a confusing compliance backdrop for corporations that demands careful preplanning, say attorneys at BakerHostetler.

  • AI Evidence Rule Tweaks Encourage Judicial Guardrails

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    Recent additions to a committee note on proposed Rule of Evidence 707 — governing evidence generated by artificial intelligence — seek to mitigate potential dangers that may arise once machine outputs are introduced at trial, encouraging judges to perform critical gatekeeping functions, say attorneys at Lankler Siffert & Wohl.

  • Where Things Stand At The CFPB As Funding Dries Up

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    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is on pace to run out of funding in the new year, threatening current and future rulemaking efforts, but a rapid series of recent actions still carries significant implications for regulated entities and warrants careful monitoring in the remaining weeks of the year, say attorneys at Brownstein Hyatt.

  • Terrorist Label For Maduro Poses New Risks For US Firms

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    The State Department's recent designation of President Nicolás Maduro, and other Venezuelan government and military officials, as members of a foreign terrorist organization drastically increases the level of caution companies must exercise when doing business in the region to mitigate potential civil, criminal and regulatory risk, say attorneys at Freshfields.

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