Public Policy

  • February 11, 2026

    Squires Spurns 16 Petitions, Grants 6 In Latest Bulk Order

    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director John Squires' latest summary decision instituted six petitions for America Invents Act patent challenges and denied 16 others, bringing his total of rejected petitions to 266.

  • February 11, 2026

    House OKs Ending Canada Tariffs After GOP Block Fails

    The U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution Wednesday evening that would end President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian imports, a day after Republican lawmakers were unable to pass a measure blocking that kind of effort.

  • February 11, 2026

    Miami World Cup Counsel Share Look At Prep Work, Impact

    Counsel representing the FIFA World Cup's Miami Host Committee gave Law360 an inside look at their multifaceted work preparing for the upcoming event, which organizers say could have the economic impact of multiple Super Bowls.

  • February 11, 2026

    Big Ten Athletes Back NCAA Campaign Against Prop Bets

    Student-athletes in the Big Ten Conference have urged the NCAA to keep fighting to curb prop betting across college athletics, saying it not only threatens the integrity of college sports, but also poses a safety risk.

  • February 11, 2026

    Anesthesia Group Looks To End FTC Rollup Suit

    U.S. Anesthesia Partners has urged a Texas federal court to end the Federal Trade Commission's case accusing the group of buying competing practices through a so-called rollup strategy, asserting that enforcers have no evidence of any harm to competition.

  • February 11, 2026

    HHS Says RFK Jr. Trans Care Policy View Not Legally Binding

    Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s declaration supporting the Trump administration's move to cut funding to hospitals that provide gender-affirming care is a nonbinding policy view, his agency told an Oregon federal court, and doesn't trigger provider exclusions from federal health programs.

  • February 11, 2026

    Gogo Renews Concerns With FCC's 900 MHz Rework

    In-flight communications provider Gogo is asking the Federal Communications Commission to consider stronger guardrails to protect incumbents like itself as it prepares to pass a rule reworking two bands of 900 megahertz spectrum to make room for more high-speed internet.

  • February 11, 2026

    AI Cos. Would Have To Disclose Training Under Bipartisan Bill

    A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would require technology companies to disclose copyrighted works that they use to train generative artificial intelligence models with the U.S. Copyright Office.

  • February 11, 2026

    Canadian Pipe Exporter's Injunction Gets Trade Court OK

    The U.S. Court of International Trade granted an injunction Wednesday to a Canadian pipe exporter that prevents liquidation of its goods while it appeals a ruling by the trade court. 

  • February 11, 2026

    Sheriff's Deputy's Firing Suit Tossed, His Atty Sanctioned

    A Georgia federal judge tossed a lawsuit Wednesday from a former Atlanta-area sheriff's deputy who claimed he was fired for supporting his boss' political opponent, while sanctioning the deputy's lawyer for citing nonexistent legal cases and misstating the law.

  • February 11, 2026

    Schools Must Face Financial Aid Suit Before Appeal: Students

    Former students urged an Illinois federal judge to bar Cornell, Georgetown, Notre Dame, MIT and UPenn from going straight to the Seventh Circuit on a ruling that teed up trial against the five schools yet to settle the proposed class action over the alleged fixing of financial aid offerings.

  • February 11, 2026

    'Unflappable' Mass. Judge Emerges As Trump Foil

    The newest member of the Massachusetts federal bench has made a name for himself as a thorn in the side of the Trump administration, a perception that stands in stark contrast to what friends and former colleagues describe as an unassuming and open-minded judge.

  • February 11, 2026

    Calif. Will Allow Property Tax Break For Some Tribal Land

    Native American tribes in California can claim a property tax exemption for land conservation efforts under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

  • February 11, 2026

    Bondi Touches On Judges, Fraud, Subpoenas At Fiery Hearing

    Attorney General Pam Bondi opened her congressional testimony on Wednesday taking aim at "liberal activist judges," but the rest of the hearing was devoid of any discussion or questions on the Trump administration's combative relationship with a large portion of the federal bench.

  • February 11, 2026

    'It Takes Time To Write': Jackson On High Court's Tariff Ruling

    U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has provided an unusual update on the court's decision over President Donald Trump's authority to impose emergency tariffs, saying in a TV interview that the justices are still working on what is one of their most anticipated rulings this term. 

  • February 11, 2026

    Trio Leading NJ District Office Face New Disqualification Bid

    A criminal defendant who successfully challenged the appointment of Donald Trump's former personal attorney Alina Habba as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor joined other defendants in seeking to disqualify the trio now helming the office.

  • February 11, 2026

    Michigan Tribe Asks Court To Revisit $1.5M Legal Fee Denial

    A Michigan tribe is asking a D.C. district court to reconsider the denial of $1.5 million in legal fees the tribe had sought to recoup from the U.S. Department of the Interior in a federal recognition status dispute that eventually led to the agency's revamping of a rule allowing tribes to petition for recognition again.

  • February 11, 2026

    Creek Nation Fights City's Bid To Pause Jurisdictional Suit

    The Muscogee (Creek) Nation has pushed back against an Oklahoma municipality's bid to stay a jurisdiction dispute in federal district court while a similar challenge plays out in the Tenth Circuit, saying that the two cases aren't covering the same ground.

  • February 11, 2026

    Vape Sellers Urge Court To Pause Texas China Liquid Ban

    Vape distributors and retailers asked a federal judge to pause enforcement of a Texas law prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes using liquid from China, saying they are already suffering "irreparable harm" while fighting the rule.

  • February 11, 2026

    Asphalt Cos. To Pay $30M To End FCA Testing Case

    Two Ohio asphalt companies have agreed to pay a combined $30 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that they submitted fraudulent testing data for federally funded highway projects, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

  • February 11, 2026

    Trans Health And Pediatric Groups Challenge FTC Subpoenas

    A major transgender medical group and a pediatric healthcare organization are seeking to end what they call "unlawful" consumer protection investigations from the Federal Trade Commission that want information pertaining to the medical groups' claims made in their marketing and advertising for gender-affirming care for minors. 

  • February 11, 2026

    Gov't Seeks Exit From HUD Attys' Suit Over Fair Housing Work

    The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has pushed for the dismissal of a suit filed by current HUD attorneys who've alleged that the department intentionally reassigned them to other federal jobs in order to "cripple" HUD's own enforcement of fair housing laws.

  • February 11, 2026

    4th Circ. Won't Toss Appeal Over Md. Judges' Habeas Order

    The Fourth Circuit rejected the Trump administration's assertion that its appeal of a ruling upholding a standing order, which Maryland federal judges issued to temporarily delay the removal of detained noncitizens who file habeas petitions, has become moot.

  • February 11, 2026

    Neb. Changes Property Tax Hike Hearing Attendance Rules

    Nebraska changed who must attend public hearings for local governments that seek to raise property taxes beyond a statutorily defined limit under a bill signed by the governor.

  • February 11, 2026

    Kaiser Will Pay $30M To End DOL Mental Health Investigations

    Kaiser Permanente has agreed to fork over at least $30 million and change its practices to end multiple U.S. Department of Labor investigations into the adequacy of the healthcare organization's mental health and substance use disorder treatment networks in California, the DOL said.

Expert Analysis

  • Tracking The Evolution Of AI Insurance Regulation In 2025

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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.

  • Series

    The Law Firm Merger Diaries: Getting The Message Across

    Author Photo

    Communications and brand strategy during a law firm merger represent a crucial thread that runs through every stage of a combination and should include clear messaging, leverage modern marketing tools and embrace the chance to evolve, says Ashley Horne at Womble Bond.

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.