Public Policy

  • April 23, 2025

    M&A 'Pause' Requires Nimble, Creative Dealmaking

    With deals stalling in a market defined by uncertainty, attorneys and the dealmakers they counsel are leaning on creative structures — from earnouts to partial stake sales — to keep transactions alive, according to corporate lawyers advising on major mergers and acquisitions.

  • April 23, 2025

    Split 4th Circ. Halts Ballot Curing In NC Top Court Race

    A split Fourth Circuit panel froze the North Carolina Supreme Court's order requiring the Tar Heel State elections board to start a "curing process" for allegedly deficient ballots in a judicial election that a Republican judge is contesting, agreeing with the incumbent Democratic justice that her constitutional claims must be resolved first.

  • April 22, 2025

    Fed's Buffer Plan Marks Start Of Stress Test Reform 'Journey'

    The Federal Reserve entered a new era last week with a proposal to smooth out fluctuations in a key capital requirement for big banks, making an opening move toward what industry experts see as potentially much bigger stress-testing reforms on the horizon.

  • April 22, 2025

    International Trade Court Won't Block Tariffs In Small Biz Case

    The U.S. Court of International Trade on Tuesday declined to issue a temporary restraining order blocking President Donald Trump's tariffs against a group of five small businesses based in various states, finding that the businesses weren't facing "immediate and irreparable harm" while the court considers their case.

  • April 22, 2025

    Venezuelan Deportation Ban Extended Amid Due Process Fears

    A Manhattan federal judge on Tuesday extended a temporary ban on the deportation of purported Venezuelan gang members targeted for removal by the Trump administration, saying the detainees must be provided with adequate notice and an opportunity to bring a legal challenge against their removals.

  • April 22, 2025

    ChatGPT Exec Says Google Data Access Could Aid Rival AI

    The head of product for OpenAI's ChatGPT vouched Tuesday for the Justice Department's proposal to force Google to produce search data to rivals, telling a D.C. federal judge the suggested remedy for Google's monopolistic conduct could accelerate development of a tool capable of competing directly with Google search.

  • April 22, 2025

    Trump Appointees Raise Eyebrows At Trans Troop Ban

    Despite a panel made mostly of Trump appointees, the D.C. Circuit seemed skeptical Tuesday morning as it heard out the government's argument for why it should be allowed to implement its ban on transgender troops in the military while litigation challenging that policy plays out.

  • April 22, 2025

    Kan. Tribe Fights Sheriff's Authority In Tribal Jurisdiction Suit

    The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is disputing a county sheriff's bid in Kansas federal court to toss the Native American tribe's latest complaint in its suit claiming that he has repeatedly overstepped his authority by interfering with activities on reservation land.

  • April 22, 2025

    Florida Accuses Snap Of Violating New Kids Social Media Law

    Florida's attorney general hit Snap Inc. with a lawsuit in state court on Monday, accusing the social media giant of violating the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act by allowing illicit content to run rampant on Snapchat. The office demanded that Snap comply with a new state law banning children under 13 from such platforms.

  • April 22, 2025

    Judge Prods DOJ For Proof Of Bias In Colo. Clerk Prosecution

    A Colorado federal judge on Tuesday was dubious of the state's claim that a statement of interest filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in a convicted county clerk's habeas case amounts to a "threat" against state prosecutors and the rule of law, but pressed the federal government on whether it has evidence state prosecutors were politically motivated.

  • April 22, 2025

    Instagram Founder Says Meta 'Starved' Co. After Acquisition

    During testimony in the Federal Trade Commission's monopoly case against Meta on Tuesday, the founder of Instagram said his company was "starved" after being acquired by Facebook as Mark Zuckerberg grappled with "a lot of emotion" over Instagram siphoning users away from its parent company's flagship platform.

  • April 22, 2025

    Audit Finds Calif. Universities' Repatriation Efforts Still Slow

    The University of California system, despite years of demands for compliance to a federal law designed to protect Indigenous burial sites, still lacks accountability and urgency to return to tribes the thousands of Indigenous remains and artifacts in its collections, according to a state audit on the process.

  • April 22, 2025

    Wind Farm Work Stoppage Raises Energy Project Risks

    The Trump administration's recent move to freeze construction of a federally approved offshore wind farm has energy infrastructure developers concerned that their permits may not protect them from the government pulling the plug on their projects.

  • April 22, 2025

    Minn. Sues Over Funding Threats Tied To Trans Athlete Policy

    Minnesota on Tuesday sued President Donald Trump to stop him from "bullying" transgender individuals after his administration threatened to pull federal school funding if the state does not reverse a formal opinion from its attorney general that allows children to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity.

  • April 22, 2025

    Justices Urged To Deny Jan. 6 Cops' Bid To Shield Identities

    The U.S. Supreme Court should reject an appeal from Seattle cops who joined the Jan. 6 "Stop the Steal" demonstration in D.C. and now want to stay incognito, according to a former law school student on Tuesday who sought police records identifying the officers and who said U.S. Supreme Court rules require the officers to seek relief in Washington state court. 

  • April 22, 2025

    US Intends To Proceed With Ariz. Copper Mine, Justices Told

    The U.S. government says there has been no doubt that it intends to proceed with a land exchange in Arizona for a planned multibillion-dollar copper mine, telling the U.S. Supreme Court that its recent notice of publication of a final environmental impact statement for the project does not constitute urgent review.

  • April 22, 2025

    9th Circ. Affirms Otonomo's Escape Of Calif. Car Tracking Suit

    The Ninth Circuit on Tuesday unanimously refused to revive a California man's proposed class action accusing autotech company Otonomo Inc. of surreptitiously tracking drivers' movements in violation of California privacy law, finding that a device installed in the man's BMW wasn't an "electronic tracking device" under the relevant state law.

  • April 22, 2025

    District's $59M Building Contract Void Over Undisclosed Gifts

    A state appeals court freed a West Texas school district from a suit over the termination of a $59 million construction contract, finding that the construction company didn't properly disclose multiple gifts to district employees.

  • April 22, 2025

    Wash. Appeals Panel Revives State Patrol Commute Pay Suit

    Washington state troopers can sue their employer directly in superior court over alleged minimum wage violations before exhausting the grievance process under collective bargaining agreements, an Evergreen State appellate court said Tuesday, distinguishing the challenged policies from the union contracts.

  • April 22, 2025

    Reporters Extend Block On Plan Threatening Voice Of America

    A D.C. federal judge on Tuesday extended an earlier order blocking the Trump administration from dismantling the agency that oversees Voice of America, saying the coalition of journalists, unions and a reporter advocacy group seeking the preliminary injunction demonstrated the likelihood of "irreparable harm" absent the relief.

  • April 22, 2025

    CFPB Waves White Flag In Prepaid Rule Fight With PayPal

    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has abandoned its D.C. Circuit defense of a rule that subjected Venmo-style digital wallets to some of the same fee disclosure requirements as reloadable prepaid cards, walking away from an appeal of PayPal's legal challenge to the regulation.

  • April 22, 2025

    CFTC Wants Input On 24/7 Trading, Perpetual Contracts

    The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission is asking the public for feedback on how it should address the availability of 24-hour trading as well as so-called perpetual derivatives that are sometimes used to speculate on the price of cryptocurrencies.

  • April 22, 2025

    Trump Admin Fights Groups' Bid To Stop Library Agency Cuts

    The Constitution vests President Donald Trump with the authority to reduce the size of the agency that disburses grants to U.S. libraries, the Trump administration told a Washington, D.C., federal judge, opposing two groups' attempt to reverse recent cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

  • April 22, 2025

    Panel Unsure If Suspension For Off-Campus Arrest Holds Up

    A Washington appellate court panel on Tuesday asked if Washington State University had the authority to suspend a student charged with conspiracy to riot at an off-campus Pride parade, with one judge questioning if an anonymous tip was too speculative to launch a student conduct probe.

  • April 22, 2025

    Kalshi, Crypto.com Fight Md. Regulator On Sports Contracts

    Trading platform KalshiEx LLC and the derivatives platform owned by Crypto.com have each sued Maryland gaming regulators for allegedly preempting federal authority with directives to shut down sports event contracts the agency contends are unregistered wagers.

Expert Analysis

  • Preparing For Tariffs On Canadian Power In The Northeast

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    The on-again, off-again risk of import and export tariffs on energy transactions between the U.S. and Canada may have repercussions for U.S. energy stakeholders in the ISO New England and New York Independent System Operator electricity markets — but there are options that could help reduce cost impacts, say attorneys at Husch Blackwell.

  • How Calif.'s Wildfire Insurance Crisis Might Affect Texas

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    Attorneys at Munsch Hardt examine the implications of California's wildfire insurance crisis for Texas, including potential shifts in coverage availability, regulatory differences and how the insurers in the second-largest U.S. state may react to a major wildfire event.

  • New SEC Guidance May Change How Investors, Cos. Talk

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent updates to the Schedules 13D and G compliance and disclosure interpretations may mean large institutional investors substantially curtail the feedback they provide companies about their voting intentions in connection with shareholder meetings, which could result in negative voting outcomes for companies, say attorneys at Cleary.

  • 4 Key Payments Trends For White Collar Attys

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    As the payments landscape continues to innovate and the new administration looks to expand the role of digital currency in the American economy, white collar practitioners should be aware of several key issues in this space, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.

  • Calif. Antitrust Bill Could Alter Enforcement Landscape

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    If enacted, a recently proposed California bill that would strengthen the state’s antitrust law could signal a notable shift in the U.S. enforcement environment, but questions remain about the types of cases the state could pursue, whether other states will follow suit and more, say attorneys at DLA Piper.

  • Series

    Performing Stand-Up Comedy Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Whether I’m delivering a punchline on stage or a closing argument in court, balancing stand-up comedy performances and my legal career has demonstrated that the keys to success in both endeavors include reading the room, landing the right timing and making an impact, says attorney Rebecca Palmer.

  • Opinion

    Upholding Tribal Sovereignty Benefits US And Indian Country

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    The Trump administration's broad moves to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs are negatively affecting many tribal programs, but supporting tribal sovereignty would serve the federal government's deregulatory goals and ensure that tribes have the resources they need, says Ellen Grover at BB&K.

  • Constitutional Foundations Of Gov't-Guaranteed Investments

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    For attorneys advising clients with exposure to government-backed investments, understanding the constitutional guardrails on presidential impoundment offers essential guidance for risk assessment, contract strategy and litigation planning, says Mauni Jalali at Quinn Emanuel.

  • Investor Essentials For Buying Federally Owned Property

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    Investors and developers can take advantage of the Trump administration's plan to sell government-owned real estate by becoming familiar with the process and eligible to bid, and should prepare to move quickly once the U.S. General Services Administration posts the list of properties for sale, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

  • How 2025 Is Shaping The Future Of Bank Mergers So Far

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    Whether the long-anticipated great wave of consolidation in the U.S. banking industry will finally arrive in 2025 remains to be seen, but the conditions for bank mergers are more favorable now than they have been in years, say attorneys at Skadden.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From SEC To BigLaw

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    As I adjusted to the multifaceted workflow of a BigLaw firm after leaving the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, working side by side with new colleagues on complex matters proved the fastest way to build a deep rapport and demonstrate my value, says Jennifer Lee at Jenner & Block.

  • What's Old And New In The CFTC's Self-Reporting Advisory

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    Attorneys at Blank Rome analyze the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's recent advisory that aims to provide clarity on self-reporting violations of the Commodity Exchange Act, and review whether market participants should shift their thinking — or not — when it comes to cooperation with the CFTC.

  • Weathering Policy Zig-Zags In Gov't Contracting Under Trump

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    To succeed amid the massive shift in federal contracting policies heralded by President Donald Trump's return to office, contractors should be prepared for increased costs and enhanced False Claims Act enforcement, and to act swiftly to avail themselves of contractual remedies, says Jacob Scott at Smith Currie.

  • How Trump's Crypto Embrace Is Spurring Enforcement Reset

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent willingness to step away from ongoing enforcement investigations and actions underscores the changing regulatory landscape for crypto under the new administration, which now appears committed to working with stakeholders to develop a clearer regulatory framework, say attorneys at Sheppard Mullin.

  • After CEQ's Rollback, Fate Of NEPA May Be In Justices' Hands

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    The White House Council on Environmental Quality recently announced its intention to rescind its own National Environmental Policy Act regulations, causing additional burdens to existing NEPA challenges, and raising questions for regulated entities and federal agencies that may only be resolved by a pending U.S. Supreme Court case, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

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