Expert Analysis

• Lessons On Conflicted-Party Transactions From NC Ruling

  

  The North Carolina Supreme Court's recent Reynolds American v. Third Motion Equities Master Fund decision, affirming the use of deal price in conflicted-party transactions, holds important implications for future corporate acquisitions in states that have adopted the Model Business Corporation Act, say attorneys at Foley & Lardner.

• What Climate Migration Forecast Means For Risk Management

  

  Recent reports from international experts confirm that climate change is already causing environmental impacts and spurring migration of affected populations — so organizations must grapple now with how it will affect their operations and increase their risks in coming years, says Austin Pierce at V&E.

• And Now A Word From The Panel: 2021 MDLs In Review

  

  The most notable trend in multidistrict litigation in 2021 was a 25% decrease in the number of new petitions for MDL proceedings — but a deeper dive into the numbers suggests that, on the whole, MDLs are thriving, and continuing to have a major impact, says Alan Rothman at Sidley.

• How AI Can Transform Crisis Management In Litigation

  

  Attorneys should understand how to use rapidly advancing artificial intelligence technology to help clients prepare for potential catastrophic events and the inevitable litigation arising from them, from predicting crises before they occur to testing legal theories once they arise, say Stratton Horres at Wilson Elser and David Steiger.

• Opinion

  SEC Sacrifices Process To Block New Proxy Adviser Rules

  

  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's about-face on its recently passed reforms concerning proxy advisers is an example of how Chair Gary Gensler has forgone deliberation and bipartisanship to pursue his ambitious agenda — which is emblematic of the increasing politicization of the commission, says David Dragics at the National Investor Relations Institute's Advocacy Committee.

• Supervisor Relationships Are Key To Beating Atty Burnout

  

  In order to combat record attorney turnover and high levels of burnout, law firm partners and leaders must build engaging relationships with supervisees, fostering autonomy and control, enabling expression of values, and building a sense of community and belonging, says Anne Brafford at the Institute for Well-Being in Law.

• What Stablecoin Industry Can Expect From Congress In 2022

  

  As congressional scrutiny of the crypto-asset industry grows, stablecoin issuers and exchanges should anticipate new legislative proposals and regulatory developments, as well as further inquiries and oversight action, from both parties in Congress this year, say attorneys at Debevoise.

• Settlement Holds ERISA Lessons For Private Co. Directors

  

  The U.S. Department of Labor’s recent settlement with Kurt Manufacturing board members and Reliance Trust illustrates potential consequences under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act for private company directors and fiduciaries who exercise too much influence over employee stock ownership plan transactions, says Carol Buckmann at Cohen & Buckmann.

• Corporate Boards Need Not Fear 7th Circ. Boeing Decision

  

  The Seventh Circuit’s recent decision in Seafarers Pension Plan v. Bradway, over Boeing shareholders' rights to bring federal derivative suits over the 737 Max aircraft, may encourage creative Securities Exchange Act claims to avoid exclusive forum provisions, but boards of Delaware corporations still have tools to avoid duplicative litigation, say attorneys at Skadden.

• Libor Isn't Only Benchmark Transition That Requires Attention

  

  The final publication of the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Index, used to price adjustable-rate mortgages, is less than two weeks away, and demands the same kind of commitment and process that has gone into replacing Libor to avoid costly delays and litigation, says Jeffrey Armstrong at Berkeley Research Group.

• Make-Whole Claim Lessons From Hertz Bankruptcy Ruling

  

  After the Delaware bankruptcy court's recent decision in Wells Fargo v. Hertz, courts may continue to hear the assertion that early payoff premiums constitute unmatured interest, which could shape best practices in formulating make-whole clauses to avoid such arguments, say attorneys at Mayer Brown.

• The Rising Demand For Commercial Litigators In 2022

  

  Amid broken supply chains, pandemic-induced bankruptcies and a rise in regulation by litigation, strong commercial litigators — strategists who are adept in trying a range of tortious and contractual disputes — are becoming a must-have for many law firms, making this year an opportune moment to make the career switch, say Michael Ascher and Kimberly Donlon at Major Lindsey.

• 3 Cybersecurity Imperatives For Financial Cos. This Year

  

  With cyberattacks and regulatory scrutiny both expected to increase in 2022, financial services companies should consider important compliance strategies to protect against cyber risks and enforcement actions, says Shardul Desai at Holland & Knight.

• Takeaways From White Collar Criminal Enforcement In 2021

  

  White collar criminal prosecutions were up in 2021, with recent high-profile fraud trials, the Biden administration's enforcement priorities and the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic potentially reversing the previous trend of slumping white collar prosecutions, say attorneys at Keker Van Nest.

• How In-House Counsel Can Make The Case For Settling Early

  

  Following the recent settlement in McDonald's v. Easterbrook, in-house counsel should consider decision-tree analyses and values-driven communications plans to secure effective, early resolutions in litigation, saving time and money and moving the company mission forward, say Ronald Levine at Herrick Feinstein and Richard Torrenzano at The Torrenzano Group.