Expert Analysis

• OCC Plan May Bring Data Sharing Flexibility, Diligence Issues

  

  The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's recent proposal to overhaul its supervisory information sharing regime for the first time in decades would provide important flexibility to banks, but it could create new issues around confidentiality agreements, disclosure controls and diligence processes, say attorneys at Simpson Thacher.

• Tips For Employers As Calif. Court Limits Harassment Liability

  

  Doe v. Wells Fargo appears to be the first published California appellate decision to determine that the harasser must have supervisory authority over the plaintiff to trigger strict liability, underscoring the value of accurately documenting job roles and reporting lines, says Ellen Connelly Cohen at Call & Jensen.

• Planning For D&O Exclusions As Risks Mount For Banks

  

  Banks should scrutinize directors and officers exclusions for artificial intelligence, disclosure and cybersecurity risks during policy renewal negotiations to preserve coverage amid the current uptick in insurer scrutiny and related shareholder litigation, say attorneys at Jones Walker.

• Why The SEC Proposed Rescinding Its 'Pay-To-Play' Rule

  

  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent proposal to nix its pay-to-play rule governing political contributions by investment advisers follows years of industry advocacy and commissioner criticism that it suppresses political speech and affects hiring, say attorneys at Simpson Thacher.

• SEC's Insider Trading Duty Rule May Face Loper Bright Test

  

  In U.S. v. Jennings, pending in New Jersey federal court, the defense has an opportunity to challenge the rule defining the boundaries of the misappropriation theory of insider trading under Loper Bright, as the only litigated case testing the rule's limits relied on Chevron deference, say attorneys at O'Melveny.

• Series

  Fintech Regulator Outlook: Collaboration In North Dakota

  

  The recent speed of new digital asset products entering the market continues to introduce compliance challenges, so regulators and companies alike must examine the intersection of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, collaboration and modernization to navigate regulatory complexity, says Lise Kruse at the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions.

• As Congress Stalls, SEC Hits Go On 'Innovation Exemption'

  

  While the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recently issued innovation exemption to facilitate on-chain trading of certain tokenized stocks isn't a replacement for a comprehensive legislative framework, it reduces the likelihood that further congressional delay will freeze market development, says Stephen Aschettino at Fox Rothschild.

• What Lawyers Should Know Before Accepting Crypto Payment

  

  As clients increasingly request to pay legal fees, retainers and escrow funds using cryptocurrency, lawyers should consider how only a handful of state bar authorities have addressed the issue with varying ethics opinions, as well as the related questions that no authority has yet answered, says attorney Felix Shipkevich.

• How Evergreen Language Can Sink Landlord Credit Support

  

  A recent pattern in court decisions interpreting letters of credit underscores the importance of using precise language when seeking evergreen protection, so landlords should seek explicit successive-renewal terms, verify issuer forms and calendar deadlines in order to preserve credit support, say attorneys at O'Melveny.

• Bank Regulators' New Risk Guidance Offers More Flexibility

  

  Newly proposed interagency guidance on banks’ third-party risk management would shift rigid compliance frameworks to a principles-based, risk-proportionate approach, potentially creating new opportunities for bank-fintech partnerships and giving smaller institutions a clearer path to innovation, say attorneys at Davis Wright.

• Calif. Decision Shows Limits Of Self-Serving Testimony

  

  A California appellate court's recent opinion in a dispute between two home renovation partners is a reminder that where there are admissions or undisputed documentary evidence, litigants need more than self-serving testimony to overcome summary judgment, says Tyler Palmer at Tucker Ellis.

• Series

  Calif. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q3

  

  California's financial regulators spent the third quarter of 2026 focusing on consumer protection enforcement at home while resisting federal efforts to displace state oversight — reinforcing the state's intention to shape the compliance landscape for institutions operating within its borders despite federal deregulatory trends, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

• 8th Circ. Ruling Limits Receiver Insurance Recovery Rights

  

  The Eighth Circuit's recent ruling in King v. Texas Insurance illustrates a practical limit on receivership powers: A receiver may marshal insurance proceeds belonging to the estate but cannot expand the insured's contractual rights or make policy proceeds collectible unless the coverage triggers are satisfied, say attorneys at Kutak Rock.

• Series

  Mentalism Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  Convincing strangers I can read their minds may seem like an unusual second career for a legal practitioner, but both disciplines share several important requirements, including trust and preparation, says Warren Biro at Manatt.

• Why And How To Build A Neurodiversity-Informed Practice

  

  By better understanding neurodiversity and implementing simple accommodations for clients with autism, ADHD or learning differences, attorneys can build stronger relationships with those who may otherwise struggle to obtain and benefit from legal services, while developing good habits that will benefit everyone they represent, says Ting Cheung at Sanford Heisler.