Expert Analysis

• 4th Circ. Ruling Outlines Defense Against Retaliation Claims

  

  The Fourth Circuit's surprising decision in Johnson v. Global Language Center eschewed the low standard typically applied to demonstrating protected activities under Title VII and could affect internal complaint processes and the retaliation defenses available to employers, say Tory Summey and Zack Anstett at Parker Poe.

• An Overview Of OFCCP's Religious-Exemption Reset

  

  The recent rescission of a Trump-era rule that gave government contractors broader latitude under federal anti-discrimination rules doesn't prohibit employment decisions based on religious faith, but clarifies the factors a company must consider when seeking a religious exemption, say Zev Grumet-Morris and Christopher Durham at Duane Morris.

• High Court Underscores DOJ's Role In Policing FCA Litigation

  

  The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Polansky v. Executive Health Resources reaffirms that the government has final say in False Claims Act cases, allowing for meaningful guardrails that deter private litigators from seeking to regulate industries that Congress has delegated to expert administrative agencies, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

• 5 Management Tips To Keep Law Firm Merger Talks Moving

  

  Many law firm mergers that make solid business sense still fall apart due to the costs and frustrations of inefficient negotiations, but firm managers can increase the chance of success by effectively planning and executing merger discussions, say Lisa Smith and Kristin Stark at Fairfax Associates.

• What NIH's New Grant Guidance Means For Awardees

  

  New guidance from the National Institutes of Health tightens grant requirements for international subawards, necessarily increasing accountability of foreign subrecipients and increasing the importance of prime awardees' efforts to plan carefully and educate key personnel, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

• Broader Implications Of High Court's Identity Theft Law Ruling

  

  The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Dubin v. U.S., vacating a medical services biller’s aggravated identity theft conviction, endorses a restrained interpretive approach for practitioners dealing with ambiguous criminal statutes, and serves as a warning to prosecutors, say Gabrielle Friedman and Zachary Shemtob at Lankler Siffert.

• Rethinking In-Office Attendance For Associate Retention

  

  The hybrid office attendance model doesn't work for all employees, but it does for many — and balancing these two groups is important for associate retention and maintaining a BigLaw firm culture that supports all attorneys, says Summer Eberhard at Major Lindsey.

• Bid Protest Spotlight: Timeliness, Discovery, Registration Gap

  

  In this month's bid protest roundup, Michaela Thornton at MoFo examines recent decisions from the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the U.S. Government Accountability Office that consider the timeliness of a protest filing, discovery beyond the administrative record and a lapse in System for Award Management registration.

• FCA Liability Lessons From HHS Psychotherapy Audit

  

  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' recent finding of improper Medicare payments for psychotherapy services provided in 2020-2021 might inspire whistleblowers to pursue allegations under the federal False Claims Act, but there are reasons to be skeptical of converting these audit results into expansive FCA liability, say attorneys at Sidley.

• High Court Ruling Wouldn't Change Federal Affirmative Action

  

  If the U.S. Supreme Court's eventual decision in two cases concerning affirmative action indicates that using race or ethnicity as a factor in college admissions is illegal, it would align with how the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs already enforces nondiscrimination regulations for government contractor hiring, say Joanna Colosimo and Evan Szarenski at DCI Consulting.

• Murdaugh Trials Offer Law Firms Fraud Prevention Reminders

  

  As the fraud case against Alex Murdaugh continues to play out, the evidence and narrative presented at his murder trial earlier this year may provide lessons for law firms on implementing robust internal controls that can detect and prevent similar kinds of fraud, say Travis Casner and Helga Zauner at Weaver and Tidwell.

• COVID Fraud Crackdown Should Prompt Compliance Review

  

  Recent federal actions against businesses that allegedly perpetrated pandemic-related fraud show why health care providers should confirm that all COVID-19 relief funds were obtained in accordance with contemporary guidance and move to repair any potential compliance breaches, say Anthony Burba and Megha Mathur at Barnes & Thornburg.

• Firm Tips For Helping New Lawyers Succeed Post-Pandemic

  

  Ten steps can help firms significantly enhance the experience of attorneys who started their careers in the coronavirus pandemic era, including facilitating opportunities for cross-firm connection, which can ultimately help build momentum for business development, says Lana Manganiello at Equinox Strategy Partners.

• Fla. Foreign Real Estate Law Brings Broad Investment Risks

  

  Last month, Florida became the latest state to enact legislation prohibiting Chinese investors from acquiring certain interests in real property, introducing significant legal uncertainty and consequences for real estate stakeholders and the private equity industry, say attorneys at Simpson Thacher.

• Defending State Law Claims That Implicate National Security

  

  GRID Networks' recent voluntary dismissal of its suit against Quantum Leap, in which U.S. cabinet-level officials expressed concerns about the security risks of hearing the matter in state court, shows how classified information can shape litigation outcomes, say Stephen Preston and Andrew Shipley at WilmerHale.