Aerospace & Defense

  • April 28, 2026

    Soldier Accused Of Betting On Maduro Raid Pleads Not Guilty

    A U.S. Army sergeant who helped plan the capture of deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro pled not guilty in Manhattan federal court Tuesday to profiting by at least $365,000 by gambling on the raid on Polymarket.

  • April 28, 2026

    UK Helicopter Co. Appeals $15M Sikorsky Judgment

    A British helicopter operator said Tuesday it will appeal a more than $15 million March judgment favoring Lockheed Martin-owned Sikorsky International Operations Inc., after the companies fought over a deal to purchase 16 aircraft, two of which were not accepted.

  • April 28, 2026

    USTR Seeks Input On Modernizing African Trade Agreement

    The U.S. government is accepting comments related to plans to modernize a trade agreement between the U.S. and African countries, the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said Tuesday.

  • April 28, 2026

    Lobbyist Can Keep Space Co. Job Amid Noncompete Suit

    A Texas federal judge allowed Axiom Space Inc.'s former policy adviser to continue working for rival commercial space infrastructure firm Vast Inc. and scheduled a fast-track trial on the dispute, denying Axiom's bid for a temporary restraining order.

  • April 27, 2026

    Pentagon Can Escort Reporters Amid Appeal, DC Circ. Says

    The U.S. Department of Defense may continue requiring journalists to be escorted when on Pentagon premises while it challenges a district court's order barring its new press restrictions, the D.C. Circuit ruled Monday, saying the department will likely succeed in arguing the escort requirement didn't violate the order.

  • April 27, 2026

    Texas Rep. Says Rivera Wanted Political Change In Venezuela

    U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, told jurors in Florida federal court on Monday that his meetings with Venezuelan officials set up by former Florida Congressman David Rivera were part of a larger attempt to negotiate an exit for then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and usher in free and fair elections for the country.

  • April 27, 2026

    Contractor Can't Evade FCA Deal Due To Financial Troubles

    Participants of an alleged scheme to defraud a veterans' contracting program must abide by a 2024 settlement reached on the eve of trial, a D.C. federal judge ruled Monday, rejecting an IT firm's claims that the deal has become "commercially impracticable."

  • April 27, 2026

    Texas Business Court Weighs Boeing Bid To End Union Suit

    The Boeing Co. told a Texas Business Court judge Monday that Southwest Airlines' union cannot tie its members' economic losses to the aircraft manufacturer's misconduct alleged by the union after regulators grounded the 737 Max aircraft, saying state law bars the suit from going forward.

  • April 27, 2026

    Space Intelligence Provider HawkEye 360 Targets $400M IPO

    Space-based radio signals company HawkEye 360 launched plans Monday to raise roughly $400 million in its initial public offering led by Cooley LLP and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.

  • April 27, 2026

    BAE, L3Harris End Navy Contract Trade Secret Suit In NY

    Defense contractor BAE Systems has resolved its suit in New York federal court, accusing L3Harris Cincinnati Electronics Corp. of cutting it out of a government contract for naval defense technology after BAE shared its proprietary information.

  • April 27, 2026

    Chipmaker Says Chinese Military Co. Label Lacks Evidence

    A Chinese chipmaker has told a D.C. federal judge that the U.S. Department of Defense lacks evidence to support labeling the company a Chinese military company, saying its products are designed solely for civilian commercial and industrial uses.

  • April 27, 2026

    FTC Wants More Info On IonQ's $1.8B Chipmaker Deal

    The Federal Trade Commission has requested additional information about quantum computing company IonQ's planned $1.8 billion purchase of semiconductor maker SkyWater Technology, extending a waiting period that prevents the transaction from closing.

  • April 27, 2026

    Justices Turn Away Lebanese Bank Terrorism Suit

    The U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to review the Second Circuit's finding that a Lebanese bank is subject to the personal jurisdiction of New York courts on claims over alleged assistance to Hezbollah by a bank it acquired, a case the Lebanese bank had argued raises due process questions.

  • April 24, 2026

    Lockheed Birth Defect Judge Slams Door On Trial Aids Fight

    A Florida federal judge Friday warned that he will not allow any new or revised demonstratives for a trial beginning Monday in a suit by children who blame their birth defects on Lockheed Martin's chemical handling practices at an Orlando facility, putting an end to the parties' last-minute feud.

  • April 24, 2026

    Justices To Focus On Alien Tort Statute In Cisco Spying Case

    The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case on Tuesday with implications for U.S. companies doing business with foreign governments, and decide whether the Ninth Circuit was right to reinstate an Alien Tort Statute suit alleging that Cisco Systems Inc. helped the Chinese government's allegedly unlawful crackdown on the Falun Gong religious movement.

  • April 24, 2026

    Hikvision Lacks Standing In FCC Fight, DC Circ. Told

    Hikvision doesn't have the standing to take the Federal Communications Commission to court over its decision to place modular transmitters on the so-called covered list, a list of equipment deemed to pose a national security risk, the agency told the D.C. Circuit.

  • April 24, 2026

    Justices Give Tort Defendants Tool To Get To Federal Court

    The high court's recent decision letting Chevron move a state court lawsuit to federal court has raised questions about the newly expanded scope of a statute permitting such transfers, when allegations are tied to work for the federal government.

  • April 24, 2026

    Feds Fight Ex-Rep.'s Acquittal Bid In Venezuela FARA Case

    Federal prosecutors urged a Florida U.S. district judge to reject an attempt by politician David Rivera and a political consultant to escape charges for allegedly failing to register as foreign agents while secretly representing Venezuela's state-owned oil company, saying the charges aren't too late.

  • April 24, 2026

    GAO Urges DOD To Boost Risk Management At Agency

    The U.S. Government Accountability Office on Friday laid out recommendations to bolster a Department of Defense agency tasked with ensuring contractors protect classified information, noting the agency documented more than 800 security violations and 1,000 open security vulnerabilities last fiscal year.

  • April 24, 2026

    Shipbuilders Lose Bid To Block New Plaintiff In No-Poach Suit

    A Virginia federal judge has cleared the way for a new plaintiff to enter a putative class action accusing major shipbuilders of using "no-poach" agreements to suppress wages for engineers and architects, upholding a magistrate judge's ruling that granted the plaintiffs leave to amend their complaint.

  • April 24, 2026

    Feds Say Species Suit Is Moot After Gulf Drilling Exemption

    The Trump administration has said that a federal committee's recent exemption of oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico from Endangered Species Act requirements moots a lawsuit challenging federal evaluations of offshore drilling's effects on endangered species.

  • April 24, 2026

    Texas Justices Say Copter Manual Changes Don't Reset Clock

    The Texas Supreme Court ordered the dismissal of a suit against Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. over a fatal helicopter crash, saying Friday that revisions to the helicopter's manual didn't in this case reset an 18-year statute of repose in federal law.

  • April 24, 2026

    Judge Won't Halt Anthropic Calif. Suit Amid DC Circ. Case

    Anthropic PBC's lawsuit challenging the Pentagon's designation of the artificial intelligence company as supply chain risk to national security can proceed in California federal court while the government appeals an injunction and a parallel challenge plays out at the D.C. Circuit. 

  • April 24, 2026

    US, EU Announce Key Mineral Supply Chain Action Plan

    The U.S. and European Union announced new agreements to further coordinate on strengthening critical mineral supply chains, in press releases published Friday.

  • April 24, 2026

    Taxation With Representation: Gibson Dunn, Paul Weiss

    In this week's Taxation With Representation, Elon Musk's SpaceX strikes a deal with Cursor that could lead to an acquisition of the artificial intelligence startup, building products distributor QXO Inc. buys TopBuild Corp., and Eli Lilly & Co. acquires clinical-stage biotechnology company Kelonia Therapeutics.

Expert Analysis

  • Breaking Down State Legislative Efforts In Telecom Security

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    As the federal government has strengthened national security safeguards for the telecommunications ecosystem, states have also asserted a role in telecom security, with variations among these regimes risking regulatory fragmentation and complicating compliance strategies, say attorneys at Hogan Lovells.

  • 5 Tips For Navigating Your Firm's All-Attorney Summit

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Law firm retreats should be approached strategically, as they present valuable opportunities to advance both the firm's objectives and attorneys' professional development through meaningful participation, building and strengthening internal relationships, and proactive follow-up, says James Argionis at Cozen O’Connor.

  • What's At Stake In High Court's Venue Dispute Case

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    The U.S. Supreme Court’s eventual ruling in Abouammo v. U.S. could fundamentally reshape venue rules for federal criminal prosecutions, highlighting why defense counsel should ensure preservation of colorable venue challenges, particularly where the government's chosen forum lacks a direct connection to the defendant's physical acts, say attorneys at ArentFox Schiff.

  • 5 Gov't Contractor Tips Following Anthropic Risk Designation

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    The Pentagon's designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk is an unprecedented action that raises significant legal questions, and with government contractors already receiving directives and inquiries concerning their use of Anthropic products and services, there are several strategies contractors can use to manage risk, say attorneys at Mayer Brown.

  • How Data Centers Can Prep For Legal Challenges Amid War

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    Amid conflict in the Middle East, data centers may now be exposed to state-level kinetic threats, creating significant legal, regulatory and contractual implications, so operators should update their legal and operational frameworks in order to withstand future disruptions and meet the regulator expectations, say attorneys at Baker Botts.

  • Series

    Coaching Soccer Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Coaching youth soccer for my 7-year-old son's team has sharpened how I communicate with clients, prepare witnesses, work within teams and think about leadership, making me a more thoughtful and effective lawyer in many ways, says Joshua Holt at Smith Currie.

  • Bid Protest Spotlight: Commerciality, Amendments, Evidence

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    Recent decisions from the U.S. Government Accountability Office and the Small Business Administration illustrate the statutory and regulatory preference for acquiring commercial solutions, how failing to acknowledge a solicitation amendment can be fatal to a bid, and a protester's duty to support its allegations with evidence, says James Tucker at MoFo.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: The Human Element

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    Law school teaches you to quickly apply intellect and logic when handling a legal issue, but every fact pattern also involves a person, making the ability to balance expertise with empathy critical to the growth of relationships with clients, colleagues and adversaries, says Rachel Adcox at Adcox Strategies.

  • 4 Ways To Help CBP Curb Shell Co. Import Schemes

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    Shifting to a proactive rather than reactive enforcement posture in addressing shell companies set up to skirt tariffs requires equipping U.S. Customs and Border Protection with enhanced investigative authorities, better intelligence support, and mechanisms to identify and hold accountable the ultimate illicit actors, say attorneys at Kelley Drye.

  • 7 Steps For Gov't Contractors In Post-IEEPA Tariff Landscape

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    In response to U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to strike down tariffs issued by the Trump administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, there are several actions federal contractors should take to preserve their place in any refund waterfall, and to manage audit, overpayment and False Claims Act risk, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

  • A Reliable Liability Shield For Government-Sponsored R&D

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    The Federal Circuit's decision in Arlton v. AeroVironment last month confirms that the Section 1498 liability-shifting framework applies well beyond production contracts, providing powerful assurance that contractors performing government-directed work are shielded from patent infringement liability, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • What We Know About DOJ's New FCA Enforcement Priorities

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    Recent remarks from the leader of the Justice Department’s commercial litigation branch provide key insights on how False Claims Act cases — especially healthcare fraud, trade fraud, antidiscrimination and cybersecurity claims — will be evaluated, prioritized and pursued as heightened enforcement becomes the new normal, say attorneys at Latham.

  • The Benefits Of Choosing A Niche Practice In The AI Age

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    As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly accessible, lawyers with a niche practice may stand out as clients seek specialized judgment that automation cannot replicate, but it is important to choose a niche that is durable, engaging and a good personal fit, says Daniel Borneman at Lowenstein Sandler.

  • Section 122 Tariffs Show Shift In Strategy, Not Trade Policy

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    By imposing temporary tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act as a stopgap measure while it pivots to less transitory statutory authorities, the Trump administration sent a clear message that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Learning Resources v. Trump, invalidating duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, will not precipitate a change in policy direction, say attorneys at Snell & Wilmer.

  • Series

    Podcasting Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Podcasting has changed how I ask questions and connect with people, sharpening my ability to listen without interrupting or prejudging, and bringing me closer to what law is meant to be: a human profession grounded in understanding, judgment and trust, says Donna DiMaggio Berger at Becker.

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