Aerospace & Defense

  • June 18, 2026

    Tribe Looks To Block Border Wall Through Ariz. Reservation

    An Arizona Indigenous nation is asking a D.C. federal court to block the Department of Homeland Security from constructing a 62-mile border wall through its reservation, alleging that reports of federal contractors destroying ancestral sites in adjacent areas confirm the tribe's decision to oppose the wall construction.

  • June 18, 2026

    Delta Seeks To Toss Cuba Property Trafficking Suit

    Delta Air Lines asked a Florida federal court on Thursday to dismiss a lawsuit accusing the airline of trafficking in stolen property by operating from a Havana airport seized by the Cuban government, telling the court that the man claiming ownership of the airport acquired his claim too late.

  • June 18, 2026

    DeepSeek's Valuation Soars To $50B, Plus More Rumors

    Artificial intelligence company DeepSeek hit a $50 billion valuation following its latest funding round, the original backers of artificial intelligence company Manus are planning to buy the company back from Meta, and private equity shop KKR wants to buy a majority stake in the Indian business of Sweden's Medicover for at least $1 billion.

  • June 18, 2026

    Mother Defends Punitive Claims In Boeing Door Plug Blowout Suit

    A woman and her son suing The Boeing Co. over a door plug blowout on a 737 Max jet flight out of Oregon are urging a Washington federal court to deny Boeing's bid to throw out their punitive damages claims, saying the question is a fact-intensive one unsuitable for dismissal.

  • June 17, 2026

    Bosch Receives DOJ Declination Over Huawei Exports

    German technology company Bosch on Wednesday became the first company to avoid criminal prosecution by the U.S. Department of Justice's National Security Division under a new enforcement policy after it cooperated with the federal government and agreed to pay $36 million to settle allegations it improperly exported technology products to sanctioned Chinese company Huawei.

  • June 17, 2026

    Wash. Hydro Workers Sue Feds To Save Collective Bargaining

    United Power Trades Organization, which represents hundreds of hydropower dam workers employed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, launched a lawsuit in Seattle federal court Tuesday seeking to preserve its collective bargaining rights after the Trump administration ended its union contract pursuant to a March 2025 executive order.

  • June 17, 2026

    Trump Admin Says GSA Was Free To Ditch Greenbelt Site

    Attorneys for the Trump administration argued Congress never meant for the General Services Administration's choice of a new FBI headquarters site to be final when it instructed the agency to choose between three proposed sites, defending the agency's sudden shift in choosing to convert the Ronald Reagan Building instead Wednesday.

  • June 17, 2026

    Trump Says Colo. Can't Stop US Space Command HQ Move

    The Trump administration asked a Colorado federal judge Wednesday to toss the state's challenge to the administration's decision to move U.S. Space Command's headquarters from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama, saying Colorado has no veto power over the administration's implementation of federal law.

  • June 17, 2026

    G7 Leaders Pledge To Secure Critical Mineral Supply Chains

    The Group of Seven issued a joint statement Wednesday that indicated the countries would commit to working together in several policy areas related to securing critical mineral supply chains, and included a pledge to coordinate a response if access to those resources is restricted.

  • June 17, 2026

    Judge OKs Deal Ending Halkbank Iran Sanctions Prosecution

    A New York federal judge Wednesday officially approved a no-fine deal ending the long-running criminal prosecution of Turkey's Halkbank, in which the feds accused the state-backed Turkish lender of scheming to launder billions of dollars in sanctioned Iranian oil proceeds.

  • June 17, 2026

    Bass Berry, Foley Hoag Guide $272M AstroNova Take-Private

    Bass Berry & Sims PLC is advising Arcline Investment Management on a $272 million deal to take Foley Hoag LLP-advised aerospace and industrial printing company AstroNova Inc. private, the companies said Wednesday. 

  • June 17, 2026

    GAO Says Navy Structure Slows Autonomous Systems Push

    The U.S. Government Accountability Office issued a report Monday noting that the U.S. Navy needs to restructure its approach to research and development to better prepare for conflicts that now feature robotic and autonomous weapons.

  • June 17, 2026

    Trump Halts Clayton Director Hearing Over Blue-Slip Dispute

    President Donald Trump directed Jay Clayton, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, not to appear for his confirmation hearing Wednesday on his nomination to be director of national intelligence, in part over a blue-slip issue.

  • June 16, 2026

    DOJ Wants NAACP's Air Permit Suit Against XAI Tossed

    The Trump administration has urged a Mississippi federal court to let it step in as a plaintiff and dismiss the NAACP's lawsuit that seeks to bar X.AI Corp.'s operation of a data center-powering gas plant in Southaven, saying the NAACP can't pursue the lawsuit over the government's objection.

  • June 16, 2026

    Dems Press Treasury, DOJ On Binance Sanctions Compliance

    A group of Senate Democrats led by Adam Schiff, D-Calif., is pressing the U.S. Treasury Department and Justice Department for updates on the oversight of crypto exchange Binance in light of reports that the platform has facilitated Iranian sanctions evasion and maintains ties to members of the Trump administration.

  • June 16, 2026

    FCC Lifts Security Ban On Some Foreign-Made Toy Drones

    The Federal Communications Commission said that "toy drones" manufactured in foreign countries or using parts from overseas will no longer fall under an FCC ban on most drones produced outside the U.S.

  • June 16, 2026

    Orange County Residents Sue GKN Over Toxic Emergency

    A proposed class of Orange County residents is suing GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems Inc. in California state court, alleging GKN's negligence led to the overheating and near-explosion of a 34,000 gallon tank of methyl methacrylate in May.

  • June 16, 2026

    NY Judge 'Doubtful' Of Oil Co.'s Suit Against Ex-Florida Rep.

    A New York federal judge said Tuesday he was "doubtful" that a breach of contract lawsuit filed by the U.S. subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company can go forward, given the agreement's potential invalidation following a trial that resulted in the conviction of a former Florida congressman last month.

  • June 16, 2026

    Judge Won't Nix Minor's Guardian In Ethiopia Crash Suit

    An Illinois federal judge won't remove a court-appointed independent guardian for the minor child of a victim of the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash, saying the litigation behavior of the child's grandparents in opposing the appointment has only reinforced the need for one.

  • June 16, 2026

    FCC Urged To Revise Test Rule Language

    A trade group representing commercial, scientific and testing laboratories in the U.S. has asked the Federal Communications Commission to narrowly tailor the language of a planned rule that would restrict accreditation for labs that test communications equipment.

  • June 16, 2026

    EU Parliament Approves Trade Deal With US

    European Union lawmakers voted Tuesday to approve legislation implementing the bloc's safeguard-bolstered trade deal with the U.S. founded on a series of tariff cuts, moving one step closer to implementation that is expected before the end of the month.

  • June 16, 2026

    Air Force Awards $1.4B Microsoft Renewal Deal To Dell

    Dell Federal Systems LP landed a $1.4 billion U.S. Air Force call order to provide Microsoft software licenses and related subscription services, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

  • June 16, 2026

    DOD Pledges $500M Loan For Rare Earth Processing Initiative

    U.S. Department of Defense officials inked a $500 million loan commitment to help a New England company scale up the domestic processing of rare earth elements.

  • June 16, 2026

    SpaceX Inks $60B Cursor Deal As Gibson Dunn, Kirkland Lead

    Elon Musk's SpaceX disclosed Tuesday that it has agreed to acquire Anysphere Inc., the developer of artificial intelligence coding assistant Cursor, in an all-stock transaction valuing the company at about $60 billion.

  • June 15, 2026

    Newman's Appeal Loss Shows Limits On Suspension Reviews

    The U.S. Supreme Court's rejection on Monday of Federal Circuit Judge Pauline Newman's appeal in the long-running dispute over her suspension made clear that the available routes to challenge such orders are narrow, and spurred critics to contemplate ways to revise the system.

Expert Analysis

  • 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.

  • Lessons From Justices' Split On Major Questions Doctrine

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    The justices' varied opinions in Learning Resources v. Trump, which held the International Emergency Economy Powers Act did not confer the power to impose tariffs, offer a meaningful window into the U.S. Supreme Court's perspective on the major questions doctrine that will likely shape lower courts' approach to executive action challenges, say attorneys at Venable.

  • Resilience Planning As Nat'l Security Shifts Tech Import Policy

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    In response to a sustained reorientation of U.S. trade policy around national security considerations, businesses reliant on processed critical minerals must closely monitor diplomatic negotiations and the potential expansion of trade measures, incorporating contingency planning into procurement and long-term investment strategies, says attorney Sohan Dasgupta.

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