Expert Analysis

• Opinion

  Russia Ruling Should Lead UK To Review Sanctions Policy

  

  The High Court's recent dismissal of the first-ever court challenge to Russian sanctions in Shvidler v. Secretary of State sets a demanding standard for overturning designation decisions, highlighting the need for an independent review of the Russia sanctions regime, says Helen Taylor at Spotlight on Corruption.

• Schumer Framework May Forge US Model On AI Governance

  

  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's proposed SAFE Innovation Framework may have the potential to generate thoughtful understanding and governance of artificial intelligence within a meaningful time frame, say Alan Charles Raul and Rimsha Syeda at Sidley.

• Covington Ruling Strengthens SEC's Enforcement Powers

  

  A Washington, D.C., federal court’s recent order that Covington & Burling provide the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission with the identities of its clients in response to a subpoena reinforces the agency’s broad authority to investigate cybersecurity violations, and suggests law firms must take steps to strengthen data privacy, say Elisha Kobre and Ryan Dean at Bradley Arant.

• The Self-Disclosure Calculus After Tri-Seal Compliance Note

  

  With the recent note from three government agencies emphasizing the incentives for voluntarily self-disclosing potential violations of sanctions, export control and other national security laws, companies’ risk-based analyses of whether to disclose even minor, technical offenses may shift, say attorneys at Akin.

• The Basics Of Being A Knowledge Management Attorney

  Excerpt from Practical Guidance

  

  Michael Lehet at Ogletree Deakins discusses the role of knowledge management attorneys at law firms, the common tasks they perform and practical tips for lawyers who may be considering becoming one.

• The Pros And Cons Of The Senate's DOD Data Rights Plan

  

  The Senate's latest defense spending bill stands to benefit big business by clarifying that the government should not automatically obtain unlimited rights in certain contractor data, but the reduction of other protections elsewhere may put small businesses at risk, say Tyler Evans and Anna Menzel at Steptoe & Johnson.

• SBA 8(a) Contractors Must Prepare To Reestablish Eligibility

  

  A Tennessee federal court's recent decision in Ultima Services v. U.S. Department of Agriculture has massive implications for the Small Business Administration's 8(a) Business Development Program, whose participants will soon need to reestablish their status as socially disadvantaged, say Edward DeLisle and Andrés Vera at Thompson Hine.

• To Hire And Keep Top Talent, Think Beyond Compensation

  

  Firms seeking to appeal to sophisticated clients and top-level partners should promote mentorship, ensure that attorneys from diverse backgrounds feel valued, and clarify policies about at-home work, says Patrick Moya at Quaero Group.

• Gov't Contract Billing Lessons From Booz Allen Settlement

  

  Allegations that contractor Booz Allen spent a decade improperly billing indirect costs to the government, recently highlighted in a $377 million settlement, offer pointed lessons for businesses on how to address False Claims Act concerns, and for federal investigators on how to identify highly technical accounting discrepancies in real time, says Denise Barnes at Honigman.

• Key Takeaways From Agencies' Tri-Seal Compliance Note

  

  In light of a recent compliance note issued by three government agencies, private sector firms should weigh several important considerations in deciding whether to voluntarily self-disclose potential violations of sanctions, export controls and other national security laws, say attorneys at Schulte Roth.

• Perspectives

  More States Should Join Effort To Close Legal Services Gap

  

  Colorado is the most recent state to allow other types of legal providers, not just attorneys, to offer specific services in certain circumstances — and more states should rethink the century-old assumptions that shape our current regulatory rules, say Natalie Anne Knowlton and Janet Drobinske at the University of Denver.

• Identifying Trends And Tips In Litigation Financing Disclosure

  

  Growing interest and controversy in litigation financing raise several salient concerns, but exploring recent compelled disclosure trends from courts around the country can help practitioners further their clients' interests, say Sean Callagy and Samuel Sokolsky at Arnold & Porter.

• Bid Protest Spotlight: Personnel Loss, Conflicts, Timeliness

  

  In this month's bid protest roundup, Locke Bell at MoFo highlights recent decisions from the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the U.S. Government Accountability Office, addressing an offeror's loss of key personnel, organizational conflicts of interest arising out of reliance on former government employees in preparing a bid, and protest timeliness when no debriefing is required.

• Opinion

  OFAC Designation Prosecutions Are Constitutionally Suspect

  

  Criminal prosecutions based on the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s sanctions-related listing decisions — made with nearly unfettered discretion through an opaque process — present several constitutional issues, so it is imperative that courts recognize additional rights of review, say Solomon Shinerock and Annika Conrad at Lewis Baach.

• 9th Circ. Ruling Shows Int'l Arbitration Jurisdictional Snags

  

  While the Ninth Circuit sidestepped the thorny and undecided constitutional question of whether a foreign state is a person for the purposes of a due process analysis, its Devas v. Antrix opinion provides important guidance to parties seeking to enforce an arbitration award against a foreign sovereign in the U.S., say attorneys at Wiley.