Aerospace & Defense

  • September 16, 2025

    Feds Oppose Sierra Club's Bid To Freeze $50M In Border Funds

    The Trump administration told a California federal court Monday that forcing it to honor a settlement agreement between the Sierra Club and the Biden administration to use $50 million in border security funds on environmental projects would place the government between two conflicting court orders.

  • September 15, 2025

    FAA, SpaceX Get Early Win In Starship Enviro Review Suit

    A D.C. federal judge Monday handed a win to the Federal Aviation Administration and SpaceX in litigation alleging they failed to complete an adequate environmental review for SpaceX's Starship rocket launch program, ruling that the analysis was "perhaps imperfect" but ultimately well reasoned.

  • September 15, 2025

    Chancery OKs Public Access To Some SpaceX Suit Docs

    Nonprofit news organization ProPublica won a limited Delaware Court of Chancery order Monday for the contested release of some documents and video kept under seal in a Chinese company's suit against a private equity firm over a muffed deal to line up a $50 million investment in SpaceX.

  • September 15, 2025

    Ex-Airman Sues Iran Over 1996 Khobar Towers Bombing

    A first responder to the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia is using the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act to sue the Iranian government, claiming it provided material support to the terrorist group that carried out the bombing, which killed 19 American service members.

  • September 15, 2025

    RTX Beats Investor Suit Over Engine 'Microcrack' Claims

    Aerospace and defense company RTX Corp. escaped a proposed investor class action alleging it concealed a known defect affecting a subsidiary's aircraft engines after a Connecticut federal judge found the complaint didn't show the alleged misrepresentations were known to be false, or even just false, when they were made.

  • September 15, 2025

    Environmental Rules On Chopping Block For Gov't Contractors

    The General Services Administration and Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council truncated their regulatory agendas, stripping rules aimed at minimizing forever chemicals and greenhouse gas emissions in government contracting, as part of the Trump administration's deregulatory program. Here, Law360 takes a look at the regulatory priorities for the two agencies.

  • September 15, 2025

    Security Industry Group Calls 900 MHz Redo Idea Disruptive

    A security industry group warned the Federal Communications Commission that a revamp of lower 900 megahertz spectrum for an Earth-based broadband and GPS backup built by NextNav Inc. could disrupt an array of critical services.

  • September 15, 2025

    Engineer Who Tried To Pass Secrets To Russia Gets 10½ Years

    A onetime defense contractor who held national security clearances will spend more than a decade in prison after he admitted to trying to help Russia and disclosing information about U.S. fighter jets to an undercover FBI agent, federal prosecutors said Monday.

  • September 15, 2025

    Feds Say Surveillance Court Cleared Latest FISA Certifications

    A Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court judge approved the U.S. government's latest round of certifications to collect overseas intelligence on international terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and foreign governments, according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

  • September 15, 2025

    NC Co.'s $41M Navy Award Challenge Sinks At GAO

    The U.S. Government Accountability Office rejected an incumbent contractor protest asserting that the U.S. Navy improperly steered a $41.6 million training support services to another company and its subcontractor based on inflated past performance ratings.

  • September 12, 2025

    FAA Suggests $3.1M Boeing Fine For 2024 Door-Plug Blowout

    The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed fining Boeing over $3.1 million for safety violations, including some related to the midair door-plug blowout on a 737 Max 9 jet operated by Alaska Airlines in 2024, according to an announcement made Friday.

  • September 12, 2025

    DOJ Says States Can't Reverse Grant Cuts In OMB Reg Fight

    The Trump administration urged a Massachusetts federal judge to throw out a suit brought by a score of states accusing it of misinterpreting an Office of Management and Budget regulation to slash thousands of grants, arguing they must seek relief in another forum.

  • September 12, 2025

    Builders Urge 11th Circ. To Block Biden's EO Labor Mandate

    An association of builders on Friday urged the Eleventh Circuit to block a Biden administration executive order requiring labor agreements for all federal contracts exceeding $35 million, arguing the order will cause irreparable harm by increasing costs and reducing competition in the construction industry. 

  • September 12, 2025

    Feds Back Chevron And Exxon In High Court Pollution Case

    The Trump administration has backed Chevron and Exxon's U.S. Supreme Court bid to overturn a ruling that Louisiana courts should hear pollution lawsuits stemming from the companies' World War II-era oil production, saying their work clearly puts the litigation in federal court.

  • September 12, 2025

    Chem Industry's Goals For Toxic Substance Law Face Hurdles

    The chemical industry is pushing to overhaul a federal toxic substances law to accelerate the approval of new products, but narrow party margins in Congress, compromises built into the law and environmental groups' opposition weigh heavily against them.

  • September 12, 2025

    Contract Claims Trimmed In Missile Antenna Seizure Fight

    A federal judge has granted the U.S. government's bid to dismiss breach of contract claims a California company brought after Air Force officials seized surplus missile antennas it was trying to sell, but said the government must face a takings claim.

  • September 12, 2025

    Taxation With Representation: Felesky Flynn, Gibson, Kirkland

    In this week's Taxation With Representation, copper mining companies Anglo American and Teck Resources plan to merge, EchoStar agrees to sell spectrum licenses to SpaceX, and Diversified Energy acquires fellow energy operator Canvas.

  • September 12, 2025

    Quinn Emanuel's $30M Fee Bid Flouts Ch. 11, Co. Says

    Israeli printed circuit maker Nano Dimension has told a Massachusetts federal judge that Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP can't claim a $30 million attorney's lien to make an "end run" around the bankruptcy of 3D printing company Desktop Metal, a former client that Nano acquired.

  • September 12, 2025

    Magnesium Producer's DIP Rollup Denied Amid Enviro Row

    A Delaware bankruptcy judge on Friday rejected US Magnesium's request to roll up some $3 million in existing debt after the state of Utah argued that doing so would improperly grant a lender liens on unencumbered assets, saying the evidence didn't support approving the rollup so early in the Chapter 11 case.

  • September 11, 2025

    FCC Focuses On 'Friendly' Space Regulatory Environment

    Federal Communications Commission leaders said this week one of their top goals is to make the U.S. the world's most hospitable regulatory turf for commercial space activity as "Space Race 2.0" accelerates with China.

  • September 11, 2025

    Trump Taps American Airlines Pilot For NTSB

    President Donald Trump has nominated an American Airlines pilot to serve as a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, filling a vacancy on the five-member board that's contending with a series of high-profile accident investigations.

  • September 11, 2025

    2nd Circ. Says 9/11 MDL Firm Must Wait To Appeal Sanctions

    Sanctions imposed against a New York firm for leaking a document in violation of a protective order in the multidistrict litigation over the Sept. 11 attacks are too closely tied to the merits of the case for an appellate panel to consider tossing them, the Second Circuit has determined.

  • September 11, 2025

    Mistrial Declared For Execs Accused Of Bribing Navy Admiral

    A D.C. federal judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the case of two consulting company executives accused of bribing a top U.S. Navy admiral with a lucrative post-retirement job in exchange for government contracts.

  • September 11, 2025

    Longtime General Dynamics Legal Counsel Joins Honigman

    A 20-year veteran of General Dynamics who worked as general counsel of several subsidiaries and most recently oversaw the company's business operations in Canada, has joined Honigman LLP as a partner.

  • September 11, 2025

    Vet's Wells Fargo Credit Ding Didn't Break Law, Jury Finds

    Wells Fargo didn't violate the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act by failing to recognize fraud affecting the account of a customer who described himself as a veteran of the U.S. military's special forces, a federal jury in Washington state has concluded.

Expert Analysis

  • When Legal Advocacy Crosses The Line Into Incivility

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    As judges issue sanctions for courtroom incivility, and state bars advance formal discipline rules, trial lawyers must understand that the difference between zealous advocacy and unprofessionalism is not just a matter of tone; it's a marker of skill, credibility and potentially disciplinary exposure, says Nate Sabri at Perkins Coie.

  • FCPA Enforcement Is Here To Stay, But It May Look Different

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    After a monthslong enforcement pause, the U.S. Department of Justice’s new Foreign Corrupt Practices Act guidelines fundamentally shift prosecutorial discretion and potentially reduce investigatory burdens for organizations, but open questions remain, so companies should continue to exercise caution, say attorneys at Simpson Thacher.

  • Series

    Volunteering At Schools Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Speaking to elementary school students about the importance of college and other opportunities after high school — especially students who may not see those paths reflected in their daily lives — not only taught me the importance of giving back, but also helped to sharpen several skills essential to a successful legal practice, says Guillermo Escobedo at Constangy.

  • Bid Protest Spotlight: Jurisdiction, Price Range, Late-Is-Late

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    In this month's bid protest roundup, Thomas Lee at MoFo examines three May decisions from the U.S. Court of Federal Claims examining the court’s jurisdiction to rescind an executive order, the impact of agency error in establishing a competitive price range and application of the late-is-late rule to an electronic filing.

  • Attacks On Judicial Independence Tend To Manifest In 3 Ways

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    Attacks on judicial independence now run the gamut from gross (bald-faced interference) to systemic (structural changes) to insidious (efforts to undermine public trust), so lawyers, judges and the public must recognize the fateful moment in which we live and defend the rule of law every day, says Jim Moliterno at Washington and Lee University.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Appreciating Civil Procedure

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    If you’re like me, law school’s often complex and theoretical approach to teaching civil procedure may have contributed to an early struggle with the topic, but when seen from a practical perspective, new lawyers may find they enjoy mastering these rules, says Chloe Villagomez at Foster Garvey.

  • Calif. Bar Exam Fiasco Shows Why Attys Must Disclose AI Use

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    The recent revelation that a handful of questions from the controversial California bar exam administered in February were drafted using generative artificial intelligence demonstrates the continued importance of disclosure for attorneys who use AI tools, say attorneys at Troutman.

  • In 2nd Place, Va. 'Rocket Docket' Remains Old Reliable

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    The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia was again one of the fastest civil trial courts in the nation last year, and an interview with the court’s newest judge provides insights into why it continues to soar, says Robert Tata at Hunton.

  • What FCA Liability Looks Like In The Cybersecurity Realm

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    ​Two recent settlements highlight how whistleblowers and the U.S. Department of Justice have been utilizing the False Claims Act to allege fraud predicated on violations of cybersecurity standards — timely lessons given new bipartisan legislation introducing potential FCA liability for artificial intelligence use, say​ attorneys Rachel Rose and Julie Bracker.

  • How Attorneys Can Become Change Agents For Racial Equity

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    As the administration targets diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and law firms consider pulling back from their programs, lawyers who care about racial equity and justice can employ four strategies to create microspaces of justice, which can then be parlayed into drivers of transformational change, says Susan Sturm at Columbia Law School.

  • 5 Takeaways From DOJ's Media Compulsory Process Rules

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    The U.S. Department of Justice’s new rules, making it easier for law enforcement investigating leaks to compel members of the media and third parties to disclose information, could have wide-ranging impacts, from reduced protections for journalists and organizations, to an expanded focus on nonclassified material, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • Series

    Running Marathons Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    After almost five years of running marathons, I’ve learned that both the race itself and the training process sharpen skills that directly translate to the practice of law, including discipline, dedication, endurance, problem-solving and mental toughness, says Lauren Meadows at Swift Currie.

  • DOJ Policy Shifts May Resurrect De Facto 'China Initiative'

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    The U.S. Department of Justice's recently unveiled white collar enforcement strategy seemingly marks a return to a now-defunct 2018 policy aimed at combating national security concerns with China, and likely foretells aggressive scrutiny of trade and customs fraud, sanctions evasion, and money laundering, say attorneys at BakerHostetler.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Supporting A Trial Team

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    While students often practice as lead trial attorneys in law school, such an opportunity likely won’t arise until a few years into practice, so junior associates should focus on honing skills that are essential to supporting a trial team, including organization, adaptability and humility, says Lucy Zelina at Tucker Ellis.

  • 7 D&O Coverage Areas To Assess As DOJ Targets DEI

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    Companies that receive federal funds or have the remnants of a diversity, equity and inclusion program should review their directors and officers liability insurance policies ahead of a major shift in how the U.S. Department of Justice enforces the False Claims Act, says Bill Wagner at Taft.

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