Expert Analysis

• Bank M&A Considerations Amid 2024's Regulatory Uncertainty

  

  Following the decline in banking mergers to the lowest level in more than a decade last year, receptiveness to community bank combinations and positive macroeconomic factors may help banks with less than $50 billion in assets see increased deal-making opportunities this year, despite regulatory uncertainty, say Robert Azarow and Amber Hay at Arnold & Porter.

• Lessons From Country Singer's Personal Service Saga

  

  Recent reports that country singer Luke Combs won a judgment against a Florida woman who didn’t receive notice of the counterfeit suit against her should serve as a reminder for attorneys on best practices for effectuating service by electronic means, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.

• What To Expect From High Court In Corp. Disclosure Case

  

  Oral argument in Macquarie v. Moab Partners — a case with the potential to significantly alter corporate disclosures and private securities litigation liability — suggests that the U.S. Supreme Court is focused on answering the narrow question presented, say Elizabeth Gingold Clark and Madeleine Juszynski Davidson at Alston & Bird.

• 11 Noteworthy CFPB Developments From 2023

  

  Under Rohit Chopra’s leadership, 2023 was an industrious year for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, with developments including the release of the proposed personal financial data rights rule, publication of proposed rules involving public registries for nonbanks and the bureau's continuous battle against junk fees, all of which are sure to further progress in 2024, say attorneys at Husch Blackwell.

• Unpacking PCAOB's Sanctions Against China-Based Auditors

  

  Following the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's first major enforcement actions against audit firms located in China and Hong Kong for violating quality control standards, China-based U.S. issuers should be prepared for more rigorous audits in the upcoming cycle, and for continuing strict scrutiny from the regulator, say attorneys at Debevoise.

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  NC Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q4

  

  Two new North Carolina financial services laws went into effect in the fourth quarter of 2023 that amended the state's Retail Installment Sales Act and Consumer Finance Act, increasing the maximum interest rates and default late charges that may be assessed for loans, says Gursharon Shergill at Wagner Hicks.

• 3 Areas Of Focus In Congressional Crosshairs This Year

  

  Companies must prepare for Congress to build on its 2023 oversight priorities this year, continuing its vigorous inquiries into Chinese company-related investments, workplace safety and labor relations issues, and generative artificial intelligence, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

• NY CRE Lenders Need Clarity On Foreclosure Standing

  

  Recent contradictory New York case law regarding issues of standing in commercial real estate litigation creates confusion for borrowers and lenders alike, and should be addressed by courts in advance of the anticipated onslaught of commercial mortgage-backed securities foreclosures, say Christopher Gorman and John Muldoon at Rosenberg & Estis.

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  Baking Bread Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  After many years practicing law, and a few years baking bread, I have learned that there are a few keys to success in both endeavors, including the assembly of a nourishing and resilient culture, and the ability to learn from failure and exercise patience, says Rick Robinson at Reed Smith.

• 3 Key Class Action Trends To Use As Guidance In 2024

  

  Telephone Consumer Protection Act, privacy and false advertising class actions saw significant shifts last year — including a trend toward expanding the application of preexisting laws to current technologies — that businesses should keep in mind to navigate the class action landscape in 2024, say attorneys at Mintz.

• Federal Courts And AI Standing Orders: Safety Or Overkill?

  

  Several district court judges have issued standing orders regulating the use of artificial intelligence in their courts, but courts should consider following ordinary notice and comment procedures before implementing sweeping mandates that could be unnecessarily burdensome and counterproductive, say attorneys at Curtis.

• Time To Step Up PFAS Due Diligence In Cross-Border M&A

  

  Regulations in the U.S. and EU governing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances will likely evolve to become global standards out of necessity and scale, so PFAS due diligence — particularly for buyers, sellers, and lenders and investors involved in multijurisdictional mergers and acquisitions — will be essential in 2024, say attorneys at Shipman & Goodwin.

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  NY Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q4

  

  New York's banking and financial sector saw a number of notable regulatory and legislative changes in the final quarter of 2023, including guidance on climate risks and heightened cybersecurity protocols issued by the New York State Department of Financial Services, as well as final revisions to virtual currency listings in the state, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

• What FTC CARS Rule Means For Auto Dealers And Lenders

  

  A newly finalized Federal Trade Commission rule is aimed at changing how auto dealers interact with customers in the financing process, but will likely also affect banks and finance companies — and consequences for lenders and servicers have been amplified by recent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau enforcement actions, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

• Bill Could Pave Path To 'Safer' Banking For Cannabis Industry

  

  The Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation, or SAFER, Banking Act, which was recently passed by a U.S. Senate committee, creates potential for financial inclusion of legally operating cannabis businesses and could promote recognition of the disconnect between federal laws and services unavailable to the industry, says Mark Bell at Stinson.