Expert Analysis


OFSI Proposals Signal Greater Focus On Enforcement Activity

The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation’s proposed financial sanctions reforms, with risks of higher penalties and more stringent disclosure requirements for U.K. banks and companies, reflect the agency’s evolution into a more sophisticated and robust enforcement regulator, says Irene Polieri at Gibson Dunn.


A Redirection For AIA Proceedings Under New USPTO Director

A recent U.S. Patent and Trademark Office memorandum implementing a bifurcated process for determining whether to institute an inter partes review or post-grant review, and the new director's subsequent notice of proposed rulemaking with additional limitations on the use of IPRs, may significantly affect patent litigation strategies, say attorneys at Sterne Kessler.


2nd Circ. Decision Offers Securities Fraud Pleading Insights

In Gimpel v. Hain Celestial, the Second Circuit’s recent finding that investor plaintiffs adequately alleged a food and personal care company made actionable misrepresentations and false statements presents a road map for evaluating securities fraud complaints that emphasizes statements made and scienter, rather than pure omissions, say attorneys at Nixon Peabody.


Ending All-In Airfare Pricing Could Pose Ad Dilemma For Cos.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's plan to scrap its requirement that airfare ads include all fees and taxes in price listings means that airlines, travel agents and other affected businesses must balance competitive pricing against the risk of alienating consumers, say Kimberly Graber at Steptoe and Serena Viswanathan, formerly at the FTC's Division of Advertising Practices.


Suspension And Debarment: FY 2025 By The Numbers

With the multiyear, downward trend in suspensions and debarments of government contractors continuing in fiscal year 2025, questions about the future of suspension and debarment practices, such as what may necessitate an immediate exclusion, and why we're not seeing a corresponding drop in activity levels across all federal agencies, come to mind, say David Robbins at Jenner and Duc Nguyen at Fluet. 


'Measure Twice, Cut Once' Also Applies To Builders' Insurance

A New York federal court's recent decision in Ohio Security Insurance v. Southwest Marine and General Insurance, denying additional insured coverage, shows why it's key to apply the caution of "measure twice, cut once" to construction contracts and insurance policy language, say attorneys at Reed Smith.


What CFPB Disparate Impact Proposal Means For Lenders

Should the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's reasoning for making proposed changes to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act — and the bureau itself — survive, lenders and other participants in the consumer finance industry may see a reduced emphasis on protected characteristics, say attorneys at Saul Ewing.


Considerations When Invoking The Common-Interest Privilege

To successfully leverage the common-interest doctrine in a multiparty transaction or complex litigation, practitioners should be able to demonstrate that the parties intended for it to apply, that an underlying privilege like attorney-client has attached, and guard against disclosures that could waive privilege and defeat its purpose, say attorneys at DLA Piper.


NBA Gambling Probes Highlight Sports Betting's Broad Risks

Recent NBA gambling scandals illustrate the integrity risks arising from legal sports betting, but organizations, which must navigate a patchwork of state laws, can protect their reputations by drafting and enforcing internal policies to address betting-related risks and complying with league and institutional rules, say attorneys at Littler.


How 2nd Circ. Decision Extends CFTC's Extraterritorial Reach

The Second Circuit recently concluded in U.S. v. Phillips that the Commodity Exchange Act extends to entirely foreign conduct if a victim of the conduct is based in the U.S., suggesting there is a heightened risk that foreign swap transactions will be susceptible to U.S. regulation when U.S. counterparties are involved, say attorneys at Skadden.


How In-House Counsel Can Prep Corp. Reps For Depositions

With anticorporate sentiment on the rise and jury verdicts against businesses growing larger, it is crucial that witnesses designated to be deposed on behalf of a company be well-prepared — and there are several key points in-house counsel should keep in mind to facilitate this process, says Joseph Altieri at Hollingsworth.


AG Watch: Ohio's Prediction Market Preemption Battle

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is playing a significant part in two cases involving Kalshi before the Third Circuit and the Southern District of Ohio, the latest in a growing string of court battles regarding which regulations govern prediction markets that will have notable consequences on sports gambling nationwide, say attorneys at BakerHostetler.


1st Circ. Offers Diversity Jurisdiction Lessons For Assignees

A recent First Circuit opinion in Gore v. SLSCO, dismissing a case after years of litigation, serves as a cautionary tale about what can go wrong if an assignee has not alleged sufficient facts to demonstrate there is complete diversity jurisdiction, says Ray Gauvreau at Robinson & Cole.


Motorola Ruling Solidifies Discretionary Authority Of USPTO

The Federal Circuit's latest ruling in In re: Motorola Solutions Inc. underscores the finality and discretionary nature of the finality of Patent Trial and Appeal Board institution decisions, and clarifies that neither interim guidance nor shifting administrative policy creates substantive rights for petitioners, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.


How Banks Can Pilot Token Services As Fed Mulls Reforms

While the Federal Reserve explores streamlined payment accounts and other reforms aimed at digital asset infrastructure, banks and payment companies seeking to launch stablecoin services must apply the same rigor they use for cards or automated clearinghouse, says Christopher Boone at Venable.


What Developers Must Know About PJM Grid Connection Plan

As PJM Interconnection, the nation's largest grid operator, reforms its interconnection process in an effort to accelerate capacity expansion amid surging demand, developers interested in PJM's new expedited track should anticipate significant up-front costs, and plan carefully to minimize delays that could jeopardize project completion, say attorneys at King & Spalding.


How Marsy's Law Has Been Applied In Unexpected Ways

Since Marsy’s Law was first passed in California 17 years ago, 12 states have passed similar laws to protect crime victims’ rights, but recent developments show that it’s being applied in ways that its original proponents may never have anticipated — with implications for all legal practitioners, says Tom Jones at Berk Brettler.


UK Getty Ruling Tests Balance Of IP Rights And AI Industry

The recent Getty Images v. Stability AI High Court decision, rejecting copyright claims while upholding limited trademark infringement, will influence the creative community and U.K. artificial intelligence industry alike, and the training of AI models in the U.K. is still a risk, say lawyers at Powell Gilbert.


Series

The Law Firm Merger Diaries: Making The Case To Combine

When making the decision to merge, law firm leaders must factor in strategic alignment, cultural compatibility and leadership commitment in order to build a compelling case for combining firms to achieve shared goals and long-term success, says Kevin McLaughlin at UB Greensfelder.


Key Risks For Cos. As MAHA Influences Food Regulation

As the Make America Healthy Again movement alters state and federal legislative and regulatory priorities, measures targeting ultra-processed foods, front-of-package labeling requirements and restrictions on schools are creating new compliance and litigation risks for food and beverage manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, retailers and digital advertisers, say attorneys at Kelley Drye.



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Special Series


My Hobby Makes Me A Better Lawyer

In this Expert Analysis series, attorneys share how their unusual extracurricular activities enhance professional development, providing insights and pointers that translate to the office, courtroom and beyond.




Adapting To Private Practice

In this Expert Analysis series, attorneys who have made the move from government work to private practice in the last few years reflect on how they transitioned to law firm life, and discuss tips for others.




Opinion


Despite Deputy AG Remarks, DOJ Can't Sideline DC Bar

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s recent suggestion that the D.C. Bar would be prevented from reviewing misconduct complaints about U.S. Department of Justice attorneys runs contrary to federal statutes, local rules and decades of case law, and sends the troubling message that federal prosecutors are subject to different rules, say attorneys at HWG.

Punitive Damages Awards Should Be Limited To 1st Instance

Recent verdicts in different cases against Johnson & Johnson and Monsanto showcase a trend of multiple punitive damages being awarded to different plaintiffs for the same course of conduct by a single defendant, a practice that should be deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, says Jacob Mihm at Polales Horton.



Access to Justice Perspectives


3 Ways To Boost Access To Justice In NYC Small Claims Court

The New York City Small Claims Court is a critical venue for pro se litigants seeking civil justice, but the system is under strain, and three practical reforms are needed to help strengthen fairness, consistency and access, says Charles Montorio-Archer at the New York City Civil Court.