Expert Analysis

• 5 Merger Deal Considerations In Light Of The New HSR Rules

  

  Now that the new Hart-Scott-Rodino Act rules are in effect, current priorities include earlier preparation for merging parties, certain confidentiality covenants, and key elements of letters of intent and term sheets, say attorneys at Fried Frank.

• What FERC Scrutiny Of Directors, Assets Means For Investors

  

  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has recently paid dramatically increased attention to appointments of power company directors by investors, and ownership of vertical assets that provide inputs for electric power production and sale — so investors in FERC-regulated entities should be paying more attention to these matters as well, say attorneys at Day Pitney.

• Opinion

  Antitrust Analysis In Iowa Pathologist Case Misses The Mark

  

  An Iowa federal court erred in its recent decision in Goldfinch Laboratory v. Iowa Pathology Associates by focusing exclusively on market impacts and sidestepping key questions that should be central to antitrust standing analysis, says Daniel Graulich at Baker McKenzie.

• Anticipating Calif. Oversight Of PE Participation In Healthcare

  

  A new bill recently introduced in the California Senate revives last year's attempt to increase oversight of healthcare transactions involving private equity groups and hedge funds, meaning that attorneys may soon need to assess the compliance status of existing management relationships and consider modifying contract terms, says Andrew Demetriou at Husch Blackwell.

• When Reincorporation Out Of Del. Isn't A Good Idea

  

  While recent high-profile corporate moves out of Delaware have prompted discussion about the benefits of incorporation elsewhere, for many, remaining in the First State may be the right decision due to its deep body of business law, tradition of nonjury trials and other factors, say attorneys at Goodwin.

• New HSR Rules Augur A Deeper Antitrust Review By Agencies

  

  After some initial uncertainty, the new Hart-Scott-Rodino Act rules did go into effect last month, and though their increased information requirements create greater initial burdens for merging parties, the rules should lead to greater certainty and predictability through a more efficient and effective review process, says Craig Malam at Edgeworth Economics.

• Why Acquirers Should Reevaluate Federal Contract Risk

  

  Long thought of as a stable investment, the scale with which the Trump administration is attempting to eliminate federal contracts is unprecedented, and acquirer considerations should include the size and scope of all active and pending government contracts of target companies, say attorneys at Winston & Strawn.

• Opinion

  SEC Defense Bar Should Pursue Sanctions Flexibility Now

  

  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission defense bar has an opening under the new administration to propose flexible, tailored sanctions that can substantially remediate misconduct and prevent future wrongdoing instead of onerous penalties, which could set sanctions precedent for years to come, says Josh Hess at BCLP.

• 7 Tips For Associates To Thrive In Hybrid Work Environments

  Excerpt from Practical Guidance

  

  As the vast majority of law firms have embraced some type of hybrid work policy, associates should consider a few strategies to get the most out of both their in-person and remote workdays, says James Argionis at Cozen O’Connor.

• Series

  Playing Beach Volleyball Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  My commitment to beach volleyball has become integral to my performance as an attorney, with the sport continually reminding me that teamwork, perseverance, professionalism and stress management are essential to both undertakings, says Amy Drushal at Trenam.

• How Law Firms Can Counteract The Loneliness Epidemic

  

  The legal industry is facing an urgent epidemic of loneliness, affecting lawyer well-being, productivity, retention and profitability, and law firm leaders should take concrete steps to encourage the development of genuine workplace connections, says Michelle Gomez at Littler and Gwen Mellor Romans at Herald Talent.

• Opinion

  DOJ's HPE-Juniper Challenge Is Not Rooted In Law

  

  Legal precedents that date back as far as 1990 demonstrate that the U.S. Department of Justice's recent challenge to the proposed $14 billion merger between Hewlett Packard and Juniper is misplaced because no evidence of collusion or coordinated conduct exists, says Thomas Stratmann at George Mason University.

• 5 Keys To Building Stronger Attorney-Client Relationships

  

  Attorneys are often focused on being seen as the expert, but bonding with clients and prospects by sharing a few key personal details provides the basis for a caring, trusted and profoundly deeper business relationship, says Deb Feder at Feder Development.

• How Rising Secondary Private Markets Affect Tech Disputes

  

  The rise of secondaries is a natural by-product of growing and evolving private markets and, as such, we can expect their growth will continue, signaling an increase in the use of secondaries in damages as well as litigation revolving around secondaries themselves, says Farooq Javed at The Brattle Group.

• How The AI Antitrust Landscape Might Evolve Under Trump

  

  The Trump administration's early actions around artificial intelligence and antitrust policy, along with statements from competition regulators, suggest that the AI competition landscape may see reduced scrutiny around acquisitions, but not an entirely hands-off enforcement approach, say attorneys at Hogan Lovells.