Public Policy

  • May 07, 2025

    Trump's Legal Battles

    States, federal employee unions, various advocacy groups and several individuals have filed over 220 lawsuits challenging the Trump administration's implementation of executive orders and other initiatives. Law360 has created a database of those lawsuits, separated into categories based on their subject matter.

  • May 08, 2025

    Conn. High Court Snapshot: Rehab Permit And Towing Tiff

    The Connecticut Supreme Court, in its upcoming term, will consider whether an existing substance abuse treatment center has the right to challenge the opening of a competitor nearby, and determine if a murder suspect is owed a new trial over an allegedly botched jury poll.

  • May 08, 2025

    McCarter & English Partner To Be Picked As US Atty In Conn.

    Hartford-based McCarter & English LLP partner David X. Sullivan will be nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut, his law firm confirmed to Law360 on Thursday.

  • May 08, 2025

    DOJ Civil Rights Appellate Leader Joins Crowell & Moring

    Crowell & Moring LLP hired the acting deputy chief of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division's Appellate Section as a senior counsel who will be based in Washington focusing on a range of higher education matters, the firm announced Thursday.

  • May 08, 2025

    FERC Says Grid Upgrade Bill For Solar Farm Was Justified

    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission defended its decision to affirm a regional transmission operator's assignment of $311 million in upgrade costs for a Texas solar farm to connect to the grid, telling the D.C. Circuit studies of the project's impacts were sound.

  • May 08, 2025

    Ala. Legislature OKs TCJA Research Expense Decoupling

    Alabama would decouple from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act by allowing research expenses to be deducted from a taxpayer's income under a bill sent to the governor. 

  • May 08, 2025

    Tenn. Hotel Operators To Stop Collecting Tax After 30 Days

    Tennessee will require hotel operators to stop collecting occupancy taxes from people who stay for more than 30 days under a bill signed by the governor.

  • May 08, 2025

    Trump Replaces Martin With Pirro As US Atty Pick

    President Donald Trump said Thursday he would withdraw the nomination of Ed Martin for U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, replacing him with former judge and Fox News host Jeanine Pirro.

  • May 08, 2025

    Wash. Justices Uphold Ban On Large-Capacity Gun Magazines

    The Washington State Supreme Court on Thursday said that a state law banning the sale of large-capacity magazines for firearms was constitutional, in an opinion that said the law was not in conflict with recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings expanding gun rights.

  • May 07, 2025

    9th Circ. Judge Suggests Sidelining Peers To Curb Injunctions

    With the U.S. Supreme Court set for a seminal showdown over nationwide injunctions, observers are advocating wide-ranging outcomes, and a Ninth Circuit judge entered the fray Wednesday by proposing that district judges be blackballed for blatant overreach or perceived bias.

  • May 07, 2025

    Judge Seeks Details On U.S.-El Salvador Detainee Deal

    A D.C. federal judge on Wednesday said the Trump administration would have to turn over more information about its arrangement with El Salvador to imprison alleged Venezuelan gang members deported under the Alien Enemies Act, as he considers whether they should be returned to the United States.

  • May 07, 2025

    Fla. City Residents' Suit Over Corroded Water Pipes Revived

    A Florida state appellate court on Wednesday reinstated a proposed class action alleging negligence against the city of Miramar and a consultant over improperly treated tap water that led to damaged pipes in homes, saying the complaint sufficiently claimed the city assumed a duty to make sure water wasn't corrosive.

  • May 07, 2025

    HUD Blocked From Withholding Grants Over DEI Policies

    A Washington federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from forcing New York City, Boston, San Francisco and Seattle's county to adhere to policies against diversity, equity and inclusion or risk losing federal funds for homeless services, saying the strings attached are likely unconstitutional.

  • May 07, 2025

    Calif. Tribe Says State's Overcharges Void Gaming Compact

    A California tribe is asking a federal court to declare that its gaming compact is unenforceable, arguing that it has paid millions more into special funding programs than the state's actual annual cost of regulating its Class III gaming operations.

  • May 07, 2025

    Texas AG Warns Chinese Cos. To Get In Step With Privacy Law

    The Texas attorney general has informed Alibaba, CapCut, TP-Link and several other companies with ties to the Chinese government that they have 30 days to remedy alleged violations of the state's comprehensive data privacy law or face "additional legal action," marking the latest escalation of the agency's privacy enforcement efforts.

  • May 07, 2025

    USPTO Official Says 13% Of APJs Have Left Under Trump

    The Patent Trial and Appeal Board has lost about 30 administrative patent judges and 20 staff members as the Trump administration is providing incentives to leave the government, Chief Administrative Patent Judge Scott Boalick said Wednesday.

  • May 07, 2025

    Senate Backs Bid To Scrap Biden-Era OCC Bank Merger Rule

    Senators voted Wednesday to repeal the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's Biden-era revamp of its bank merger review standards, advancing an effort to undo a rule that banks criticized as creating more complication and uncertainty for their deals.

  • May 07, 2025

    Google Is 'What's Best' For Users, Apple Exec Tells Judge

    A top Apple executive forcibly defended the company's pick for its default search engine Wednesday, telling a D.C. federal judge that Google is the only real option, as the U.S. Justice Department looks to ban Google from paying the iPhone maker and others for default search engine placement.

  • May 07, 2025

    Illinois Seeks Exit From Suit Over Demographic Data Law

    Illinois asked a federal judge to toss a lawsuit brought by a group called the American Alliance for Equal Rights that seeks to block the state from enforcing a law requiring nonprofits to publicize their demographic data, saying the organization has no standing to bring the claims.

  • May 07, 2025

    Patent Examiners Tell GAO Quantity Beats Quality

    Patent examiners at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office feel like they're pressured to sacrifice patent quality in the interest of getting more patents out the door, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released Wednesday exploring what it called "persistent examination and quality challenges" at the agency.

  • May 07, 2025

    Texas Bill May Limit Full Redress For Personal Injury Victims

    A Texas bill aimed at reining in allegedly excessive jury awards granted to personal injury victims would be a boon for insurance companies, but it may threaten victims' ability to get full compensation for the consequences of another party's negligence.

  • May 07, 2025

    GSA Launches Website For Overhaul Of Federal Procurements

    The General Services Administration has launched a new web page dedicated to the Trump administration's efforts to overhaul the Federal Acquisition Regulation, or FAR, which is the main set of rules used to govern federal acquisitions.

  • May 07, 2025

    Feds Seek Ax Of Haiti, Venezuela TPS Vacatur Challenge

    The Trump administration has called on a Massachusetts federal judge to dismiss litigation brought by immigrants from Haiti and Venezuela seeking to block the government from vacating their temporary protected status, saying the court lacks jurisdiction over their claims.

  • May 07, 2025

    DOJ, FTC Seek Public Input On Live Event Ticketing Abuses

    The U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission announced Wednesday they are seeking input from the public about potential abuses in the live ticketing industry, which comes after President Donald Trump's March executive order that looks to enforce "transparency at all stages of the ticket-purchase process."

  • May 07, 2025

    OCC Affirms Banks' Crypto Custody, Execution Capabilities

    The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency on Wednesday made clear that banks can buy and sell crypto on behalf of their customers and outsource custody services to third parties, reaffirming a stance the regulator first took in 2020.

Expert Analysis

  • Preparing For Tariffs On Canadian Power In The Northeast

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    The on-again, off-again risk of import and export tariffs on energy transactions between the U.S. and Canada may have repercussions for U.S. energy stakeholders in the ISO New England and New York Independent System Operator electricity markets — but there are options that could help reduce cost impacts, say attorneys at Husch Blackwell.

  • How Calif.'s Wildfire Insurance Crisis Might Affect Texas

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    Attorneys at Munsch Hardt examine the implications of California's wildfire insurance crisis for Texas, including potential shifts in coverage availability, regulatory differences and how the insurers in the second-largest U.S. state may react to a major wildfire event.

  • New SEC Guidance May Change How Investors, Cos. Talk

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent updates to the Schedules 13D and G compliance and disclosure interpretations may mean large institutional investors substantially curtail the feedback they provide companies about their voting intentions in connection with shareholder meetings, which could result in negative voting outcomes for companies, say attorneys at Cleary.

  • 4 Key Payments Trends For White Collar Attys

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    As the payments landscape continues to innovate and the new administration looks to expand the role of digital currency in the American economy, white collar practitioners should be aware of several key issues in this space, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.

  • Calif. Antitrust Bill Could Alter Enforcement Landscape

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    If enacted, a recently proposed California bill that would strengthen the state’s antitrust law could signal a notable shift in the U.S. enforcement environment, but questions remain about the types of cases the state could pursue, whether other states will follow suit and more, say attorneys at DLA Piper.

  • Series

    Performing Stand-Up Comedy Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Whether I’m delivering a punchline on stage or a closing argument in court, balancing stand-up comedy performances and my legal career has demonstrated that the keys to success in both endeavors include reading the room, landing the right timing and making an impact, says attorney Rebecca Palmer.

  • Opinion

    Upholding Tribal Sovereignty Benefits US And Indian Country

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    The Trump administration's broad moves to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs are negatively affecting many tribal programs, but supporting tribal sovereignty would serve the federal government's deregulatory goals and ensure that tribes have the resources they need, says Ellen Grover at BB&K.

  • Constitutional Foundations Of Gov't-Guaranteed Investments

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    For attorneys advising clients with exposure to government-backed investments, understanding the constitutional guardrails on presidential impoundment offers essential guidance for risk assessment, contract strategy and litigation planning, says Mauni Jalali at Quinn Emanuel.

  • Investor Essentials For Buying Federally Owned Property

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    Investors and developers can take advantage of the Trump administration's plan to sell government-owned real estate by becoming familiar with the process and eligible to bid, and should prepare to move quickly once the U.S. General Services Administration posts the list of properties for sale, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

  • How 2025 Is Shaping The Future Of Bank Mergers So Far

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    Whether the long-anticipated great wave of consolidation in the U.S. banking industry will finally arrive in 2025 remains to be seen, but the conditions for bank mergers are more favorable now than they have been in years, say attorneys at Skadden.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From SEC To BigLaw

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    As I adjusted to the multifaceted workflow of a BigLaw firm after leaving the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, working side by side with new colleagues on complex matters proved the fastest way to build a deep rapport and demonstrate my value, says Jennifer Lee at Jenner & Block.

  • What's Old And New In The CFTC's Self-Reporting Advisory

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    Attorneys at Blank Rome analyze the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's recent advisory that aims to provide clarity on self-reporting violations of the Commodity Exchange Act, and review whether market participants should shift their thinking — or not — when it comes to cooperation with the CFTC.

  • Weathering Policy Zig-Zags In Gov't Contracting Under Trump

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    To succeed amid the massive shift in federal contracting policies heralded by President Donald Trump's return to office, contractors should be prepared for increased costs and enhanced False Claims Act enforcement, and to act swiftly to avail themselves of contractual remedies, says Jacob Scott at Smith Currie.

  • How Trump's Crypto Embrace Is Spurring Enforcement Reset

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent willingness to step away from ongoing enforcement investigations and actions underscores the changing regulatory landscape for crypto under the new administration, which now appears committed to working with stakeholders to develop a clearer regulatory framework, say attorneys at Sheppard Mullin.

  • After CEQ's Rollback, Fate Of NEPA May Be In Justices' Hands

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    The White House Council on Environmental Quality recently announced its intention to rescind its own National Environmental Policy Act regulations, causing additional burdens to existing NEPA challenges, and raising questions for regulated entities and federal agencies that may only be resolved by a pending U.S. Supreme Court case, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

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