Public Policy

  • October 10, 2025

    Conn. AG Nets Bid-Rigging Deal With Moving Companies

    Two Connecticut moving and storage companies have settled an investigation into allegations that they conspired to rig their bids on a state contract, agreeing to make a collective payment and adopt antitrust compliance programs, according to a Friday announcement from the attorney general's office.

  • October 10, 2025

    Prosecutors, Ex-AT&T Exec To Resolve Bribery Case With DPA

    A former AT&T executive will not be retried on charges that he bribed ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan early next year as planned, as his attorneys and prosecutors told an Illinois federal judge that they've agreed to resolve the matter with a deferred prosecution agreement.

  • October 10, 2025

    FCC Pushes For New Rules To Help Retire Copper

    The Federal Communications Commission plans to weigh a proposal this month to accelerate the transition to networks that rely on internet protocol rather than copper for voice services.

  • October 10, 2025

    Biz Groups, GOP Reps Ask Justices To Sink Colo. Climate Suit

    Business groups and over 100 Republican lawmakers are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a decision by Colorado's top court allowing Boulder's climate change tort against Exxon Mobil Corp. and Suncor Energy Inc. to proceed in state court.

  • October 10, 2025

    NY State Courts Release AI Rules For Judges, Staff

    The New York State Court System on Friday released an interim policy on the use of artificial intelligence software by judges and staff, which goes into effect immediately and remains subject to change.

  • October 10, 2025

    Bill Would Let Judges, Prosecutors Carry Concealed Guns

    Two Republicans have introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate that would allow current and retired federal judges and state, local and federal prosecutors to carry concealed firearms in response to increasing concerns about judicial security.

  • October 10, 2025

    Mass. AG Says Robinhood Suit Can't Halt Enforcement Action

    Massachusetts regulators say Robinhood is trying to make an "end run" around their efforts to enforce the Bay State's sports betting laws, in a motion asking a judge to toss the financial services platform's lawsuit against the state.

  • October 10, 2025

    NJ Senate President Calls For Monitor Of State AG Unit

    New Jersey Senate President Nicholas Scutari on Friday called for the appointment of an independent monitor to oversee the state's Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, saying it has been troubled with failed prosecutions, botched investigations and misconduct.

  • October 10, 2025

    SEC Guidance Aims To Ease IPO Process During Shutdown

    As the federal government shutdown lingers, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has updated its guidance to advise companies on how they can still move forward with initial public offerings.

  • October 10, 2025

    Edward Jones Fined $100K For 'Unreasonable' Commissions

    Edward D. Jones & Co. LP has entered into a consent order with Connecticut's banking regulator, agreeing to pay a $100,000 fine and about $73,000 in restitution for charging "unreasonable" commissions to retail brokerage customers in the state.

  • October 10, 2025

    Oklahoma, Tribes Clash Over Hunting, Fishing Sovereignty

    Oklahoma's Indigenous nations are speaking out against a state Department of Wildlife Conservation directive that says its game wardens will continue to enforce state law and cite anyone in violation, regardless of tribal citizenship.

  • October 09, 2025

    9th Circ. Changes Stance On Appeals Of Anti-SLAPP Denials

    The full Ninth Circuit on Thursday held that denials of California anti-SLAPP motions can no longer be appealed in the midst of litigation, diverging from 22-year-old circuit precedent and finding that such orders aren't immediately appealable because they don't resolve issues "completely separate from the merits."

  • October 09, 2025

    Bessent Touts Trump's 'Community Bank Comeback' Agenda

    U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday pledged a wide-ranging regulatory push to spur a "community bank comeback," previewing plans that include easing capital rules, updating anti-money laundering standards and supporting expanded deposit insurance.

  • October 09, 2025

    Paxton Can Move To Close Houston Nonprofit, Panel Says

    Texas appellate court justices on Thursday said Attorney General Ken Paxton can initiate legal proceedings to take away an immigrant-led nonprofit's corporate charter and tax-exempt status, noting his allegations claiming it failed to comply with its purpose by engaging in political activities show there's probable ground to proceed. 

  • October 09, 2025

    Musk's X Posts Trigger Disclosure In NYT Suit, Judge Rules

    The government must produce a list of any security clearances granted to Elon Musk in response to The New York Times' Freedom of Information Act request, a Manhattan federal judge ruled, saying the billionaire waived his privacy interest by posting about his top secret clearance, drug use and foreign contacts.

  • October 09, 2025

    Judge Narrows Evidence Ahead Of Boeing 737 Max Trial

    A Washington federal judge on Thursday ruled on which evidence will be allowed in a Nov. 3 trial in LOT Polish Airlines' lawsuit against Boeing, in which LOT accuses the aerospace giant of tricking it into leasing defective 737 Max jets that were later grounded after two fatal crashes.

  • October 09, 2025

    Calif. Bans Some Ultraprocessed Foods In School Meals

    California Gov. Gavin Newsom Wednesday signed a first-in-the-nation bipartisan law that will slowly phase out and eventually ban ultraprocessed foods from public school meals by 2032, marking one of the most significant changes in the state's efforts to reform nutritional standards for children in the Golden State. 

  • October 09, 2025

    Senate Crypto Bill Weakens State Fraud Protection, Experts Say

    State regulators and legal experts are urging leaders of the Senate Banking Committee to overhaul their draft crypto market structure legislation on the grounds that the current text would weaken state power to police fraud and protect investors in crypto markets and beyond.

  • October 09, 2025

    Trade Court Upholds Malaysian Wind Tower Duties

    The U.S. Court of International Trade on Thursday upheld the federal government's antidumping review of a Malaysian wind tower exporter, finding the Commerce Department supported its decision to decline the company's recommendations in reaching a final duty rate.

  • October 09, 2025

    ICE Accused Of Warrantless Arrests In Colorado Suit

    Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and two directors with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were named in a proposed class action in Colorado federal court Thursday accusing immigration officials of making illegal, warrantless arrests of Colorado residents.

  • October 09, 2025

    US Wind Fights For Countersuit Against Offshore Project Foes

    US Wind Inc. is asking a Maryland federal court to allow it to proceed with claims against local governments and community, business and environmental groups that are challenging the approval of a wind energy project off the state's coastline.

  • October 09, 2025

    Feds Urge 9th Circ. To Allow Portland Troop Deployment

    A Ninth Circuit panel appeared split Thursday on the Trump administration's bid to preserve its ability to send Oregon National Guard members to Portland, with one judge suggesting the president's decision is entitled to deference and another panelist skeptical that the federal government would suffer harm if the deployment plan is tabled.

  • October 09, 2025

    Feds' E-Verify System Resumes Operation During Shutdown

    The federal E-Verify system for employers to check people's eligibility to work in the U.S. has resumed operation, a little over a week after it went offline with the start of the ongoing government shutdown.

  • October 09, 2025

    House Republican Wants Pentagon Spectrum 'Veto' Scrapped

    A key House Republican on telecom issues said Thursday he would oppose a provision tacked onto this year's defense policy bill in the U.S. Senate that could give the U.S. Department of Defense a "veto" over sharing certain spectrum bands with commercial users. 

  • October 09, 2025

    2 NLRB Picks Advance, 1 Member Nom Stalls

    The U.S. Senate labor committee on Thursday cleared two of the president's nominees to the National Labor Relations Board — including the general counsel pick whose nomination appeared stalled — but withheld a third whose ties to Boeing drew criticism at his confirmation hearing last week.

Expert Analysis

  • State Crypto Regs Diverge As Federal Framework Dawns

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    Following the Genius Act's passage, states like California, New York and Wyoming are racing to set new standards for crypto governance, creating both opportunity and risk for digital asset firms as innovation flourishes in some jurisdictions while costly friction emerges in others, say attorneys at Sheppard Mullin.

  • How 2nd Circ. Cannabis Ruling Upends NY Licensing

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    A recent Second Circuit decision in Variscite NY Four v. New York, holding that New York's extra-priority cannabis licensing preference for applicants with in-state marijuana convictions violates the dormant commerce clause, underscores that state-legal cannabis markets remain subject to the same constitutional constraints as other economic markets, say attorneys at Harris Beach.

  • Key Insurance Coverage Considerations For AI Data Centers

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    The burgeoning artificial intelligence industry has sparked a surge in data center projects — a trend likely to be accelerated by the White House's AI Action Plan — but with these complex facilities come equally complex risks, engendering important insurance coverage considerations, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • Parenting Skills That Can Help Lawyers Thrive Professionally

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    As kids head back to school, the time is ripe for lawyers who are parents to consider how they can incorporate their parenting skills to build a deep, meaningful and sustainable legal practice, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.

  • Unpacking The New Opportunity Zone Tax Incentive Program

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    The One Big Beautiful Bill Act brought several improvements to the opportunity zone tax incentive program that should boost investments in qualified funds, including making it permanent, increasing federal income tax benefits in rural areas, redesignating the qualified zones, and requiring more in-depth reporting, says Marc Schultz at Snell & Wilmer.

  • Series

    Teaching Trial Advocacy Makes Us Better Lawyers

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    Teaching trial advocacy skills to other lawyers makes us better litigators because it makes us question our default methods, connect to young attorneys with new perspectives and focus on the needs of the real people at the heart of every trial, say Reuben Guttman, Veronica Finkelstein and Joleen Youngers.

  • What New CFPB Oversight Limits Would Mean For 4 Markets

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    As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau continues to centralize its resources, proposals to alter the definition of larger market participants in the automobile financing, international money transfer, consumer reporting and consumer debt collection markets would reduce the scope of the bureau's oversight, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

  • MIT Bros.' Crypto Charges Provide Fraud Test Case For Gov't

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    As U.S. v. Peraire-Bueno, involving cryptocurrency fraud charges against brothers who graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, moves forward after surviving a motion to dismiss, the case provides an early example of how the government might use the federal fraud statutes to regulate decentralized networks, say attorneys at ArentFox Schiff.

  • Navigating Brazil's Regulations, Incentives For Green Projects

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    Brazil's evolving environmental regulatory framework and ongoing moves to attract international capital for climate-focused projects may appeal to U.S.-based companies and investors interested in sustainable development — but taking advantage of these opportunities requires careful planning and meaningful stakeholder engagement, says Milena Angulo at Guimarães.

  • Federal AI Action Plan Marks A Shift For Health And Bio Fields

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    The Trump administration's recent artificial intelligence action plan significantly expands federal commitments across biomedical agencies, defining a pivotal moment for attorneys and others involved in research collaborations, managing regulatory compliance and AI-related intellectual property, says Mehrin Masud-Elias at Arnold & Porter.

  • Potential Paths To Modernizing The Bank Secrecy Act

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    The Bank Secrecy Act's analog design has become increasingly incompatible with today's digital financial ecosystem, but legislative reforms, coupled with regulatory adjustments including updated thresholds, feedback mechanisms and innovation sandboxes, would help adjust the act to the unique challenges of modern technology, says Matthew Biben at King & Spalding.

  • Definitions Of 'Waters Of The United States' Ebb And Flow

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    The issue of defining whether "waters of the United States" include streams and channels that sometimes have water and sometimes do not has been fraught since the U.S. Supreme Court's 2006 Rapanos decision, but a possible new rule may help property owners stay out of court, says Neal McAliley at Carlton Fields.

  • Trump Tax Law's Most Impactful Energy Changes

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    The One Big Beautiful Bill Act's deferral of begin-construction deadlines and the phaseout of certain energy tax credits will provide emerging technologies with welcome breathing room, though other changes, like the increased credit rate for sustainable aviation fuel, create challenges for developers, say attorneys at Weil.

  • Texas Property Law Complicates Financing And Development

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    A new Texas law imposing expansive state-level restrictions on properties owned by entities from designated countries creates a major obstacle for some lenders, developers and other stakeholders, as well as new diligence requirements for foreign companies, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From Texas AUSA To BigLaw

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    As I learned when I transitioned from an assistant U.S. attorney to a BigLaw partner, the move from government to private practice is not without its hurdles, but it offers immense potential for growth and the opportunity to use highly transferable skills developed in public service, says Jeffery Vaden at Bracewell.

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