Public Policy

  • May 02, 2025

    DC Circ. Allows Feds To Halt Funding To Int'l Media Outlets

    A D.C. Circuit panel has paused a lower court order that restored federal grant funding to international broadcasters while leaving intact other aspects of a ruling preserving the agency that oversees Voice of America.

  • May 02, 2025

    A Look At Trump's Pick For The 6th Circuit

    President Donald Trump's first judicial nominee, Whitney Hermandorfer, who's been tapped for a seat Democrats tried to fill while Joe Biden was in the White House, has been part of litigation on several politically charged issues due to her job with the Tennessee Attorney General's office.

  • May 02, 2025

    Trump Proposes Billions In Cuts To EPA State Grant Programs

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would lose more than half of its funding compared with 2025 under the 2026 budget request released Friday by the Trump administration, with proposed cuts to drinking water infrastructure grants for states amounting to $2.4 billion. 

  • May 02, 2025

    With Lowell's New Firm, San Juan Bank Appeals NY Fed Loss

    Abbe Lowell — the high-profile litigator who on Friday announced he will launch a boutique firm aiming to aid with "politicized investigations" after exiting the partnership of Winston & Strawn LLP — will help handle a Puerto Rico bank's appeal of an order affirming the closure of its Federal Reserve master account by federal regulators.

  • May 02, 2025

    Civil Rights Groups Told They Can't Block Trump's DEI Orders

    A D.C. federal judge declined Friday to block executive orders from President Donald Trump canceling funding for diversity, equity and inclusion programs and contracts, ruling the orders haven't infringed on the missions of the three civil rights groups behind the suit beyond federally funded projects.

  • May 02, 2025

    Opening Upper C-Band Poses Air Safety Concerns, FCC Told

    The Federal Communications Commission needs to scrutinize how a plan to open the upper C-Band airwaves for commercial wireless would affect aircraft safety equipment before moving toward new rules, airline pilots said.

  • May 02, 2025

    US, China Battling Over Entrenched Economies, Experts Say

    Differing economic philosophies are contributing to the escalating trade war between the United States and China, according to professionals who follow the countries' relations, with the Chinese government's supply-side ideology rooted in exports and U.S. deficit spending driving demand for imports.

  • May 02, 2025

    Layoffs, Grant Cutoffs On Hold At Federal Library Agency

    Employees of the federal agency that provides grants and resources to public libraries can keep their jobs for now, with a federal judge in Washington, D.C., issuing a temporary restraining order blocking a mass layoff scheduled for May 4 from going into effect.

  • May 02, 2025

    More Crypto Easing For Banks Is 'Critical,' Trade Groups Say

    A coalition of Wall Street trade groups urged the executive branch to continue removing "barriers" limiting financial institutions from engaging with digital assets in a joint letter calling for uniform risk-management expectations over processes that require firms to clear their crypto activities with banking regulators ahead of time.

  • May 02, 2025

    Feds Urge Judge To Deny ACLU's Broader Injunction Request

    The Trump administration said a Washington, D.C., federal judge can't order the government to facilitate the return of Venezuelan nationals deported from the U.S. to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center "in a district in which none of the affected individuals are located."

  • May 02, 2025

    4 Mass. Rulings You May Have Missed In April

    Some notable Massachusetts state court decisions in April wrestled with a Staples affiliate's jurisdictional challenge in an employment case, a discovery dispute in the state's greenwashing litigation against Exxon involving McKinsey & Co., and an insurer's effort to be let off the hook for representing a lawyer in a malpractice claim.

  • May 02, 2025

    Pot Co. Drops Challenge To Mich. City's Licensing Scheme

    A would-be Michigan dispensary has dropped its suit alleging that the city of Auburn Hills violated a voter-approved ordinance by awarding a cannabis license to a company it had previously said didn't fit the criteria for one.

  • May 02, 2025

    Ad Tech Judge Mulls Possible Google Exchange Divestiture

    A Virginia federal judge expressed interest Friday in potentially forcing Google to divest a key piece of its advertising placement technology business, while voicing reservations with a U.S. Department of Justice proposal to also force another sale to address the search giant's ad tech monopoly.

  • May 02, 2025

    Trooper Guilty On Most Counts In Driver's License Scheme

    A former Massachusetts State Police trooper was convicted Friday on most counts in a case alleging he accepted bribes in exchange for giving passing scores on commercial driver's license exams.

  • May 02, 2025

    Conn. Exoneree Says Town Can't Escape $5.7M Jury Verdict

    A murder exoneree who spent three decades in prison has asked a federal judge to reject a Connecticut town's attempt to escape a $5.7 million evidence fabrication award, saying a limited post-verdict review weighs in his favor and that the town's prior Second Circuit loss supports his win.

  • May 02, 2025

    Trade War Spurs Companies To Freshen Disclosure Playbooks

    Against the backdrop of a protracted trade war that has rattled investors, companies are honing their securities filings and public communications strategies, posing fresh challenges for corporations and their lawyers, who are otherwise accustomed to navigating global disruptions.

  • May 02, 2025

    Mass. Board Knocks $36K Off Senior Condo's Tax Valuation

    A Massachusetts senior condominium unit was overvalued by $36,000, the state Appellate Tax Board ruled in an opinion released Friday, saying the owner's comparable sales analysis showed the property's valuation was inconsistent with the other properties.

  • May 02, 2025

    FCC Poised To Pull Plug On Thousands Of 'Inactive' Dockets

    The Federal Communications Commission's GOP leader said Friday the agency plans to shut down more than 2,000 regulatory dockets that have become outdated and "inactive."

  • May 02, 2025

    Groups Seek Order Halting Trump's Restructuring Of Gov't

    A California district court must stop federal agencies from moving ahead with President Donald Trump's directive to reorganize and terminate government workers, unions and other groups argued, calling for a temporary restraining order based on alleged harms from the administration's "radical restructuring."

  • May 02, 2025

    Emory Fired Palestinian Prof Over Gaza Posts, Bias Suit Says

    Emory University folded to pressure from an advocacy group and illegally fired a medical school professor for criticizing on social media Israel's treatment of Palestinian people, the ousted educator alleged Friday in Georgia federal court.

  • May 02, 2025

    Conn. AG Scuttles Nursing School Suit After $5M Student Deal

    The state of Connecticut has formally withdrawn an unfair trade practices lawsuit against defunct nursing school Stone Academy after the facility penned a $5 million deal for students and the state attorney general vowed not to seek additional penalties from the shuttered entity.

  • May 02, 2025

    DC Circ. Seems Unconvinced That Proxy Firms 'Solicit'

    An industry group's bid to revive a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rule regulating proxy advisory firms seemed to meet a skeptical D.C. Circuit panel on Friday, as the judges questioned whether those firms "solicit" proxy votes.

  • May 02, 2025

    Miner, Recreationists Look To Dissolve Chuckwalla Monument

    A miner and an advocacy group have asked a Michigan federal court to revoke the protected status of the Chuckwalla National Monument in a suit that takes aim at presidential power to protect vast areas of federal land.

  • May 02, 2025

    3rd Circ. Says County Judges Need Notice To Pull Probation

    The Third Circuit on Friday partly revived claims from criminal defendants who said they were jailed for alleged probation violations too hastily and too long by Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Judges Jill Rangos, Anthony Mariani and Kelly Bigley, but the split panel declined to require more than "probable cause" for someone to be returned to jail.

  • May 02, 2025

    Live Nation Antitrust Fight Won't Have Split Damages Phase

    A Manhattan federal judge declined Friday to break out a possible monetary damages phase in a suit by federal and state authorities accusing Live Nation of quashing competition in live entertainment, saying the move would be unlikely to streamline the complex case.

Expert Analysis

  • How Tariffs May Affect Proxy Contests This Season

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    While global tariffs imposed by the Trump administration will certainly chill at least some activity this proxy season, and make defending contests significantly easier, there will likely be many new activist investments once there is more economic certainty, meaning more proxy fights this fall, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • Running A Compliant DEI Program After EEOC, DOJ Guidance

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    Following recent guidance from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice that operationalized the Trump administration's focus on ending so-called illegal DEI, employers don't need to eliminate DEI programs, but they must ensure that protected characteristics are not considered in employment decisions, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

  • A Closer Look At New NYSE, Nasdaq Listing Rule Changes

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has recently approved changes to the New York Stock Exchange's and the Nasdaq's listing rules on reverse stock splits, minimum share price requirements and required liquidity for initial listings, meaning listed companies facing delisting will have fewer means to regain compliance, say attorneys at Cahill Gordon.

  • Opinion

    GENIUS Act Can Bring Harmony To Crypto-Banking Discord

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    ​​​​​​​By embracing crypto innovation while establishing appropriate guardrails, the so-called GENIUS Act charts a path forward that promotes financial inclusion and technological advancement without compromising stability or constitutional rights, says J.W. Verret at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School.

  • Opinion

    US Reassessment Of OECD Tax Deal Is Right Move

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    The wholesale U.S. reevaluation of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's global tax deal ordered by President Donald Trump is a positive step that could ultimately create a more durable international tax system, says Anne Gordon at the National Foreign Trade Council.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Be An Indispensable Associate

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    While law school teaches you to research, write and think critically, it often overlooks the professional skills you will need to make yourself an essential team player when transitioning from a summer to full-time associate, say attorneys at Stinson.

  • The Path Forward For Construction Cos. After Calif. Wildfires

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    The increasing frequency of disastrous wildfires, like those that recently occurred in California, presents a set of complex challenges for the construction industry, including regulatory hurdles and supply chain disruptions that can complicate rebuilding efforts, say attorneys at Cozen O'Connor.

  • What 2nd Trump Admin Means For Ship Pollution Compliance

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    As the second Trump administration's civil and criminal enforcement policies take shape, the maritime industry must ensure it complies with both national and international obligations to prevent oil pollution from seagoing vessels — with preventive efforts and voluntary disclosures being some of the best options for mitigating risk, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

  • Know The Rules And Costs Of New Fla. Condo Inspection Law

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    Following the first report deadline for a structural integrity law meant to prevent disasters like the 2021 Surfside collapse, Florida condominium associations and unit owners should understand the process of conducting compliant inspections and anticipate new assessments to fund required maintenance, say attorneys at Ball Janik.

  • Mass. AG Emerges As Key Player In Consumer Protection

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    Through enforcement actions and collaborations with other states — including joining a recent amicus brief decrying the defunding of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell has established herself as a thought leader for consumer protection and corporate accountability, say attorneys at Troutman Pepper.

  • SEC Confidential Review Process Provides Issuers Flexibility

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recently announced enhancements to the process for confidentially submitting draft registration statements will be immediately impactful for issuers seeking to access the public capital markets, and should provide more grounds to explore and plan public offerings, say attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler.

  • Series

    Birding Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Observing and documenting birds in their natural habitats fosters patience, sharpens observational skills and provides moments of pure wonder — qualities that foster personal growth and enrich my legal career, says Allison Raley at Arnall Golden.

  • What Pending FCPA Trials Suggest About DOJ Priorities

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    Following President Donald Trump's executive order in February instructing the U.S. Department of Justice to temporarily pause enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, developments surrounding five FCPA cases already set for trial provide a glimpse into how the DOJ is attempting to navigate the situation at hand, say attorneys at Covington.

  • Measuring And Mitigating Harm From Discriminatory Taxes

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    In response to new tariffs and other recent "America First Trade Policy" pronouncements, corporations should assess and take steps to minimize their potential exposure to discriminatory and reciprocal tax measures that are likely to come, say economists at Charles River Associates.

  • How Del. Law Rework Limits Corporate Records Requests

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    Newly enacted amendments to a section of the Delaware General Corporation Law that allows stockholders and beneficial owners to demand inspection of Delaware corporations' books and records likely curtails the scope of such inspections and aids defendants in framing motions to dismiss at the pleading stage, says Jonathan Richman at Brown Rudnick.

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