Public Policy

January 02, 2026
Top Property Insurance Trends To Watch In 2026

Homeowners insurance investigations, a novel climate suit accusing oil majors of contributing to high premiums, and a California action accusing carriers of collusion are some of the top property insurance matters attorneys will be watching next year.
January 02, 2026
Malpractice Claims Are Timely, Pardoned Law Grad Argues

A Vanderbilt Law School graduate who alleges his former criminal defense attorneys convinced him to take an unjust plea deal for assault in 2009 told a Connecticut court that his legal malpractice claims couldn't have been brought before he received an absolute pardon in 2023 — and as such aren't time-barred.
January 02, 2026
AGs Get DOJ-HPE Docs, But Not Internal Gov't Comms

The U.S. Department of Justice and Hewlett Packard Enterprise must produce all the communications between them discussing the settlement resolving a DOJ merger challenge, a California federal judge ruled Wednesday, giving a coalition of Democratic attorneys general an important but not unlimited peak into the controversial deal.
January 02, 2026
Mass. Home Rightly Valued As Completed, Board Says

A Massachusetts home cannot have its property value lowered despite the homeowner's assertion that the home was not fully built at the time of the assessment, the state tax board ruled.
January 02, 2026
Hilton Hotel Tax Valuation Rightly Cut, Minn. Justices Told

Minnesota's tax court was correct in reducing the tax valuations of a Hilton hotel and convention center, which included a $70 million drop in one year, the property owner told the Minnesota Supreme Court.
January 02, 2026
Court Reverses TPS Terminations Over DHS Procedural Errors

A California federal court has vacated Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's termination of temporary protected status for immigrants from Honduras, Nicaragua and Nepal, finding that she failed to consult other agencies and conduct an objective review of conditions inside those countries.
January 02, 2026
Rapist Had Felony History When Bar Hired Him, Suit Says

A woman has sued the Cask 'n Flagon, a landmark Boston bar near Fenway Park, for $15 million in Massachusetts state court, alleging it ignored or missed an employee's past conviction for violent crimes when it hired him in 2022, shortly before he sexually assaulted the woman inside a restroom.
January 02, 2026
Calif. ABS Fee Sharing Ban Cleared To Kick Off In 2026

A new California law banning alternative business structure fee sharing with out-of-state law firms owned by nonattorneys has been allowed to go into effect after a Los Angeles federal court rejected an attorney's bid to temporarily block its enforcement ahead of the new year.
January 02, 2026
Fla. Justices Reject Atty Vacancy Proposal Backed By AG

The Supreme Court of Florida has rejected a proposal from the attorney general's office to allow out-of-state lawyers to work in some state government roles, despite the support it got from the governor's office and others.
January 02, 2026
Banking Regulation To Watch In 2026

The Trump administration is on the cusp of a pivotal year as it presses ahead in its sweeping push to reset banking regulation, with an agency funding fight, supervisory overhauls, crypto chartering and more all poised for significant developments.
January 02, 2026
Banking Litigation To Watch In 2026

From a U.S. Supreme Court fight over the Federal Reserve to clashes over state regulatory power, in-house enforcement and the fate of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a slate of high-stakes lawsuits could shake up the banking landscape in the coming year.
January 02, 2026
Trump Delays Cabinet, Furniture Tariff Hikes Until 2027

President Donald Trump delayed a set of tariff hikes on imported derivative lumber products earlier this week that were scheduled to rise Thursday for another year.
January 02, 2026
Ind. House Bill Would Allow Municipal Tax On Shorter Rentals

Indiana would authorize municipalities to impose an innkeeper's tax on the rental of rooms and other accommodations in hotels and motels for less than 30 days under a bill filed in the state House of Representatives.
January 02, 2026
IRS Floats Updates To Fee Paid By Brand Drugmakers

The Internal Revenue Service floated updates to regulations governing how branded prescription drug manufacturers or importers should calculate an annual fee established by the Affordable Care Act, a move the agency said aims to incorporate changes in drug discount programs and clarify tax reporting.
January 02, 2026
The Top Sports & Betting Cases To Watch In 2026

As attorneys prepare for a busy year of sports cases centering on antitrust, labor laws and prediction markets, all eyes are sure to be locked on the U.S. Supreme Court, which will decide the fate of two state laws banning transgender girls and women from competing in female sports.
January 02, 2026
All Eyes On 2026 Elections As Ga. Lawmakers Get Into Gear

Georgia lawmakers are expected to move on from the heavyweight fight over tort reform that stole the stage last year and set their sights on elections slated for November when they return to Atlanta this month, experts told Law360.
January 02, 2026
Drug Pricing Battles To Watch In 2026

With drugmakers already pushing back on drug affordability programs and policies, Law360 looks at the year ahead for litigation focused on state and federal drug pricing programs.
January 02, 2026
Approach The Bench: What Judges Had To Say In 2025

Jurists discussed their strategies for decision-making, the difficulties of case management, and their predictions for the future of litigation in a dozen interviews with Law360 this year.
January 02, 2026
5 Cases In Georgia To Keep An Eye On In 2026

Attorneys in Georgia will be watching several legal battle battles involving hot-button issues in the new year, including a suit over gender-affirming healthcare in state prisons, multidistrict litigation seeking to hold Meta and others liable for alleged social media addiction and a bid by the U.S. Justice Department to obtain 2020 election records. Here is look at five cases to follow in 2026.
January 02, 2026
5 Policy Areas Benefits Attys Should Keep Tabs On In 2026

The new year promises policy shifts that could change the legal landscape for health and retirement benefits, including action to follow through on an executive order encouraging alternative assets in 401(k) plans, and a potential replacement for a Biden-era rule covering how retirement plan managers can factor environmental and social issues into their investment strategy. Here are five policy areas benefits attorneys will be watching in 2026.
January 02, 2026
Copyright & Trademark Policy And Trends To Watch In 2026

Intellectual property attorneys are waiting to see if the U.S. Copyright Office releases an additional report on artificial intelligence and are curious if the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office continues to speed up its handling of trademark applications. Here are Law360's picks for the copyright and trademark policies and trends to watch this year.
January 02, 2026
Patent Litigation Trends To Watch In 2026

Attorneys are expecting a significant increase in district court litigation after a series of dramatic changes at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office have made the Patent Trial and Appeal Board less attractive, which is one of the most significant trends for 2026.
January 02, 2026
DC Circuit Cases To Watch In January

The D.C. Circuit will start the New Year hearing several noteworthy cases, including a challenge to the Trump administration's transgender troop ban and a fight over whether two common "forever" chemicals qualify as hazardous materials under the Superfund law.
January 02, 2026
Trademark Cases To Watch In 2026

An appeal over the use of foreign words in branding is up for consideration at the U.S. Supreme Court, and a Delaware federal judge is set to deliver his verdict following a bench trial over the "Ugliest House in America." Here are Law360's picks for the trademark cases to watch in 2026.
January 02, 2026
Antitrust Cases Ahead: Live Nation, Middleman On Trial

The U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission enter 2026 with decisions to make about how to regroup after coming up short in major cases against Google and Meta Platforms.

Editor's Picks

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.

Expert Analysis

3 Securities Litigation Trends To Watch In 2026

Pending federal appellate cases suggest that 2026 will be a significant year for securities litigation, with long-standing debates about class certification, new questions about the risks and value of artificial intelligence features, and private plaintiffs' growing role in cryptocurrency enforcement likely to be major themes, say attorneys at Willkie.
5 Tariff And Trade Developments To Watch In 2026

A new trade landscape emerged in 2025, the contours of which will be further defined by developments that will merit close attention this year, including a key ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court and a review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, says Ted Posner at Baker Botts.
What 2025 Enforcement Actions Show About FERC's Priorities

A review of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's 2025 enforcement record suggests that this year, the commission will persist in holding market participants to their commitments, and continue active market surveillance and close cooperation with market monitors, says Ruta Skucas at Crowell & Moring.
Employment Immigration Trends And Challenges For 2026

U.S. companies competing for global talent should brace for a turbulent 2026, with greater compliance burdens, higher costs and the probability of workforce disruptions at every stage of the immigration process, from visa petitions to work authorization renewals, say attorneys at Duane Morris.
Top 5 Antitrust Issues For In-House Counsel To Watch In 2026

With Trump administration enforcement policy having largely taken shape last year, antitrust issues that in-house counsel should have on the radar range from scrutiny of technology-assisted pricing to the return of merger remedies, say attorneys at Squire Patton.
Funding Haze And Deregulatory Pursuits: The CFPB In 2026

In 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau did not seek additional funding from the Federal Reserve and unwound the legacy of former bureau leadership, and this year will bring further efforts to rescind or rewrite bureau regulations, as well as a changed tone to supervision efforts, say attorneys at Covington.
4 Developments That Defined The 2025 Ethics Landscape

The legal profession spent 2025 at the edge of its ethical comfort zone as courts, firms and regulators confronted how fast-moving technologies and new business models collide with long-standing professional duties, signaling that the profession is entering a period of sustained disruption that will continue into 2026, says Hilary Gerzhoy at HWG Law.
5 Trade Secret Developments To Follow In 2026

Watch for major developments in trade secret law this year, especially as courts clarify the reach of U.S. law internationally, the availability of trade secret damages and more, say attorneys at Faegre Drinker.
Navigating AI In The Legal Industry

As artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly integral part of legal practice, Law360 guest commentary this year examined evolving ethical obligations, how the plaintiffs bar is using AI to level the playing field against corporate defense teams, and the attendant risks of adoption.
How 2026 NDAA May Ease Entry To Defense Contracting

Reforms to implement a warfighting acquisition system included in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, signed on Dec. 18, are likely to reduce the burdens, risks and barriers that have previously impeded nontraditional defense contractors, say attorneys at Haynes Boone.
Regulatory Rollback And Lingering Limbo: The CFPB In 2025

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has implemented significant changes since President Donald Trump took office in January, including dismissing actions with prejudice, withdrawing guidance and rescinding rules, casting the bureau in uncertain light heading into 2026, say attorneys at Mayer Brown.
Nuclear Power Pitfalls And Opportunities To Watch For In 2026

Shepherding nuclear power projects to completion requires navigating more risks and obligations than almost any other infrastructure undertaking, but with the right strategies, states, developers, vendors and contractors can overcome these hurdles in 2026 and beyond, say attorneys at Squire Patton.
2025 Calif. Banking Oversight Centered On Consumer Issues

The combination of statutory reform, registration mandates and enforcement activity in 2025 signals that California's financial regulatory landscape is focused on consumer protection, particularly in the areas of crypto kiosk fee practices, earned wage access providers and elder fraud, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.
A 6th Circ. Snapshot: 3 Cases That Defined 2025

With more than a thousand opinions issued this year, three rulings from the Sixth Circuit stood out for the impact they'll have on the practice of civil procedure, including a net neutrality decision, a class certification standards ruling and an opinion about vulgarity in school, say attorneys at Ice Miller.
Sports Gambling Scrutiny Expands Risks For Teams, Leagues

The Minnesota attorney general recently sent warning letters to 14 website operators for offering what the state considers illegal online gambling, demonstrating why the sports industry, including teams and leagues, should ask critical questions about organizational compliance, internal controls and potential criminal liability, say attorneys at Stinson.