Public Policy

  • September 13, 2024

    Judiciary Panel Dems Endorse Amicus Funding Disclosure

    A plan to overhaul required financial disclosures in appellate amicus briefs has generated strong early reaction, including from two key congressional Democrats who endorsed the proposals.

  • September 13, 2024

    Panama's Ex-Prez Fights Alleged Wrongful Extradition

    Panama's ex-president told the Eleventh Circuit Friday that a lower court wrongly dismissed his lawsuit challenging the extradition to his home country, saying he has standing because the U.S. government violated an international treaty by sending him back to face criminal charges beyond the scope of the original request.

  • September 13, 2024

    NJ Gov. Signs Law To Limit Sale Of 'Intoxicating Hemp'

    New Jersey Governor Philip Murphy on Thursday signed a bill into law aimed at regulating the sale and distribution of intoxicating hemp products in the state, particularly those sold by unauthorized sellers and those sold to people under 21.

  • September 13, 2024

    9th Circ. Ruling Guts Religious Protections, Apaches Say

    The U.S. Supreme Court should stop the federal government from handing over a sacred tribal site in Arizona's Tonto National Forest to a copper mining joint venture owned by Rio Tinto and BHP, the San Carlos Apache Tribe argued, saying that the decision could pose an "existential threat" to Native Americans.

  • September 13, 2024

    Fed. Judges Urged To Stop Clerks From Seeking Political Jobs

    Federal judges should prohibit their law clerks from applying for postclerkship jobs with political organizations, as that may connect the judges' chambers to political activity, a judiciary committee said in ethics guidance issued this week. 

  • September 13, 2024

    16 State AGs Demand DOJ Probe Of Texas Voter Fraud Raids

    A group of 16 state attorneys general implored the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate recent raids by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office that were said to be connected to an election integrity investigation but reportedly targeted the Latino population, warning that Paxton risks "undermining the very elections he purports to want to protect."

  • September 13, 2024

    Trio Of BigLaw Mergers Expected To Drive More Deal Talks

    After months of a relatively steady pace of law firm mergers and acquisitions, the trio of proposed BigLaw tie-ups announced in recent days will likely spur more firms toward entertaining similar deal talks, experts say. Here, Law360 offers a snapshot of the proposed deals.

  • September 13, 2024

    DC Circ. Gives EPA Chance To Review Good Neighbor Plan

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will have a chance to review its Good Neighbor Plan in-house before litigating it further, according to a D.C. Circuit ruling granting the agency's request to remand the rule, so it could respond to issues raised by the U.S. Supreme Court.

  • September 13, 2024

    Mass. Justices Say Benefits Don't Accrue Under Leave Law

    Massachusetts' top court ruled Friday that the state's Paid Family and Medical Leave Act doesn't allow a group of state troopers to accrue certain benefits while on leave.

  • September 13, 2024

    Treasury Proposes Rules Defining Tax-Exempt Tribal Benefits

    Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service released proposed rules Friday that would define what qualifies as tribal welfare benefits exempt from taxable income.

  • September 13, 2024

    Russia Expels 6 British Diplomats Accused Of Spying

    Russia said Friday that it has revoked the diplomatic status of six British embassy employees after accusing the U.K. outpost of espionage, as geopolitical tensions between the two countries continue to rise.

  • September 13, 2024

    Barclay Damon Adds Longtime Democratic Consultant In NY

    Barclay Damon LLP has hired a long-standing Democratic adviser to its New York office as of counsel, noting that his ties within political circles will allow him to offer a "unique" viewpoint to clients.

  • September 12, 2024

    Wells Fargo Ordered To Overhaul Sanctions, AML Compliance

    Wells Fargo faces fresh restrictions on launching new products and entering new markets, and must beef up its compliance and monitoring efforts around sanctions, anti-money laundering and other international business risks, under an enforcement action announced Thursday by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. 

  • September 12, 2024

    2nd Circ. Rejects Another Trump Bid To Halt Hush Money Case

    The Second Circuit on Thursday rejected former President Donald Trump's request for an emergency order pausing his criminal hush money case, citing New York state court Justice Juan M. Merchan's decision to push his sentencing hearing from Sept. 18 until after the election.

  • September 12, 2024

    FCC Tells 6th Circ To Affirm Net Neutrality

    The Federal Communications Commission told the Sixth Circuit the agency acted well within the law when it reimposed net neutrality limits on broadband providers and urged the court to reject industry claims that the commission's authority to regulate high-speed internet service is a "major question" that only Congress may address.

  • September 12, 2024

    Steward Health Care CEO Faces Contempt For No-Show

    A Senate committee said it would vote next week to hold now-bankrupt Steward Health Care CEO Dr. Ralph de la Torre in contempt after he failed to comply Thursday with a subpoena ordering him to testify at a hearing.

  • September 12, 2024

    Corp. Disclosure Law Kills Community Boards, Nonprofits Say

    The Community Associations Institute and other groups have sued the U.S. Department of the Treasury over the Corporate Transparency Act, arguing the law should not apply to them, violates constitutional rights and will lead to mass resignations from their community leadership boards.

  • September 12, 2024

    6th Circ. Says Food Transporter Illegally Shuttered Warehouse

    A bulk food delivery contractor for grocery giant Kroger violated federal labor law when it closed its Louisville, Kentucky, terminal after a union representation election and fired employees, the Sixth Circuit has ruled, upholding a National Labor Relations Board decision.

  • September 12, 2024

    US Sanctions Cambodian Tycoon For Forced Labor Scam

    A prominent Cambodian businessman and his business entities were hit with sanctions from the Treasury Department for their role in human rights abuses related to forced labor and human trafficking, the department announced Thursday.

  • September 12, 2024

    DOL Has Authority To Issue Salary Regs, 5th Circ. Affirms

    The U.S. Department of Labor has the authority to issue salary rules as part of its role in defining the overtime exemptions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Fifth Circuit affirmed, in a case that raised questions about the DOL's power to regulate a fundamental aspect of wage and hour law.

  • September 12, 2024

    Medical Abuse Of DHS Detainees Suits Head To Mediation

    Two cases brought by immigrant women alleging they underwent invasive, unnecessary medical procedures while in federal custody were sent to mediation Wednesday.

  • September 12, 2024

    Biden Sets Record On Appointing Native American Judges

    As part of his commitment to diversify the federal judiciary, President Joe Biden has appointed Native American judges in record strides. But stakeholders say there's more to be done for this vastly underrepresented population, and several judicial vacancies in states with large Native populations offer opportunity for continued progress. 

  • September 12, 2024

    AGs Ask 2nd Circ. To Revive Their SALT Cap Workaround Suit

    Attorneys general from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut asked the Second Circuit to revive their challenge to an IRS rule prohibiting workarounds to the federal cap on state and local tax deductions, saying the rule was arbitrary and contrary to congressional intent.

  • September 12, 2024

    Senate Preps Vote On 6th Circ. Nom Opposed By Tenn. GOP

    The U.S. Senate is set to vote Monday on the nomination of Kevin Ritz to join the Sixth Circuit bench despite strong objection from the senior senator from Tennessee, one of the circuit's four states.

  • September 12, 2024

    Mass. Pot Regulator Gets Acting Head, Fired Chair To Appeal

    The Massachusetts cannabis regulator has a new acting chair, as state Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg on Thursday appointed a temporary replacement after her decision to fire Shannon O'Brien, who intends to appeal the termination.

Expert Analysis

  • Justices' Intent Witness Ruling May Be Useful For Defense Bar

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    At first glance, the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Diaz v. U.S. decision, allowing experts to testify to the mental state of criminal defendants in federal court, gives prosecutors a new tool, but creative white collar defense counsel may be able to use the same tool to their own advantage, say Jack Sharman and Rachel Bragg at Lightfoot Franklin.

  • How To Grow Marketing, Biz Dev Teams In A Tight Market

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    Faced with fierce competition and rising operating costs, firms are feeling the pressure to build a well-oiled marketing and business development team that supports strategic priorities, but they’ll need to be flexible and creative given a tight talent market, says Ben Curle at Ambition.

  • Considerations For Federal Right Of Publicity As AI Advances

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    Amid rapid advances in generative artificial intelligence technology, Congress should consider how a federal right of publicity would interact with the existing patchwork of state name, image and likeness laws, as well as other issues like scope, harm recognized and available relief, says Ross Bagley at Pryor Cashman.

  • FTC Focus: Private Equity Investments In Healthcare

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    As the Federal Trade Commission is tightening its scrutiny of private equity investment in healthcare, the agency is finding novel grounds to challenge key focus areas, including rollup acquisitions, the flip-and-strip approach and minority investments in rival providers, say attorneys at Proskauer.

  • What Patent Litigators Should Know About CHIPS Act Grants

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    With the U.S. Department of Commerce now actively awarding grants under the CHIPS and Science Act, recipients should ensure they understand the implications of promises to construct new semiconductor manufacturing facilities, especially in jurisdictions with active patent litigation dockets, say Gabriel Culver and Peter Hillegas at Norton Rose.

  • Jarkesy's Impact On SEC Enforcement Will Be Modest

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    Though the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jarkesy decision found that fraud defendants have a constitutional right to a jury trial, the ruling will have muted impact on the agency’s enforcement because it’s already bringing most of its cases in federal court, say Jeremiah Williams and Alyssa Fixsen at Ropes & Gray.

  • Opinion

    Data Breach Reporting Requirements Must Change In AI Age

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    Outdated data breach reporting laws are inadequate to protect consumers in the age of artificial intelligence, as AI’s ability to determine relationships coupled with its improvements to deepfake technology mean that the very definitions used in breach reporting laws are no longer sufficient, says Collin Walke at Hall Estill.

  • Unpacking HHS' Opinion On Cell Therapy Refund Programs

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    A recent advisory opinion from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, determining that a biopharma company's refund program for its cell therapy will not be penalized, indicates an encouraging willingness to engage, but the regulator's assumptions about the program's limited term warrant a closer look, says Mary Kohler at Kohler Health.

  • Series

    Rock Climbing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Rock climbing requires problem-solving, focus, risk management and resilience, skills that are also invaluable assets in my role as a finance lawyer, says Mei Zhang at Haynes and Boone.

  • What Chevron's End Means For How Congress Does Business

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    The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo decision, overturning the Chevron doctrine, will have a far-reaching impact across the entire public policy life cycle, beginning with how Congress writes its laws and extending through agency implantation and judicial review, say attorneys at K&L Gates.

  • How 5 States' Deal Notification Laws Are Guiding Healthcare

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    Healthcare transaction notification laws at various stages of implementation in California, Illinois, Indiana, Oregon and Washington are shaping sector mergers and acquisitions, with significant transparency, continuity of care and compliance implications as providers tackle complex regulatory requirements, says Melesa Freerks at DLA Piper.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Dance The Legal Standard Two-Step

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    From rookie brief writers to Chief Justice John Roberts, lawyers should master the legal standard two-step — framing the governing standard at the outset, and clarifying why they meet that standard — which has benefits for both the drafter and reader, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • Examining Chancery's Relaxed New Confidential Filing Rules

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    The Delaware Court of Chancery’s overhauled Rule 5.1, which governs confidential filings, risks permitting nonconfidential information to be shielded from public review unless and until a challenge notice is filed — but several potential solutions could help to override this issue, says Delaware attorney Daniel J. McBride.

  • Recent Settlement Shows 'China Initiative' Has Life After Death

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    Though the U.S. Department of Justice shuttered its controversial China Initiative two years ago, its recent False Claims Act settlement with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation demonstrates that prosecutors are more than willing to civilly pursue research institutions whose employees were previously targeted, say attorneys at Benesch.

  • How Orange Book Antitrust Scrutiny Is Intensifying

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    Pharmaceutical patent holders should be reviewing Orange Book listing practices, as the Federal Trade Commission takes a more aggressive antitrust approach with actions such as the Teva listing probe, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration calls attention to potentially improper listings, say attorneys at McDermott.

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