Expert Analysis

• Navigating The Uncertain Future Of The Superfund PFAS Rule

  

  The D.C. Circuit's recent grant of a pause in litigation while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reviews the Biden-era designation of two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as "hazardous" under the Superfund law creates new uncertainty for companies — but more lawsuits are likely as long as the rule remains in effect, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.

• Opinion

  SEC Defense Bar Should Pursue Sanctions Flexibility Now

  

  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission defense bar has an opening under the new administration to propose flexible, tailored sanctions that can substantially remediate misconduct and prevent future wrongdoing instead of onerous penalties, which could set sanctions precedent for years to come, says Josh Hess at BCLP.

• What To Know About Insurance Coverage For Greenwashing

  

  As the number of public and private lawsuits relating to greenwashing dramatically grows, risk managers of companies making environmental claims should look to several types of insurance for coverage in the event of a suit, say attorneys at Hunton.

• 7 Tips For Associates To Thrive In Hybrid Work Environments

  Excerpt from Practical Guidance

  

  As the vast majority of law firms have embraced some type of hybrid work policy, associates should consider a few strategies to get the most out of both their in-person and remote workdays, says James Argionis at Cozen O’Connor.

• Series

  Playing Beach Volleyball Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  My commitment to beach volleyball has become integral to my performance as an attorney, with the sport continually reminding me that teamwork, perseverance, professionalism and stress management are essential to both undertakings, says Amy Drushal at Trenam.

• Considering The Future Of AI Regulation On Health Sector

  

  As Texas looks to become the next state to pass a comprehensive law regulating artificial intelligence, the healthcare industry should consider how AI regulation will continue to evolve in the U.S. and how industry members can keep up with compliance considerations, say attorneys at Kirkland & Ellis.

• 30 Years Later: How PSLRA Has Improved Securities Litigation

  

  In the 30 years since the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act's passage, the statute has achieved its purpose of shifting securities class actions to investors most capable of monitoring the litigation, selecting competent counsel at competitive rates and maximizing recoveries for the investor classes they represent, say attorneys at Bernstein Litowitz.

• How Banks Can Prepare For NYDFS Overdraft Overhaul

  

  The New York State Department of Financial Services' recent proposal to amend overdraft rules for financial institutions underscores states' potential to create consumer protection mechanisms in the absence of meaningful federal action, say attorneys at Steptoe.

• Terraform Case May Be Bellwether For Crypto Enforcement

  

  The prosecution of crypto company Terraform Labs and its CEO, Do Kwon, offers a unique test of the line between lawful and unlawful conduct in digital transactions, and the Trump administration’s posture toward the case will provide clues about its cryptocurrency enforcement agenda in the years to come, say attorneys at Brooks Pierce.

• Contractor Liability When Directing Subcontractor Workforce

  

  A recent Virginia Court of Appeals decision that rejected a subcontractor employee’s tortious interference claim should prompt prime contractors to consider how to mitigate liability risk associated with directing a subcontractor to remove its employee from a federal project, say attorneys at Venable.

• What's Next For Russia Sanctions After Task Force Disbanded

  

  Attorney General Pam Bondi’s recent disbanding of Task Force KleptoCapture, which was initially aimed at seizing Russian oligarchs’ funds and assets, is unlikely to mean the end of Russia sanctions enforcement and other economic countermeasures, as the architecture for criminal enforcement remains in place, say attorneys at BakerHostetler.

• Texas Banking Dept. Memo Demystifies Crypto Classifications

  

  A recent memorandum from the Texas Department of Banking provides clarity with respect to the classification of both stablecoins and nonstablecoin virtual currencies under the state's Money Services Modernization Act, flagging for firms that stablecoins may be scrutinized more closely as money transmission, say attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler.

• How Law Firms Can Counteract The Loneliness Epidemic

  

  The legal industry is facing an urgent epidemic of loneliness, affecting lawyer well-being, productivity, retention and profitability, and law firm leaders should take concrete steps to encourage the development of genuine workplace connections, says Michelle Gomez at Littler and Gwen Mellor Romans at Herald Talent.

• What Remedies Under New Admin's SEC Could Look Like

  

  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is likely to substantially narrow the remedies it pursues over the next few years, driven by the mounting challenges it faces in court, as well as the views of its incoming chair and fellow Republican commissioners on injunctions, penalties and disgorgement, say attorneys at Milbank.

• Handbook Hot Topics: Back To Basics After Admin Change

  

  Having an up-to-date employee handbook is more critical now than ever, given the recent change in administration, and employers should understand their benefits and risks, including how they can limit employers’ liability and help retain employers’ rights, say Kasey Cappellano and Meaghan Gandy at Kutak Rock.