Expert Analysis

• Competing Legal Factors Vex Insurance Arbitration Disputes

  

  The Fifth Circuit ruled in May that international arbitration policy trumped state insurance law in McDonnel Group v. Great Lakes Insurance. But the courts have been inconsistent in applying conformity-to-statute clauses, the McCarran-Ferguson Act and a related U.S. treaty in the battle between federal preemption and state reverse preemption, says Gilbert Samberg at Mintz.

• Cannabis Investors Should Beware Money Laundering Risk

  

  Even if marijuana-related businesses are in compliance with local laws, their investors are not free of legal risk so long as cannabis remains a controlled drug in other countries, such as the U.K., say Robert Dalling and Wade Thomson of Jenner & Block.

• Real-Life Lessons For Lawyers From 'Game Of Thrones'

  

  What lessons can the various hands, maesters, council members and other advisers in "Game of Thrones" impart to real-life lawyers? Quite a few, if we assume that the Model Rules of Professional Conduct were adopted by the Seven Kingdoms, says Edward Reich of Dentons.

• UK Firms Should Be Prepared For Government Raids

  

  Recent enforcement activity from the Financial Conduct Authority and other regulators highlight the penalties firms face for procedural breaches, and the value in ensuring that employees are well-equipped to handle unannounced inspections, say James Marshall and Sonja Hainsworth of Bryan Cave.

• Series

  Why I Became A Lawyer: Completing The Journey Home

  

  My mother's connection to her Native American heritage had a major influence on my career — my decision to enter the legal profession was driven by the desire to return to my tribal community and help it in any way I could, says Jason Hauter of Akin Gump.

• 3 Insurance Issues Raised By The Notre Dame Cathedral Fire

  

  The devastating Notre Dame Cathedral fire provides a rare opportunity to consider the many unique factors that owners and insurers must consider when insuring national treasures, say attorneys at Zelle.

• Where The Post-Libor Litigation Tsunami Will Hit

  

  The permanent cessation of the Libor rate in 2021 will likely trigger a flood of litigation over many existing contracts that lack effective replacements. Marc Gottridge of Hogan Lovells identifies the types of products that may be most susceptible to disputes.

• Despite Decline In Cyberattacks, UK Cos. Should Stay Vigilant

  

  The U.K. Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport's latest cybersecurity survey shows that U.K. cyberattacks have decreased in the last 12 months, likely thanks in part to the General Data Protection Regulation. But companies' cybersecurity efforts should continue to evolve, say experts at PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

• UK Antitrust Watchdog Proposals Would Bolster Enforcement

  

  The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority's proposals for reshaping competition enforcement and consumer protection would shift the historical balance in U.K. competition policy, increasing regulatory burden on companies while weakening judicial scrutiny of CMA actions, says Bill Batchelor of Skadden.

• Guest Feature

  Preet Bharara On The Human Factor In The Justice System

  

  A key theme in Preet Bharara's new book is the enormous role the human element plays in the administration of justice. The former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York discussed this theme, among other topics, in a recent conversation with White and Williams attorney Randy Maniloff.

• Considering A More Cost-Effective Future For The SFO

  

  In light of multiple recent examples of U.K. Serious Fraud Office investigations yielding far less than the agency may have hoped for, a new approach to prosecuting individuals and corporations may be a smart investment, says Azizur Rahman of Rahman Ravelli.

• Lessons From Carphone Warehouse's Partial FCA Settlement

  

  In the first case decided under the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority's new partial settlement process, Carphone Warehouse demonstrates not only the possible value of cooperating with authorities but also the cost of failing to right previous wrongs, says Syedur Rahman of Rahman Ravelli Solicitors.

• Collective Redress In The EU: Past, Present And Future

  

  Legislative processes harmonizing collective redress throughout the European Union have accelerated, leading to a proposed requirement that all member states establish collective action mechanisms, but some worry that the directive lacks sufficient guarantees against abusive litigation, say Philippe Métais and Elodie Valette of White & Case LLP.

• Lenders Score Major High Court Victory In Foreclosure Case

  

  The U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous ruling on Wednesday in Obduskey v. McCarthy & Holthus LLP removes nearly all activities taken by creditors seeking nonjudicial foreclosure of liens and mortgages from the ambit of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, says John Baxter of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP.

• 3 Brexit Scenarios And Their Implications For US-UK Trade

  

  Brexit negotiations are likely to result in one of three scenarios later this month: a Brexit deal, no Brexit at all or a "hard" no-deal Brexit. Each possibility will have different implications for the prospects of a U.S.-U.K. free trade agreement, says Dean Pinkert of Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP.