Public Policy

  • April 01, 2025

    Court Won't Toss FTC's Merger Penalty Case Against 7-Eleven

    A D.C. federal court refused to toss the Federal Trade Commission's case looking to hit 7-Eleven with a $77.5 million penalty for allegedly violating a merger settlement after rejecting arguments that only the U.S. Department of Justice can seek civil penalties for the commission.

  • April 01, 2025

    Willkie Becomes 3rd Firm To Reach Deal With Trump

    After issuing a string of executive orders in recent weeks targeting BigLaw firms, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP had agreed to provide $100 million in pro bono legal services for certain causes and to refrain from what Trump has called discriminatory diversity hiring practices.

  • April 01, 2025

    Undated Mail-In Votes Must Be Counted, Pa. Judge Rules

    A Pennsylvania federal judge has ruled that the state's counties cannot refuse to count mail-in ballots with undated or incorrectly dated outer envelopes, holding that doing so treads on the right to vote.

  • April 01, 2025

    Atlanta Settles Enviro Group's Suit Over 'Cop City' Site

    The city of Atlanta has agreed to settle an environmental group's legal challenge to the construction of its controversial police training center complex, reaching a deal Monday that includes $70,000 in attorney fees for the group and future water quality monitoring.

  • April 01, 2025

    EPA, Citibank Fight States' Bid To Restart Grant Funding

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Citibank on Monday said four state infrastructure financing entities that accuse them of illegally withholding federal grant funding have no grounds to support an effort to get the money flowing again.

  • April 01, 2025

    House Sends Disaster Tax Relief, Other Tax Bills To Senate

    The U.S. House wrapped up two days of work on bipartisan tax relief measures Tuesday, clearing the last of six bills to allow taxpayers affected by natural disasters to qualify for extended deadlines for refund claims and collection notices.

  • April 01, 2025

    Jury Must Rule If Race Bias Decided Fla. District, Panel Says

    A Florida federal court declined to toss a lawsuit brought against state officials alleging gerrymandering, saying a jury must decide whether race was the primary factor in forming a new Tampa-area voting district.

  • April 01, 2025

    Cornell Student Says He Left US Over ICE Detention Threat

    Cornell University doctoral student Momodou Taal said he left the United States just days after a New York federal judge declined to block U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from detaining and deporting him for his Palestinian advocacy.

  • April 01, 2025

    House GOP Infighting Delays Push To Repeal 2 CFPB Rules

    Plans for the U.S. House to vote on overturning two Biden-era Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules were scuttled Tuesday by an unrelated fight among Republicans about whether to allow proxy voting for lawmakers with infant children.

  • April 01, 2025

    6th Circ. Lets Feds End Whistleblower's NASA Contractor Suit

    The Sixth Circuit stood by a lower court's decision to let the federal government intervene and successfully seek dismissal for a whistleblower's False Claims Act suit against a NASA contractor, applying a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court precedent to back the government's recent tear of dismissal bids in FCA cases.

  • April 01, 2025

    Tyler Tech Denied Early Exit From NC Civil Rights Class Action

    Tyler Technologies, the Texas-based software provider behind North Carolina's transition to a digital court system, can't escape a proposed civil rights class action claiming the new technology led to wrongful arrests and extended jail time, though claims against one sheriff named in the suit were dismissed.

  • April 01, 2025

    Ex-Speaker Gingrich Lends Support To Limited Injunctions Bill

    Former GOP Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich on Tuesday endorsed the idea behind Republican legislation that would require nationwide injunctions imposed by lower courts against White House policies to be quickly brought before the U.S. Supreme Court. 

  • April 01, 2025

    Judges Say Hurricanes May Justify FERC Pipeline Inaction

    Judges on the D.C. Circuit told environmental groups challenging the construction of a liquefied natural gas pipeline and terminal in Puerto Rico Tuesday that the project was likely necessary to keep the island powered through hurricane season even without a full authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

  • April 01, 2025

    Venezuelans Ask Justices To Keep Block On Removals

    Five detained Venezuelans urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to deny President Donald Trump's move to lift a D.C. federal judge's order prohibiting the removal of alleged gang members from the U.S. under the Alien Enemies Act, arguing the president's "staggering" assertion of authority under the wartime law is unsubstantiated.

  • April 01, 2025

    Co. Suggests Chemical For IRS' Taxable Substances List

    The Internal Revenue Service is seeking comments on a proposal by TPC Group Inc. to add a chemical to the Internal Revenue Code's list of taxable substances, the agency said Tuesday.

  • April 01, 2025

    AFL-CIO Backs Oregon's Cannabis Labor Peace Law

    The AFL-CIO has jumped into a legal battle to defend against a constitutional challenge seeking to block implementation of a voter-approved Oregon state law that requires cannabis businesses to have labor peace agreements.

  • April 01, 2025

    Idaho Boosts Property Tax Breaks By $100M

    Idaho will increase tax breaks for property owners in the state starting this year and every year thereafter under a bill signed by the governor.

  • April 01, 2025

    Approach The Bench: Judge Tymkovich On New Judgeships

    When Tenth Circuit Judge Timothy Tymkovich testified before Congress recently about the need for more federal judges, it had been about 10 years since he'd made a similar request of Congress, which hasn't expanded the federal bench since 2002.

  • March 31, 2025

    Venezuelans Can Keep DHS Removal Protections For Now

    A California federal judge on Monday temporarily halted U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's attempt to end temporary deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, calling it an "unprecedented action" that is likely "unauthorized by law, arbitrary and capricious, and motivated by unconstitutional animus."

  • March 31, 2025

    Trump Names 3 US Atty Picks For Idaho, Iowa, South Dakota

    President Donald Trump on Monday announced his picks for three U.S. attorney positions, including two familiar faces returning to Idaho and South Dakota.

  • March 31, 2025

    9th Circ. Won't Stay Injunction On Transgender Troop Ban

    A Ninth Circuit panel on Monday denied the federal government's bid for an emergency stay that would have allowed the U.S. Department of Defense to move forward with the Trump administration's ban on transgender military service following a Washington federal judge's decision to block the prohibition last week.

  • March 31, 2025

    Trump Picks Boyden Gray Attorney For Top DOL Lawyer Role

    President Donald Trump on Monday nominated Jonathan Berry of Boyden Gray PLLC to be solicitor of labor, the U.S. Department of Labor's top lawyer.

  • March 31, 2025

    Ex-FDNY Official Gets 20 Months For Safety Review Kickbacks

    A Manhattan federal judge on Monday sentenced a former high-ranking New York City fire department official to 20 months in prison for accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for expediting building safety checks.

  • March 31, 2025

    Texas Judge Deems Lab-Test Rule Outside FDA Authority

    A Texas federal judge on Monday vacated a new U.S. Food and Drug Administration rule that would have brought lab-developed tests under its regulatory authority as "medical devices," finding that the move exceeded the agency's statutory authority and defied "common sense."

  • March 31, 2025

    Apple Beats Suit From Actor Who Refused COVID Shot

    A California appellate court held Friday that Apple Studios had the right to pull an offer for actor Brent Sexton after he refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19, ruling that a lower court should've thrown out the actor's suit.

Expert Analysis

  • How Health Cos. Can Navigate Data Security Regulation Limbo

    Author Photo

    Despite the Trump administration's freeze on proposed updates to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act security rule, there are critical cybersecurity steps healthcare organizations can take now without clear federal guidance, says William Li at Axiom.

  • Preparing For Tariffs On Canadian Power In The Northeast

    Author Photo

    The on-again, off-again risk of import and export tariffs on energy transactions between the U.S. and Canada may have repercussions for U.S. energy stakeholders in the ISO New England and New York Independent System Operator electricity markets — but there are options that could help reduce cost impacts, say attorneys at Husch Blackwell.

  • How Calif.'s Wildfire Insurance Crisis Might Affect Texas

    Author Photo

    Attorneys at Munsch Hardt examine the implications of California's wildfire insurance crisis for Texas, including potential shifts in coverage availability, regulatory differences and how the insurers in the second-largest U.S. state may react to a major wildfire event.

  • New SEC Guidance May Change How Investors, Cos. Talk

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent updates to the Schedules 13D and G compliance and disclosure interpretations may mean large institutional investors substantially curtail the feedback they provide companies about their voting intentions in connection with shareholder meetings, which could result in negative voting outcomes for companies, say attorneys at Cleary.

  • 4 Key Payments Trends For White Collar Attys

    Author Photo

    As the payments landscape continues to innovate and the new administration looks to expand the role of digital currency in the American economy, white collar practitioners should be aware of several key issues in this space, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.

  • Calif. Antitrust Bill Could Alter Enforcement Landscape

    Author Photo

    If enacted, a recently proposed California bill that would strengthen the state’s antitrust law could signal a notable shift in the U.S. enforcement environment, but questions remain about the types of cases the state could pursue, whether other states will follow suit and more, say attorneys at DLA Piper.

  • Series

    Performing Stand-Up Comedy Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    Whether I’m delivering a punchline on stage or a closing argument in court, balancing stand-up comedy performances and my legal career has demonstrated that the keys to success in both endeavors include reading the room, landing the right timing and making an impact, says attorney Rebecca Palmer.

  • Opinion

    Upholding Tribal Sovereignty Benefits US And Indian Country

    Author Photo

    The Trump administration's broad moves to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs are negatively affecting many tribal programs, but supporting tribal sovereignty would serve the federal government's deregulatory goals and ensure that tribes have the resources they need, says Ellen Grover at BB&K.

  • Constitutional Foundations Of Gov't-Guaranteed Investments

    Author Photo

    For attorneys advising clients with exposure to government-backed investments, understanding the constitutional guardrails on presidential impoundment offers essential guidance for risk assessment, contract strategy and litigation planning, says Mauni Jalali at Quinn Emanuel.

  • Investor Essentials For Buying Federally Owned Property

    Author Photo

    Investors and developers can take advantage of the Trump administration's plan to sell government-owned real estate by becoming familiar with the process and eligible to bid, and should prepare to move quickly once the U.S. General Services Administration posts the list of properties for sale, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

  • How 2025 Is Shaping The Future Of Bank Mergers So Far

    Author Photo

    Whether the long-anticipated great wave of consolidation in the U.S. banking industry will finally arrive in 2025 remains to be seen, but the conditions for bank mergers are more favorable now than they have been in years, say attorneys at Skadden.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From SEC To BigLaw

    Author Photo

    As I adjusted to the multifaceted workflow of a BigLaw firm after leaving the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, working side by side with new colleagues on complex matters proved the fastest way to build a deep rapport and demonstrate my value, says Jennifer Lee at Jenner & Block.

  • What's Old And New In The CFTC's Self-Reporting Advisory

    Author Photo

    Attorneys at Blank Rome analyze the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's recent advisory that aims to provide clarity on self-reporting violations of the Commodity Exchange Act, and review whether market participants should shift their thinking — or not — when it comes to cooperation with the CFTC.

  • Weathering Policy Zig-Zags In Gov't Contracting Under Trump

    Author Photo

    To succeed amid the massive shift in federal contracting policies heralded by President Donald Trump's return to office, contractors should be prepared for increased costs and enhanced False Claims Act enforcement, and to act swiftly to avail themselves of contractual remedies, says Jacob Scott at Smith Currie.

  • How Trump's Crypto Embrace Is Spurring Enforcement Reset

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent willingness to step away from ongoing enforcement investigations and actions underscores the changing regulatory landscape for crypto under the new administration, which now appears committed to working with stakeholders to develop a clearer regulatory framework, say attorneys at Sheppard Mullin.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the Public Policy archive.
Hello! I'm Law360's automated support bot.

How can I help you today?

For example, you can type:
  • I forgot my password
  • I took a free trial but didn't get a verification email
  • How do I sign up for a newsletter?
Ask a question!