Public Policy

  • January 17, 2025

    GOP Reps. Look To End President's National Monument Power

    Two Republican members of Congress have launched a bill seeking to strip the president's power to declare national monuments, saying the Antiquities Act of 1906 is in dire need of reform that would hand over that authority to Congress.

  • January 17, 2025

    US Steel Can't Quicken Probe Into Alleged Merger Plot

    U.S. Steel won't get an expedited look into communications between rival Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and the United Steelworkers to look for evidence of an alleged conspiracy to sabotage its $14.9 billion merger with Japan's Nippon Steel Corp., after a Pittsburgh federal judge deemed the request "premature" on Friday.

  • January 17, 2025

    Nasdaq Pulls Board Diversity Rules After 5th Circ. Loss

    Nasdaq has moved to formally undo its rules requiring that companies listed on the exchange disclose board diversity data, following a narrow, en banc ruling from the Fifth Circuit last month finding that the rules ran afoul of federal securities law.

  • January 17, 2025

    DOL Says Mental Health Parity Law Compliance Still Lacking

    The U.S. Department of Labor and two other agencies said Friday that many employer health plans are still falling short of full compliance with a federal law requiring that mental health and substance use disorder treatment be covered comparably to physical healthcare.

  • January 17, 2025

    Feds Urge 9th Circ. To Restore Threatened Seals' Habitat

    The federal government has asked the Ninth Circuit to overturn an Alaska federal district court judge who vacated the National Marine Fisheries Service's designation of critical habitat for Pacific bearded seals and Arctic ringed seals.

  • January 17, 2025

    FCC Mandates More Efforts To Combat Telecom Cyber Threats

    The Federal Communications Commission has provided details of new requirements on telecom providers to counter cybersecurity threats, a late-hour move criticized several days ago by the agency's incoming Republican leadership before the new rules were formally released.

  • January 17, 2025

    NJ Beach Access Dispute Should Go To Trial, Panel Says

    A New Jersey appellate court ruled against beachfront property owners embroiled in a dispute over a dune walkover that provided direct access to Normandy Beach, ruling that the validity of one claim should be determined in a trial.

  • January 17, 2025

    DC Circ. Sends LNG-By-Rail Rule Back To Drawing Board

    The D.C. Circuit on Friday wiped out a Trump-era rule allowing liquefied natural gas to be transported by rail and said any replacement rule must contain an extensive environmental review given the catastrophic risks of an accident or spill.

  • January 17, 2025

    Mich. Local Power Rule Needs Stricter Scrutiny, 6th Circ. Says

    A split Sixth Circuit panel said a requirement for Michigan electricity suppliers to source some of their power locally may be unconstitutional and must be reviewed again by a lower court because it disadvantages out-of-state energy producers.

  • January 17, 2025

    DHS Sec. Nominee Faces Senators Ahead Of Inauguration

    Appearing before senators on Friday, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, nominee for secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, previewed the incoming Trump administration's crackdown on immigration and fielded questions on distribution of disaster aid in wake of the Los Angeles wildfires.

  • January 17, 2025

    Hawaii Bill Seeks To Make Renter Tax Credit Permanent

    Hawaii would make its renters tax credit permanent and change the credit's amounts under a bill introduced in the state House of Representatives.

  • January 17, 2025

    New Jersey AG Says Office Is Clear In Menendez Bribery Case

    New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced Friday that his office found no misconduct by any of its members relating to former U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez following an internal investigation that started after the senator was indicted on bribery charges.

  • January 17, 2025

    Justices To Hear Ex-Marine's Bid For PTSD Compensation

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to take up the appeal of a former U.S. Marine who says that the Federal Circuit misstepped by limiting the retroactive special compensation he could receive for combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder to six years because he filed late.

  • January 17, 2025

    Trump Opposes DA Willis' Bid To Return To Ga. Election Case

    President-elect Donald Trump urged the Georgia Supreme Court on Friday not to review the state intermediate court's ruling that disqualified Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from prosecuting the Georgia election interference case.

  • January 17, 2025

    Minn. Senate Bill Would Repeal Healthcare Provider Taxes

    Minnesota would eliminate its 1.8% tax on various healthcare providers and services under legislation introduced in the state Senate.

  • January 17, 2025

    EEOC Brought Back Record High $700M For Workers In 2024

    The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Friday it secured "the highest monetary recovery in its recent history" by bringing in $700 million for workers in the 2024 fiscal year.

  • January 17, 2025

    EU, Mexico Ink Trade Pact As Trump Readies New Tariffs

    The European Union and Mexico shored up a new trade agreement Friday, vowing to liberalize the flow of goods and services just days before Donald Trump is slated to resume the presidency, having vowed new tariffs on both Mexican and European shipments.

  • January 17, 2025

    Ex-Pol's Atty Chided For Early Morning Sentencing Memo

    The lawyer for a former Massachusetts state senator convicted of tax and pandemic aid fraud was scolded by a federal judge on Friday for filing a sentencing memo at 3:30 a.m. on the day of the hearing, then showing up late to court, forcing a postponement.

  • January 17, 2025

    What To Expect From Trump's Judicial Nominations

    President-elect Donald Trump is taking office with 45 judicial vacancies, which is far less than the 100 plus seats he came in with in 2017, but more seats could open up if a fair number of sitting conservatives take the opportunity to ensure a Republican president names their successor.

  • January 17, 2025

    Off The Bench: Arrest In NBA Betting Probe, 76ers' Arena Deal

    In this week's Off The Bench, the betting fraud investigation with a former National Basketball Association player at the center produces another arrest, the Philadelphia 76ers pull out of one new arena agreement and sign up for another, and a champion fighter is accused of assaulting a woman at a basketball game.

  • January 17, 2025

    Co. Suggests 4 Chemicals For Taxable Substances List

    The Internal Revenue Service is seeking comments on proposals from Occidental Chemical Corp. to add four chemicals to the Internal Revenue Code's list of taxable substances, the agency said Friday.

  • January 17, 2025

    IRS Commissioner To Step Down As Trump Takes Office

    Internal Revenue Commissioner Daniel Werfel is stepping down from his position in light of President-elect Donald Trump's intent to nominate former Rep. Billy Long to replace him, Werfel said in a message to the agency's employees Friday.

  • January 17, 2025

    Recalled Ex-Oakland Mayor Indicted On Bribery Charges

    Federal prosecutors announced criminal bribery charges Friday against former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao along with her partner and two others following a yearslong FBI corruption investigation, alleging she and her partner accepted cash payments of $95,000 disguised as no-show jobs, among other allegations.

  • January 17, 2025

    Attorney General Nominee Bondi Outlines Ethics Parameters

    Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general, outlined in an ethics agreement posted on Friday how she intends to avoid possible conflicts of interest with her previous positions, such as her role as a partner at a lobbying firm, and how she will divest from Trump's media company. 

  • January 17, 2025

    FTC Accuses Pepsi Of Giving Advantage To Favored Retailer

    The Federal Trade Commission on Friday accused Pepsi of giving a big box retailer better terms and promotional payments, putting smaller competitors at a disadvantage.

Expert Analysis

  • 5th Circ.'s Nasdaq Ruling Another Piece In DEI Policy Puzzle

    Author Photo

    The Fifth Circuit's recent en banc opinion vacating Nasdaq's board diversity listing rule wades into the hotly debated topic of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at a time when many public companies are navigating the attention that DEI commitments are drawing from activists and shareholders, say attorneys at Debevoise.

  • 8 Trends And Predictions Following PE's Late 2024 Surge

    Author Photo

    Private equity will remain at the forefront of value creation in 2025, and anticipated market trends include sponsors' desire to return capital to investors and a more business-friendly tack by the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, say attorneys at Weil.

  • Series

    Playing Esports Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    Competing in a global esports tournament at Wimbledon last year not only fulfilled my childhood dream, but also sharpened skills that are essential to my day job, including strategic thinking, confidence and networking, says AJ Schuyler at Jackson Lewis.

  • How Changes In State Gift Card Laws May Affect Cos. In 2025

    Author Photo

    2024 state legislative movements around the escheatment of unused gift card balances and consumer fraud protections should prompt issuers to consider whether changes in company domicile or blanket cash-back policies are needed in the new year, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.

  • Health Tech Regulatory Trends To Watch In 2025

    Author Photo

    With an upcoming change in administration and the release of some long-awaited rules, the healthcare industry should prepare for shifting trends, including a growing focus on health data and interest in technology-enabled delivery of healthcare, say attorneys at Orrick.

  • Expect Continued Momentum For Nuclear Power In 2025

    Author Photo

    With increasing electricity demand, growing interest in carbon-free energy and recent policy initiatives favoring atomic power, the future is looking bright for the U.S. nuclear energy industry — and the imminent switch of administrations in Washington is unlikely to change that, say attorneys at Venable.

  • An Associate's Guide To Career Development In 2025

    Author Photo

    As the new year begins, associates at all levels should consider establishing career metrics, fostering key relationships and employing other specific strategies to help move through the complexities of the legal profession with confidence and emerge as trailblazers, say EJ Stern and Amanda George at Fractional Law Firm.

  • The Securities Litigation Trends That Will Matter Most In 2025

    Author Photo

    2025 is shaping up to be a significant year for securities litigation, as plaintiffs and defendants alike navigate shifting standards for omission theories of liability, class certification, risk disclosure claims and more, say attorneys at Willkie.

  • Predicting The Lasting Changes CFPB May Face In 2025

    Author Photo

    President-elect Donald Trump and the incoming Republican-controlled Congress' likely attempts to reshape the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau could significantly alter its rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement abilities for years to come, says Jim Sandy at McGlinchey Stafford.

  • 5 Proactive Immigration Best Practices For Employers In 2025

    Author Photo

    Businesses that depend on foreign talent should take specific steps in anticipation of changes to federal immigration policies that could affect the H-1B visa and other programs, and likely require changes in organizational operations and compliance strategy, says Dustin O'Quinn at Ballard Spahr.

  • 2025 Patent And TM Policy At USPTO: What We Know So Far

    Author Photo

    This upcoming year at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office promises a continued focus on artificial intelligence-related policies, as well as initiatives to drive efficiency and modernize standard processes, say attorneys at Knobbe Martens.

  • What To Watch For In The 2025 Benefits Landscape

    Author Photo

    While planning for 2025, retirement plan sponsors and service providers should set their focus on phased implementation deadlines under both Secure 1.0 and 2.0, an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling, and the fate of several U.S. Department of Labor regulations, says Allie Itami at Lathrop GPM.

  • 5 Antitrust Issues For In-House Counsel In 2025

    Author Photo

    Attorneys at Squire Patton evaluate the top areas where U.S. antitrust policy is likely to change in the next 12 months, including major challenges to the Federal Trade Commission's authority that could reshape enforcement.

  • Reviewing 2024's Crucial Patent Law Developments

    Author Photo

    As 2024 draws to a close, significant rulings and policies aimed at modernizing long-standing legal practices or addressing emerging challenges have reached patent law, says Michael Ellenberger at Rothwell Figg.

  • How White Collar Enforcement May Shift In Trump's 2nd Term

    Author Photo

    After President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House next month, the administration’s emphasis on immigration laws, drug offenses and violent crime will likely reduce the focus on white collar crime overall, but certain areas within the white collar world may see increased activity, say attorneys at Keker Van Nest.

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!