Public Policy

  • 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.

  • January 17, 2025

    Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Sale-Or-Ban Law

    The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal law Friday requiring TikTok to be divested from its Chinese parent company by Sunday or face a nationwide ban.

Expert Analysis

  • Predicting The Lasting Changes CFPB May Face In 2025

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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.

  • COP29 Offers Pathway To A Global Carbon Market

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    COP29, the recently concluded United Nations climate conference, represented a breakthrough in the establishment of standards for a global carbon market — and voluntary carbon market participants in the U.S. and elsewhere can enhance the value of their projects by aligning them with these standards, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • New Trump Admin May Bring Financial Oversight Turbulence

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    As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to begin his second term, his top financial market regulatory and securities law enforcement appointees, campaign promises, and regulatory preferences foretell a period of muddy regulatory waters, say attorneys at Kroll.

  • The Justices' Securities Rulings, Dismissals That Defined '24

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's 2024 securities rulings led to increased success for defendants' price impact arguments, but the justices' decisions not to weigh in on important issues relating to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act's pleading requirements may be just as significant, say attorneys at Skadden.

  • 10 Noteworthy CFPB Developments From 2024

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    In a banner year for consumer finance regulation, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau made significant strides in its efforts to rein in Big Tech and nonbank financial firms, including via rules regarding open banking, credit card late fees, and buy now, pay later products, say attorneys at Wiley.

  • What To Expect From EEOC Next Year After An Active 2024

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    While highlights this year for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission include its first-ever Pregnant Workers Fairness Act cases and comprehensive workplace harassment guidance, the question for 2025 is whether the commission will sustain its momentum or shift its focus in a new direction, says Shannon Kelly at GrayRobinson.

  • Series

    Fixing Up Cars Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    From problem-solving to patience and adaptability to organization, the skills developed working under the hood of a car directly translate to being a more effective lawyer, says Christopher Mdeway at Kaufman Dolowich.

  • 2024 Has Been A Momentous Year For ESG

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    Significant developments in the environmental, social and governance landscape this year include new legislation, evolving global frameworks, continued litigation and enforcement actions, and a U.S. Supreme Court decision that has already affected how lower courts have viewed some ESG challenges, say attorneys at Katten.

  • Opinion

    A New Tax On Employers Could Help Curb Illegal Immigration

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    To better enforce the law against hiring immigrants unauthorized to work in the U.S., Congress should enact a punitive excise tax on compensation paid to such immigrants and amend the False Claims Act to allow qui tam actions against employers for failure to pay such tax, says Ajay Gupta at Moore Tax Law Group.

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