Federal

Gov'ts Ready Concessions, Reprisals Ahead Of US Tariff Wave

Kevin Pinner

The likely targets of the reciprocal tariff policy President Donald Trump is set to debut Wednesday have been making concessions, vowing reprisals and pursuing closer ties with each other while many have adopted a wait-and-see approach. Here, Law360 looks at how countries are responding to the planned tariffs.

The Tax Angle: Dems Prep For Tax Debate; CBO Eyes Deficits

Stephen K. Cooper
Editor-at-Large

From a look at a tax briefing for House Democrats on the expiring provisions of the Republicans' 2017 tax overhaul law to the latest Congressional Budget Office outlook on making the law permanent, here's a peek into a reporter's notebook on a few of the week's developing tax stories.

IRS Cuts May Delay Taxpayer Help Beyond 2025 Filing Season

Stephen K. Cooper
Editor-at-Large

IRS staff cuts and early retirements, driven by the White House's push to shrink government, will likely lead to longer phone hold times and reduced service and make it harder for taxpayers to get assistance for the remainder of the 2025 tax return filing season and beyond.

How The CRE Industry Is Adapting To Tariff Uncertainty

Amid uncertainty about pending tariffs and their potential ripple effects, including higher material costs, supply chain delays and tighter margins, commercial real estate industry players are focusing on strategic planning and risk mitigation, says Daniel Leyva at Day Pitney.

Law Firm Executive Orders Create A Legal Ethics Minefield

Recent executive orders targeting BigLaw firms create ethical dilemmas — and raise the specter of civil or criminal liability — for the government attorneys tasked with implementing them and for the law firms that choose to make agreements with the administration, say attorneys at Buchalter.

Trade Policy Shifts Raise Hurdles For Gov't And Cos. Alike

The persistent tension between the Trump administration's fast-moving and aggressive trade policies and the compliance-heavy nature of the trade industry creates implementation challenges for both the business community and the government, says Sara Schoenfeld at Kamerman.

Firms Must Embrace Alternative Billing Models Or Fall Behind

As artificial intelligence tools eliminate inefficiencies and the Big Four accounting firms enter the legal market, law firms that pivot from the entrenched billable hour model to outcomes-based pricing will see a distinct competitive advantage, says attorney William Brewer.

How Attorneys Can Master The Art Of On-Camera Presence

As attorneys are increasingly presented with on-camera opportunities, they can adapt their traditional legal skills for video contexts — such as virtual client meetings, marketing content or media interviews — by understanding the medium and making intentional adjustments, says Kerry Barrett.

Adapting To Private Practice: From Fed. Prosecutor To BigLaw

Making the jump from government to private practice is no small feat, but, based on my experience transitioning to a business-driven environment after 15 years as an assistant U.S. attorney, it can be incredibly rewarding and help you become a more versatile lawyer, says Michael Beckwith at Dickinson Wright.

Justices' False Statement Ruling Curbs Half-Truth Liability

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Thompson v. U.S. decision clarified that a federal statute used to prosecute false statements made to bank regulators only criminalizes outright falsehoods, narrowing prosecutors’ reach and providing defense counsel a stronger basis to challenge indictments of merely misleading statements, says Tamara de Silva at De Silva Law Offices.

Perfecting Security Interests In Renewable Energy Tax Credits

The ability to transfer renewable energy tax credits has created new opportunities for developers, investors and lenders, but it also raises important questions regarding when and how the security interests in these credits are perfected — questions that must be answered definitively to protect credit claims and transactions, says Harry Teichman at Stinson.

Firms Still Have Lateral Market Advantage, But Risks Persist

Partner and associate mobility data from the fourth quarter of 2024 shows that we’re in a new, stable era of lateral hiring where firms have the edge, but leaders should proceed cautiously, looking beyond expected revenue and compensation analyses for potential risks, say Julie Henson and Greg Hamman at Decipher Investigative Intelligence.

Making The Opportunity Zones Program Great At Last

As the opportunity zone program approaches its expiration, the Republican-led government could take specific steps to extend and improve the program, address its structural flaws, encourage broader participation and enable it to live up to its promised outcomes, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

We Must Allow Judges To Use Their Independent Judgment

As two recent cases show, the ability of judges to access their independent judgment crucially enables courts to exercise the discretion needed to reach the right outcome based on the unique facts within the law, says John Siffert at Lankler Siffert & Wohl.

Preparing For Tariffs On Canadian Power In The Northeast

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.

Making The Case For Rest In The Legal Profession

For too long, a culture of overwork has plagued the legal profession, but research shows that attorneys need rest to perform optimally and sustainably, so legal organizations and individuals must implement strategies that allow for restoration, says Marissa Alert at MDA Wellness, Carol Ross-Burnett at CRB Global, and Denise Robinson at The Still Center.