Aerospace & Defense

  • September 20, 2024

    GAO Rejects Loper Bright Argument In Army Deal Dispute

    The U.S. Government Accountability Office ruled that the U.S. Army could require bidders to recertify their small business status when bidding on a set-aside task order, saying the recent overturning of Chevron deference didn't make the Army's interpretation of a related rule unreasonable.

  • September 20, 2024

    Army Could Restore Bidder Eligibility For $42M Logistics Deal

    The U.S. Government Accountability Office has rejected a protest over the U.S. Army reinstating the eventual awardee of a $42.3 million logistics support deal after initially finding the company's bid unacceptable, saying the Army's discussions with the awardee were reasonable.

  • September 20, 2024

    Judge Doubts Amazon Targeted Workers On Military Leave

    A Washington federal judge pressed an ex-Amazon employee on Friday to back up allegations that she was fired for taking military leave, saying the termination appeared to be an administrative "oops" on the company's part that it has since corrected by offering reinstatement and back pay.

  • September 20, 2024

    SpaceX, Musk Attack FAA Following Proposed Fines

    SpaceX is lashing out at the Federal Aviation Administration's "inability to keep pace with the commercial spaceflight industry" days after the agency said it planned to slap the company with $633,000 in fines, prompting founder and majority owner Elon Musk to threaten a lawsuit.

  • September 20, 2024

    Judge Says $116M CIA Deal Protest Is Pot Calling Kettle Black

    A contractor protesting the CIA's grant of a $115.8 million deal to a competitor is essentially throwing stones from its glass house, a claims court judge said, finding that both businesses broke the same rules in their proposals.

  • September 20, 2024

    Taxation With Representation: Gibson Dunn, Holland & Knight

    In this week's Taxation With Representation, CACI International buys Azure Summit Technology, Hotel Engine lands a valuation led by Permira, and Knowles Corp. sells its microphone business to Syntiant Corp.

  • September 20, 2024

    LA Sees Retired Police Lt.'s Military Leave Suit Trimmed

    A California federal judge threw out several claims in a retired police lieutenant's lawsuit alleging the city of Los Angeles denied sick time and promotions to police officers who took military leave, although the parties have taken issue with the scope of the judge's order.

  • September 19, 2024

    Congress Clears Bill Setting Aside Space Launch Spectrum

    Congress has sent a bipartisan bill to the White House that would set aside certain airwaves specifically for use in commercial space launches in a bid to drive space industry growth.

  • September 19, 2024

    Boeing Beats Suit Over Workers' Love-Triangle Murder

    A Washington federal judge has again tossed a lawsuit against Boeing over a love triangle that led a Boeing employee to murder his coworker, dismissing the case for good because the killing did not occur during working hours or at the workplace.

  • September 19, 2024

    Amazon, Bezos Deny Blue Origin Deal Challenges In Del.

    An Amazon.com stockholder suit seeking damages from the e-commerce giant for purportedly conflicted dealing with company founder Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin space launch business can't get off the ground in Delaware's Court of Chancery, attorneys for the Amazon parties argued in a new brief filed late Wednesday.

  • September 19, 2024

    Sidley-Led Knowles Sells Microphones Biz For $150M

    High-performance electronics company Knowles Corp., led by Sidley Austin LLP, on Thursday announced plans to sell its Consumer MEMS Microphones business to Latham & Watkins LLP-advised Syntiant Corp. in a $150 million cash and stock deal.

  • September 19, 2024

    Feds, Wis. Military Affairs Office Ink Deal In Pay Bias Suit

    The Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs will pay $175,000 to end a U.S. Department of Justice suit alleging it offered a female job applicant a lower salary than what it paid a man for the same position, according to a filing Thursday in federal court. 

  • September 19, 2024

    Feds Say Menendez Retrial Bid Ignores 'Overwhelming' Proof

    Prosecutors urged a Manhattan federal judge to reject former Sen. Bob Menendez's request for a new trial on corruption and bribery charges, arguing that evidence of his guilt was "overwhelming."

  • September 19, 2024

    Squire Patton Hires Ex-Defense Secretary Mark Esper

    Former Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper, who clashed with former President Donald Trump, has joined Squire Patton Boggs LLP to advise clients on national security matters and domestic and foreign policy, the firm announced Thursday.

  • September 18, 2024

    FBI Dismantles Chinese Botnet, Urges Victims To Seek Aid

    FBI Director Christopher Wray announced Wednesday that the law enforcement agency has knocked out a botnet operated by a Chinese government-sponsored hacker group that was stealing confidential data by infecting internet-connected devices.

  • September 18, 2024

    Elon Musk Says He'll Sue FAA Over 'Political' SpaceX Fines

    Tech billionaire Elon Musk says he'll be suing the Federal Aviation Administration after learning that the agency plans to slap his space company with $633,000 in fines for not following licensing requirements during two launches, calling the proposed penalties "politically-motivated."

  • September 18, 2024

    9th Circ. Won't Revive Gas Price-Fixing Suit Over Trump Pact

    The Ninth Circuit upheld the dismissal of a proposed class action alleging price fixing between major oil producers as part of the Trump Administration's 2020 deal with Russia and Saudi Arabia to cut production, saying that subjecting the pact to judicial review would be inappropriately "second-guessing" executive branch foreign policy.

  • September 18, 2024

    Feds Say Afghan Allies Can't Sue Over Kids' Visa Denials

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security urged a Virginia federal judge to toss a suit from Afghan allies who claim their children's visa applications were arbitrarily denied, saying the suit has no legal leg to stand on.

  • September 18, 2024

    House Rejects 6-Month Federal Funding Bill

    The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday rejected a continuing resolution funding the federal government for six months, after a veto threat from President Joe Biden over the bill's funding levels and a contentious clause requiring citizenship checks for voter registration.

  • September 18, 2024

    Bipartisan Bill Would Boost Acquisition Council's Authority

    A bipartisan group of House lawmakers has introduced a bill to boost a federal advisory council that makes recommendations for mitigating risks within federal supply chains, giving the council more funding and the ability to issue binding removal orders for risky technologies.

  • September 18, 2024

    Senate Panel Backs Bill Easing Pot Rules For Federal Hires

    A Democrat-backed bill that would curb federal agencies' ability to use past medical or recreational cannabis use as a factor in hiring and security clearance decisions was advanced out of a Senate committee Wednesday, paving the way for a vote before the whole chamber.

  • September 18, 2024

    EDNY Prosecutor Joins Faegre Drinker

    Faegre Drinker has added a prosecutor from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York to its growing white collar litigation practice.

  • September 18, 2024

    Worker Drops Suit Alleging Retaliation For Discussing Wages

    A former employee of a company that designs and manufactures radiation detection devices dropped his suit accusing the company of firing him in retaliation for discussing wages with his colleagues, according to a filing in Connecticut state court.

  • September 17, 2024

    US Sanctions Georgians Engaged In Anti-Democratic Violence

    The United States imposed sanctions and visa bans Tuesday on several Georgians for their involvement in the violent response to peaceful protests against the foreign influence law that U.S. officials say has undermined Georgia's democracy and violated human rights.

  • September 17, 2024

    GC Base Salaries At Big Companies On The Rise

    General counsel base salaries at companies making $5 billion or more in revenue has increased from last year, while their total compensation has decreased, according to a report released Tuesday by the Association of Corporate Counsel and Empsight International LLC.

Expert Analysis

  • Unpacking Executive Privilege, Contempt In Recent Cases

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    The U.S. House of Representatives’ recent move to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress is the latest example in a growing trend of executive privilege disputes, and serves as a warning to private citizens and corporate leaders who are in communication with the president, says Kristina Moore at Womble Bond.

  • 3 Leadership Practices For A More Supportive Firm Culture

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    Traditional leadership styles frequently amplify the inherent pressures of legal work, but a few simple, time-neutral strategies can strengthen the skills and confidence of employees and foster a more collaborative culture, while supporting individual growth and contribution to organizational goals, says Benjamin Grimes at BKG Leadership.

  • The OIG Report: DOJ's Own Whistleblower Program Has Holes

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    A recent Office of the Inspector General memo found that the U.S. Department of Justice’s whistleblower program failed to protect federal employees whose security clearances were allegedly suspended in retaliation — a serious cause for concern that could have a potential chilling effect on would-be whistleblowers, says Diana Shaw at Wiley.

  • E-Discovery Quarterly: Rulings On Hyperlinked Documents

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    Recent rulings show that counsel should engage in early discussions with clients regarding the potential of hyperlinked documents in electronically stored information, which will allow for more deliberate negotiation of any agreements regarding the scope of discovery, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • Loper Bright Limits Federal Agencies' Ability To Alter Course

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to dismantle Chevron deference also effectively overrules its 2005 decision in National Cable & Telecommunications Association v. Brand X, greatly diminishing agencies' ability to change regulatory course from one administration to the next, says Steven Gordon at Holland & Knight.

  • What Cos. Should Note In DOJ's New Whistleblower Pilot

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    After the U.S. Department of Justice unveiled a new whistleblower pilot program last week — continuing its efforts to incentivize individual reporting of misconduct — companies should review the eligibility criteria, update their compliance programs and consider the risks and benefits of making their own self-disclosures, say attorneys at Skadden.

  • Series

    Teaching Scuba Diving Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    As a master scuba instructor, I’ve learned how to prepare for the unexpected, overcome fears and practice patience, and each of these skills – among the many others I’ve developed – has profoundly enhanced my work as a lawyer, says Ron Raether at Troutman Pepper.

  • SolarWinds Ruling Offers Cyber Incident Response Takeaways

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    The New York federal court's dismissal of all charges related to the 2019 Sunburst cyberattack is a devastating blow to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's cybersecurity case against SolarWinds, but the well-reasoned opinion provides valuable lessons that may improve companies' defensive posture in the wake of a major cybersecurity incident, say attorneys at Troutman Pepper.

  • Lawyers Can Take Action To Honor The Voting Rights Act

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    As the Voting Rights Act reaches its 59th anniversary Tuesday, it must urgently be reinforced against recent efforts to dismantle voter protections, and lawyers can pitch in immediately by volunteering and taking on pro bono work to directly help safeguard the right to vote, says Anna Chu at We The Action.

  • Pros And Cons Of 2025 NDAA's Space Contracting Proposal

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    The introduction of a Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve fleet in the pending 2025 National Defense Authorization Act presents a significant opportunity for space and satellite companies — despite outstanding questions, and potential risks, for operators, say attorneys at Wiley.

  • How To Grow Marketing, Biz Dev Teams In A Tight Market

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    Faced with fierce competition and rising operating costs, firms are feeling the pressure to build a well-oiled marketing and business development team that supports strategic priorities, but they’ll need to be flexible and creative given a tight talent market, says Ben Curle at Ambition.

  • Series

    Rock Climbing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Rock climbing requires problem-solving, focus, risk management and resilience, skills that are also invaluable assets in my role as a finance lawyer, says Mei Zhang at Haynes and Boone.

  • Contract Disputes Recap: Preserving Payment Rights

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    Stephanie Magnell and Zachary Jacobson at Seyfarth examine three recent decisions that together illustrate the importance of keeping accurate records and adhering to contractual procedures to avoid inadvertently waiving contractual rights to cost reimbursements or nonroutine payments.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Dance The Legal Standard Two-Step

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    From rookie brief writers to Chief Justice John Roberts, lawyers should master the legal standard two-step — framing the governing standard at the outset, and clarifying why they meet that standard — which has benefits for both the drafter and reader, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • Recent Settlement Shows 'China Initiative' Has Life After Death

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    Though the U.S. Department of Justice shuttered its controversial China Initiative two years ago, its recent False Claims Act settlement with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation demonstrates that prosecutors are more than willing to civilly pursue research institutions whose employees were previously targeted, say attorneys at Benesch.

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