Public Policy

  • January 16, 2025

    9th Circ. Affirms $23.2M Judgment In ICE Detainee Wage Trial

    A split Ninth Circuit panel on Thursday upheld a $23.2 million district court judgment in favor of a class of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees and Washington state, ruling that the GEO Group isn't immune from paying the detainees the state minimum wage for their involvement in a work program.

  • January 16, 2025

    Interior Nom Stresses Need For More Fossil Fuels

    Interior secretary nominee Doug Burgum said on Thursday that he will promote U.S. energy dominance and add more fossil fuel-derived electricity to the grid, as Democrats and Republican senators sparred over how much emphasis should be given to renewables.

  • January 16, 2025

    Texas Ozone Fight A Repeat Of 2007, EPA Tells 5th Circ.

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said that Texas is feigning a misunderstanding of the Clean Air Act, saying it couldn't have hit the state with a "surprise switcheroo" because it was in an identical situation more than a decade earlier.

  • January 16, 2025

    Deal Ends Suit Over Deportation Of US Citizens' Spouses

    A federal judge signed off Thursday on a settlement in a long-running class action brought by New England-based immigrants and their U.S. citizen spouses, ending a suit that challenged the first Trump Administration's policy of separating families pursuing legal status for a spouse at risk of deportation.

  • January 16, 2025

    Colo. AG Wants Ruling In Case Grocers' Merger Is Resurrected

    The Colorado attorney general on Wednesday urged a Denver judge to rule on the state's challenge to Kroger Co. and Albertsons' merger despite the grocers' claims they've abandoned the deal, arguing the fact that the companies dispute each other's termination of the merger suggests it "may still be operative."

  • January 16, 2025

    3rd Circ. Unsure Pa. GOP Can Challenge Biden's Voting Order

    Republican lawmakers from Pennsylvania told the Third Circuit on Thursday that President Joe Biden's executive order expanding "get-out-the-vote" information by using third parties trampled on their authority as legislators, with the appellate panel questioning their standing to bring the case.

  • January 16, 2025

    Md. Gov. Pitches Taxing High Earners, Combined Reporting

    Maryland's governor proposed higher income tax rates for people who make more than $500,000 and adopting water's-edge combined reporting for its corporate income tax in his 2026 budget proposal.

  • January 16, 2025

    NC Biz Court Bulletin: Judge Bids Adieu, TikTok Wants Out

    The North Carolina Business Court's former chief judge hung up his robes for the last time as the court entered the new year with a ruling that shapes the fate of beset real estate company MV Realty's consumer fraud trial and arguments by TikTok Inc. that its platform being "too engaging" isn't enough for the state to begin an enforcement action.

  • January 16, 2025

    Madigan Racketeering Case Will Go To Jury

    The Illinois federal judge overseeing a criminal racketeering trial against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and his longtime friend and political ally made certain Thursday that the jury will deliberate and decide the case, rejecting severance and acquittal requests on the last day of evidence.

  • January 16, 2025

    FTC Fights Southern Glazer's Bid To Seal Pricing Allegations

    The Federal Trade Commission is opposing a bid from Southern Glazer's to permanently seal parts of the complaint in the commission's price discrimination case, including percentages allegedly showing how much more small retailers pay for wine and spirits than large chains.

  • January 16, 2025

    Fulton DA Willis Fights Subpoenas In Trump Case Probe

    Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis this week outlined her objections to subpoenas issued by a Georgia state Senate committee investigating her prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump, arguing they are overbroad, intended to embarrass her and "defunct" due to the swearing in of a new general assembly.

  • January 16, 2025

    US, Colombia Agree To Strengthen Investor-State Defenses

    The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said Thursday it has reached an agreement with Colombia aimed at strengthening the two countries' defenses against investor-state claims in an underlying trade pact, one of the last actions of the outgoing Biden administration following years of requests by Democratic lawmakers.

  • January 16, 2025

    Phillips Mum On Future As FERC Chairmanship Nears End

    Willie Phillips on Thursday acknowledged that his time as Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chairman is coming to an end, but wouldn't say whether he will leave the agency once President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

  • January 16, 2025

    Economists Say USPTO Should Keep Fee-Setting Authority

    The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday announced it has provided Congress with an outside study arguing that the patent fee system is working well for small entities and that the agency should keep its power to set fees beyond the current 2026 expiration date.

  • January 16, 2025

    Lawmakers Ask Biden To Pause TikTok Sale-Or-Ban Law

    A group of lawmakers has urged President Joe Biden to extend a Sunday deadline for TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company over national security concerns or face a nationwide ban, saying presidential action is needed to avoid "catastrophic" effects of the wildly popular social media platform going dark.

  • January 16, 2025

    Tax Court's 90-Day Deadline Is Not Fixed, 6th Circ. Told

    A woman who missed the 90-day deadline for challenging her liabilities in the U.S. Tax Court told the Sixth Circuit on Thursday that the Internal Revenue Service has wrongly argued that case law proves the deadline is set in stone.

  • January 16, 2025

    Trump Names Senate Commerce Aide As FCC Commissioner

    President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named Olivia Trusty, a top Republican aide on the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, as his pick for the next GOP commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission.

  • January 16, 2025

    NJ Man Pleads Guilty To Trying To Bribe Sewer Commissioner

    A New Jersey sewer commission employee has admitted to a conspiracy charge for trying to sway a commissioner to boost his career, the state attorney general and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability announced.

  • January 16, 2025

    Florida AG Moody Picked To Replace Marco Rubio In Senate

    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday picked state Attorney General Ashley Moody to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, whom President-elect Donald Trump has nominated to lead the U.S. Department of State during his second term in office.

  • January 16, 2025

    Cleveland-Cliffs Sets Sights On US Steel, And More Rumors

    Cleveland-Cliffs has re-emerged as a potential suitor to purchase U.S. Steel after President Joe Biden blocked Nippon's planned purchase, TikTok could be sold to Elon Musk, and Prada is among potential suitors eyeing Versace. Here, Law360 breaks down these and other notable deal rumors from the past week.

  • January 16, 2025

    Enviro Org. Drops Fight Over DOE's $1.1B Diablo Canyon Award

    An environmental group has begrudgingly dismissed its challenge of a $1.1 billion U.S. Department of Energy award that aimed to help California's last nuclear power plant keep running after learning state officials have already given Pacific Gas & Electric Co. $1.3 billion for the same purpose.

  • January 16, 2025

    Ill. Bill Seeks Refunds Of Excess Property Tax Revenue

    Illinois local taxing authorities that exceed the previous year's property tax collection would need to disperse the excess to taxpayers under a bill introduced in the state House of Representatives.

  • January 16, 2025

    'Complete Lack Of Respect' For Privilege DQs NH Prosecutor

    A New Hampshire judge has disqualified the lead prosecutor and a financial expert in the state attorney general's criminal case against a casino owner, finding that they had negligently viewed material protected under attorney-client privilege.

  • January 16, 2025

    State Dept. Extends Protections For Hong Kongers Into 2027

    The U.S. Department of State said it is extending temporary safe haven provisions for Hong Kong residents who are concerned about returning home due to a "steady assault" on basic rights by the Chinese and Hong Kong governments.

  • January 16, 2025

    DOL Proposes Rule On Valuing Stock For Purchase By ESOPs

    The U.S. Department of Labor proposed a rule Thursday to help plan managers determine the value of company stock for purchase by an employee stock ownership plan while also withdrawing a previous rule that the DOL proposed in 1988 but never finalized.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Group Running Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    The combination of physical fitness and community connection derived from running with a group of business leaders has, among other things, helped me to stay grounded, improve my communication skills, and develop a deeper empathy for clients and colleagues, says Jessica Shpall Rosen at Greenwald Doherty.

  • Marketing Messages Matter In State AG Consumer Protection

    Author Photo

    Attorneys general interpret marketing claims far more broadly than many companies may realize, so to mitigate potential risk, businesses should be vigilant about all consumer messaging, including communications that may not traditionally be considered advertising in the colloquial sense, say attorneys at Cozen O'Connor.

  • Tips For Employers Facing Looming Immigration Changes

    Author Photo

    As Trump's second term heralds a challenging period for immigration policy, employers should look to lessons from his first administration as they implement strategies for their global talent programs and communications protocols, says Eileen Lohmann at BAL.

  • Opinion

    6 Changes I Would Make If I Ran A Law School

    Author Photo

    Reuben Guttman at Guttman Buschner identifies several key issues plaguing law schools and discusses potential solutions, such as opting out of the rankings game and mandating courses in basic writing skills.

  • The Current State Of Play Around Corporate Transparency Act

    Author Photo

    Although a Texas court preliminarily enjoined enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act and paused an impending Dec. 31 reporting deadline, multiple states have similar requirements, so companies should continue to monitor compliance obligations regardless of the CTA's constitutionality, say attorneys at Simpson Thacher.

  • Predictions For Trump Antitrust Enforcement Of Life Sciences

    Author Photo

    Key life sciences antitrust issues of the past two administrations may indicate the direction of enforcement during President-elect Donald Trump's second term, including in areas such as drug prices, killer acquisitions and merger remedies, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

  • What To Know About Fla. Civil Procedure Rule Revisions

    Author Photo

    While some may be apprehensive about the looming changes coming to Florida’s Rules of Civil Procedure on Jan. 1, these essential modifications that affect tenets of civil litigation long taken for granted will increase efficiency and streamline the litigation process, say attorneys at Farah & Farah.

  • From Football To Pickleball, Sports Investing Evolved In 2024

    Author Photo

    The NFL's decision to allow private-equity investments in football franchises capped off a transformative year in U.S. sports that also included landmark PE transactions in emerging sports ranging from women's soccer to pickleball, say attorneys at Weil.

  • Implications Of NY Climate Case For Generating Facilities

    Author Photo

    Regardless of how Greenidge Generation LLC v. New York Department of Environmental Conservation develops on remand, this decision has immediate repercussions for generating facilities seeking permit applications and renewals in New York, likely involving Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act considerations, say attorneys at Hodgson Russ.

  • How CFPB Rule Would Affect Data Brokers And Beyond

    Author Photo

    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently proposed a rule that would not only expand data broker oversight by classifying many as consumer reporting agencies, but would also impose new limitations on companies seeking to obtain information from them, potentially requiring such entities to alter their business models, say attorneys at Orrick.

  • Firms Still Have The Edge In Lateral Hiring, But Buyer Beware

    Author Photo

    Partner mobility data suggests that the third quarter of this year continued to be a buyer’s market, with the average candidate demanding less compensation for a larger book of business — but moving into the fourth quarter, firms should slow down their hiring process to minimize risks, say officers at Decipher Investigative Intelligence.

  • Reviewing 2024's State Consumer Privacy Law Enforcement

    Author Photo

    While we are still in the infancy of state consumer privacy laws, a review of enforcement activity this year suggests substantial overlaps in regulatory priorities across the most active states and gives insight into the likely paths of future enforcement, says Thomas Nolan at Quinn Emanuel.

  • 5th Circ. Crypto Ruling Shows Limits On OFAC Authority

    Author Photo

    The Fifth Circuit's recent decision that immutable smart contracts on the Tornado Cash crypto-transaction software protocol are not "property" subject to Office of Foreign Assets Control jurisdiction may signal that courts can construe OFAC's authority more restrictively after Loper Bright, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • Preparing For The New Restrictions On Investment Into China

    Author Photo

    In light of a new regulatory program governing U.S. investments in China-related technology companies of national security concern, investors should keep several considerations in mind, including the rules' effect on existing and new investments, compliance hurdles, and penalties for noncompliance ahead of the rules' January implementation, say attorneys at Gunderson Dettmer.

  • Opinion

    Congress Should Expand Investment Options For 403(b)s

    Author Photo

    Lawmakers should pass pending legislation to give 403(b) plan participants access to collective investment trusts, leveling the playing field for public sector retirement investors by giving them an investment option their private sector counterparts have had for decades, says Jason Levy at Great Gray Trust Company.

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!