D. Jacques Smith, Michael F. Dearington, Nadia Patel, Hillary M. Stemple, Laura Zell, Michelle J. Shapiro, Shoshana Golden, Roberto Martinez
Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries
On April 24, Taylor Swift’s company, TAS Rights Management, filed three new trademark applications with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in what appears to be an effort to safeguard her identity against the rising threat of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content. Two of the applications fall into the relatively uncommon category of “sound marks.”
On May 7, the US Court of International Trade (CIT) ruled 2-1 that the 10% tariffs President Trump imposed on virtually all US imports under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 are unlawful.
The saga of Joe Exotic has generated no shortage of legal drama. And a recent Tenth Circuit decision adds an important new chapter — one with significant implications for copyright holders and content creators alike across the entertainment industry.
Ralph V. De Martino, Cavas S. Pavri, Johnathan C. Duncan, Marc E. Rivera, Jeffrey J. Kennedy, Marina Phillips, Kendall K. Murphy
Nasdaq has significantly raised the financial bar for special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) listings. Effective May 15, the minimum market value listing threshold increases to $100 million on the Global Market and $75 million on the Capital Market, with stricter shareholder requirements on both tiers.
The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has extended and modified the Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program, which allows appellants to have eligible ex parte appeals before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) advanced out of turn.
Linda M. Jackson, Matthew F. Prewitt, Allan E. Anderson, Ehsun Forghany, Nicholas J. Nesgos, Alexander H. Spiegler, Meghan F. Hart, John M. Hindley, Nicole Curtis Martinez
Virginia is the latest jurisdiction to enact legislation broadening restrictions on the use of noncompete agreements.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed amendments that would allow public companies to file semiannual reports in lieu of quarterly reports, marking a significant shift in the longstanding interim reporting framework under the federal securities laws. If adopted, companies would have the flexibility to file one semiannual report and one annual report each fiscal year, instead of three quarterly reports and one annual report.
William R. Mitchell, Kevin Matz, Tracy L. McLaughlin, Evgeny Magidenko, Jon S. Bouker, David P. Grosso
On April 6, the US Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published Revenue Procedure 2026-14 (Designation Guidance) to provide guidance for the nomination of census tracts to be designated as qualified opportunity zones (OZs) under the now-permanent OZ regime under §§ 1400Z-1 and 1400Z-2 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by § 70421 of Public Law 119-21, 139 Stat. 72, 223 (July 4, 2025), commonly known as the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
Data centers have a global reach, but their development is increasingly shaped by local land use decisions, public opinion, and evolving legislative frameworks. Across the country, state and local governments are introducing moratoria, revising zoning codes, and responding to community concerns in ways that directly affect project timelines and siting strategies.
D. Jacques Smith, Michael F. Dearington, Nadia Patel, Hillary M. Stemple, Laura Zell, Michelle J. Shapiro, Shoshana Golden, Meredith Gillespie
Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries
On April 20, the US Supreme Court granted certiorari in Beaird v. United States, No. 25-5343, agreeing to decide whether its 1993 decision in Stinson v. United States, 508 US 36 (1993), still correctly defines how much deference federal courts owe the official commentary accompanying the US Sentencing Guidelines. The outcome could reshape how federal judges calculate sentencing ranges nationwide.
The next phase of the Trump Administration’s efforts to end unlawful diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices moves forward with the issuance of new Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.222-90.
Prop 65 Counsel: What To Know
Everyone is talking about peptides. Your doctor, your trainer, that guy at the dinner party who swears that BPC-157 rebuilt his knee — peptides have officially entered the zeitgeist. But for every breathless testimonial, there is a thicket of regulations that most market participants barely understand.
On April 22, Virginia enacted a new paid family and medical leave (PFML) insurance program after Governor Abigail Spanberger’s proposed amendments to Senate Bill 2 and House Bill 1207 were adopted by the General Assembly.
On April 23, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced a final order reclassifying US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug products containing “marijuana” and cannabis products regulated under qualifying state-issued medical marijuana licenses from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), effective April 28. Critically, adult-use (recreational) cannabis remains in Schedule I.
Individuals facing federal fraud and tax evasion charges may soon see lower advisory guideline ranges under proposed Sentencing Guidelines amendments.
Rapid changes to US tariff policy have transformed what were once transactional import decisions into issues with enterprise-wide implications. The reliance on tariffs has had bipartisan support across Administrations, and the risks are not going away.
Sustainability reports have become a routine part of corporate disclosures for many US companies, even though no single federal law requires them.
With the release of the DC Board of Elections’ (DCBOE) official ballot for the 2026 District party primaries on June 16, the field is now set for one of the District’s most consequential local elections in the 50 years since Home Rule.
D. Jacques Smith, Michael F. Dearington, Nadia Patel, Hillary M. Stemple, Laura Zell, Michelle J. Shapiro, Meghan F. Hart, Meredith Gillespie
Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is signaling that health care and life sciences companies should expect heightened regulatory scrutiny related to consumer protection and competition.
On April 18, President Trump signed an executive order (EO) directing multiple federal agencies to accelerate research and expand access to psychedelic drugs as potential treatments for serious mental health conditions. The EO represents a notable shift in federal policy toward psychedelic substances and their potential therapeutic use.
When the Delaware Supreme Court held in Maffei v. Palkon that Tripadvisor’s reincorporation from Delaware to Nevada should be reviewed under the business judgement rule and not the entire fairness standard (all but ensuring the company’s departure), the business community widely viewed the decision as another nail in the coffin of Delaware’s dominance of corporate formations.