Aerospace & Defense

  • March 17, 2025

    Split 9th Circ. Won't Halt Federal Workers Reinstatement Order

    A divided Ninth Circuit panel on Monday denied President Donald Trump's administration an immediate administrative stay of a California district court order requiring reinstatement of some probationary federal workers fired from six agencies, the majority saying a pause "would disrupt the status quo and turn it on its head."

  • March 17, 2025

    Army Can Reject $435M TNT Plant Bidder Over China Ties

    The U.S. Government Accountability Office has rejected a protest over a $435 million U.S. Army contract to design and build a TNT production facility, saying the Army reasonably rejected a bidder for security concerns over ties to China.

  • March 17, 2025

    RRJ Capital Leads $600M Investment In Aviation Biz Vista

    Private aviation group Vista, advised by Latham & Watkins LLP, on Monday revealed that it secured a $600 million equity investment from a group of investors led by Asian investment firm RRJ Capital.

  • March 17, 2025

    Former DOJ, FCC Official Joins Morgan Lewis In DC

    Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP has grown its telecommunications, media and technology practice in Washington, D.C., with the addition of a former senior Federal Communications Commission and U.S. Department of Justice official, the firm announced on Monday.

  • March 14, 2025

    Trump Revokes Paul Weiss Security Clearances

    Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP became the third law firm to have workers' security clearances suspended by President Donald Trump, who signed the executive order Friday, citing the firm's DEI hiring practices and the decision by a former attorney there to assist the Manhattan district attorney's investigation of Trump.

  • March 14, 2025

    4th Circ. Lets White House Anti-DEI Efforts Proceed

    The Fourth Circuit on Friday lifted a temporary injunction blocking President Donald Trump's administration from implementing the bulk of his executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs, though each judge on the panel had differing views on the matter. 

  • March 14, 2025

    Boeing NASA Tech IP Claims Survive Dismissal In Wash.

    A Washington federal judge has narrowed a Colorado firm's suit accusing The Boeing Co. of using stolen technology to support NASA's Artemis moon exploration program, preserving some claims for copyright and trade secret theft while dismissing trademark and counterfeiting allegations.

  • March 14, 2025

    Fort Worth's Unwieldy PFAS Suit Against Gov't, Cos. Gets Split

    A Texas federal judge on Friday ruled that Fort Worth's $420.6 million suit seeking to hold the federal government and various manufacturers liable for PFAS contamination must be split into separate cases, or risk being too unwieldy and confusing for jurors.

  • March 14, 2025

    Md. Judge Joins Calif. In Reversing Federal Workers' Firing

    A Maryland federal judge has ordered the reinstatement of thousands of probationary employees who were abruptly fired from 18 federal agencies, saying the Trump administration's lack of required notice left states "scrambling" to pick up the pieces.

  • March 14, 2025

    Claims Court Judge Says GSA Was Wrong To DQ OASIS+ Bid

    A Court of Federal Claims judge on Friday ruled in favor of government contractor Q2 Impact in a spat over its disqualification from bidding in the General Services Administration's massive OASIS+ professional services contract, saying the GSA misinterpreted the 2019 defense bill barring contractors from using Chinese-made telecommunications equipment.

  • March 14, 2025

    Senate Approves Full-Year Funding Resolution

    The U.S. Senate on Friday passed a continuing resolution funding the federal government for the remainder of fiscal year 2025, after a small group of Democrats sided with Republicans to end debate on the bill.

  • March 14, 2025

    SpaceX Suit Against Coastal Commission Grounded, For Now

    A California federal judge dismissed SpaceX's suit Friday alleging the California Coastal Commission wrongly tried to block its rocket launches, but allowed leave to amend the complaint after warning the company's lawyer he would not grant any leave if he kept up his current line of attack on the suit.

  • March 14, 2025

    Convict Seeks Prison Delay Ahead Of Nadine Menendez Trial

    An associate of former U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez who is appealing his conviction for bribing the politician with gold and cash asked a New York federal judge Friday to postpone his voluntary surrender for imprisonment as he prepares to testify in the trial of the ex-politician's wife. 

  • March 14, 2025

    Atty Gets 8½ Years For Attempted Embassy Attack

    A Florida attorney who pled guilty to damaging a San Antonio sculpture and unsuccessfully trying to detonate explosives outside the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 8½ years Friday, after the judge overseeing the case said the defendant's own statements at the hearing likely got him more time.

  • March 14, 2025

    Mass. Court Won't Lift Default Over Discovery Failures

    A California aerospace firm can't get a do-over after repeatedly defaulting on discovery obligations in a Massachusetts lawsuit over an unpaid bill from a tax consultant, the state's intermediate-level appeals court said on Friday.

  • March 13, 2025

    Watchdog Says Federal Landlord Used Prohibited Chinese Drone

    The U.S. General Service Administration's Office of Inspector General on Thursday pressed the Public Buildings Service to tell one of its contractors to stop using a drone manufactured by a Chinese company that the U.S. Department of Defense has identified as a potential national security threat.

  • March 13, 2025

    Judge Trims Claims Of Botched Federal Savings Transition

    A D.C. federal judge trimmed a proposed class of federal employees and their family members' claims against two companies that manage workers' retirement plan and the plan's board Wednesday, tossing claims of negligence and breach of fiduciary duty but leaving breach of contract and unjust enrichment claims intact.

  • March 13, 2025

    Air Force Didn't Properly Assess Labor Rates On $121M Deal

    The U.S. Government Accountability Office has sustained a protest over a $121.4 million U.S. Air Force communications support task order, finding the Air Force unreasonably assessed whether the awardee's proposed pay rates were realistic.

  • March 13, 2025

    Drone-Maker Wants DOD Info On Listing As Chinese Military Co.

    Drone manufacturer DJI wants the U.S. Department of Defense to turn over classified information behind the decision to list it as a Chinese military company, claiming the materials are essential for its lawsuit contesting the designation.

  • March 13, 2025

    FCC Creates New Nat'l Security Arm Focused On China

    The Federal Communications Commission will operate a new organization within the agency focused solely on national security, particularly cybersecurity threats emerging from the Chinese government.

  • March 13, 2025

    Judge Hits 'Reset Button' In 3M, DuPont PFAS Cleanup Case

    New Jersey's environmental regulators have tried to force EIDP and DuPont Chemours to begin remediation efforts on "forever chemical" contamination at a former facility in Salem County — which is at the center of ongoing litigation — a move that seemingly undermined a federal judge's authority and put in jeopardy a looming May trial date.

  • March 13, 2025

    Who Is FCC Nominee Olivia Trusty? Here's What We Know

    Republicans on the five-seat Federal Communications Commission need a critical third vote to push through many of the changes they envision for the nation's telecom policies, and the White House has chosen longtime Capitol Hill aide Olivia Trusty for the role.

  • March 13, 2025

    Navy Escapes Civilian Mechanic's Race Bias Suit

    The U.S. Navy defeated a Black civilian mechanic's suit claiming he was denied training opportunities and humiliated by a racist video in front of white and Hispanic colleagues, with a California federal judge finding the actions didn't negatively impact his employment.

  • March 13, 2025

    Judge Orders Reinstatement Of Many Fired Federal Workers

    A California federal judge on Thursday ordered the immediate reinstatement of certain probationary employees fired from six federal agencies, saying the Office of Personnel Management did not have the authority to direct those terminations, making the firings "unlawful."

  • March 12, 2025

    DC Judge Challenges DOD Over Trans Military Ban Policy

    A D.C. federal judge said at a hearing Wednesday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth either intends to ban transgender people from the military entirely or he's "sloppy" and says things on social media that contradict the policy he wrote.

Expert Analysis

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

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    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.

  • Preparing For The New Restrictions On Investment Into China

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    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.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: 1 Type Of Case Complexity Stands Out

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    In contrast to some cases that appear complex due to voluminous evidence or esoteric subject matter, a different kind of complexity involves tangled legal and factual questions, each with a range of possible outcomes, which require a “sliding scale” approach instead of syllogistic reasoning, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Note 3 Simple Types Of Legal Complexity

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    Cases can appear complex for several reasons — due to the number of issues, the volume of factual and evidentiary sources, and the sophistication of those sources — but the same basic technique can help lawyers tame their arguments into a simple and persuasive message, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • What Insurers Need To Know About OFAC's Expanded FAQs

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    The Office of Foreign Assets Control's recently expanded insurance FAQs clarify how OFAC views insurance policies in a number of specific circumstances involving sanctioned parties, and make plain that sanctions compliance is the responsibility of all participants in the insurance ecosystem, including underwriters, brokers and agents, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • Series

    Gardening Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Beyond its practical and therapeutic benefits, gardening has bolstered important attributes that also apply to my litigation practice, including persistence, patience, grit and authenticity, says Christopher Viceconte at Gibbons.

  • How Trump's 2nd Term May Alter The Immigration Landscape

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    Rhetoric from Donald Trump's campaign and his choice of hardline appointees indicate that a more restrictive and punitive approach to immigration is in our immediate future, especially in areas like humanitarian relief, nonimmigrant visa processing, and travel and green card eligibility, says John Quill at Mintz.

  • Litigation Inspiration: Reframing Document Review

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    For attorneys — new ones especially — there is much fulfillment to find in document review by reflecting on how important, interesting and pleasant it can be, says Bennett Rawicki at Hilgers Graben.

  • Inside The Appeals Board's 2024 Report To Congress

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    An in-depth examination of the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals’ annual report reveals ​a continuing decline in new cases, motions and hearings, a trend that may correspond with ​t​he increased use of alternative dispute resolution, and expedited or accelerated proceedings, say attorneys at Miller & Chevalier.

  • How Boards And Officers Should Prep For New Trump Admin

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    In anticipation of President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariffs and mass deportation campaign, company officers and board members should pursue proactive, comprehensive contingency planning to not only advance the best interests of the companies they serve, but to also properly exercise their fiduciary duty of care, say attorneys at Winston & Strawn.

  • Implementing Human Rights Due Diligence

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    The Bureau of Industry and Security’s recent removal of a Canadian surveillance provider from its export blacklist, after just eight months, illustrates the importance of integrating human rights due diligence into the vetting process by asking a few targeted questions, say attorneys at Cravath.

  • DC Circ. Decision Opens Door To NEPA Regulation Litigation

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    A recent D.C. Circuit decision in Marin Audubon Society v. Federal Aviation Administration could open the door to more litigation over the White House Council on Environmental Quality's National Environmental Policy Act regulations, and could affect how many agencies conduct and interpret environmental assessments, say attorneys at ArentFox Schiff.

  • How CFIUS' Updated Framework Affects Global Investors

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    The recent change to the monitoring and enforcement regulations governing the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States will broaden administrative practices around nonnotified transaction investigations, increase the scope of information demands from the committee and accelerate its ability to impose mitigation on parties, say attorneys at Simpson Thacher.

  • Contract Disputes Recap: Perils Of Perfunctory Interpretation

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    Attorneys at Seyfarth examine three recent decisions in which the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals and the Federal Circuit ruthlessly dismantled arguments that rely on superficial understandings of different contract terms.

  • Series

    Flying Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Achieving my childhood dream of flying airplanes made me a better lawyer — and a better person — because it taught me I can conquer difficult goals when I leave my comfort zone, focus on the demands of the moment and commit to honing my skills, says Ivy Cadle at Baker Donelson.

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