Expert Analysis


IPO Suit Reinforces Strict Section 11 Tracing Requirement

A California federal court's recent dismissal of an investor class action against Allbirds in connection with the company's initial public offering cites the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 Slack v. Pirani decision, reinforcing the firm tracing requirement for Section 11 plaintiffs — even at the pleading stage, say attorneys at Paul Weiss.


8 Steps For Industrial Property Buyers To Limit Enviro Liability

Ongoing litigation over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s designation of PFAS as hazardous site contaminants demonstrates the liabilities that industrial property purchasers risk inheriting, but steps to guarantee rigorous environmental compliance, anticipate regulatory change and allocate cleanup responsibilities can mitigate this uncertainty, say attorneys at ArentFox Schiff.


What Novel NIL Suit Reveals About College Sports Landscape

A first-of-its-kind name, image and likeness lawsuit — recently filed in Wisconsin state court by the University of Wisconsin-Madison against the University of Miami — highlights new challenges and risks following the NCAA’s landmark agreement to allow schools to make NIL deals and share revenue with student-athletes, say attorneys at O'Melveny.


Series

Law School's Missed Lessons: Mastering Time Management

Law students typically have weeks or months to prepare for any given deadline, but the unpredictability of practicing in the real world means that lawyers must become time-management pros, ready to adapt to scheduling conflicts and unexpected assignments at any given moment, says David Thomas at Honigman.


Courts Keep Upping Standing Ante In ERISA Healthcare Suits

As Article III standing becomes increasingly important in litigation brought by employer-sponsored health plan members under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, several recent cases suggest that courts are taking a more scrutinizing approach to the standing inquiry in both class actions and individual matters, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.


Calif. Bill May Shake Up Healthcare Investment Landscape

If signed by the governor, newly passed California legislation would significantly expand the Office of Health Care Affordability's oversight of private equity and hedge fund investments in healthcare companies and management services organizations, and raise several questions about companies' data confidentiality and filing burdens, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.


Bid Protest Spotlight: Grounds, Clarifications, Amendments

Three recent decisions by the U.S. Government Accountability Office offer helpful reminders about matching protest grounds to the regulatory provisions under which a solicitation was issued, how the GAO will distinguish between agency clarifications and discussions, and when an agency is obligated to amend a request for proposals, says Brian Doll at MoFo.


How Prohibiting Trigger Leads May Affect Mortgage Marketing

Recent amendments to the Fair Credit Reporting Act prohibiting the sale of trigger leads mark a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for mortgage lenders, third-party lead generators and their legal counsel, who should reevaluate lead generation strategies and compliance protocols, say Joel Herberman, Rob Robilliard and Leah Dempsey at Brownstein Hyatt.


What To Expect From The EEOC Once A Quorum Is Restored

As the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is expected to soon regain its quorum with a Republican majority, employers should be prepared for a more assertive EEOC, especially as it intensifies its scrutiny of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, say attorneys at Dechert.


Privacy Policy Lessons After Google App Data Verdict

In Rodriguez v. Google, a California federal jury recently found that Google unlawfully invaded app users' privacy by collecting, using and disclosing pseudonymized data, highlighting the complex interplay between nonpersonalized data and customers' understanding of privacy policy choices, says Beth Waller at Woods Rogers.


Rare Del. Oversight Ruling Sends Governance Wake-Up Call

An unusual ruling from the Delaware Court of Chancery recently allowed Caremark oversight claims to proceed against former executives of a company previously known as Teligent, sending a clear reminder that boards and officers must actively monitor and document oversight efforts when addressing mission-critical risks, say attorneys at WilmerHale.


How Hyperlinks Are Changing E-Discovery Responsibilities

A recent e-discovery dispute over hyperlinked data in Hubbard v. Crow shows how courts have increasingly broadened the definition of control to account for cloud-based evidence, and why organizations must rethink preservation practices to avoid spoliation risks, says Bree Murphy at Exterro.


UK Supreme Court Dissent May Spark Sanctions Debate

While the recent U.K. Supreme Court's rejection of Eugene Shvidler’s appeal determined that sanctions decisions are primarily the government’s preserve, Justice Leggatt’s dissenting view that judges are better placed to assess proportionality will cause ripples and may mark a material shift in how future appeals are approached, say lawyers at Seladore.


Pharma Copay Programs Raise Complex Economic Questions

The growing prevalence of copay accumulator and maximizer programs in the pharmaceutical industry is drawing increased scrutiny from patients, advocacy groups, lawmakers and courts, bringing complex questions about how financial responsibility for prescription drug purchases is determined and complicating damages assessments in litigation, say analysts at Analysis Group.


More NJ Case Law On LLCs Would Aid Attys, Litigants, Biz

More New Jersey court opinions would facilitate the understanding of the nuances of the state's Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, including on breach of the duty of loyalty, oppression, piercing the corporate veil and derivative actions, says Gianfranco Pietrafesa at Archer & Greiner.


State False Claims Acts Can Help Curb Opioid Fund Fraud

State versions of the federal False Claims Act can play an important role in policing the misuse of opioid settlement funds, taking a cue from the U.S. Department of Justice’s handling of federal fraud cases involving pandemic relief funds, says Kenneth Levine at Stone & Magnanini.


Pemex Bribery Charges Provide Glimpse Into FCPA Evolution

A recently unsealed indictment against two Mexican nationals for allegedly bribing officials at Pemex, Mexico’s state-owned oil company, reveals that Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement is adapting to new priorities, but still remains active, and compliance programs should continue apace, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.


Recent Precedent May Aid In Defending Ad Tech Class Actions

An emergent line of appellate court precedent regarding the indecipherability of anonymized advertising technology transmissions can be used as a powerful tool to counteract the explosion of advertising technology class actions under myriad statutory theories, say attorneys at Duane Morris.


CFPB Proposal Defining Consumer Risk May Add Uncertainty

Though a recent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposal would codify when risks to consumers justify supervisory intervention against nonbanks, furthering Trump administration plans to curtail CFPB authority, firms may still struggle to identify what could attract supervisory designation under the new rule, say attorneys at Steptoe.


11th Circ. Equitable Tolling Ruling Deepens Circuit Split

The Eleventh Circuit recently held that equitable tolling was unavailable to extend a deadline to object to discharge of debt, becoming the most recent circuit court decision to address this issue, and deepening a split that requires resolution by the U.S. Supreme Court, says Paul Avron at Berger Singerman.



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Special Series


My Hobby Makes Me A Better Lawyer

In this Expert Analysis series, attorneys share how their unusual extracurricular activities enhance professional development, providing insights and pointers that translate to the office, courtroom and beyond.




Adapting To Private Practice

In this Expert Analysis series, attorneys who have made the move from government work to private practice in the last few years reflect on how they transitioned to law firm life, and discuss tips for others.




Opinion


Congress Must Resolve PSLRA Issue For Section 11 Litigants

By establishing a uniform judgment reduction credit for all defendants in cases involving Section 11 of the Securities Act, Congress could remove unnecessary statutory ambiguity from the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act and enable litigants to price potential settlements with greater certainty, say attorneys at Sidley.

Small-Plane Black Box Mandate Would Aid Probes, Lawsuits

Given climbing fatality rates from small-plane and helicopter crashes, and the evidentiary significance of cockpit voice recordings in litigation and investigations, the Federal Aviation Administration should mandate black boxes in smaller aircraft, despite likely judicial challenges over privacy and cost-benefit calculations, says Jeff Korek at Gersowitz Libo.



Access to Justice Perspectives


High Court's Jury Rights Call Is Win For More Than Prisoners

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Perttu v. Richards — affirming the principle that no one, including incarcerated individuals, should be denied access to a jury via procedural obstacles — is a massive win for vulnerable plaintiffs facing powerful institutions, says Channing Robinson-Holmes at Pitt McGehee.