Expert Analysis

• Changes Coming To The SBIR And STTR Programs

  

  Legislation recently approved by Congress to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs includes changes focused on national security that would improve transparency but also increase applicants' administrative burdens, slow the awards process and likely increase litigation, say attorneys at Fluet & Associates.

• Managing New Fair Housing Risks Of AI Leasing Agents

  

  Trusting AI-driven chatbots to manage early communications with potential tenants can expose housing providers to Fair Housing Act violations on a vast scale, but prioritizing supervision of automated interactions, implementing strong vendor governance and tracking emerging testing trends can catch problems early, says Yana Rusovski at Spencer Fane.

• Breaking Down State Legislative Efforts In Telecom Security

  

  As the federal government has strengthened national security safeguards for the telecommunications ecosystem, states have also asserted a role in telecom security, with variations among these regimes risking regulatory fragmentation and complicating compliance strategies, say attorneys at Hogan Lovells.

• Agentic AI Use May Trigger Existing Consumer Finance Laws

  

  As artificial intelligence agents interact more and more with payment systems, financial institutions should be cognizant of how existing consumer protection laws like the Equal Credit Opportunity Act apply when transactions are executed by automated systems rather than individuals, noting authorization and liability gaps, say attorneys at Sheppard.

• SEC Guidance Further Solidifies Status Of Tokenized Assets

  

  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently released a statement that tokenized securities are securities governed by traditional securities laws, representing continued regulatory clarity and the development of expanded technical standards and risk management guidelines that can only improve the long-term viability of financial markets, say attorneys at Barnes & Thornburg.

• What's Next For The Advanced Air Mobility Sector

  

  The U.S. Department of Transportation’s recent selection of electric vertical takeoff and landing pilot program participants marks a transition from aspirational policy to accountable implementation, and regulatory strategy should be at the center of business planning across the advanced air mobility ecosystem, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

• 5 Tips For Navigating Your Firm's All-Attorney Summit

  Excerpt from Practical Guidance

  

  Law firm retreats should be approached strategically, as they present valuable opportunities to advance both the firm's objectives and attorneys' professional development through meaningful participation, building and strengthening internal relationships, and proactive follow-up, says James Argionis at Cozen O’Connor.

• What's At Stake In High Court's Venue Dispute Case

  

  The U.S. Supreme Court’s eventual ruling in Abouammo v. U.S. could fundamentally reshape venue rules for federal criminal prosecutions, highlighting why defense counsel should ensure preservation of colorable venue challenges, particularly where the government's chosen forum lacks a direct connection to the defendant's physical acts, say attorneys at ArentFox Schiff.

• Opinion

  Clarity Act Would Clear Welcome Pathways For Blockchain

  

  The framework proposed under the Senate Banking Committee's version of the Clarity Act creates reasonable compliance obligations and meaningful token-distribution opportunities that would open the door for more U.S.-based blockchain projects, without the heightened risk of securities litigation and regulatory enforcement, says Karen Ubell at Goodwin.

• 5 Gov't Contractor Tips Following Anthropic Risk Designation

  

  The Pentagon's designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk is an unprecedented action that raises significant legal questions, and with government contractors already receiving directives and inquiries concerning their use of Anthropic products and services, there are several strategies contractors can use to manage risk, say attorneys at Mayer Brown.

• AI Is Changing The Game For Lenders' Vendor Governance

  

  Recent guidance from Freddie Mac and the Treasury Department reinforces that expectations surrounding AI oversight are beginning to shape how mortgage lenders operationalize vendor governance, which is emerging as a critical compliance challenge for the decade ahead, says Alexandra Temple at Mitchell Sandler.

• Meta Coverage Ruling Could Erode Broad Duty To Defend

  

  A Delaware court recently decided that Meta's insurers need not defend the company from lawsuits alleging addictive platform design — a troubling decision for policyholders that, if upheld, warns that insureds' business decisions can be weaponized to deny a duty to defend, say attorneys at Anderson Kill.

• How Data Centers Can Prep For Legal Challenges Amid War

  

  Amid conflict in the Middle East, data centers may now be exposed to state-level kinetic threats, creating significant legal, regulatory and contractual implications, so operators should update their legal and operational frameworks in order to withstand future disruptions and meet the regulator expectations, say attorneys at Baker Botts.

• Series

  Coaching Soccer Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  Coaching youth soccer for my 7-year-old son's team has sharpened how I communicate with clients, prepare witnesses, work within teams and think about leadership, making me a more thoughtful and effective lawyer in many ways, says Joshua Holt at Smith Currie.

• Bid Protest Spotlight: Commerciality, Amendments, Evidence

  

  Recent decisions from the U.S. Government Accountability Office and the Small Business Administration illustrate the statutory and regulatory preference for acquiring commercial solutions, how failing to acknowledge a solicitation amendment can be fatal to a bid, and a protester's duty to support its allegations with evidence, says James Tucker at MoFo.