Expert Analysis

• Series

  My Miniature Livestock Farm Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  Raising miniature livestock on my farm, where I am fully present with the animals, is an almost meditative time that allows me to return to work invigorated, ready to juggle numerous responsibilities and motivated to tackle hard issues in new ways, says Ted Kobus at BakerHostetler.

• Navigating Sanctions Against Colombia's Head Of State

  

  To limit their exposure from recent sanctions that prohibit dealings with Colombia’s president and specific officials, it is critical that U.S. companies gain a fulsome understanding of potential touchpoints, establish controls to avoid engagement and, if necessary, seek U.S. government approval, say attorneys at Perkins Coie.

• Litigation Funding Could Create Ethics Issues For Attorneys

  

  A litigation investor’s recent complaint claiming a New York mass torts lawyer effectively ran a Ponzi scheme illustrates how litigation funding arrangements can subject attorneys to legal ethics dilemmas and potential liability, so engagement letters must have very clear terms, says Matthew Feinberg at Goldberg Segalla.

• How New FinCEN FAQs Simplify Suspicious Activity Reporting

  

  New guidance from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and federal banking agencies that gives financial institutions more flexibility in meeting suspicious activity reporting obligations indicates the administration is following through on its promise to streamline the U.S. anti-money laundering regime, say attorneys at Davis Polk.

• E-Discovery Quarterly: Recent Rulings On Dynamic Databases

  

  Several recent federal court decisions illustrate how parties continue to grapple with the discovery of data in dynamic databases, so counsel involved in these disputes must consider how structured data should be produced consistent with the requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, say attorneys at Sidley.

• Comey Case Highlights Complex Speedy Trial Rights Calculus

  

  Former FBI Director James Comey’s decision to waive his Speedy Trial Act rights in the false statement prosecution against him serves as a reminder that the benefits of invoking these rights are usually outweighed by the risks of inadequate preparation, but it can be an effective strategy in the right case, says Sara Kropf at Kropf Moseley.

• Where Crypto Mixing Enforcement Is Headed From Here

  

  Recent developments involving crypto mixers, particularly the Tornado Cash verdict, demonstrate that the Justice Department's shift away from regulation by prosecution does not mean total immunity, rather reflecting an approach that prioritizes both innovation and accountability, says David Tarras at Tarras Defense.

• Why Foreign Cos. Should Prep For Increased SEC Oversight

  

  With the recent trading suspensions of 10 foreign-based issuers listed on the Nasdaq, an enforcement action against a U.K. security-based swap dealer and the announcement of a cross-border task force, it's clear that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will expand oversight on foreign companies participating in the U.S. capital markets, says Tejal Shah at Cooley.

• What Narrower FinCEN Reporting Spells For Industry

  

  As compliance costs soar, the potential slimming down of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network's anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism regime is welcome news for banks, and would allow a shift in resources to ever-evolving cybercrime threats, say attorneys at Quarles & Brady.

• Revisiting Jury Trial Right May Upend State Regulatory Power

  

  Justice Neil Gorsuch’s recent use of a denial of certiorari to call for the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit whether the Seventh Amendment jury trial right extends to states, building off last year's Jarkesy ruling, could foretell a profound change in state regulators' ability to enforce penalties against regulated companies, say attorneys at Sidley.

• How Nasdaq, SEC Proposals May Transform Listing Standards

  

  Both Nasdaq and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission have increasingly focused their recent regulatory efforts on small and foreign issuers, particularly those from China, reflecting an intention to strengthen the overall quality of companies accessing U.S. markets, but also potentially introducing a chilling effect on certain issuers, say attorneys at Norton Rose.

• Reel Justice: 'Roofman,' Modus Operandi Evidence And AI

  

  The recent film “Roofman,” which dramatizes the real-life string of burglaries committed by Jeffrey Manchester, illuminates the legal standards required to support modus operandi evidence — which may soon become complicated by the use of artificial intelligence in crime series detection, says Veronica Finkelstein at Wilmington University School of Law.

• Series

  Building With Lego Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  Building with Lego has taught me to follow directions and adapt to unexpected challenges, and in pairing discipline with imagination, allows me to stay grounded while finding new ways to make complex deals come together, says Paul Levin at Venable.

• How Banks Can Safely Handle Payments For Gambling Biz

  

  As the betting market continues to expand, it's crucial for banks and fintechs to track historical developments in wagering and ongoing prediction markets litigation that can factor into a risk analysis for payment processing with respect to gambling operators, says Laura D'Angelo at Jones Walker.

• SEC Focused On Fraud As Actions Markedly Declined In 2025

  

  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's enforcement activity in its fiscal year 2025 was its lowest in 10 years, reflecting not only a significant decline in the commission's workforce, but also Chairman Paul Atkins' stated focus on fraud and individual wrongdoing and a new approach to crypto regulation, say attorneys at Covington.