Long-sought 9th Circuit split returns to GOP Senate under Trump

The controversial proposal dates back several decades and would create a 12th Circuit to hear cases for a broad swath of seven Western states.

State AGs threaten financial institutions over ESG, DEI policies

Bank of America, BlackRock, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley were all asked about how they plan to implement or have implemented hiring or supplier diversity goals.

A new legal services firm seeks to sell experienced talent, not just low cost

NomosFIT aims to provide a more boutique experience among alternative providers with premium legal talent, often retired general counsel and CEOs.

Internal AI controls called key even if Trump DOJ downplays them

Trends point to more AI regulation, so even if the new administration takes a light touch, there are other laws and plenty of lawsuits that require companies to keep their tech in check.  

European body requires 5 divestitures for International Paper deal

International Paper agreed to sell plants in three countries to gain approval. The acquisition is expected to close next week.

How ‘productization’ turns legal services into a strategic asset

By treating the in-house team’s work as scalable product that aligns with business needs, general counsel can put to rest the idea of legal as only a cost center.

FTC announces proposed settlement with GM for selling connected vehicle data

The FTC alleges that GM and its OnStar subsidiary collected data from millions of vehicles without adequately notifying drivers.

BlackRock and Tennessee reach settlement on ESG suit

“We’re pleased to resolve this matter,” a BlackRock spokesperson told ESG Dive. The agreement dismisses the state’s 2023 lawsuit and does not find that the investment firm violated any laws.

New Jersey ban on NDAs for misconduct isn’t having much impact

It plays little role in decisions to come forward because few people seem to know about it, a report says.

Businesses would be required to report AI-related WARN layoffs under New York proposal

Workers affected would be able to access training programs offered by the NY Department of Labor.

Trump orders agencies to target private-sector DEI

In a Tuesday executive order, President Trump asked members of his administration to develop a strategic enforcement plan to deter “illegal” DEI programs and principles.

In-house lawyers are stressed. Here are some ways to help them.

Working remotely and available at all hours, coupled with mounting workloads, has made professional burnout a crisis for many in-house teams.

Supreme Court upholds US law forcing TikTok ban or sale

The unanimous ruling means a U.S. ban of the social media site will take effect, but could also press TikTok’s Chinese owner into serious sale talks.

Trump taps crypto-friendly Mark Uyeda as acting SEC chair

The appointment likely signals a loosening of the SEC’s cyrptocurrency policy during the second Trump presidency.  

How risk mitigation can power strategic business success

With the right tools, the compliance team can bring insight to the table that can do more than keep an organization out of trouble; it can open the door to growth opportunities.   

Trump executive orders torch Biden’s DEI initiatives

The 47th president promptly axed federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs after repeatedly promising to do so on the campaign trail.

Plaintiffs reap $160B in 3-year class action haul

PFAS settlements remain the biggest money source but privacy and DEI cases are rising and the arbitration defense is eroding, a Duane Morris analysis shows.

FDIC sues 17 ex-SVB executives in alleged ‘gross negligence’

The complaint filed Thursday includes the former CEO and CFO of the failed California-based bank, four other ex-executives and 11 former directors. 

PepsiCo sued by FTC for allegedly ‘rigging’ soft drink prices

The agency claims the soda giant gave “unfair” pricing advantages to a larger retailer, forcing consumers to pay more at competing stores. Pepsi “strongly disputes” the allegations.

In a gift to DOGE, lawmaker wants antitrust enforcement consolidated under DOJ

It’s inefficient for DOJ to share duties with the FTC, it leads to interagency conflict and makes it harder for companies to know what standard to follow, critics say.

Supreme Court says plaintiffs can amend suits to avoid federal removal

The unanimous ruling suggests a tougher legal road for some corporate defendants when plaintiffs excise their federal claims.

SCOTUS rejects higher standard for overtime exemptions

The ruling is a “win” for businesses, partners at a law firm said, and “sets a consistent national standard under the Fair Labor Standards Act.”

Southwest Airlines hit with US lawsuit over delayed flights in 2022

As part of a regulatory crackdown on “chronically” late flights, federal transport regulators are suing the carrier after reaching deals with two others.

Unhappy consumers will drive the next wave of AI lawsuits

If your company is using AI to make decisions or provide guidance, expect pushback when people don’t like how that impacts them, an AI legal specialist says.

Amex pays $230M to resolve DOJ allegations

The credit card giant misrepresented features of some credit cards targeting small businesses and entered false information on card applications, the Justice Department alleged.