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Expert Analysis

• What The Minimum Wage Shift Means For Gov't Contractors

  

  While President Donald Trump's recent executive order rescinding a 2021 increase to the federal contractor minimum wage is welcome relief to some federal contractors and settles continued disagreement about its legality, there remains significant uncertainty and pitfalls over contractor wage obligations, say attorneys at Polsinelli.

• 5 Ways Banking Has Changed In 5 Years Since COVID

  

  Since the start of the pandemic five years ago, technology, convenience and shifting expectations have transformed compliance for the financial services industry in several key ways, from the shrinking role of the traditional bank branch to the rise of fintech and mobile payments, says Christopher Pippett at Fox Rothschild.

• Unpacking USPTO Foreign Fraudulent Trademark Crackdown

  

  The recent show cause order issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to Shenzhen Seller Growth Network Technology Co. Ltd. and its affiliates could lead to the cancellation of approximately 42,000 trademark registrations, highlighting the necessity of heightened vigilance in vetting foreign trademark filings, says Judy Yen at Omnus Law.

• Calif. May Pick Up The Slack On Foreign Bribery Enforcement

  

  The California attorney general recently expressed an interest in targeting foreign bribery amid a federal pause in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement, so companies should calibrate their compliance programs to mitigate against changing risks, especially as other states could follow California’s lead, say attorneys at Gibson Dunn.

• E-Discovery Quarterly: The Perils Of Digital Data Protocols

  

  Though stipulated protocols governing the treatment of electronically stored information in litigation are meant to streamline discovery, recent disputes demonstrate that certain missteps in the process can lead to significant inefficiencies, say attorneys at Sidley.

• Making Sense Of Small Biz Fair Lending Compliance

  

  Despite the uncertainty brought on by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's recent efforts to revise fair lending data collection requirements under Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act, the compliance dates have not yet been stayed, so covered institutions should still start to monitor any disparities now, say attorneys at Frost Brown Todd.

• Mastering The New TCPA Opt-Out Regulations

  

  On April 11, the Federal Communications Commission's new rules concerning the handling of opt-out requests for robocalls and text messages became effective, so companies should prioritize high-value messaging, offer consumers regular opportunities to reconsent to communications, and more, says Aaron Weiss at Carlton Fields.

• Opinion

  Ripple Settlement Offers Hope For Better Regulatory Future

  

  The recent settlement between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Ripple — in which the agency agreed to return $75 million of a $125 million fine — vindicates criticisms of the SEC and highlights the urgent need for a complete overhaul of its crypto regulation, says J.W. Verret at George Mason University.

• Series

  Law School's Missed Lessons: Preparing For Corporate Work

  

  Law school often doesn't cover the business strategy, financial fluency and negotiation skills needed for a successful corporate or transactional law practice, but there are practical ways to gain relevant experience and achieve the mindset shifts critical to a thriving career in this space, says Dakota Forsyth at Olshan Frome.

• DeepSeek's Emergence And What It Suggests For AI Use

  

  While usage of foreign AI models like DeepSeek could streamline operations and improve efficiency for companies, such AI technologies also bring significant legal and cybersecurity risks that cannot be overlooked, say attorneys at Polsinelli.

• OCC Patriot Bank Order Spotlights AML Issues For Managers

  

  The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's focus on payments and prepaid card program managers in its recent consent order with Patriot Bank is noteworthy and shows regulators are unlikely to back down on enforcement related to Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering, say attorneys at Troutman Pepper.

• FDIC Shift On ALJs May Show Agencies Meeting New Norms

  

  The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s recent reversal, deciding to not fight a Kansas bank’s claim that the FDIC's administrative law judge removal process is unconstitutional, shows that independent agencies may be preemptively reconsidering their enforcement and adjudication authority amid executive and judicial actions curtailing their operations, say attorneys at Snell & Wilmer.

• 7 Things Employers Should Expect From Trump's OSHA Pick

  

  If President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is confirmed, workplace safety veteran David Keeling may focus on compliance and assistance, rather than enforcement, when it comes to improving worker safety, say attorneys at Fisher Phillips.

• How Cos. Can Mitigate Increasing Microplastics Liability Risk

  

  Amid rising scrutiny in the U.S. and Europe of microplastics' impact on health and the growing threat of litigation against consumer product and food and beverage manufacturers, companies can limit liability through compliance with labeling laws, careful contract management and other practices, say attorneys at Rogers Joseph.

• Meta Case Brings Customer-Facing Statements Issue To Fore

  

  Now that Facebook v. Amalgamated Bank has returned to California federal court after the U.S. Supreme Court in November found it improvidently granted certiorari, it will be worth watching whether customer-facing communications, such as Facebook's privacy policies, are found to be made in connection with the sale of a security, says Samuel Groner at Fried Frank.