The Latest

• 

  Deputy GC is becoming a key Microsoft communicator

  Rima Alaily is using public communications to position the world’s third-largest company as a champion of transparency.

  Emerging Issues

• 

  CFPB-Google battle likely to stretch into next administration

  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says Google’s payment unit failed to explain why it was denying customer requests for refunds. Google told the agency to back off in a lawsuit.

  Lawsuits and Litigation

• 

  FTC orders a building services contractor to end no-hire agreement

  The company’s policy prevented workers from negotiating better wages, benefits and working conditions, the FTC said.

  Hiring/Talent

• 

  CFPB sues Comerica for ‘systematically failing’ federal benefits recipients

  The watchdog, which Comerica sued last month over its “costly” investigation, alleged the bank intentionally dropped 24 million customer service calls and charged illegal ATM fees.

• 

  How to adopt GenAI within your legal department or law practice

  Capital spending and ROI will be top of mind for legal executives moving forward with AI legal tools in 2025. Here are some best practices.

  Legal Technology

• 

  Lack of oversight called legitimate reason to doom Max 737 Boeing-DOJ plea deal

  The judge’s focus on DEI in rejecting the agreement is attention-grabbing but it’s the absence of court enforcement that’s the problem, a legal scholar says.

  Lawsuits and Litigation

• 

  Super Micro proposed class actions head toward consolidation

  Litigation alleging Super Micro, its CEO and CFO misled investors is poised to heat up. But an AI supercomputer project the company is involved in got a shout-out from Elon Musk.

• 

  Court blocks Target’s attempt to move, dismiss DEI-related shareholder suit

  The lawsuit argued that Target’s “DEI/ESG mandates” had a “known risk of adverse customer reactions,” and should have therefore been disclosed in investor statements.

• 

  Crypto leaders have knives out for attorneys leaving the SEC

  Coinbase and Ripple executives want law firms not to hire lawyers who worked on lawsuits against them.

  Emerging Issues

• 

  DEI failures contributed to a drop in stock prices, Lululemon shareholder alleges

  Lululemon’s DEI initiative was “misguided” and its structure raised ethical concerns, the shareholder said in a derivative action lawsuit filed on behalf of the company.

• 

  RealPage files motion to dismiss DOJ suit

  Despite the company’s “very compelling arguments,” an antitrust lawyer thinks the case will proceed.

• 

  Employee alleges Apple snoops on workers’ personal emails, photos

  The plaintiff also alleged Apple’s intellectual property agreement bars employees from discussing information such as pay and working conditions.

• 

  Big tech likely to stay in crosshairs under Trump’s DOJ antitrust pick

  Gail Slater, who would take over from Jonathan Kanter as the agency’s competition enforcer, is “not known as a friend of big tech” and her choice isn’t “good for Google,” CNBC analyst Jim Cramer says.

  Emerging Issues

• 

  FTC cracks down on 3 clothing companies for false ‘Made in USA’ claims

  The Federal Trade Commission is refunding $140,000 to consumers after the New England-based companies lied about where they manufactured their products. 

• 

  How to prepare for Trump’s new immigration policies

  In light of potential deportation actions, lawyers recommend internal I-9 audits to ensure the work authorization status of employees.

  Hiring/Talent

• 

  Trump taps crypto lobbyist, business consultant to lead SEC

  Trump’s nominee, Paul Atkins, served as a commissioner at the SEC under former President George W. Bush.

• 

  Judge nixes post-trial ‘ratification’ of Elon Musk’s record Tesla pay package

  There’s no basis for creating new evidence by holding a shareholder vote after the case has gone to trial, Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick said in rejecting the pay package for a second time.

  Lawsuits and Litigation

• 

  Biotech startup avoids SEC penalties through voluntary self-report

  Cancer drug maker Kiromic was charged with omitting FDA regulators’ concerns about two of its therapies as it sought to raise $40 million from investors.

  Compliance

• 

  Note from the Editor-in-Chief

  A change in ownership and what it means for our readers.

• 

  What’s driving M&A into 2025? Companies seeking AI capabilities

  The race into generative artificial intelligence is fueling many deals, while contingent considerations are bridging valuation gaps, Cooley’s M&A team says.

  Outside Counsel

• 

  Logo creator seeks copyright in new infringement case against Jets

  A former employee says the New York football team and the NFL are using his design without permission and obtained the trademark fraudulently.

  Lawsuits and Litigation

• 

  Barclays to pay $19.5M to resolve suit over error in debt sale

  Shareholders sued the British bank in 2022, claiming they lost money after the lender sold far more in structured debt products than regulators permitted.

• 

  SEC settles ransomware case against ICBC unit

  The agency opted not to impose a fine on the U.S. unit of China's largest bank, which had difficulty updating system books and records after a 2023 cyberattack.

  Compliance

• 

  CFPB proposes rule to rein in data brokers’ sale of consumer information

  With the proposal, the federal agency aims to crack down on fraudsters and others seeking to use sensitive personal information for illicit activities.

  Data Privacy

• 

  FTC rule change splits Republican commissioners after Trump win

  The telemarketing rule expansion is designed to protect seniors from consumer tech sales scams. One commissioner says the “lame duck” FTC should stand down.

  Emerging Issues

More stories