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Insurance Issues Raised by Wildfires 

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Trends and practical guidance involving insurance and wildfires; what to know about types of coverage and limitations that most commonly apply to damage caused by wildfires; tips on filing insurance claims involving damage caused by wildfires; or, from a proactive standpoint, consider writing about how property owners in wildfire-prone areas can prepare for damage risks and related insurance needs; tips on vetting insurance policies, negotiating terms, and more; what property owners can do to increase their chances of securing adequate insurance coverage for wildfire damage and receiving a satisfactory return on their insurance claims; alternative options (some state-specific) for insurance coverage. Alternatively, consider writing about insurance issues for businesses that may face operational disruptions or unexpected employee leave or health issues resulting from wildfire damage to business or personal property or exposure to wildfire smoke.

NAIC Hit by Data Breach: What to Know 

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A data breach suffered by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners last month; what is known about the type of data taken and how it was accessed; how the data hack has affected NAIC or related entities; what this incident may illustrate regarding evolving cyberthreats and related cybersecurity best practices; what else insurers or policyholders should know about the NAIC data breach.

Related information:

https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/cyber/3-1tb-of-naic-data-dumped-on-to-the-dark-web-580537.aspx

What to Know About Recent Rulings on Searches of Travelers’ Electronics 

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Recent federal appeals court rulings regarding searches of travelers’ electronic devices at a U.S. border; types of searches or devices at issue; what to know about the underlying cases at issue in these rulings; practical guidance for individuals regarding protecting personal or business data when traveling.

Related information:

https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/OpinionsWeb/processWebInputExternal.pl?Submit=Display&Path=Y2026/D07-06/C:25-1891:J:St__Eve:aut:T:fnOp:N:3568148:S:0

https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/254239.P.pdf

Implications of U.S. Supreme Court’s Chatrie Ruling 

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The U.S. Supreme Court’s June 29 ruling in Chatrie v. United States; what to know about the workings of geofencing technology and geofence warrants; basis for the high court’s ruling; the ruling’s potential implications for individual privacy rights, for police procedures, and for investigations, arrests, and prosecutions.

Related information:

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-112_0am4.pdf

Primer on Long-Term Care Insurance [Ongoing] 

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Long-term care insurance; how it’s defined; pros and cons of this type of insurance for various individuals or scenarios; how to calculate, plan for, and manage the cost of long-term care insurance; how to evaluate specific insurance plans and providers; what else to know before purchasing long-term care insurance; potential alternatives to this type of insurance.

Apple Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Theft of Trade Secrets: What to Know 

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Apple’s trade secret lawsuit against OpenAI. Among the possible points to explore: key challenges for either side in this dispute; what to watch for as this case proceeds; how the AI sector is fueling high-stakes IP disputes; how employers can best avoid finding themselves on either side of a dispute that involves the kinds of IP allegations at issue in the Apple-OpenAI case; practical guidance regarding pursuing a case under the Defend Trade Secrets Act (or, conversely, potential liability under the DTSA), and/or regarding internal security, departing employees, third-party risk, internal investigations, and more.

IP Hot Spots at Midyear: Tell Us Your Choices 

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Your choice ef top intellectual property developments as of the midpoint of this calendar year, whether they be court rulings, jury verdicts, settlements, lawsuits, legislation, or emerging hot-button issues or trends of note, whether on a broad scale or focusing on a specific industry, region, or type of intellectual property.

IP Issues in Franchising [Ongoing] 

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Intellectual property issues that tend to arise in conjunction with franchise operations; common pitfalls to be aware of, on either side of the franchisee-franchisor relationship; best practices as regards negotiations, contracts, or other documentation; any recent or otherwise noteworthy disputes that might illustrate your points regarding trade secrets, trade dress, infringement claims, restrictive covenants, or other matters.

New IRS Program to Offer Automatic Penalty Relief 

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The Internal Revenue Service’s recent announcement of its new Automatic Exemption from Penalty Program; when this program goes into effect; who qualifies for relief under this program; whom the program most benefits, or types of penalties or examples of situations to which it will mainly apply; how the new AEP program compares to prior IRS penalty relief options; alternatives to the AEP program; any cautionary notes that may pertain to use of the AEP program.

Related information:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-simplifies-penalty-relief-introduces-automatic-process-for-eligible-taxpayers

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/automatic-exemption-from-penalty-what-taxpayers-should-know

IRS Announces Gift Tax Safe Harbor for Trump Account Contributions 

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Information released by the Internal Revenue Service late last month regarding a gift tax safe harbor involving the retirement accounts known as “Trump accounts;” what this safe harbor means for potential tax reporting obligations; personal criteria and other conditions that must be met in order for the safe harbor to apply; additional tax issues to consider when deciding whether to become involved with Trump accounts.

Related information:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-irs-provide-safe-harbor-for-certain-contributions-to-trump-accounts-under-the-working-families-tax-cuts

Appellate Court Rebuffs Professor in Tax Dispute Over Remote Work 

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A July ruling in a tax dispute stemming from work done remotely from home during pandemic-related lockdowns; what to know about New York’s convenience of the employer rule; what this ruling demonstrates regarding the intricacies of state tax laws and personal obligations, especially as they pertain to remote or hybrid work arrangements that cross state lines.

Related information:

https://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/current/3dseries/2026/2026_04251.shtml

When Religion and Science Collide: Faith-Based Objections to AI in the Workplace 

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The emergence of faith-based objections to artificial intelligence in the workplace; what employers should know about the possibility of employee requests for religious accommodation or exemptions involving AI-related work duties; potential basis, or precedent, for these types of requests; practical guidance on how employers can possibly get ahead of this issue; reminders regarding best practices for employers fielding any type of religious accommodation requests.

Related information:

https://www.businessinsider.com/worker-got-religious-exemption-using-ai-at-work-2026-6?

House Bill Addresses Menopause Issues in the Workplace 

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The introduction of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives this week to expand workplace protections for workers experiencing menopause; rationale for this measure; what this legislation specifically aims to accomplish; prospects for the bill’s passage; how state legislatures or courts are treating the issue of menopause, worker rights, and accommodation requests.

Related information:

https://debbiedingell.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=7106

ADA-Related Trends and Best Practices 

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Your choice of issues involving the Americans with Disabilities Act, as we approach the 36th anniversary of the landmark legislation’s signing into law. Possible angles to write about include, but are not limited to, current hot spots in ADA litigation; common employer pitfalls or employee misconceptions involving the ADA; how ADA awareness, compliance, or enforcement have evolved over the years; emerging or possible future legal battlegrounds involving the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals to Pay Nearly $30M Over Price-Fixing Allegations 

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Glenmark Pharmaceuticals’ agreement to pay $29.6 million to resolve allegations that the company harmed consumers by manipulating the prices of generic medicines and reducing competition; what to know about states’ scrutiny of suspected price-fixing in the pharmaceutical sector; what enforcement trends regarding generic drug pricing illustrate regarding state AGs’ powers and priorities; and perhaps a broader look at trends this year involving price-fixing allegations against drug manufacturers.

Mishap at NYC Office-to-Apartment Conversion Puts Spotlight on Other Conversion Projects 

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The status of one of the United States’ largest office-to-apartment conversion projects, following the recent discovery of buckling steel columns and the evacuation of part of midtown Manhattan; how authorities are responding to the structural failure; what an investigation of this mishap is likely to entail; potential charges that could result from an investigation; what the Manhattan incident may illustrate regarding challenges involved in office-to-apartment conversions; potential for more rigorous standards or processes for other conversion projects; how participants in these types of conversions can best minimize risk; related trends (whether regionally or nationally) involving office space conversions.

Related information:

https://apnews.com/article/nyc-building-collapse-risk-pfizer-42nd-office-a2e18c24e554bcddc4989ce1c28d67d9

https://gothamist.com/news/after-fears-of-collapse-in-midtown-developer-eyes-next-office-conversion-project

What a Proposed USDA Rule Could Mean for Foreign Landholders 

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A proposed rule published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on June 25; how the rule would affect activities pertaining to the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act; what to know about AFIDA’s history; evolving compliance obligations or other proposed changes that foreign landholders should consider preparing for; potential timeline for implementation of the proposed rule; and perhaps a wider-angle look at evolving requirements for foreign owners of real estate in the United States, especially under the second Trump administration.

Related information:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/25/2026-12808/agricultural-foreign-investment-disclosure-act-of-1978

Workers, Employers Buffeted by Shifts in Temporary Protected Status Rules 

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New action announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on July 10 regarding Temporary Protected Status; which foreign nationals are affected by the extension described in the July 10 guidance; status of legal challenges to the Trump administration’s policy regarding Temporary Protected Status; compliance reminders and risk management advice for employers on employment eligibility, terminations, hiring, rehiring, and more; additional guidance on how employers can best cope with federal immigration authorities’ shifting position on Temporary Protected Status.

Related information:

https://www.uscis.gov/save/current-user-agencies/news-alerts/update-on-termination-of-temporary-protected-status-for-haiti-release-july-10-2026

https://www.newsweek.com/us-companies-to-lose-thousands-of-migrant-workers-within-weeks-12184479

DHS Mulls Overhaul of EB-5 Investor Program 

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The Trump administration’s recently released proposal to overhaul the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program; stated objective for the proposal; potential timeline for implementation; what the changes could mean for eligibility, financing, documentation, compliance, authority, and other key points of the EB-5 program; whether previously approved projects or granting of resident status would be in jeopardy if these changes go through.

Related informastion:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/02/2026-13392/eb-5-reform-and-integrity-act-of-2022-ensuring-the-integrity-of-the-eb-5-program-automatic

What to Know About Denaturalization Process, Trends 

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The denaturalization process in the United States; individuals to whom the process may apply; potential grounds for launching a denaturalization process; how the process is conducted; what a denaturalization means for an individual’s legal status, rights, and protections; how common denaturalizations are, currently or historically, in the United States; challenges or risks for individuals who wish to contest a denaturalization.

Related information:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/denaturalization-citizenship-us-justice-department

Is a Growing Crackdown on Litigation Funding in the Works? 

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Renewed attention to the issue of litigation funding; recent action by state legislators or others; reasons for new restrictions or bans on litigation funding; how the spread of third-party funding has affected litigation trends.

How to Wrangle Technical Information for Jurors [Ongoing] 

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How lawyers can best present scientific or other highly technical information to jurors; pointers on trial preparation, and choice of written or visual materials, use of expert testimony, and other potentially useful elements; additional guidance on what to do or not do to most effectively convey essential points to a lay audience.

How to Build on Midyear Metrics 

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Midyear reality checks and professional development tips, whether for individual lawyers or for firms as a whole. Among the points to consider covering: What individuals and firms should be paying attention to at the half-year mark; how to build on successes, or, conversely, how to carry out a course correction; how to handle difficult conversations about performance; how to get the most out of client check-ins.

What’s Next for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement? 

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The Trump administration’s decision to not renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement; rationale for the decision; what it means for the current agreement’s status and effect; who is likely to be most affected by this action; probable next steps for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and its evolution; what the business community may want to consider doing in response to this new uncertainty, which adds to an already complicated and fast-changing international trade landscape and overall economic climate, given recent U.S. tariffs and military actions.

DOJ Declination in Export Controls Case Marks a First 

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The U.S. Department of Justice’s June 17 announcement that it has declined to prosecute Robert Bosch GmbH in an export controls case; basis for the DOJ’s declination; what this investigation’s outcome illustrates regarding the DOJ’s Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy and regarding potential liability risks and related enforcement actions involving export controls; additional practical takeaways regarding self-disclosures and other steps that companies can take to mitigate potential fallout from alleged export control violations.

Related information:

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/national-security-division-announces-first-declination-under-department-wide-corporate

https://www.bis.gov/press-release/robert-bosch-gmbh-bosch-pay-36-million-penalty-bis-violations-pertaining-shipments-huawei

What Are the Implications of Supreme Court’s Cisco Ruling? 

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The U.S. Supreme Court’s June 23 decision in Cisco Systems, Inc. v. Doe; what the ruling could mean for multinational companies, for corporations’ potential liability in human rights cases, and for cases brought under the Alien Tort Statute of 1789; what to know about related trends involving corporations being accused of involvement in, or facilitation of, human rights abuses.

Related information:

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-856_kjfm.pdf

$45M Settlement Reached Over Cash App Fraud Protections 

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A $45 million settlement between Block Inc. and 46 states over Cash App’s fraud protection performance; alleged customer harms or risks resulting from Block systems or practices; practices that Block is required to implement (or, in some cases, cease) as part of the multistate settlement; how Cash App and similar companies are regulated, compared to a traditional lending institution; what the Block Inc. settlement may demonstrate regarding state AGs’ priorities and powers, whether generally speaking or in the context of a response to the second Trump administration’s approach to regulation and oversight.

Related information:

https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/nebraska-attorney-general-announces-45-million-multistate-settlement-with-company-behind-cash-app

What’s Next for the CFPB? 

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What may be ahead for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, given that Russell Vought’s tenure as acting director is due to end in August; who is in line to succeed Vought; how Vought has reshaped the CFPB; what to know about the CFPB’s current status, funding, and priorities.

What to Know About Canada’s Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act 

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Canada’s Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act; types of proceedings covered by this statute; how the Act compares to Chapter 11 under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code; key obligations, rights, or potential pitfalls or misunderstandings involving the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, whether on the part of financially troubled companies, their creditors, or their employees; any noteworthy recent cases involving the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act.

Bankruptcy Judge OKs $46M Settlement for Victims of 23andMe Data Breach 

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A bankruptcy judge’s July 7 order pertaining to a 2023 data breach of genetic testing company 23andMe; what the judge’s action means for 23andMe’s parent company and for customers who were affected by the cybersecurity breach; what affected individuals should know about their rights and the potential for financial compensation in this case; any lessons from this case regarding cybersecurity and cyberinsurance; what to know about other claims against 23andMe over the breach.

Related information:

https://www.fastcompany.com/91570629/23-and-me-customer-compensation-bankruptcy-hack-payment-who-is-eligible-file-claim