Business Law and Corporate Law

IRA account holders typically designate individuals as beneficiaries who will inherit the account upon the account holder’s death – such as “all to spouse” or “in equal shares to children.”

This comprehensive legal update covers critical developments in estate planning, tax law, and trust administration. From new IRS interest rates and fee increases to landmark court decisions on trust validity and marital property, practitioners will find essential guidance on navigating complex estate and trust matters in an evolving regulatory landscape.

As Treasury scrutinizes aggressive trust stacking strategies that multiply QSBS tax exclusions, venture-backed founders and investors face a critical window to optimize their tax planning. The article examines how this powerful wealth-building tool is evolving and what stakeholders need to consider before potential regulatory changes reshape the landscape.

Two federal appellate courts reached opposite conclusions when reviewing the same change-in-control severance plan's discretionary authority clause, with the Fifth Circuit applying deferential abuse of discretion review while the Tenth Circuit used de novo review. The divergent outcomes highlight critical considerations for employers drafting severance plans and seeking to ensure maximum judicial deference to administrator decisions.

Regulation S-K governs the narrative disclosure requirements for SEC filings, covering everything from business descriptions and risk factors to MD&A and executive compensation.

As public scrutiny and threats against corporate leaders intensify, more companies are investing in comprehensive security packages for senior executives.

This comprehensive consumer protection update examines recent federal and state enforcement actions targeting companies for alleged violations ranging from Fair Credit Reporting Act breaches to deceptive "Made in USA" claims. The newsletter also covers emerging regulatory developments, including the FTC's proposed policy statement on AI accuracy and state-level initiatives addressing artificial intelligence governance and consumer protection.

Recent SEC enforcement activity and new interpretive guidance highlight the agency's continued emphasis on beneficial ownership reporting under Schedules 13D and 13G. The settlement of the Elon Musk Twitter acquisition case, resulting in a $1.5 million penalty, demonstrates the SEC's focus on timely disclosure requirements. Updated Corporation Finance Interpretations clarify how derivatives and total return swaps may trigger reporting obligations when used to obscure voting influence.

The FAR Council has issued a significant deviation to FAR Part 16, implementing Executive Order 14402's mandate that fixed-price contracts become the default procurement method across federal agencies. This regulatory shift introduces new approval requirements for non-fixed-price contracts exceeding agency-specific dollar thresholds, fundamentally altering how contractors must approach pricing strategies and risk allocation in government contracting.

The opposing party issues a subpoena to the AI platform to obtain their adversary’s “prompts” to the AI company, arguing their AI software is not an attorney and their opponents’ “prompts” to the software...

Artificial intelligence tools are transforming legal practice, but they come with significant risks that attorneys and clients must understand. A recent federal court decision found that using public AI chatbots may waive attorney-client privilege, while courts continue to sanction lawyers for AI-generated errors in filings. Learn what steps legal departments should take to protect privileged communications and maintain ethical standards when using AI technology.

Recent court decisions reveal conflicting approaches to whether communications with generative AI tools waive attorney-client privilege or work product protection, creating significant uncertainty for companies handling sensitive legal and proprietary information. Life sciences companies face heightened risks as they increasingly rely on AI tools while managing confidential clinical data, regulatory strategies, and intellectual property that may become subject to discovery in future litigation.