ArticleCity Planning Announces Citywide Hotel Special Permit TextThe New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) has scheduled a public scoping meeting for Friday January 22, 2021 for the Citywide Hotel Text Amendment. United StatesReal Estate and ConstructionSheppard
ArticleCalifornia Governor Appoints New DFPI CommissionerOn February 7, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the appointment of Khalil "KC" Mohseni as the new Commissioner of the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI).United StatesStrategySheppard
ArticleCongress Passes Final Tax Reform BillWith the affirmative vote in the House today, both Houses of Congress have now passed a final version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, clearing the legislation for President Trump's signature. United StatesTaxSheppard
ArticleCalifornia Scales Back Proposed AI Privacy RulesThe California Privacy Protection Agency recently released revised draft regulations that significantly scale back its proposed rules for Automated Decisionmaking Technology (ADMT).United StatesTechnologySheppard
ArticleLessons Learned From Cyber Awareness Month – Part FourIn this, our last post about learnings from cyber awareness month, we focus on developing the next generation of cybersecurity experts and increasing its size.United StatesTechnologySheppard
ArticleNFT Regulatory Issues – A 2022 Review And 2023 PreviewDespite the minimal regulatory enforcement actions against blockchain game companies and NFT issuers, now is NOT the time to become complacent about regulatory issues. United StatesTechnologySheppard
ArticleNY AG Settles Over Mobile App Security IssuesFive companies settled with the New York Attorney General over mobile app data security issues at the end of last year. The AG alleged that the companies, Western Union, Priceline, Equifax,United StatesTechnologySheppard
ArticleWhat To Watch In Artificial Intelligence In 2021Artificial intelligence continues to be a focus and concern for businesses, regulators, and lawmakers alike. As we recently wrote, there was much activity ...United StatesTechnologySheppard
ArticleArizona Breaks New Ground With Criminal Charges Against Prediction Market PlatformArizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has filed the first-ever criminal charges against a prediction market platform for allegedly operating an illegal gambling business, accusing the CFTC-regulated platform of accepting bets from Arizona residents on state elections.United StatesConsumer ProtectionSheppard
ArticleThirteen AGs Sue Major Installment Lender Over Add-On Packing; Former CFPB Attorneys Lead The ChargeA bipartisan coalition of thirteen state AGs filed a complaint in the Southern District of New York against one of the nation's largest non-bank installment lenders, alleging a scheme...United StatesConsumer ProtectionSheppard
ArticleMichigan Court Grants Final Approval To Debt Collection Interest-Rate SettlementA Michigan federal court has granted final approval of a class action settlement against a creditor law firm and affiliated debt buyers over allegedly excessive post-judgment interest charges in debt collection proceedings. The case centered on whether a 13% interest rate—Michigan's maximum for judgments on written instruments—was improperly applied to judgments that did not involve written instruments. Eligible class members whose judgment balances were reduced to zero will receive $150 monetarUnited StatesFinance and BankingSheppard
ArticleChi Huynh And Judy Suwatanapongched Recognized As 2026 Women Of Influence In Health CareChi Huynh and Judy Suwatanapongched have been honored by the Los Angeles Business Journal for their exceptional contributions to healthcare in the Los Angeles community. Both attorneys bring specialized expertise in healthcare law, with Huynh focusing on regulatory compliance and corporate matters while Suwatanapongched excels in high-stakes healthcare litigation. United StatesFood, Drugs, Healthcare, Life SciencesSheppard
ArticleSupreme Court Expands Presidential Removal Authority Over Independent AgenciesThe Supreme Court's landmark decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook fundamentally reshape the executive branch's authority over independent federal agencies, particularly the FTC. While the Court ruled that FTC commissioners may be removed without cause due to their exercise of executive power, it carved out a narrow exception for the Federal Reserve Board based on its unique monetary policy role, creating uncertainty about the future independence of regulatory agencies. United StatesGovernment, Public SectorSheppard
ArticleDesign Patents For Computer-Generated Icons And Interfaces: How The USPTO's Major Updated Guidance Creates More FlexibilityFor technology companies navigating the increasingly hostile terrain of software utility patent protection and Section 101 rejections, design patents have quietly become a more strategically important tools...United StatesIntellectual PropertySheppard
ArticleNinth Circuit Clarifies The Role Of Ambiguity In Applying The Reasonable Consumer Standard In Class ActionsIn Panelli v. Target Corp., No. 24-6640, (9th Cir. Apr. 17, 2026), the Ninth Circuit reversed and remanded a district court’s dismissal of a putative class action alleging that the sale of 100% cotton bedsheets...United StatesLitigation, Mediation & ArbitrationSheppard
ArticleNinth Circuit Dismisses Brita Class Action Over Alleged Contaminants, Holding No Reasonable Consumer Would Expect Complete RemovalIn Brown v. Brita Prods. Co., No. 24-6678 (9th Cir. Apr. 16, 2026), the Ninth Circuit recently affirmed the dismissal of a putative class action against The Brita Products Company...United StatesLitigation, Mediation & ArbitrationSheppard
ArticleAre You Facing Compliance Decision Fatigue In The Age Of AI?Companies often struggle with privacy compliance not because they lack legal knowledge or a desire to mitigate risk. Instead, they struggle because there is no practical way to address small, reactive privacy questions that have an immediate impact on operations. United StatesPrivacySheppard
ArticleSeventh Circuit Upholds That Vendors Can Share Their Clients' BIPA ExemptionA recent Seventh Circuit decision is a reminder of BIPA’s financial institution GLBA exceptions. In that case, the court held that a vendor to GLBA-regulated entities was exempt from Illinois’ biometric law.United StatesPrivacySheppard
ArticleArizona Breaks New Ground With Criminal Charger Against Prediction Market PlatformArizona Attorney General Kris Mayes made regulatory history by filing the first-ever criminal charges against a prediction market platform for allegedly operating an illegal gambling business in the state.United StatesTechnologySheppard
ArticleWashington State Takes On AI “Deepfakes”Washington state has amended its property rights law to prohibit AI deepfakes, creating new protections against forged digital likenesses that mirror an individual's voice or appearance to deceive others. The law, effective June 2026, increases civil penalties and allows recovery for reputational harm and emotional distress when unauthorized AI-generated replicas are used in advertising or commercial products. United StatesTechnologySheppard