Monthly Roundup (July 2026)

If your Colorado compliance program is built around impact assessments, it is built for a statute that will never take effect. Senate Bill 24-205, the first comprehensive state AI statute in the country, was scheduled to take effect June 30, 2026. Colorado instead repealed and replaced it with Senate Bill 26-189, signed May 14, 2026, whose principal requirements apply to consequential decisions made on or after January 1, 2027.

California will become one of the first states to expressly regulate attorneys' use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on January 1, 2027. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 574 on September 30, 2026, codifying attorneys' professional accountability duties when using AI tools.

Contract lifecycle management has become the most widely adopted legal technology tool in corporate legal departments, addressing fundamental challenges around contract visibility, workflow automation, and risk management. Legal operations expert Jeff Reisner breaks down the CLM landscape, implementation considerations, and why this technology has emerged as the foundational piece most legal teams tackle first when modernizing their operations.

Legal departments are struggling with AI implementation, with failure rates as high as 95%. However, some organizations are achieving remarkable results by following five disciplined practices...

California Senate Bill 574 proposes a groundbreaking statutory framework that would prohibit attorneys from delegating legal practice to generative artificial intelligence, while imposing disclosure requirements and verification standards across litigation, arbitration, and court filings. The legislation raises fundamental questions about how traditional definitions of "the practice of law" apply to AI-augmented legal work, from document review to contract analysis. If signed by Governor Newsom, California

This collection of insights from Ankura explores critical challenges facing multiple industries in 2026, from cybersecurity threats targeting AI assistants to the evolving landscape of freight capacity, cryptocurrency enforcement, and healthcare compliance. The articles examine how organizations navigate regulatory complexity, operational constraints, and emerging risks across financial services, logistics, healthcare, and technology sectors.

As easy as it is to record a conversation today, doing so is not always legal. Michigan laws are less restrictive than laws in states like Florida...

Explore insights and analysis from Sheppard Mullin's legal professionals through their comprehensive collection of blog posts and podcasts covering current legal developments, industry trends, and practical guidance across multiple practice areas.

A comprehensive study reveals that beauty, health, and wellness has transformed from discretionary luxury into an identity cornerstone, with young men emerging as the fastest-growing demographic and nearly 13,000 medspas now rivaling McDonald's locations across America. The research exposes a critical disconnect between what industry executives believe consumers want and what consumers are actually doing with their time, money, and trust.

The subprime mortgage market consists of loans to borrowers with high credit risk, and the mechanisms that have evolved to originate, service, and finance those loans. While this market has existed since the early 1980s, it was not until the mid-1990s that the growth of the subprime industry gained significant momentum.

Earlier this month, the IRS released Form 15620, a new standardized form for taxpayers seeking to make elections under Internal Revenue Code ("Code") section 83(b).

The Second Circuit's recent ruling in East Coast Advanced Plastic Surgery v. Cigna addresses a critical question facing healthcare providers: can they sue to enforce unpaid Independent Dispute Resolution awards under the No Surprises Act? With over $3 million in unpaid awards at stake and providers winning the vast majority of arbitrations, this decision reshapes how reimbursement disputes between out-of-network providers and insurers must be resolved.

The IRS has updated its guidance on educational assistance programs under Code section 127, clarifying key timing requirements for expense reimbursements and student loan payments. These changes address long-standing questions about when employers can provide tax-free educational benefits and how the recent One Big Beautiful Bill Act affects annual contribution limits.

The IRS recently issued guidance in Notice 2024-55 on the application of two new exceptions to the 10% additional tax under Code section 72(t) for early withdrawals from a qualified plan or IRA...

The Treasury Department and IRS have introduced a new standardized framework for direct rollovers between retirement plans and IRAs, featuring a five-step process with sample forms designed to simplify what has historically been a fragmented and paper-heavy system. While adoption remains voluntary and no formal safe harbor exists yet, this initiative addresses longstanding inefficiencies in rollover procedures that have caused participant confusion and delays.

In the example discussed in the CCA, an employer provided its employees the ability to enroll in a fixed indemnity health insurance policy intended to supplement the employer's group health coverage.

The Treasury Department and IRS have released Notice 2026-48, providing the first comprehensive guidance on SECURE 2.0's new Saver's Match program. This federal matching contribution for low- and moderate-income retirement savers introduces complex implementation challenges, including how to route taxpayer matches directly to retirement plans and IRAs. The Notice addresses eligibility requirements, income limits, contribution types, and delivery mechanisms while requesting public comments on operational app

On April 30, 2026, President Trump issued the Executive Order Promoting Retirement-Savings Access for American Workers by Establishing TrumpIRA.gov (the “Executive Order”), which advances the President’s State...

On June 3, 2020, the Department of Labor ("Department") issued an Information Letter that, for the first time, provides the Department's views on the use of private equity investments within 401(k)...

The Treasury Department and IRS have issued proposed regulations updating minimum funding rules for single-employer defined benefit pension plans under Internal Revenue Code section 430. These regulations implement statutory changes from WRERA, the SECURE Act, and SECURE 2.0 while addressing technical issues that have emerged since the existing regulations were established.