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Expert Analysis

• Associates Can Earn Credibility By Investing In Relationships

  

  As the class of 2025 prepares to join law firms this fall, new associates must adapt to office dynamics and establish credible reputations — which require quiet, consistent relationship-building skills as much as legal acumen, says Kyle Forges at Bast Amron.

• New Colo. Teen Privacy Rules Signal National Regulatory Shift

  

  Recently released proposed rule amendments to the Colorado Privacy Act that would create some of the most robust protections for minors' online data in the U.S. reflect an ongoing trend of states taking steps to extend privacy protection for their residents, complicating the compliance burden for companies, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

• Trending At The PTAB: IPR Memo And Its Fed. Circ. Backdrop

  

  There are new rules for when and how evidence other than patents or printed publications can be considered in inter partes reviews, and while this change is intended to reflect current Federal Circuit precedent, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's memo seems to acknowledge tension with last month's Shockwave decision, say attorneys at Finnegan.

• A Look At New Calif. Cybersecurity, Risk Assessment Rules

  

  The California Privacy Protection Agency Board recently finalized regulations related to automated decision-making technology, cybersecurity audits and risk assessments that establish additional requirements on businesses operating in California, and although these new rules are less onerous than some of the draft rules, compliance may still require substantial planning and updates, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

• Lessons From 7th Circ.'s Deleted Chat Sanctions Ruling

  

  The Seventh Circuit’s recent decision in Pable v. Chicago Transit Authority, affirming the dismissal of an ex-employee’s retaliation claims, highlights the importance of properly handling the preservation of ephemeral messages and clarifies key sanctions issues, says Philip Favro at Favro Law.

• Adapting To USPTO's Tighter Inter Partes Review Rules

  

  The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's recent pivot regarding how it will address general knowledge in inter partes review petitions presents immediate strategic implications for petitioners, patent owners and litigants watching the contours of Patent Trial and Appeal Board practice, say attorneys at Winston & Strawn.

• Opinion

  Sometimes Int'l Competition Should Trump Antitrust Concerns

  

  The U.S. Justice Department's approval of HPE's $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks shows that a merger that significantly enhances innovation and competitiveness may serve consumer and national interests despite marginally increasing industry concentration, says John Reeves at Reeves Law.

• Assessing Federal Securities Class Action Stats In '25 So Far

  

  The settlement amount as a percentage of damages in securities class actions has continued to decline in the first half of 2025, a trend that may be important for assessing exposure and risk in future securities litigation, say analysts at Analysis Group.

• NY Tax Talk: ALJ Vacancy, Online Sales, Budget

  

  Among the most notable developments in New York tax law last quarter, an administrative law judge vacancy continued affecting taxpayers, a state court decision tested the scope of the Interstate Income Act, and Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the 2025-2026 fiscal budget containing key tax-related provisions, say attorneys at Eversheds Sutherland.

• Series

  Quilting Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  Turning intricate patterns of fabric and thread into quilts has taught me that craftsmanship, creative problem-solving and dedication to incremental progress are essential to creating something lasting that will help another person — just like in law, says Veronica McMillan at Kramon & Graham.

• How Agentic AI Is Testing The Limits Of Patent Law

  

  While a recent Swiss court ruling suggests that human-centric rules regarding inventorship will likely remain in place for the near future, it captures a core tension confronting patent systems worldwide as the technology producing patent-worthy ideas is becoming increasingly autonomous, says Matthew Carey at Marshall Gerstein.

• Lessons Learned 3 Years After First CCPA Enforcement Action

  

  Three years after the first public enforcement action under the California Consumer Privacy Act, Attorney General Rob Bonta has pursued a steady stream of enforcement actions across industries, providing a clearer picture of how the law is being interpreted and enforced, says Tatum Andres at Kilpatrick.

• 2 Appellate Rulings Offer Clickwrap Enforcement Road Map

  

  Two recent decisions from the Fourth and Eleventh Circuits in cases involving Experian signal that federal appellate courts are recognizing clickwrap agreements' power in spite of their simplicity, and offer practical advice on how companies can sufficiently demonstrate notice and assent when attempting to enforce contractual terms, says Brian Willett at Saul Ewing.

• A Former PTAB Judge Weighs The End Of Remote Hearings

  

  Former Patent Trial and Appeal Board Judge Amanda Wieker, now at McGuireWoods, examines the costs and benefits of the PTAB's impending in-person hearing requirement, and offers suggestions for making the most out of this new regime.

• How Proposed FAA Rule May Streamline Drone Operations

  

  The Federal Aviation Administration's recent proposed rule on autonomous drone delivery operations offers a more streamlined approach, by shifting away from the current pilot-centered framework and placing safety and operational responsibility at the level of the operator's organization, say Amanda Losacco and Jessica Monahan at Cozen O'Connor.