Knowledge Center

The Department of Justice’s Policy Changes — Key Takeaways for the Business Community

DOJ has redirected its focus toward combating illegal immigration, human trafficking and transnational organized crime, and ordered that resources previously dedicated to corporate and foreign influence enforcement be reallocated to those areas.

President Trump Defers Tariffs on Canada and Mexico, Imposes Additional Tariffs on China, and China Responds With Countermeasures

On February 1, 2025, President Trump announced tariffs of 25% against goods imported from Canada and Mexico and 10% against goods imported from China, after declaring a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). However, the tariffs against goods from Canada and Mexico have been paused for one month, with...

Extreme Vetting at U.S. Embassies and Consulates

It is expected that additional vetting and screening requirements will only add to increased wait times for visa clearances at U.S. embassies and consulates. The order directs the administration to begin the process of restoring a potential travel ban within 60 days.

Top 10 Noncompete Developments of 2024. For Employers, a Roller Coaster Year in Noncompete Law

It is expected that the second Trump administration’s newly constituted FTC Commission will abandon efforts to implement a nationwide ban on most noncompetes. Courts across the country continue to push back on the enforcement of overbroad noncompete agreements, with some courts refusing to blue pencil exceedingly overbroad agreements.

Make No Mistake: The NLRB Revives the ‘Clear and Unmistakable Waiver’ Standard

With the revival of the 'clear and unmistakable waiver' standard, employers must negotiate precise contract language or demonstrate union waiver through bargaining history, while preparing for potential shifts in NLRB policy under a new administration.

Scrutiny of ESG and Sustainability Initiatives Under Antitrust Laws

U.S. regulators have confirmed that no sustainability or ESG commitment antitrust exemptions exist or will be announced. Lawmakers are keeping the pressure on ESG/sustainability initiatives through continued investigations of the potential anticompetitive impact of collaborations, information exchanges and agreements advancing social and...

Trade Secret Remedies After Motorola Solutions, Inc. v. Hytera Communications Corp. Ltd.

Motorola v. Hytera arose after Hytera had poached three Motorola engineers, “offering them high-paying jobs in exchange for Motorola’s proprietary information.” (Opinion at 2.) Hytera then used the stolen materials to develop a competing line of products indistinguishable from Motorola’s product. Much of the theft occurred from 2010 to 2014, but...

USA Federal Court Decision Creates Greater Uncertainty as to Future of FTC Final Rule on Noncompete Clauses

In ATS Tree Services v. Federal Trade Commission, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania found that even if the plaintiff employer could show irreparable harm, injunctive relief would still be inappropriate because the plaintiff was unlikely to prevail on its argument that the FTC did not have authority to promulgate the Noncompete Rule.

Seventh Circuit Confirms Extraterritorial Reach of the Defend Trade Secrets Act

Under Motorola, a trade secret plaintiff can bring its claim against a foreign defendant in the United States even when most of the wrongful conduct occurs outside the USA, so long as there is some act in furtherance of the misappropriation in the United States. In such cases, the trade secret plaintiff can recover damages on all of the...

Jarkesy Limits Power of the SEC to Rely on In-House Adjudicators When Pursuing Penalties for Fraud

Previously, the SEC could elect to litigate fraud cases before its administrative law judges, where it had “home court” advantage, and who often have considerable subject-matter expertise, but now it must bring such cases in a U.S. federal court.

Another Minnesota Noncompete Ban: Restrictive Covenants in Service Contracts

Minnesota Statute § 181.9881 — Restrictive Employment Covenants; Void in Service Contracts — prohibits on a go-forward basis service providers from restricting “in any way a customer from directly or indirectly soliciting or hiring an employee of a service provider.”

Entities That 'Cease to Exist' Must Still Comply With the Corporate Transparency Act

On Monday, July 8, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) released additional FAQs specifying that reporting companies created or registered on or after January 1, 2024, that are subsequently dissolved or cease to exist, are required to make a CTA filing even if such reporting companies cease to...

Supply and Service Contractors and Subcontractors Should Immediately Review the OFCCP’s First 2024 Pre-audit Corporate Scheduling Announcement List

In a departure from the 2023 methodology, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) targeted contractors with large employee populations. The OFCCP updated its Supply and Service Scheduling Letter and Itemized Listing last year. The new changes significantly expanded the audit scope and will require selected contractors who...