On August 6, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an update regarding the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), specifically fluoropolymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), in medical devices. The FDA concluded that, based on current scientific evidence, there is no reason to restrict the continued use of fluoropolymers in medical devices.
The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued new guidance to clarify and improve the evaluation of patent eligibility for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) inventions in order to foster innovation and patenting of these cutting-edge technologies.
On July 31, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a new memorandum announcing that it will begin enforcing 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(4) that requires petitioners in inter partes review (IPR) proceeding to “specify where each element of the claim is found in the prior art patents or printed publications relied upon.”
Linda M. Jackson, Matthew F. Prewitt, Allan E. Anderson, Nicholas J. Nesgos, Alexander H. Spiegler, Meghan F. Hart, John M. Hindley, Nicole Curtis Martinez
The court held that the statute of limitations began to run from the date when a former employee produced confidential company financial during discovery in an unrelated matter, and not from the earlier date when the former employee had copied and taken the files, because defendants had not failed to exercise reasonable diligence to uncover the alleged misappropriation.
On July 4, President Donald Trump signed into law P.L. 119-21, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), which, among other notable changes to the US tax system, rolls back several renewable energy incentives enacted under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) and creates new restrictions on renewable energy incentives for taxpayers with certain foreign entity connections, which are detailed below.
On July 29, the Attorney General (AG) of the United States issued a memorandum entitled “Guidance For Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination” (hereinafter “Guidance”). This alert provides a review of the guidance and recommendations for consideration.
On July 4, President Trump signed into law the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA),” more formally known as “H.R.1 – An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.”
The Trump Administration is moving aggressively to prevent foreign adversaries’ ownership of US agricultural land.
On July 22, the US Senate passed the Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act (the Bill), sending it to President Trump for his signature.
D. Jacques Smith, Michael F. Dearington, Nadia Patel, Hillary M. Stemple, Laura Zell, Michelle J. Shapiro, Shoshana Golden
Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries
This fall, Congress is poised to consider and develop legislation differing in type and scope — from funding measures to reconciliation proposals.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is back in the spotlight.
The District of Columbia’s Access to Justice (ATJ) Initiative is the primary local mechanism for public funding of civil legal services to low- and moderate-income DC residents.
An association’s board often confronts difficult decisions. One that is particularly challenging is whether and how to remove a sitting director.
On July 29, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal to rescind its 2009 Endangerment Finding.
On July 31, the US Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced the availability of a new pilot program altering how pharmaceutical manufacturers can honor the 340B price.
After weeks of anticipation and a flurry of news from Washington, DC, the White House has issued a long-awaited executive order (EO) that resets the landscape for US reciprocal tariffs and related trade measures.
On July 21, the US Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced a two-year postponement of the Anti-Money Laundering (AML)/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) Program and Suspicious Activity Report filing requirements for registered investment advisers (IAs) and exempt reporting advisers.
D. Jacques Smith, Michael F. Dearington, Nadia Patel, Hillary M. Stemple, Laura Zell, Michelle J. Shapiro, Elizabeth Satarov, Meghan F. Hart
Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries
The climate debate has whipsawed in recent years. Businesses frequently have been caught in the middle, with stakeholders including government regulators, activist investors, consumers, non-governmental organizations, and community groups all pursuing different agendas.
Immigration enforcement actions are no longer a theoretical concern for health care facilities — they are happening now.
In this episode of Five Questions, Five Answers, host Birgit Matthiesen welcomes AFS attorney James Kim to explore the current state of US tariffs and their impact on importers and various industries, with a special focus on the electric vehicle sector.
The Trump Administration has proposed implementing a broad range of regulatory changes in order to promote the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in the United States.
Recently introduced bipartisan legislation aims to significantly streamline the environmental review process for recipients of federal assistance.
The US Department of Commerce is reportedly considering a significant overhaul of the current patent maintenance fee structure, proposing a shift from the established flat-fee system to an annual, value-based tax on patents.