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The California State Assembly recently unveiled legislation (“AB 325”) designed to strengthen California antitrust enforcement in two ways.

On June 16, 2025, the Senate Finance Committee released its draft tax title for inclusion in the Senate’s version of the budget reconciliation bill, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (the “OBBBA”).

On June 9, 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ” or the “Department”) will resume investigating and prosecuting violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”) with a decidedly new “America First” approach to enforcement.

On June 6, 2025, the Acting Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”), Coke Morgan Stewart, issued a decision denying institution of five inter partes review (“IPR”) petitions filed by iRhythm, Inc. against patents held by Welch Allyn, Inc.

On June 17, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published a proposed rule that, if finalized, would repeal all greenhouse gas (“GHG”) standards for the power sector.

On June 17, 2025 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published a proposed rule to repeal the amendments to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (“MATS”) adopted by the Biden administration in 2024.

On May 23, 2025, General License 25 (“GL 25” or the “General License”) was issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), suspending a wide array of sanctions against Syria.

The European Union has kicked off a new era of AI regulation. With the Artificial Intelligence Act (“the Act”), which went into force on August 1, 2024, the EU has established the world’s first comprehensive legal framework for artificial intelligence.

On May 16, 2025, the Texas Supreme Court issued a decision ruling that, absent specific contractual language, surface owners retain ownership of the caverns created by salt mining operations.

On May 19, 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memorandum announcing the creation of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Fraud Initiative (the Initiative), which directs DOJ attorneys to utilize the False Claims Act (FCA), 31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq., to combat knowing violations of civil rights law and the false certification of compliance with such laws by recipients of federal funds such as educational institutions and federal contractors.

Zach Terwilliger outlines his transition from US Attorney to partner at Vinson & Elkins LLP, emphasizing the importance of a structured integration plan, proactive business development, and adapting to a client-focused mindset. He highlights how skills from government service such as crisis management, leadership, and perseverance translate effectively to private practice.

On May 12, 2025, the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the “Commission”), Paul Atkins, announced his plan to “develop a rational regulatory framework for crypto asset markets” during his keynote address at the Crypto Task Force Roundtable on Tokenization.¹ Under this proposed framework, the SEC will update its regulations to include and accommodate on-chain cryptocurrency in the traditional financial market. The SEC’s new approach to crypto is emblematic of the Trump administration’s goal to make the United States the “crypto capital of the planet,” as the President promised during his 2024 campaign.²