News Type: Articles

Jared Foley and Jesse Contreras address a major shift in New York franchise litigation in their new article for Bloomberg Law, “Trio of Rulings Shift New York’s Franchise Sales Act Litigation.” They explain how recent state and federal decisions are moving away from the long-standing Olivieri framework and embracing a more text-driven interpretation of the New York Franchise Sales Act—one that strengthens the Section 684 exemption for qualifying high-net-worth franchisors and may significantly narrow Section 683-based disclosure claims. The piece also highlights what this trend means in practice, including where risk still remains (fraud, misrepresentation, and the FTC Franchise Rule) and the smart compliance steps franchisors should take now.

Mehdi Sinaki provides his insight on what pending housing litigation in Huntington Beach, California signals for charter cities, developers, and the broader market. In his most recent article published by the Daily Journal, Mehdi explains how the California Supreme Court’s decision to leave in place a Court of Appeal ruling marks a meaningful shift toward faster, court-enforced compliance with the state’s Housing Element Law, requiring trial courts to impose mandatory remedies once noncompliance is found and making prolonged delay far harder to sustain. The piece thoughtfully balances statewide housing priorities against charter-city autonomy, while underscoring a practical reality: regulatory uncertainty has real costs. As courts sharpen the consequences for delay, predictability is increasingly achieved through compliance, not contention.

Ling Kong addresses one of the fastest-moving issues in AI regulation in his new article published by Reuters, “AI Companions Meet the Law: New York and California Draw the First Lines.” As emotionally responsive AI companions move from novelty to mainstream—particularly among teens—Ling examines how New York and California are setting the first concrete legal guardrails, from crisis-response obligations and transparency requirements to heightened youth protections and private rights of action. He also explores how these state laws collide with emerging federal policy signals, creating real compliance uncertainty for developers and platforms.

Lara Shortz offers a roadmap for founders navigating growth in California in her latest article for L.A. Times Studio. Focusing squarely on employment-related risk and legal compliance, Lara explains why missteps around worker classification, wage practices, hiring decisions, and HR infrastructure are among the most costly mistakes young companies make. She also explains how early, targeted legal planning can preserve runway, protect culture, and support sustainable scale. It’s a sharp, practical perspective for founders who understand that smart growth starts with getting their people and compliance strategy right.

Kelly Hagemann and Nicole Benalcazar break down a pivotal issue for digital health platforms in their new article published by Healthcare Business Today titled, “AKS Compliance Isn’t a Hall Pass for Digital Provider Marketplaces.” Though recent federal cases offer meaningful guidance on neutral advertising and per-booking fee models, Kelly and Nicole highlight that the real hurdles often arise under stricter state laws governing kickbacks, fee-splitting, and CPOM. Their analysis offers valuable perspective for digital health companies aiming to build marketplace models that scale nationwide without triggering avoidable compliance risks.

Ruth Paley offers a compelling look at what may be the next major shift in corporate liability in her latest piece—this one for inCompliance titled “From prevention to attribution: The next frontier of corporate liability.” Drawing on her deep experience in corporate crime and investigations, Ruth breaks down how the UK’s evolving framework—including the ECCTA and proposed Policing and Crime Bill—could dramatically broaden exposure for companies and senior managers across functions. Her analysis is a must-read for compliance leaders navigating a landscape where day-to-day decision-making, operational judgments, and even routine workflows may now carry heightened risk.

Meredith Bobber Strauss, Mindy Lewis, and Jon-Jamison Hill take a deep dive in Westlaw Today into the growing legal storm impacting Live Nation. This is a rare moment when private class action claims, DOJ antitrust scrutiny, and fresh FTC enforcement are converging to challenge the business model of a dominant market player, and their analysis, “The Live Nation Litigation Minefield: Lessons From a Legal Crossroads for the Live Entertainment Industry and Beyond,” unpacks what this wave of litigation means not only for the live entertainment sector, but also for companies relying on exclusivity provisions, vertically integrated platforms, or mass-arbitration clauses.

Aaron Plesset and Marc Jacobs take on what California’s stalled CIPA reform means for businesses in their latest piece for Bloomberg Law is unmistakable: with SB 690 on ice, companies are left to navigate a 58-year-old privacy statute now being used to challenge modern analytics tools. Their article explores the surge in litigation, why routine data-collection practices remain in the crosshairs, and the concrete steps organizations should take to mitigate risk while lawmakers regroup. This is a timely and important read for any business operating online.

Aaron Plesset and Marc Jacobs address the accelerating wave of CIPA litigation in a new article published by Reuters. In the piece, they offering insights into how a 1960s wiretapping statute has become a frontline risk for modern businesses and marketers. With privacy reform stalled in Sacramento and plaintiffs’ firms stepping up filings, companies and agencies alike are navigating a landscape where common analytics tools can trigger multimillion-dollar exposure. Aaron and Marc outline what’s driving the surge, why compliance can’t be a check-the-box exercise, and how organizations can get ahead of the next round of claims. A timely and important read for anyone operating in California’s digital economy.

Jane Kutepova has written a smart and timely article in Area Development breaking down a question the construction industry can no longer afford to ignore: Who’s liable when AI starts making the decisions? As Jane explains, AI is now embedded in design, scheduling, safety, and equipment operation, yet most construction contracts still don’t account for it. That gap creates real exposure when algorithms go wrong, from faulty generative design outputs to missed hazards on busy jobsites. Jane’s thought leadership lays out the emerging risks and why it’s time for owners, contractors, and suppliers to rethink their agreements and address the rise of the AI clause. A terrific read on a fast-moving issue at the intersection of technology, risk, and the built environment.