Courts and lawmakers in California and across the country are continuing to grapple with the ongoing problem of incivility among lawyers. Nearly every week a new story is publicized in which an attorney is sanctioned or rebuked for sharp rhetoric in filings or combative behavior in the courtroom. The erosion of courtesy threatens not only collegiality but also the fair administration of justice.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals” because of their persistence in the environment, are attracting increased attention from federal and state regulators, private litigants, and parties contemplating business transactions. But with a huge variety of PFAS compounds in play and an uncoordinated pattern of regulatory requirements, the legal framework in this area is complicated, presenting significant challenges for many market participants.

A Jefferson County jury returned an $82,105,345.70 verdict for a motorcyclist who had his left arm and left leg amputated after he was struck by a commercial truck.  The plaintiff, 33-year-old Michael Shank, was awarded $79,105,345.70 and his wife was awarded $3 million for her loss of consortium claim. 

In August 2025, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (“OFAC”) imposed sanctions on Antonios Margaritis, a Greek national, his network of companies, and several affiliated vessels.

Effective September 1, 2025, certain foreign individuals and entities are no longer able to purchase or acquire an interest in real property in Texas. Governor Abott signed Senate Bill 17 into law on June 20, 2025, amending Chapter 5 of the Texas Property Code to add Subchapter H.

On September 5, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order modifying the scope of reciprocal tariffs and establishing procedures for implementing trade and security agreements, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) and the National Emergencies Act (NEA). President Trump’s IEEPA tariffs are currently subject to federal court challenges. Lewis Brisbois recently published a Client Alert on these court challenges, entitled “Recent Updates to Trump Tariff Appeal.”

On September 29, 2025, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a new interim final rule (Affiliates Rule) subjecting any entity that is at least 50 percent owned by one or more entities on the Entity List or Military End-User List (MEU) to the same restrictions applicable to the listed entity. BIS previously used a “legally distinct” standard in applying restrictions to affiliates on the Entity List, but the new rule aligns the BIS approach with that used by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

On September 11, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) initiated a significant inquiry into the practices of seven prominent companies regarding their AI-powered chatbots. This action underscores the FTC's commitment to safeguarding children and teens in the digital landscape while encouraging technological innovation.