The US options market is booming, but is its regulatory framework keeping pace? On April 16, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) brought together exchanges, market makers, broker-dealers, clearing firms, academics, and regulators to tackle exactly that question. What followed was a spirited day of debate: three substantive panels, insightful input from industry veterans, and…
THE HUMAN ELEMENT: MANAGING RELATIONSHIPS This is the third and final installment in a three-part series exploring the key business and legal considerations for minority investments in alternative asset manager sponsors—commonly structured as “GP stake” transactions—from the perspectives of both sponsors (“GPs” or “sponsors”) and GP stake investors. Part One addressed defining the key objectives…
In the Sunday Book Review, Tom Fox considers books that would interest compliance professionals, business executives, or anyone curious. It could be books about business, compliance, history, leadership, current events, or anything else that might interest Tom. In this episode, we look at ?4 top books recently released by the University of California Press. •…
Prezados e prezadas, O “Brasília em Pauta” é um boletim semanal preparado pela equipe de Contencioso de Brasília, contendo os principais casos a serem julgados pelo Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF), Superior Tribunal de Justiça (STJ) e Tribunal de Contas da União (TCU), bem como importantes questões a serem votadas pela Câmara dos Deputados e Senado…
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on April 2, 2026 published the draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6), which for the first time identifies both microplastics and pharmaceuticals as contaminant groups for potential future drinking water regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). EPA also announced human health benchmarks for 374 pharmaceuticals and…
On April 6, 2026, the California Supreme Court heard oral argument in Sunflower Alliance v. California Department of Conservation (Case No. S287414). The case addresses two key California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance questions: May an agency invoke a CEQA exemption while also relying on regulatory conditions of approval addressing potential environmental effects? Does the…
In this special joint episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast and Payments Pros, guest host Taylor Gess joins Chris Willis and Lori Sommerfield to unpack fair lending risks in point-of-sale finance. They explain how traditional fair lending concepts under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Fair Housing Act play out when merchants interact directly with…
Below is Alston & Bird’s Health Care Week in Review, which provides a synopsis of the latest news in health care regulations, notices, and guidance; federal legislation and congressional committee action; reports, studies, and analyses; and other health policy news. Highlight of the Week This week, the White House released the President’s budget request for…
With pay data reports due to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) on May 13, 2026, California employers must ensure they are prepared to meet their reporting obligations. As previously discussed here, employers with 100 or more employees are required to file a pay data report with the CRD. Client employers with 100 or more…
For residential sales transactions in Florida, one contract form gets used more than any other – the Florida As Is Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase. The drafters intended it to be simple: just fill in the blanks. But, those blanks can be confusing. And that confusion, combined with time pressure and client expectations, can…
