All Perspectives

In the midst of a record-setting government shutdown, partisan divisions are deep, and legislating can appear zero-sum.

The Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act (MNAA) took effect in October 2018, imposing certain statutory requirements for noncompete provisions to be enforceable. When the statute became law, many eagerly awaited case law guidance on how to interpret some of the murkier requirements.

ArentFox Schiff has been awarded 62 top rankings in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms®, which recognizes firms for professional excellence based on consistently positive ratings from clients and peers.

ArentFox Schiff Partner Tracy McLaughlin, Private Clients, Trusts & Estates, will present on charitable trusts for estate and income tax savings at the NYSSCPA Tax and Financial Planning for Individuals Conference in New York on November 6, 2025.

As the automotive retail world turns, the Fall Conference for the National Association of Dealer Counsel (NADC) did not fail to provide some key insights for franchised dealers.

It’s hard not to experience whiplash with export controls recently. A little over a month ago, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced the new Affiliates Rule, which took effect immediately on September 29.

AFS Partner Tom Abendroth will present at The Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore’s Planned Giving Roundtable on November 5.

ArentFox Schiff Partners Todd Angkatavanich, Dave Blickenstaff, and Kevin Matz will present at the 51st Annual Notre Dame Tax & Estate Planning Institute.

Last week’s jury convictions of Safe Chain Solutions’ co-owners in United States v. Brosius, No. 1:24-cr-20255 (S.D. Fla.) coupled with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) enforcement make one conclusion unavoidable: The DSCSA is both a regulatory mandate and a criminal risk boundary.

AFS Partner Brian Janowsky will speak at the 61st Annual Hawaii Tax Institute Conference on November 4, 2025.

Customs & Import Compliance Practice Group Leader Angela Santos was quoted on why it is too soon to consider the full effects of the Trump Administration’s tariffs, despite revenue growth reported by US industrial companies. In August, the Trump Administration raised reciprocal tariffs from 10% to country specific rates of up to 50%.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

On October 29, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that, effective October 30, timely filed Employment Authorization Document (EAD) extensions will no longer be automatically extended 540 days while the EAD extension application is pending.

ArentFox Schiff represented The Los Angeles Lakers — a long-time firm client — and the Buss family in connection with the sale of a majority ownership interest in The Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. by Mark Walter. The transaction closed on October 30, 2025, following unanimous approval from the NBA Board of Governors.

AFS Partner Lauren Wolven will speak at the Annual Seattle Estate Planning Seminar on October 30th in Seattle, Washington.

Lucas A. Rock was quoted on how recent labor provisions in trade agreements with Cambodia and Malaysia and frameworks for deals with Thailand and Vietnam signal increased focus on forced labor enforcement.

Prop 65 Counsel: What To Know

Join AFS Life Sciences Partner Stephanie Trunk and Darshan Kulkarni, Life Sciences regulatory and compliance attorney, to unpack the recent acceleration of mergers and acquisitions across the life sciences sector.

The plaintiff National Recovery Agency Group, LLC (NRA) is a debt-collection firm that maintains large volumes of personally identifiable information (PII) of individual debtors.

On October 22, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) upheld the Appellate Division’s decision that employee retention bonuses are “outside the ambit of the Wage Act.”

International Trade & Investment Partner Megan Barnhill will speak at a CLE program presented by the Virginia State Bar on October 29, 2025.

AFS will host a two-part hybrid program (with a reception to follow) in our Chicago office, addressing timely topics for family offices, private clients, and their advisors. Speakers include AFS Partners David Blickenstaff, Adam Diederich, and Kevin Matz, and Associate Kirstie Brenson.

AI, Metaverse & Blockchain Co-Leader Danielle Bulger will be a featured speaker at the 2025 BESLA Conference, joining industry leaders for a dynamic discussion entitled, Code, Content, and Consequences: The New Challenges AI Presents in Entertainment & Advertising. This timely panel will delve into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the creative and advertising sectors, examining both the opportunities and risks that AI brings to the forefront.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

Food, Drug, Medical Device & Cosmetic Partner Emily Cowley Leongini and International Trade & Investment Associate Mario Torrico will speak at SupplySide Global 2025.