All Perspectives

On May 27, Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, Inc. (BCBSGA) filed a lawsuit in the Northern District of Georgia US District Court, alleging that a group of health care providers, along with their third-party billing agent, manipulated the federal No Surprises Act’s (NSA) independent dispute resolution (IDR) process.

On April 30, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), approved the use of a gene-edited pig to confer resistance to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), a devastating swine disease.

The European Union (EU) Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has refused to register Thom Browne’s position trademark consisting of four horizontal white stripes placed on the upper left sleeve of garments.

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently affirmed a summary judgment of no design patent infringement in North Star Tech. Int’l Ltd. v. Latham Pool Products, Inc., ruling that the patented and accused pool designs were “plainly dissimilar” despite sharing structural similarities formed by geometric shapes and angular edges common in preexisting pool designs.

On May 12, the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees took effect. Often referred to as the “Junk Fees Rule,” the Rule targets hidden, misleading, and deceptive charges and fees imposed by live-event ticketing and short-term lodging businesses.

On May 23, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Syria General License (GL) 25, “Authorizing Transactions Prohibited by the Syrian Sanctions Regulations or Involving Certain Blocked Persons,” following President Trump’s May 13 announcement.

The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, chaired by US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has released its long-anticipated report on childhood chronic disease drivers. Although the document is only an assessment and expressly contains no binding policy recommendations, it signals the contours of a federal strategy that officials will draft within 100 days.

Customs & Import Compliance Practice Group Leader Angela Santos was quoted on the Trump Administration’s alternative pathways for imposing tariffs. After the Court of International Trade and District Court for the District of Columbia put a halt to Trump’s tariffs, Administration officials say that the president is considering using other tools at his disposal to advance his trade policies.

On May 22, the US House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” This alert highlights the provisions in the Bill that could impact tax-exempt organizations.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

Partner Antonio Rivera was quoted on the federal court decision that President Trump exceeded his authority when he used the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose worldwide tariffs by declaring a national emergency based on trade deficits.

On May 28, a three-judge panel on the US Court of International Trade (CIT) issued a landmark ruling in V.O.S. Selections, Inc. et al. v. United States of America et al. and The State of Oregon et al. v. United States Department of Homeland Security et al.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce that Partner Kirsten Hart has been named among Daily Journal’s “Top Women Lawyers” in California for 2025.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce that Partner Debra Albin-Riley has been named among Daily Journal’s “Top Women Lawyers” in California for 2025.

“Energy security,” the principle that when you flip a light switch the lights will turn on, is something that most Americans take for granted. But the mechanics behind it incorporate both century-old transmission towers and the latest in renewable energy technology.

They say, “timing is everything.” This podcast comes to our listeners as Washington, DC, contemplates next moves on the US tariff front, including new tariffs on products key to the e-mobility sector.

Welcome to “Beyond the Lot,” a podcast series hosted by Kevin Timson that invites industry experts to weigh in on trends and auto retail business topics.

On May 15, a Texas federal court vacated portions of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace, concluding that the agency’s expanded interpretation of “sex” under Title VII exceeded its statutory authority (Texas, et al. v. EEOC, 2:24-CV-173).

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce that Megan Gajewski Barnhill has joined the firm as a partner in the International Trade & Investment practice in Washington, DC. Megan’s practice focuses on helping companies navigate complex regulatory matters related to international business transactions and national security.

On May 17, the masts of a 300-foot-long Mexican naval training ship carrying 277 people collided with the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge just minutes after leaving the pier where it has been docked at the South Street Seaport in New York City, New York.

Shortly after taking office, President Trump froze funding already allocated to various parties, citing the Administration’s disapproval of issues including climate change and social equity. Additionally, executive agencies removed content discussing climate change from websites.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

ArentFox Schiff represented Grupo Inlosa, a Mexico-based automotive retail group expanding its US operations, in acquiring Toyota of Pharr in February. The store was purchased from Penske Automotive Group Inc., a publicly traded US automotive retailer. Grupo Inlosa anticipates that the new store will complement its nearby Buick GMC dealership.

ArentFox Schiff advised Knight Automotive Group, a Canada-based automotive retail group, in its sale of Elk Grove Subaru to Lithia Motors, Inc., the nation’s largest automotive dealership group (ranked by total units sold).

ArentFox Schiff represented Trophy Automotive Dealer Group in acquiring Kia of Cerritos, the nation’s second highest-volume Kia dealership, from Lou Sobh Automotive.