S&C Critical Insights

An Update on the FTC’s Non-Compete Rule

In this episode of S&C’s Critical Insights, Annie Ostrager, Co-Head of S&C’s Labor & Employment Group, and Jeannette Bander, a partner in S&C’s Executive Compensation Group, provide an update on the FTC’s final rule containing a sweeping ban on non-compete agreements.

A Discussion of Non-Compete Agreements and Their Enforceability

In this episode of S&C’s Critical Insights, Annie Ostrager, Co-Head of S&C’s Labor & Employment Group, and Jeannette Bander, a partner in S&C’s Executive Compensation Group, discussed non-compete agreements and the evolving nature of their enforceability, including developments at the federal and state level.

Major Developments in National Security Enforcement, Part Three

In this episode of S&C’s Critical Insights, Sharon Cohen Levin, Craig Jones and Eric Kadel, Co-Heads of S&C’s National Security Practice, Adam Szubin, Of Counsel in S&C’s National Security Practice, and Andrew DeFilippis, Special Counsel in S&C’s National Security Practice, continue their discussion of significant developments in national security enforcement.

Major Developments in National Security Enforcement, Part Two

In this episode of S&C’s Critical Insights, Sharon Cohen Levin, Tony Lewis and Eric Kadel, Co-Heads of S&C’s National Security Practice, Adam Szubin, Of Counsel in S&C’s National Security Practice, and Andrew DeFilippis, Special Counsel in S&C’s National Security Practice, continue their discussion of significant developments in national security enforcement.

Enforcement Actions Related to Alleged Impairment of Whistleblower Activity and New Whistleblower Programs

In this episode of S&C’s Critical Insights, Annie Ostrager, Co-Head of S&C’s Labor & Employment Group, and Kamil Shields, a partner in S&C’s Litigation Group, discussed recent developments in whistleblower enforcement investigations and new whistleblower programs.

Annie and Kamil cover the increase in enforcement actions and investigations into employment and other agreements that the SEC and other regulators view as potentially impeding, preventing or discouraging whistleblower activity. They also discuss new programs aimed at further incentivizing whistleblower reporting to the government, such as the Whistleblower Pilot Program created by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

Major Developments in National Security Enforcement

Ten years ago, international companies typically needed to monitor national security developments only if they were doing business with a U.S. government agency or operating in higher risk jurisdictions or sectors such as military or dual-use goods. Over the past decade, however, Western governments—led by the United States—have expanded the use of sanctions, export controls, import restrictions and investment laws to more jurisdictions and more sectors, requiring nearly every multinational company to be attuned to and anticipate developments in these laws and regulations, including those seeking to prevent espionage, theft of trade secrets, cyber attacks and other similar threats.

In addition, the governments of nations such as Russia and China have enacted an array of sanctions, export and other control measures, which can subject multinational companies to highly challenging situations with conflicting sanctions regimes. In this environment, companies and financial institutions must address a range of national security risks and considerations when establishing or executing their business operations, legal decision-making and compliance programs.

In this podcast, former federal prosecutors Sharon Cohen Levin, Nicky Friedlander, Tony Lewis and Amanda Houle discuss major developments in national security enforcement, including the Department of Justice’s increased focus on this area. Sharon led the Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for two decades; Nicky is a former Chief of the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York; Tony was the Deputy Chief of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California; and Amanda was Co-Chief of the National Security & International Narcotics Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

ESG Considerations for Financial Institutions in 2024

In this episode of S&C’s Critical Insights, Michelle Chen, a partner in S&C’s Financial Services Group, and June Hu, special counsel in the Firm’s General Practice Group, provide key takeaways for financial institutions as they navigate environmental, social and governance considerations in 2024.

Michelle and June review key ESG developments in 2023, noting a trend of growing divergence in ESG requirements and expectations at the international, federal and state level. This trend creates uncertainty and challenges for financial institutions.

In light of the uncertainty and rapid developments in the ESG space, Michelle and June offer practical guidance for financial institutions, including the need to continue to closely monitor the changing ESG landscape and to adopt a coordinated approach to compliance in order to mitigate the risks of fragmented and reactive responses.

2023 Headwinds in M&A and Outlook for 2024

In this episode of S&C’s Critical Insights, Senior M&A Partner Frank Aquila and Global Head of M&A Melissa Sawyer discuss major takeaways from M&A in 2023 and potential developments for 2024.

While we avoided a recession in 2023, ongoing economic uncertainty, rising interest rates, regulatory headwinds and geopolitical tensions contributed to a second year of falling activity levels in global M&A following 2021’s record-breaking year.

M&A deals continued to face scrutiny from antitrust and foreign investment regulators in the United States and globally. In 2023, the EU adopted its new Foreign Subsidies Regulation, and in the United States, the FTC and DOJ proposed changes to the HSR rules and issued Draft Merger Guidelines.

Cross-border M&A activity remained significant at $707 billion during the first nine months of 2023, but was down 21 percent compared to a year ago. Geopolitics, sanctions and foreign investment and competition regulation explain some of the trends in cross-border M&A, as investment pivots to align with countries’ political affiliations.

Frank and Melissa expect to see more blends of traditional acquisition financing mixed with private credit solutions in 2024. They anticipate a significant uptick in activity this year with an increase in strategic buyers executing on deals, private equity buyers and a rebound in the cross-border deals.

Corporate Governance: What to Expect in 2024

In this episode of S&C’s Critical Insights, Marc Treviño and Melissa Sawyer, Co-Heads of S&C’s Corporate Governance Practice, discuss corporate governance developments and what to expect in 2024.

Marc and Melissa explore the ongoing trend of increased shareholder proposals focused on environmental, social and political topics and touch on ESG as it relates to the broader legislative and political climate. ESP-focused shareholder proposals and ESG issues are at the center of a growing web of legislation and government actions at multiple levels.

They also note that companies may be looking to implement an officer exculpation provision in 2024.

Employment and Contracting Litigation After the Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Decision

In this episode of S&C’s Critical Insights, Julie Jordan, Tracy Richelle High and Annie Ostrager, Co-Heads of S&C’s Labor and Employment Group, discuss the Supreme Court’s decision in two consolidated cases against Harvard and the University of North Carolina. The Court held that the schools’ admissions programs—both of which used race as an explicit factor in admissions decisions—violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in education.

Julie, Tracy and Annie examine pending employment and contracting cases that may be affected by the Court’s decision, cover related shareholder proposals and offer guidance for employers, including reviewing hiring and promotion processes and procedures to examine whether any decisions are expressly based on race, gender or other protected classes.