All Perspectives

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

On April 22, at the direction of US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and HHS published identical statements announcing the phase-out of so-called “petroleum-based” synthetic food dyes and their replacement with “natural alternatives.”

Fredrick Weber will co-present with Andrew Fussner of the American Heart Association at the conference in Phoenix, AZ on May 16, 2025. The conference is hosted by Arizona Charitable Gift Planners.

Welcome to the May 2025 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month. We bring you the most recent and significant insights in an accessible format, concluding with our main takeaways — aka “And the Fox Says…” — on what you need to know.

This week, the US House Ways and Means Committee released tax legislation that includes several provisions relevant to tax-exempt organizations.

On May 12, Matthew R. Galeotti, the head of the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Criminal Division, announced a new white collar enforcement plan, outlined changes to the Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Disclosure Policy, and added new priority areas to the Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program Policy. The DOJ also introduced a new corporate monitor selection policy.

ArentFox Schiff represented leading national civil engineering firm, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB), in a trio of transformative acquisitions which will accelerate VHB’s growth and further its capabilities to address complex challenges for its clients.

Health Care Partners Lowell Brown, Debra Albin-Riley, Annie Lee, and Jeff Weston will present at the California Association Medical Staff Services’ (CAMSS) 54th Annual Education Forum in Universal City, California, on May 14-16, 2025.

After a rollercoaster of activity related to the federal Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), the US Treasury Department (Treasury) announced on March 2 that it will not enforce any penalties or fines associated with beneficial ownership information reporting for US reporting companies.

On May 14, the US House Ways and Means Committee advanced its initial markup version of The One, Big, Beautiful Bill, following 17 hours of a Committee meeting to markup the bill with no changes from the 389-page text that was released on May 12.

ArentFox Schiff successfully represented Nexus Pharmaceuticals in a patent infringement lawsuit, winning summary judgement for patent invalidity.

For decades, regulators have tried to quantify harm related to emissions, including the “social cost of carbon” (SCC), but that approach has now changed. The Trump Administration recently released a memorandum seeking to discontinue regulatory use of SCC except as required by law.

President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) banning athletes assigned male at birth from competing in women’s sports. This applies to sports competitions within both educational institutions and athletic associations.

A May 2 report from the US Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) found that as of March, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) workforce had fallen by 11,443 employees, or 11%, due to probationary employee terminations and deferred resignations. This drastic reduction in the IRS workforce came amid cuts from the Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

On May 12, the United States and the People’s Republic of China announced a temporary 90-day agreement to roll back some of the reciprocal tariffs increases imposed in April.

Government Relations Co-Chair Philip English and Partner Paul Schmid will sit down for a fireside chat at the XPX Greater Boston Summit on May 13.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce that Partners Imron Aly and Maggie Hickey have been listed among Crain’s Chicago Business’ 2025 Notable Litigators.

President Trump recently announced a plan to impose a 100% tariff on films produced outside of the United States, leaving stakeholders in the entertainment industry concerned and confused.

The current Administration is enforcing a law initially enacted in 1940 which requires certain foreign nationals to register with the US government and always carry proof of their registration. There are penalties for violating these requirements, and there is a new form to use for such registration.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

Within the last month, the US District Court for the Northern District of California rejected efforts by United Behavioral Health (UBH) to dismiss and decertify two class actions seeking relief related to UBH’s processing of mental health claims.

Last year, the New York Retail Worker Safety Act was signed into law. The Act will take effect on June 2, after which New York-based retail employers will be faced with new internal policy and training requirements for employees.

The California Fourth District Court of Appeal’s decision in Reyes v. Hi-Grade Materials Co. continues the trend toward limiting plaintiffs’ abuse and improper weaponization of the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).

Michelle J. Shapiro of ArentFox Schiff will be a panel moderator at the 2025 White-Collar Crime Conference hosted by the Boston Bar Association (BBA).

On April 28, the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published the long anticipated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the January 16 Information and Communication Technology and Services (ICTS) Rule that prohibits the import and sale of connected vehicles and their related hardware/software with a sufficient Chinese or Russian nexus (“Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain: Connected Vehicles.”)