“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” —Michael Corleone, The Godfather Part III. That iconic line about inescapable forces doesn’t just capture those thoughts of a mob boss trying to retire. It could just as easily apply to kids who are drawn in to their favorite apps again and Continue Reading
Connecticut Data Privacy Act: Statutory Changes and the Start of Fines
Connecticut continues to refine its data privacy act as it implements its first violation settlement. TicketNetwork, Inc., reached a settlement of $85,000 for deficiencies in its privacy notice to consumers. Despite receiving notice from the Office of the State Attorney General with a window of 60 Continue Reading
New Jersey FY 2026 Budget Tax Law Changes
On June 30, 2025, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law the FY 2026 state budget (the “FY 2026 budget”), totaling $58.8 billion (see our prior alert New Jersey Enacts FY 2026 Budget: Key Takeaways). The FY 2026 budget includes increases in the rates of various “sin” taxes and the mansion and Continue Reading
Compliance Note No. 13: Upcoming ELEC Filing Deadlines for Parties
As New Jersey state and county political parties set leadership following the Primary election in June, they should be mindful of upcoming filing deadlines for the Election Law Enforcement Commission, including the required annual filing for the designation of a treasurer and depository, which is Continue Reading
Mansion and Controlling Interest Transfer Tax Amendments Signed Into Law: Buyers and Sellers Must Move Fast to Avoid Rate Increase
On Tuesday, July 1, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law Senate Bill S4666/Assembly Bill A5804 (collectively, the Bill), which impacts certain transfers of real property. The Bill amends the existing fees imposed on certain residential, agricultural, and commercial real property transfers, commonly Continue Reading
What to Do Now That the USPTO Accelerated Examination Program Is Ending
The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) introduced the Accelerated Examination program in 2006 to help applicants receive expedited examination of important patent applications. The USPTO is ending the Accelerated Examination program on July 10, 2025, for utility patent applications, as we noted Continue Reading
New Jersey Enacts FY 2026 Budget: Key Takeaways
New Jersey has enacted its Fiscal Year 2026 budget, with the Legislature passing a $58.78 billion spending plan ahead of the July 1 constitutional deadline. The final budget reflects an increase of approximately $727 million over Governor Phil Murphy’s original proposal in February. The budget Continue Reading
SCOTUS Limits Sentencing for Supervised Release Violations to Rehabilitation
In a 7-2 decision, the United States Supreme Court has limited the factors a district court can consider when sentencing a defendant for a revocation of supervised release. The Supreme Court held that district courts cannot consider “retributive considerations,” such as the seriousness of the Continue Reading
Merger Remedies Are Back on the Menu
“Looks like meat [merger remedies] is back on the menu, boys!” —Uglúk in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers The Trump administration’s recently announced settlements resolving the antitrust concerns in transactions mark a shift from the previous administration’s hostile rhetoric against Continue Reading
Compliance Note No. 12: ELEC Announces New Audits for 2025 Primary Candidates
With the 2025 New Jersey Primary Election behind us and the 20-Day Post Election report for participating candidates due by June 30, 2025, the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) has introduced a new enforcement initiative. During a recent public meeting, ELEC announced that legislative, Continue Reading