The RegTech Revolution: Automating Compliance in a Complex Regulatory Landscape

Posted on February 21, 2025Categories Finance & Banking, technology, Uncategorized

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, organizations face an ever-expanding array of regulations and compliance requirements. To navigate this complex environment, many businesses are turning to Regulatory Technology, or RegTech, to automate compliance processes. While automation promises increased efficiency and reduced costs, it also raises concerns about added complexities and potential risks. Is relying on technology to handle compliance a prudent strategy, or would this add layers to an already tangled web?
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Should Private Equity Be Involved in Collegiate Sports?

Posted on February 21, 2025Categories Athletic Regulation

In October 2024, a judge gave preliminary approval of a settlement over a multibillion-dollar class action lawsuit involving former collegiate athletes being denied compensation, House v. NCAA. One of the settlement conditions will be that universities can now pay players directly. Teams must now decide whether to pay players directly or rely on NIL compensation to remain competitive in recruiting top talent. This demand for players has made some speculate that conferences and their member universities will turn to private equity to help fund these teams.
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Is NIL the Killer or the Key to Classifying Student-Athletes as Employees?

Posted on February 20, 2025Categories Athletic Regulation, Employment

Will name, image, and likeness (NIL) accelerate or hinder student-athletes being classified as employees? NIL refers to a person’s legal right to control how their image is used. For several years, college athletes forfeited these rights when they signed with collegiate sports teams. However, three years ago, NCAA rules changed, allowing athletes to profit off their NIL. Even without NIL deals, an increasing number of student-athletes have sought compensation while playing for universities. Student-athletes have sought compensation ranging from travel expenses to minimum wage. Historically, student-athletes have not been considered employees under labor and employment laws. Recently, courts have been divided on whether athletes receiving compensation should be considered a student or an employee. The addition of NIL rights that allows student-athletes to receive payment might be the factor that will ultimately decide this issue.

President Trump Wants to Ban the Federal Income Tax: Its Feasibility, Likelihood, & Possible Outcomes

Posted on February 19, 2025Categories tax

Amongst some of the recent policy proposals made by the new administration in the White House, President Donald Trump has discussed the possibly of eliminating federal income taxes. He said, “We’re going back to the old days. No income tax, just tariffs. It worked before, and it’ll work again.” This controversial, bold proposal has sparked some significant and intense debate over its potential impacts on the economy, overall feasibility, and likely impacts on everyday Americans. President Trump hopes to replace income taxes with alternative revenue sources including tariffs and consumption taxes. The arguments on both sides are quite interesting.
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Subsidized Addiction: America’s Sweet Problem

Posted on February 14, 2025Categories FDA, health

Today, Americans are becoming more aware and concerned about the additives in their food that have carcinogenic and other adverse health effects. This increased scrutiny in American nutrition, particularly for children, has been spearheaded by the “Make America Healthy Again” Movement, which seeks higher standards in regulations of what is allowed in food and more transparency for food products. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is shifting in the same direction of promulgating stricter food standards, as it recently finalized rules banning the artificial food additive Red No. 3 and updating the standards manufacturers must meet to advertise as “healthy.” However, while agencies and activists work to keep chemical and artificial additives out of American foods, a glaring issue remains. Americans have a sugar addiction problem, and the government is their enablers.

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Glass Skin Meets Red Tape: How Korean Beauty Navigates FDA Rules

Posted on February 13, 2025Categories FDA, Food and Drug Law

Among the trends of self-care lies skincare. As self-care has increased in popularity over the last few years, skincare has become increasingly trendy. In 2022, there was a boost in skincare sales with products such as anti-aging products and moisturizers. In the skincare industry, there are known and established brands, but what has recently emerged through popularity on social media and TikTok is Korean beauty (“K-beauty”) products. K-beauty products help consumers achieve “glass skin,” which is clear, poreless, and shiny skin that looks like glass by using specific K-beauty products. In the states, sunscreen is a staple K-beauty product that has emerged.
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Mass Deportation and the Fall of Immigration Detention Regulations

Posted on February 13, 2025Categories Department of Justice

As the Trump administration ushers in a new era of mass deportation and hysteria, “sanctuary” communities like Chicago are more important now than ever. The term “sanctuary” generally refers to states, counties or cities that have policies that limit the extent to which a local officials will cooperate with federal agencies’ efforts to deport undocumented persons. Recently, regulations concerning detention and deportations of undocumented immigrants have rapidly devolved, along with what protections they offered to these communities. Previous regulations were similarly deferential to federal enforcement agencies, particularly U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, the current administration is actively working to broaden federal authorities’ power to deport immigrants who are not lawfully in the U.S. and have been accused, rather than convicted, of crimes. One way the administration seeks to do so is by loosening its regulation of the methods ICE may use to conduct arrests as well as the role state and local law enforcement may play in such operations. Biden administration’s discontinuing the practice of mass immigration sweeps at worksites such as factories is just one of the limitations that has been discarded. This leaves already fragile protections for undocumented persons to the wayside, resulting in unnecessary harm and suffering to thousands of undocumented persons and citizens.
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Recording Justice: How BWCs Impact Accountability and Transparency

Posted on February 12, 2025Categories Department of Justice

Body-worn cameras, known as BWCs, are devices fitted to the outside of an officer’s uniform “that record interactions between community members and law enforcement officers.” These cameras record both video and audio and can be used for numerous reasons, such as providing transparency to members of the greater community and documenting evidence for future investigations or litigation purposes. BWCs have widely become an essential tool used by law enforcement agencies to enhance accountability, improve transparency, and serve as invaluable tools in legal proceedings.  

Studies suggest BWCs contribute to a reduction in use-of-force incidents. The absence of a federal mandate has led to inconsistent state regulations, which has created compliance challenges and sparked legal debates. This has led to increased compliance challenges and legal debates. There have been several efforts to standardize BWC policies around the country, such as a push by the Department of Justice for a nationwide adoption and H.R. 843, a proposed legislation looking to increase BWC usage. Unfortunately, issues such as financial burdens, officer misuse, and legal barriers continually pose challenges for widespread adoption. Even with all of these obstacles, BWCs have been proven to have a significant impact in the courtroom, helping influence trial strategies and even charging decisions made by attorneys. While BWCs are not the antidote for police misconduct, they are an important step towards communities with greater accountability and justice. 
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$TRUMP: The President’s Overconfident Approach to Crypto

Posted on February 10, 2025Categories Uncategorized

On the campaign trail in 2024, the then-former president Trump made his ties to the crypto industry clear, such that crypto leaders were optimistic about the future in terms of regulations. Upon his entry into office, President Trump solidified this stance by signing an executive order: “Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology.” This executive order lightens the regulations on crypto currencies and promotes the presence of crypto in the American economy. Some industry leaders, however, are hesitant about the President’s actions. 

Will California’s Anti-Price-Gouging Measures be Effective in the Wake of Wildfires?

Posted on February 6, 2025Categories Regulation

In response to the January 2025 wildfires that have burned through Los Angeles County (L.A. County), California Governor Gavin Newsom issued numerous executive orders including Executive Order N-9-25, which extended renter protections against price gouging on hotel and motel rates, as well as rental housing prices across the county. Around 12,000 homes and buildings have been destroyed in the fires, leaving behind a worsening shortage of affordable housing for Los Angeles residents. To make matters worse, as the housing supply in L.A. County has suffered, there have been reports of price gouging on rent and housing costs by landlords and property owners. California law protects residents from price gouging following a natural disaster through a 10% cap on price increases. Thus, tenants’ rights advocates have called for strict enforcement against those who impose excessive price increases in violation of this regulation.

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