International

Insurers Keen On UK Captive Regime But Fear 'Gold-Plating'

Martin Croucher

The government has proposed new rules that it hopes will transform the U.K. into a global hub for captive insurance — but experts say that with formal regulation still to come they fear that "the devil will be in the detail."

The Tax Angle: Church Politics, Budget Talk, Disaster Relief

Stephen K. Cooper
Editor-at-Large

From a look at the IRS' statement relaxing a 71-year-old ban on political endorsements by churches to talk of a second budget reconciliation bill this year and the passage of disaster tax relief legislation, here's a peek into a reporter's notebook on a few developing tax stories.

Trump Order On Solar, Wind Credits Puts Industry On Heels

Kat Lucero

President Donald Trump threw a curveball to the energy industry by ordering the U.S. Department of the Treasury to take a hard line on which projects qualify for solar and wind tax credits under the new budget law, leaving practitioners uncertain about the scope of the restrictions.

4 Former Justices Would Likely Frown On Litigation Funding

As courts increasingly confront cases involving hidden litigation finance contracts, the jurisprudence of four former U.S. Supreme Court justices establishes a constitutional framework that risks erosion by undisclosed financial interests, says Roland Eisenhuth at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.

How Attys Can Use AI To Surface Narratives In E-Discovery

E-discovery has reached a turning point where document review is no longer just about procedural tasks like identifying relevance and redacting privilege — rather, generative artificial intelligence tools now allow attorneys to draw connections, extract meaning and tell a coherent story, says Rose Jones at Hilgers Graben.

AbbVie Frees Taxpayers From M&A Capital Loss Limitations

The U.S. Tax Court’s June 17 opinion in AbbVie v. Commissioner, finding that a $1.6 billion break fee was an ordinary and necessary business expense, marks a pivotal rejection of the Internal Revenue Service’s position on the tax treatment of termination fees related to failed mergers or acquisitions, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

ABA Opinion Makes It A Bit Easier To Drop A 'Hot Potato'

The American Bar Association's recent ethics opinion clarifies when attorneys may terminate clients without good cause, though courts may still disqualify a lawyer who drops a client like a hot potato, so sending a closeout letter is always a best practice, say attorneys at Thompson Hine.

Can Companies Add Tariffs Back To Earnings Calculations?

With the recent and continually evolving tariffs announced by the Trump administration, John Ryan at King & Spalding takes a detailed look at whether those new tariffs can be added back in calculating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization — an important question that may greatly affect a company's compliance with its financial covenants.

A Look At DOJ's Dropped Case Against Early Crypto Operator

The prosecution of an early crypto exchange operator over alleged unlicensed money transmission was recently dropped in Indiana federal court, showcasing that the U.S. Justice Department may be limiting the types of enforcement cases it will bring against digital asset firms, say attorneys at Greenberg Traurig.

8 Ways Lawyers Can Protect The Rule Of Law In Their Work

Whether they are concerned with judicial independence, regulatory predictability or client confidence, lawyers can take specific meaningful actions on their own when traditional structures are too slow or too compromised to respond, says Angeli Patel at the Berkeley Center of Law and Business.

Law School's Missed Lessons: Communicating With Clients

Law school curricula often overlook client communication procedures, and those who actively teach this crucial facet of the practice can create exceptional client satisfaction and success, says Patrick Hanson at Wiggam Law.

Navigating Antitrust Risks When Responding To Tariffs

Companies should assess competitive perils, implement compliance safeguards and document independent decision-making as they consider their responses to recent tariff pressures, say attorneys at White & Case.

Key Points From HMRC's Tax Reform Proposals

Although HM Revenue & Customs’ recent proposals for reform of U.K. transfer pricing and permanent establishment rules align with the latest international consensus, certain amendments may lead to future controversy, say lawyers at Skadden.

Adapting To Private Practice: From US Rep. To Boutique Firm

My transition from serving as a member of Congress to becoming a partner at a boutique firm has been remarkably smooth, in part because I never stopped exercising my legal muscles, maintained relationships with my former colleagues and set the right tone at the outset, says Mondaire Jones at Friedman Kaplan.

IRS Should Work With Industry On Microcaptive Regs

The IRS should engage with microcaptive insurance owners to develop better regulations on these arrangements or risk the emergence of common law guidance as taxpayers with legitimate programs seek relief in the federal courts, says Dustin Carlson at SRA 831(b) Admin.

What To Note As UK Adopts OECD Crypto Disclosure Rules

With the U.K.’s recent announcement that it will adopt the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's crypto-asset reporting framework, users and providers will benefit from understanding the context surrounding the decision and the framework's intended goal of clamping down on tax evasion, say lawyers at Brown Rudnick.