A Matter of Law

As landmark legal settlements restructure college sports, institutions face unprecedented risks. Student-athletes can now earn millions through Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals, but this shifting ground introduces regulatory and litigation exposure. In this episode of A Matter of Law, Hogan Lovells’ Craig Umbaugh sits down with colleagues Sarah Keller, Jimmy McEntee, and Joel Buckman to untangle this complex landscape. The panel breaks down antitrust scrutiny, Title IX compliance, and the College Sports Commission.

​​As the Trump Administration ramps up tariff and international trade-related enforcement, companies engaged in cross-border trade are at risk of False Claims Act (FCA) liability. Hogan Lovells’ partner Mitch Lazris sits down with his colleagues Jerrob Duffy and Josh Kurland to discuss the aggressive shift in trade law enforcement. With tariffs serving as a cornerstone of current economic policy, the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security have sharpened their focus on tariff evasion and trade fraud using a powerful tool: the FCA.

In the second half of this high-stakes podcast, Professor James Tierney warns that the era of state AGs simply "tagging along" on federal settlements is over. Using the Ticketmaster litigation as a primary case study, Professor Tierney explains why ignoring the independent power of state enforcement is a fatal corporate mistake. Hogan Lovells’ Karl Racine and Jason Downs sit down with the "man who wrote the curriculum" to discuss why the office of Attorney General has become the most consequential seat in American law.

While the federal government often grabs the headlines, the real regulatory "teeth" in America belongs to the State Attorneys General. This year, with 31 AG seats on the ballot, we are facing a historic level of leadership change—one that will decide who holds the subpoena power to halt global mergers, sue federal agencies, and dictate how corporations operate within state lines. In this episode of A Matter of Law, Karl Racine, former DC Attorney General, and Jason Downs, former Chief Deputy AG, who together co-head Hogan Lovells’ State Attorney's General Practice, sit down with the man who literally wrote the curriculum on the AG office: Professor James Tierney.

In Mexico, being served with a class action isn't the start of the battle - it’s often the beginning of the end. This Hogan Lovells podcast reveals how Mexico’s legal framework flips the script on U.S. and European norms, replacing years of discovery with a timeline that demands a fully developed defense in just weeks. Hogan Lovells’ Carrie DeLone, Luis Enrique Graham, Omar Guerrero, and Fernanda Serrano break down why being proactive is the only survival strategy.

Freelancers have been critical to the success of most media and entertainment organizations for decades. But as the industry evolves, so do the legal risks of hiring freelancers. Hogan Lovells partners Craig Umbaugh, Michelle Roberts Gonzales, and Mary Carmen Fuertes discuss the employment laws across the Americas affecting gig workers and subcontracting, and the growing impact of AI on the workforce. They explore the legal challenges and risks of misclassification for media and entertainment companies and provide practical advice to mitigate legal and financial risk.

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) laws are rapidly changing worldwide. The rise in enforcement actions is extending beyond banks to include law firms, crypto currency businesses, luxury goods and real estate. The Hogan Lovells team explores the enforcement shifts happening in APAC, France, the UK and the U.S. and discusses how businesses need to establish adaptive cross-border compliance systems.

State of Play explores the maturing landscape of collective redress across Europe. As the Representative Actions Directive (RAD) takes full effect, jurisdictions are seeing their collective action frameworks mature and multiply. Hogan Lovells partners discuss how new EU rules, increased funding, and strategic cross-border litigation are redefining risk for companies around the world. We discuss different approaches across the continent and why cross-border coordination is becoming the norm in managing litigation exposure.

Data breaches and cyber attacks are a constant headline and affect millions of individuals and organizations globally. Companies who are victim to an attack can face regulatory actions, costly remediation efforts, and significant litigation exposure. In this podcast, the Hogan Lovells team takes a comprehensive look at the legal life cycle of a data breach lawsuit and what’s at risk for businesses. The discussion focuses on critical hurdles such as the motion to dismiss phase, legal standing, class certification, and potential settlement.

Higher Education institutions face increasing and novel legal risks under the False Claims Act (FCA) in light of the current administration's effort to deploy the FCA to enforce its policy objectives. In this Hogan Lovells podcast, partners from the firm's Education and Investigations practices analyze how the Department of Justice is seeking to use the FCA against universities, which certify compliance with federal laws in order to receive funds for financial aid and research. Learn about the investigation process, FCA defenses, risks posed by whistleblowers, and practical steps that university counsel can take now to help mitigate potential FCA investigations and costly litigation.

Many companies around the world are looking to bring their workforce back to the office. As employers push for their return, they must consider the legal issues, including discrimination claims and contractual rights, alongside strategic considerations as employees have grown accustomed to the benefits of remote work.  In this episode, we discuss the risks and practical solutions for employers navigating this new reality. Find out what's lawful in each jurisdiction and what you need to consider before mandating a return to office.

While class action lawsuits in the United States have been prevalent for years, we’re seeing a rise in collective action sweeping across Europe - and across industries. The growing trend is fuelled by several factors including the increased availability of third-party funding options, legal reforms and a growing public awareness of of the availability of collective redress options. In this podcast, we discuss the differences in class actions in the U.S., the UK, and the EU and how companies can mitigate risk.

As companies around the world embrace ESG as part of  their overall strategy, the level of scrutiny is on the rise. Regulatory reporting and transparency requirements also mean we are seeing an increase in ESG litigation. Business leaders face a myriad of issues and regulatory standards that are different from country to country. In this podcast, we discuss those standards and what companies should be thinking about to avoid future litigation.

Shareholder activism is steadily on the rise. One area that has been increasingly making headlines is how a company handles its ESG strategy. Investors are scrutinising companies' environmental, social and governance plans and are beginning to demand greater change. For investors, it’s an opportunity to be heard - and to try to bring about change in how a company operates. But for many companies, it can be a difficult time. In this podcast, we discuss what business leaders in Europe and APAC can do in order to mitigate risk and avoid litigation.

Companies around the world continue to face geopolitical and economic uncertainty. As business leaders look to tighten up their balance sheets, many are cutting what they consider to be non-core initiatives, but will DEI also end up on the chopping block?  Sophie-Isabelle Horst, counsel at Hogan Lovells, speaks to fellow lawyers Anvita Sharma and Tao Leung as well as Chris Folwell, Uber’s Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for EMEA to discuss why DEI should be a key strategic goal - both from a professional and a personal perspective.

As the world continues to move beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, new areas are being brought under the umbrella of compliance. Companies are responding to geopolitical tensions as well as increased scrutiny of human rights issues and ESG responsibilities, but are they rising up to the challenge? Khushaal Ved, senior associate at Hogan Lovells, speaks to fellow lawyers Shelita Stewart and Liam Naidoo to discuss what businesses can do in the compliance space in the UK and the US to stay ahead of the coming challenges.

Welcome to A Matter of Law. I’m Khushaal Ved, a senior associate at Hogan Lovells. In this series, we’ll discuss a range of topics that all boardrooms may be facing today - or sometime in the future.. We’ll speak to our expert lawyers and our clients to dissect crucial and rapidly-evolving issues - and offer our perspective on how companies can embrace change in order to thrive and avoid future litigation. Search for A Matter of Law wherever you get your podcasts and follow or subscribe for free so you don’t miss an episode.

What does it take to create a truly inclusive culture in a multinational company? Is it even possible? Reuben Vandercruyssen, senior associate at Hogan Lovells speaks to fellow lawyers Anvita Sharma and Tao Leung as well as Mary FitzPatrick, Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Rolls-Royce. The three discuss the challenges, and the opportunities, when everyone gets behind a strong DEI strategy.