In the Public Interest is excited to continue In That Case, its third annual miniseries examining notable decisions recently issued by the United States Supreme Court. In this episode, host Felicia Ellsworth is joined by Partner and Chair of WilmerHale’s Appellate and Supreme Court Litigation Practice Seth Waxman and Counsel Zaki Anwar to discuss Glossip v. Oklahoma. The case concerns Richard Glossip, who has been on death row since 1998 on a first-degree murder charge. The team arguing on his behalf in front of Court, which included Waxman and Anwar, successfully argued that Glossip’s sentence should be reversed and the state of Oklahoma should be allowed to retry his case.

Waxman and Anwar walk through each step of the case, outlining the complex procedural history that has taken place over the course of nearly thirty years. They emphasize the significance of the case for due process and other capital cases in the future, and what it reflects about the current Court’s ideologies when it comes to serious criminal convictions.

In the Public Interest is excited to present its third annual miniseries examining notable decisions recently issued by the United States Supreme Court. In this episode, host Felicia Ellsworth is joined by WilmerHale Counsel Joey Meyer to discuss Mahmoud v. Taylor, which concerns the constitutional rights of parents who send their children to public school to opt their children out of lessons that may be at odds with their religious beliefs. WilmerHale represented the appellee in the decision.

Together, Meyer and Ellsworth cover the background of the case and the implications of the Court’s ruling on issues like parental rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and religious freedoms. Meyer also shares additional context from his experience as one of the WilmerHale lawyers who helped secure a victory for the public schools in the Fourth Circuit before going on to help represent them before the Supreme Court.

The workplace has undergone numerous changes since COVID-19 enforced remote work requirements, including how employee surveillance tools have grown to monitor more and more employee activity. The rise of this expanded technology, with advancements aided by new developments in AI, has led to more questions around its practical uses and how employees perceive it.

Partner and Chair of the Labor and Employment Practice Laura Schneider joins this episode of In the Public Interest to discuss the tools and methods currently being used for employee surveillance. She shares her insights into how the workplace surveillance landscape has changed over the last few years, the role AI now plays and federal and state litigation surrounding this topic that could arise in the future.

The mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market is one of many areas facing noteworthy changes due to the second Trump administration’s economic policies and priorities. While the President’s pro-business stance during his campaign signaled the potential for an increase in M&A activity, the reality reflects a more uncertain future.

This episode of In the Public Interest features a conversation between co-host Michael Dawson and Partner Keith Trammell exploring expectations for the future of M&A deals under the current administration. Drawing upon his extensive experience advising clients in M&A transactions, Trammell shares his insights into the effect of deregulation on deal activity, the long-term impact tariffs will have on the market and potential shifts in shareholder activism, among other topics.

The new presidential administration brings with it a fresh approach to cryptocurrency regulation and enforcement, with regulatory experts predicting greater collaboration between the SEC and industry leaders and a more tailored enforcement agenda focused on fraud and retail issues. This episode of In the Public Interest features a timely conversation with co-host Michael Dawson and WilmerHale Special Counsel David Tutor about the current state of the cryptocurrency landscape. Before joining the firm, Tutor spent seven years as senior counsel in the Division of Enforcement at the SEC, where he was a member of both the Cyber Unit and Asset Management Unit. Throughout the episode, Tutor comments on the latest developments coming from the SEC and key areas he expects the Commission to focus on under the Trump administration. He also discusses his time in government service and how it impacts the counsel he gives to clients today.

Related Resources

• Crypto Currently: Crypto News Center
• Sign up for the Crypto Currently Weekly Digest Newsletter
• The State of Meme Coin Regulation: SEC Staff’s Statement and Other Considerations
• SEC Announces New “Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit” and Signals Return to First Trump Administration Fraud- and Retail-Focused Enforcement Priorities

For law students, a summer associate position can help define the kind of law they practice and the path they forge through the legal profession. From building connections with associates and prominent partners to taking on challenging assignments, the experiences of a summer associate can provide a preview of the work they will take on in the future.

In the first-ever live recording of In the Public Interest, co-hosts Felicia Ellsworth and Michael Dawson are joined by Partners Tiffany J. Smith, Nana Wilberforce and Drew Dulberg—who started their careers as summer associates at the firm—and over 100 of the firm’s summer associates from offices across the country. During their conversation, all three partners offer an inside look into the firm’s summer associate program and offer advice for law students and attorneys early in their careers. They also discuss their experiences as summer associates and how these experiences and the lessons they learned have shaped their careers.

President Trump is beginning his second non-consecutive term with a Republican-controlled House and Senate and the backing of major tech and corporate executives, while simultaneously contending with significant political polarization. These opposing factors raise a host of questions about what to expect from this administration’s first 100 days in office.

In the season five premiere of In the Public Interest, co-host Felicia Ellsworth speaks with WilmerHale Partner and Co-Chair of the Congressional Investigations Practice and the Crisis Management and Strategic Response Group Alyssa DaCunha, Senior Public Policy Advisor and Co-Chair of the firm’s Public Policy and Legislative Affairs Practice Rob Lehman, and Partner and fellow Co-Chair of the Public Policy and Legislative Affairs Practice Jonathan Yarowsky. Together they share their forecast for the first 100 days of the administration, including what the administration’s top priorities are expected to be, shifts in international relations and foreign policy, the state of congressional oversight and the impact of recent Supreme Court decisions on the functions of federal agencies.

Related Resources

• Visit Our Post-Election Update Center
• WilmerHale Launches Administrative Law Transition Task Force
• China Imposes Series of Measures to Counter US Export Restrictions
• The Future Of Agency Deference After Loper Bright
• In That Case: Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo

As we celebrate the holiday season, we thought we'd revisit one of our fun, festive episodes about singer/songwriter Elizabeth Chan, who successfully opposed Mariah Carey's attempt to register the trademark, "Queen of Christmas." Originally released as part of season three back in December 2022, Chan joins Partner Louis Tompros, former Associate Hailey Cherepon and co-host Felicia Ellsworth to discuss what opposing this trademark registration means for the freedom of expression of Chan and other holiday artists.

In the run up to the 2024 presidential election, the concern with outside interference in our elections and the political debate surrounding them has never been higher. In this environment, we thought it would be a good time to re-release a podcast episode from season one on deepfakes and disinformation, which was originally released in March of 2021. Please listen to former podcast co-host and current candidate for Denver District Attorney John Walsh, Partner Jason Chipman, former counsel Matthew Ferraro, and Nina Schick, who discuss the phenomenon of deepfakes and the implications they have on society as a whole.

When it comes to protecting the nation’s public lands, the work of the Department of the Interior (DOI) is crucial and all-encompassing. The Department oversees everything from environmental conservation efforts to energy regulation to strengthening relationships with Native American and other indigenous tribes. In the fourth season finale of In the Public Interest, co-host Felicia Ellsworth speaks with WilmerHale Partner Tommy Beaudreau, the current co-chair of the firm’s Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources and Native American Law Practices. Beaudreau’s career spans nearly a decade of experience in public service, serving in two presidential administrations in various positions within the DOI. Most recently, he was Deputy Secretary of the Interior in the Biden Administration under Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American Cabinet secretary in American history.

Beaudreau shares how his experience growing up in Alaska and his connection with his home state drove his passion to serve in the public sector. He tells Ellsworth about the leadership of Secretary Haaland, and how she has made strides to build connections with tribal nations and help them heal from a traumatic history of colonization. The two also discuss various challenges he faced during his time in the Department, from the stabilization of the Colorado River to working with tribes and other stakeholders to enforce the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.