In this episode, Akin Gump health care and life sciences partner Howard Sklamberg discusses the history and status of cannabis regulation and enforcement

in the U.S., particularly of cannabidiol, or CBD.

Among the topics covered:

• THC vs. CBD, hemp vs. marijuana
• CBD and the Controlled Substances Act
• CBD: supplement, food additive or drug?
• FDA regulation of  CBD.

For more information on Akin Gump’s food and drug law work, please visit the food and drug law page on akingump.com.

This episode debuts a series of conversations between Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith and thought leaders in and around the legal industry. In this episode, she speaks with Patrick Krill, an authority on addiction and mental health in law firms.

Among the topics covered:

• what a 15,000-lawyer survey revealed about mental health distress
• well-being in the workplace
• the importance of early intervention.

For more information on Akin Gump, please visit the Our Firm page on akingump.com.

In this episode, Akin Gump public law and policy senior advisor and former U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and international trade partner Nnedi Ifudu discuss U.S. sanctions on Venezuela.

Among the topics covered:

• the history of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela
• the impact of sanctions on business
• risks in the Venezuela market
• challenges to the U.S. at the WTO
• forecast for future sanctions.

For more information on Akin Gump’s sanctions work, please visit the economic sanctions page on akingump.com.

In this episode, partners and Akin Gump retail initiative co-leaders Gregory Knopp and Meredith Slawe discuss the retail sector, its promises and its pitfalls.

Among the topics covered:

• technological innovation in retail
• challenges retailers face in California
• consumer privacy and the plaintiff’s bar
• Akin Gump’s multidisciplinary retail initiative
• the importance of compliance in risk management.

For more information on Akin Gump’s retail industry work, please visit the retail page on akingump.com.

In this episode, the third of three building on Akin Gump’s annual Top 10 Topics for Directors report, partner Michelle Reed discusses the critical question of cybersecurity and the corporate world.

Among the topics covered:

• the big players and decisions for cyber in 2018
• how boards can improve their cyber posture
• 2019 federal cyber initiatives.

For more information on Akin Gump’s cybersecurity work, please visit the cybersecurity, privacy and data protection page on akingump.com.

In this episode, the second of three building on Akin Gump’s annual Top 10 Topics for Directors report, partner Lauren Leyden discusses the #MeToo movement and its impact on the corporate world.

Among the topics covered:

• corporate culture and #MeToo
• the paramount importance of preparedness
• the changing environment for allegations.

For more information on Akin Gump’s labor and employment work, please visit the labor and employment page on akingump.com

In this episode, the first of three building on Akin Gump’s annual Top 10 Topics for Directors report, partners Christine LaFollette and Daniel Walsh discuss corporate culture and board diversity, and what boards need to be thinking about them.

Among the topics covered:

• corporate culture and crisis management
• proxy voting and board diversity
• a return to a multiconstituency focus for boards.

For more information on Akin Gump’s governance work, please visit the corporate governance page on akingump.com.

In this episode, Akin Gump antitrust partners Gorav Jindal and Corey Roush discuss antitrust developments in 2018 and look at what 2019 may bring.

Among the topics covered:

• antitrust under the Trump administration
• major antitrust legislation on Capitol Hill
• the FTC and big data
• best practices for engaging with antitrust regulators.

For more information on Akin Gump’s antitrust practice, please visit the antitrust page on akingump.com.

In this episode, Akin Gump international trade partners Tatman Savio and Christian Davis discuss the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) and how the new Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) reforms and expands CFIUS’s reach and authority.

Among the topics covered:

• the why and how of CFIUS’s reform
• phased implementation of FIRRMA
• FIRRMA’s impact on Chinese investors.

For more information on Akin Gump’s CFIUS practice, please visit the CFIUS page on akingump.com.

In this episode, Akin Gump Supreme Court and appellate practice co-head Pratik Shah discusses the big cases from the preceding U.S. Supreme Court Term and looks ahead at interesting cases in the new Term.

Among the topics covered:

• Justice Kavanaugh’s impact
• the rise of Justice Kagan
• Chief Justice Roberts’ new role
• LGBT/reproductive rights cases.

For more information on Akin Gump’s Supreme Court and appellate practice, please visit the Supreme Court and appellate page on akingump.com.