Insights

Katten is proud to announce that 13 of our attorneys have been recognized as 2026 Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers. The honorees are recognized for their ability to improve client satisfaction, increase client advocacy, strengthen their firm’s brand and enhance people engagement.

Although the FDA recently implemented additional safeguards related to imported GLP-1 products, the safety of GLP-1 active pharmaceutical ingredient (“API”) remains a key congressional focus.  Recently, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi announced that he sent formal letters to three biotechnology companies based in the People's Republic of China (PRC). The letters requested detailed information on the production, labeling, and export practices related to GLP-1 products and their APIs.

After years of regulatory turf wars and jurisdictional uncertainty, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) are signaling a new chapter in their relationship. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins and CFTC Chairman Michael Selig convened a joint roundtable on January 29, relaunching "Project Crypto," as an inter-agency effort to coordinate federal oversight of crypto asset markets. The event brought together regulators and industry stakeholders for opening remarks and a fireside chat with the two chairmen. The roundtable signals a notable departure from the historically fragmented and at times adversarial relationship between the two agencies. 

In a courthouse in Washington D.C., a landmark transatlantic legal battle is unfolding that could reshape how nations regulate online content across borders and determine the future of the UK's Online Safety Act. Two US-based online platforms have taken the unprecedented step of suing the United Kingdom's communications regulator, Ofcom. The case sits at the intersection of sovereign immunity, constitutional rights, and the fundamental question of how far a nation can push its regulatory power in the name of online safety.

(CHICAGO) Katten announced today that eight attorneys and four practice areas were recognized in the 2026 edition of World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000: the World’s Leading Trademark Professionals. WTR 1000 identifies the top trademark professionals in key jurisdictions around the globe.

As Americans enter the "Great Wealth Transfer," with an estimated $84 trillion or more expected to pass to younger generations over the next two decades, family business owners face critical decisions regarding business succession and continuity. This advisory outlines four principal strategies for family business succession planning: intergenerational succession planning, minority investment, insider sales and third-party sales. Each approach presents distinct legal, financial and operational considerations, underscoring the importance of early, tailored planning to preserve legacy, generate wealth and ensure business continuity. A trusted legal advisor can assist in evaluating these structures and recommend a path forward that most closely aligns with the family business owner's goals.

(NEW YORK) Katten announced today that Carl Kennedy, a former US Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulator who co-chairs the firm's Financial Markets and Regulation (FMR) practice, was tapped to co-chair the CFTC Graduates Society (CFTCGS).

Health Care Partner Kate Hardey, Real Estate Partner Jason Gorczynski, and Sports and Sports Facilities Partner and Co-Chair Daniel Render contributed an article in the January 22 edition of the Sports Litigation Alert about health care and medication compliance in the professional and collegiate sports industry sectors. Compliance in these sectors involves "a myriad of federal and state requirements for physicians, clinical staff, and athletic trainers, all of whom play a crucial role in ensuring player health both at home and during team travel," as stated by the authors.

(LOS ANGELES) Katten announced today that Richard H. Zelichov has rejoined the firm's Los Angeles office as a partner in its Securities Litigation practice.

On January 28, the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Divisions of Corporation Finance, Investment Management, and Trading and Markets jointly released a joint statement on tokenized securities (Staff Statement). The Staff Statement returns to a familiar theme in the digital asset space: changing how ownership is recorded does not change what is being sold. A tokenized security is still a security, and the federal securities laws apply in the same way as they do to traditional book-entry interests. Substance prevails over form.

Katten's Insolvency and Restructuring Department will be honored as an award recipient in three categories of the Global M&A Network's 20th Annual Turnaround Atlas Awards, which recognize "the leading distressed transactions, restructuring, refinancing, products and services, firms, and professionals in the United States and international markets."

In 2025, the deal environment in the UK and Europe re‑established a firmer footing, with values improving even as volumes lagged pre‑2021 highs. If macro stability and rate normalization persist, we anticipate a more active 2026. Periods of falling inflation and reduced volatility last year created capacity for dealmakers to re‑engage, and we expect that dynamic to carry forward into 2026, with greater confidence around financing, valuation bridges and buyer appetite. Against that backdrop, we set out below six themes we expect to define UK and European mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in 2026.