Thought Leadership - Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Cash is King: How A Capital Strategy Can Enable Today’s Startups to Survive

2023 has proved to be challenging for many cash-conscious startups, especially those that anticipated raising venture capital in the first half of the year.

Regulation of AI Systems is Already Here – Look to Data Protection Laws

As the scramble continues to reckon with the rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT, Bard, DALL-E, and Midjourney, and the promise of other AI and machine learning systems (for simplicity, “AI systems”) to come, legal and business professionals across industries are asking whether these systems will be regulated, and if so, how.

Startup Financing: When Is a SAFE Not So Safe?

Startups have been raising money using the Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) since it was first introduced by Y Combinator in 2013.

Startups, SAFE Act, Financing, Entrepreneurs

Manatt Represents Iron Pillar in Pando’s $30M Series B Funding

A Manatt team successfully represented Iron Pillar, a venture growth investor backing companies building from India for the world, as the lead investor in Pando’s $30 million Series B funding.

AI Has Captured the Attention of the U.S. Public—and Federal Enforcers

Four federal agencies issued a unique Joint Statement this week on enforcement priorities related to “automated systems,” including artificial intelligence.

Climate Disclosure Mandates: California Lawmakers Press Forward Ahead of Forthcoming Federal Rule

Two proposed climate-related disclosure mandate laws moved closer to becoming law in California.

Top Five Employment Issues Upon a Sudden Bank Failure

The sudden closure of a bank can create a host of ripple effects.

Mandatory Climate Emissions Disclosures: California Lawmakers Press On While SEC May Be Backing Off

Mandatory disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions by business operators is coming, one way or another. California legislators continue to press for a change in law that would require disclosures for large businesses that do business in California.

Kraken Crypto Staking Program for U.S. Investors Shut Down in Aggressive Expansion of the Howey Test

Payward Ventures, Inc., d/b/a Kraken, the cryptocurrency exchange, has entered into a $30 million settlement agreement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over allegations the company failed to register its cryptocurrency staking program, in violation of U.S. securities laws.

FTC Signals New Era of Enforcement with $1.5 Million Penalty for Unauthorized Sharing of Health Data

The Federal Trade Commission announced yesterday that it has brought its first-ever enforcement action under its Health Breach Notification Rule, against digital health platform GoodRx Holdings, Inc.