NYC Law & Legislation News

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Akin Adds Goldman Sachs Tech Lawyer in New York

Akin has strengthened its New York corporate practice with the return of technology transactions lawyer Neil DuChez as a partner. DuChez most recently spent more than nine years at Goldman Sachs, where he served as Vice President and Senior Legal Director and advised on technology, data, artificial intelligence, intellectual property and commercial agreements. At Akin, his practice will include technology-enabled transactions, strategic partnerships, software and cloud agreements, AI and data analytics, payment technologies and technology issues connected to acquisitions and divestitures. The firm said the appointment expands its U.S.-based technology transactions capabilities as technology and data become increasingly important components of major corporate deals. DuChez previously worked at Akin as an intellectual property associate.

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Columbia Reports 32% Drop in Discrimination Filings

Columbia University reported a 32 percent decline in incident reports involving potential violations of its institutional equity policies during the 2025-26 academic year, according to newly released annual data. The University's Office of Institutional Equity documented 2,118 reports and 1,328 cases, with the number of cases declining 27 percent from the previous year. Columbia also identified 99 cases involving allegations of antisemitism, anti-Arab, anti-Muslim or anti-Palestinian discrimination and Islamophobia, representing a 67 percent year-over-year decrease. However, reports of sexual harassment increased from the prior year, while dating and domestic violence reports rose for a second consecutive year. A separate university report found relatively few potential conduct violations among thousands of campus events.

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New York Sues Over $1.4B Offshore Wind Deals

New York is leading a coalition of states in two federal lawsuits challenging $1.4 billion in federal agreements to cancel four planned offshore wind leases. The cases involve agreements with Bluepoint Wind and Invenergy, including projects off New York's coast that had been expected to connect to New York City's electric grid. State officials argue that the federal government improperly used money from the Judgment Fund to compensate the companies for abandoning the projects and are asking federal courts to void the lease cancellations. According to the New York Attorney General's office, the two canceled New York projects were projected to generate more than $16 billion in investment and create more than 2,800 jobs in the state.

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Paul, Weiss Adds Private Equity Team in New York

Paul, Weiss is expanding its New York private equity practice with the addition of partner Christopher Machera and five other transactional lawyers. Machera has joined the firm's Private Equity M&A Group in New York, while Timothy Burns, Noah Beck, Amanda Rotkel, Andrew Lawson and Dylan Hans are expected to join in the coming weeks across private equity M&A, tax and executive compensation. The incoming team has worked on hundreds of transactions involving major investment firms including Blackstone, Brookfield, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, TPG and Warburg Pincus. The expansion adds to Paul, Weiss's private equity and mergers and acquisitions capabilities as the New York-based firm continues building its transactional practice.

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DoorDash Reaches $131.5M Settlement With NYC

DoorDash has reached a $131.5 million settlement with New York City following an investigation into payments to the company's delivery workers. More than $115 million will be distributed to over 260,000 workers who experienced underpayments, late payments or other minimum-pay violations, while more than $16 million will go toward civil penalties and costs. The agreement also establishes a three-year monitoring system requiring DoorDash to provide detailed monthly data to the city's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. Workers will also be able to share trip and earnings information directly with the city through new technology being developed with outside partners. Eligible workers are expected to begin receiving settlement payments this fall.

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NY AG Secures Terms in Paramount-Warner Bros. Deal

New York Attorney General Letitia James and attorneys general from 11 other states have reached an antitrust settlement with Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery that establishes conditions for their major media combination. Under the agreement, Paramount must maintain minimum annual film-release levels and increase domestic film-production spending by $1.5 billion over five years. The companies must also negotiate fees for their respective cable channels separately, while an independent editorial board will oversee CNN and CBS. The settlement includes financial penalties if Paramount misses certain film-production requirements and provisions involving unionized entertainment workers. The agreement resolves lawsuits brought by the states and the Writers Guild of America and clears a major legal obstacle to Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

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New York Moves Ahead With RAISE Act AI Regulations

New York is moving forward with implementation of the Responsible AI Safety and Education Act, establishing new transparency and reporting requirements for large developers of advanced artificial intelligence models. Beginning in November, covered developers are expected to begin registering with the state and preparing for requirements that take effect in January 2027. The law requires covered companies to publish safety frameworks, report specified critical safety incidents within 72 hours and submit information about potential catastrophic risks. Oversight will be handled through New York's new Office of Digital Innovation, Governance, Integrity and Trust, known as DIGIT. The state has also appointed Marc Gilman as deputy director for RAISE Act implementation as it builds the new regulatory operation.

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Brooklyn Man Charged in East New York Sex Trafficking

A Brooklyn man has been charged in a federal sex trafficking case involving allegations that women were forced or coerced into commercial sex along Pennsylvania Avenue in East New York and elsewhere. Federal prosecutors allege that Michael Brown, also known as “Mack Bills,” controlled women working along a stretch of the corridor known as the “Penn Track” and transported women from New York to at least one other state. Brown is charged with sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, interstate prostitution and promotion of prostitution. Prosecutors allege that he collected proceeds and used threats, manipulation and violence to maintain control. Brown was arrested September 18. The charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

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NY Groups Sue Over New Federal Public Charge Rule

New York organizations are challenging a new federal immigration policy that could affect how the use of certain public benefits is considered when immigrants seek lawful permanent resident status. Make the Road New York, the New York Legal Assistance Group and other organizations filed a federal lawsuit against U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Department of Homeland Security. The plaintiffs argue that the new public charge rule exceeds federal immigration law and could discourage immigrant families from using health, food, housing and other assistance programs. The lawsuit also raises concerns about benefits received by dependent children. The organizations are asking the court to vacate the policy. Their claims are allegations, and the court has not yet ruled on the merits of the challenge.