Nate Robson
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As seen in:
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Flipboard,
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Yahoo,
Corporate Counsel,
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Daily Business Review,
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and
Covers:
agribusiness, education technology, higher education, education policy, education, agriculture, state government
Doesn't Cover:
arts and culture, entertainment
Deputy technology editor for @Politico. Formerly an editor for American Lawyer Media/The National Law Journal.
Articles by Nate Robson
Gail Slater steps down as DOJ’s antitrust chief Original
The department’s antitrust division has seen its share of turmoil during Slater’s tenure. Two senior antitrust attorneys were fired in July following conflicts over DOJ’s approval of a merger between Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks. Higher-ups in Main Justice allowed the merger to go through, overruling Slater’s antitrust division. The Wall Street Journal reported at the time that Slater did not support the firings or the settlement.
AI creates a new antitrust puzzle
Artificial intelligence is in the sights of antitrust enforcers—and, as in many areas, the disruptive technology may force policymakers to reconsider what “antitrust” even is. With AI becoming more and more embedded in everything corporate, from screening job applications to setting business strategy, regulators and state lawmakers are starting to worry that a certain amount of collusion is baked into the technology itself. Their focus right now is on .
AI creates a new antitrust puzzle
With help from Aaron Mak Antitrust experts are worried about AI raising consumer prices. | Allison Dinner/AP Artificial intelligence is in the sights of antitrust enforcers — and, as in many areas, the disruptive technology may force policymakers to reconsider what “antitrust” even is.
The shutdown hits Washington’s push to break up Big Tech Original
Cases threatening to break up Amazon and Apple, however, were paused this past week. Amazon was not slated to go to trial until February 2027, and discovery and depositions for Apple were scheduled through January 2027. Judges in both approved the government’s request for a pause until federal funding is restored. Just how much the shutdown affects the cases will likely come down to how long the government remains shuttered.
It’s Google’s world. Regulators are just living in it.
Can anyone beat Google? For the past decade, antitrust enforcers on both sides of the Atlantic have sought to stop the power of Silicon Valley’s quintessential tech giant, going so far as to threaten it with a break-up. Then on Tuesday, U.S. federal judge Amit Mehta wrapped up the most anticipated attempt in years, opting for a mild data-sharing remedy in a landmark case pitting the Justice Department against Google.
Google dodges a $2.5T breakup Original
Nate Robson Tue, September 2, 2025 at 8:50 PM UTC 3 min read A federal judge refused to break up Google on Tuesday for monopolizing the online search and ad markets, and instead imposed lesser restrictions on its day-to-day operations. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington rejected the Justice Department’s request to force the $2.5 trillion company to spin off its Chrome browser and Android products.
5 questions for Amir Husain
Amir Husain | WorldQuant Foundry With help from Aaron Mak Hello, and welcome to our next installment of the Future in Five Questions. This week, we interviewed Amir Husain. He chairs WorldQuant Foundry, a venture lab focused on tech startups, especially those that specialize in commercial space travel, artificial intelligence and biotech.
5 questions for Amir Husain
The firms argue that Trump doesn't have the authority to slap import duties on products from China. The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a request from two toy companies to expedite their challenge to President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The ruling from the nation’s high court means that the Trump …
How Trump’s firings could break the 110-year-old FTC Original
“If this stands, it totally ends the Federal Trade Commission as we have known it,” said Stephen Calkins, a former FTC general counsel who teaches law at Wayne State University. Democrats fear the firings are just the beginning for not just the FTC, but the entire constellation of independent agencies that regulate American businesses.
Veteran Supreme Court Reporter Marcia Coyle Retires
Marcia Coyle, whose start as a U.S. Supreme Court reporter coincided with the doomed nomination of Robert Bork more than three decades ago, is retiring from American Lawyer Media. Coyle, a regular guest on “PBS Newshour,” where she speaks about the latest news and issues before the justices, has covered some of the nation’s most impactful decisions while giving readers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how the nation’s highest court, and its nine justices, operate. Want to continue reading?
Former Prosecutor Who Probed Atlanta Corruption Reveals Ballard Spahr Pay
A Ballard Spahr partner nominated to the U.S. attorney post in the Southern District of Georgia reported earning $324,764 from the firm. Jill Steinberg was the deputy chief of the criminal division for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern Division of Georgia before joining Ballard Spahr’s white-collar defense and internal investigations group in September 2021.
The Government’s Coming for Those Secret Messaging Apps
Each week, the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek, brings you the trends, disruptions, and shifts our reporters and editors are tracking through coverage spanning every beat and region across the ALM Global Newsroom. The micro-topic coverage will not only help you navigate the changing legal landscape but also prepare you to discuss these shifts with thousands of legal leaders at Legalweek 2023, taking place March 20-23, 2023 in New York City.
Pillsbury Partner Picked as US Attorney in Miami Discloses $900K Pay
A Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman partner nominated to lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Florida reported earning just shy of $1 million from the law firm. Markenzy Lapointe, a Miami-based partner at Pillsbury, earned $905,176 at the firm, according to his financial disclosure released Friday. His clients include Truist Bank, Qatar International Bank, Bombardier Aerospace Corp., and former Broward Health president and CEO Bev Capasso. Want to continue reading?
The Marble Palace Blog: The Story of a Forgotten Black Supreme Court Advocate From the 19th Century
Thank you for reading The Marble Palace Blog, which I hope will inform and surprise you about the Supreme Court of the United States. My name is Tony Mauro. I’ve covered the Supreme Court since 1979 and for ALM since 2000. I semiretired in 2019, but I am still fascinated by the high court. I’ll welcome any tips or suggestions for topics to write about. You can reach me at From 1989 to 2006, James Feldman ably argued more than 40 U.S Supreme Court cases on behalf of the Solicitor General’s Office.
DOJ’s Rush for Corporate Compliance
Each week, the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek, brings you the trends, disruptions, and shifts our reporters and editors are tracking through coverage spanning every beat and region across the ALM Global Newsroom. The micro-topic coverage will not only help you navigate the changing legal landscape but also prepare you to discuss these shifts with thousands of legal leaders at Legalweek 2023, taking place March 20-23, 2023 in New York City.
Law Professor Nominated by Biden for Regulatory Gig Discloses $990K NYU Pay
Law professor Richard Revesz earned just shy of $1 million from New York University, according to a financial disclosure released as part of his nomination for a post in the Biden administration. Revesz, a former clerk for Justice Thurgood Marshall, earned $991,097 from the university and $610,561 as the director of the American Law Institute, according to the disclosure. ALI is a nonprofit that publishes scholarly work geared toward clarifying and modernizing the legal system.
DOJ, Trump Propose Four Candidates for Special Master
Four potential candidates were proposed by the U.S. Department of Justice and Donald Trump Friday night to serve as a special master to review documents seized from the former president’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Main Justice and Trump each submitted two candidates, and both sides are expected to advise Judge Aileen Cannon of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Monday about their views on the other side’s proposed candidates. Want to continue reading?
Read the Doc: Judge Trashes Trump's RICO Lawsuit Against Clinton, Perkins Coie
A federal judge roundly rejected former President Donald Trump’s RICO lawsuit filed against his political rivals, including Hillary Clinton, Perkins Coie and former law firm partners Marc Elias and Michael Sussmann. Judge Donald Middlebrooks of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice, noting the former president’s amended lawsuit failed to address any of the shortcomings he previously raised. Want to continue reading?
$3.4M: That's How Much a Sidley Austin Partner Made, According to His Disclosure
Sidley Austin partner Richard Weiner, a Biden administration nominee for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, reported earning nearly $3.4 million from the firm, according to a financial disclosure released Thursday. Weiner focuses his practice on energy, environmental, global arbitration, trade, and advocacy.
Mar-a-Lago Raid Could Mean Trouble for Trump, Legal Community Says
News that FBI agents executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago in an investigation targeting former President Donald Trump quickly lit up social media as lawyers discussed the legal and political implications.
White-Collar Enforcement Under the Biden Administration
Business Crimes Bulletin Regulation White Collar Crime After much saber-rattling, the Biden administration’s focus on white-collar corporate compliance is finally coming into focus. Law firms and white-collar compliance experts have long warned the administration’s ramped-up focus was coming, but the pandemic largely nixed any initiatives.
A 'Catastrophe' or 'New Era'? Legal Community Reacts as SCOTUS Rescinds Abortion Precedents
Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court opinion overturning two landmark precedents enshrining abortion as a constitutional right quickly sparked a firestorm of commentary from the legal community.
White-Collar Enforcement Is Finally Here in the Biden Administration
Each week, the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek, brings you the trends, disruptions and shifts our reporters and editors are tracking through coverage spanning every beat and region across the ALM Global Newsroom. The micro-topic coverage will not only help you navigate the changing legal landscape but also prepare you to discuss these shifts with thousands of legal leaders at Legalweek 2023, taking place March 20-23, 2023 in New York City.
US Solicitor General Urges Supreme Court to 'Just say No' to Workers' Comp Marijuana Cases
States have addressed the workers’ compensation question differently. Maine and Minnesota courts, for example, have invalidated workers’ compensation orders for medical marijuana. Judges in New Hampshire and New Jersey, however, have upheld them. (Credit: Tunatura/Shutterstock) The U.S. Solicitor General’s Office on May 16, 2022, urged the U.S. Supreme Court not to jump into the debate over whether workers’ compensation should cover medical marijuana costs.
Supreme Court urged to 'just say no’ to workers’ comp marijuana cases
States have addressed the workers’ compensation question differently. Maine and Minnesota courts, for example, have invalidated workers’ compensation orders for medical marijuana. Judges in New Hampshire and New Jersey, however, have upheld them. (Credit: Tunatura/Shutterstock) The U.S. Solicitor General’s Office on May 16, 2022, urged the U.S. Supreme Court not to jump into the debate over whether workers’ compensation should cover medical marijuana costs.
U.S. Solicitor General Asks Supreme Court to 'Just Say No' to Workers' Comp Marijuana Cases
States have addressed the workers’ compensation question differently. Maine and Minnesota courts, for example, have invalidated workers’ compensation orders for medical marijuana. Judges in New Hampshire and New Jersey, however, have upheld them. (Credit: Tunatura/Shutterstock) The U.S. Solicitor General’s Office on May 16, 2022, urged the U.S. Supreme Court not to jump into the debate over whether workers’ compensation should cover medical marijuana costs.
'Appalling' and 'Unforgivable Sin': Leaked SCOTUS Draft Overturning 'Roe' Shocks Legal Community
Social media was quickly afire Monday night after an unprecedented leak showed the U.S. Supreme Court has circulated a draft opinion that would overturn two key abortion rights precedents. The draft acquired by Politico was written by Justice Samuel Alito, and would overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
Cohen Milstein Partner Behind Inclusion Riders Reports Law Firm Pay
A Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll partner behind the use of inclusion riders in Hollywood contracts reported earning $399,295, according to a financial disclosure offering a rare peek at pay inside the plaintiffs firm. Kalpana Kotagal, a member of Cohen Milstein’s civil rights and employment practice group, also chairs the firm’s hiring and diversity committee.
Sanctions Flurry Keeps National Security Lawyers on Edge
Each week, the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek brings you the trends, disruptions, and shifts our reporters and editors are tracking through coverage spanning every beat and region across the ALM Global Newsroom. The micro-topic coverage will not only help you navigate the changing legal landscape but also prepare you to discuss these shifts with thousands of legal leaders at Legalweek 2023, taking place March 20-23, 2023 in New York City.
A 2nd Appeals Court Finds a Child's Age Does Not Automatically Void Arbitration Agreements
A teenager who lied about her age in order to use a social media platform must ask an arbitrator to decide if the arbitration agreement she signed as an 11-year-old is void before she can sue Snapchat in federal court for allegedly violating her biometric privacy rights, a federal appeals court ruled.
CA, NY Judicial Picks Reveal Jones Day, Gibson Dunn Pay
(l-r) Judicial nominees Robert Steven Huie, to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of California, Evelyn Padin, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey, and Jennifer H. Rearden, to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York, testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee during their confirmation hearing, on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Photos: Diego M.
Filings Reveal Judicial Nominees' Pay
(l-r) Judicial nominees Robert Steven Huie, to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of California, Evelyn Padin, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey, and Jennifer H. Rearden, to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York, testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee during their confirmation hearing, on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Photos: Diego M.
DOJ’s Cryptocurrency Enforcement Is Ready for Primetime
Each week, the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek brings you the trends, disruptions, and shifts our reporters and editors are tracking through coverage spanning every beat and region across the ALM Global Newsroom. The micro-topic coverage will not only help you navigate the changing legal landscape but also prepare you to discuss these shifts with thousands of legal leaders at Legalweek 2022.
Appeals Court Upholds Sanction Against Lieff Cabraser for Misrepresentations in Fee Application
A federal appeals court has upheld a sanction against Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein over its role in submitting inflated billing rates in an investor class action lawsuit. Lieff Cabraser’s appeal did not contest the reduced amount of legal fees awarded after U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf of the District of Massachusetts found the lead firms inflated their lodestar by double counting hours using different rates for contract attorneys.
Gigi Sohn, Biden's Embattled FCC Pick, Paid $149K by Georgetown Law's Tech Institute
Gigi Sohn, the president’s controversial pick for a vacant seat on the Federal Communications Commission, earned $149,000 in consulting fees from Georgetown Law’s Institute for Technology Law & Policy. The pay came in the form of a consulting fee, according to Sohn’s updated financial disclosure released Friday. Sohn is a distinguished fellow at the institute.
'Brilliant, Thoughtful, Balanced': Justice Breyer Praised as a Consensus-Maker as His Retirement Becomes Official
News of Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement quickly spread through legal circles Wednesday, as litigators, his former law clerks and law professors discussed the legacy the jurist will leave behind. His former clerks called Breyer an open-minded consensus-maker. Litigators called him a key defender of civil rights, especially for the LGBTQ+ community. And law professors said his legal writing will leave a lasting impression on the bench once he steps down. Want to continue reading?
As Ketanji Brown Jackson Takes The Bench, A Look Back at Justice Stephen Breyer's Words
Editor’s Note: We are republishing this story looking back at Justice Stephen Breyer’s career as he officially retires Friday. This story has been updated with Breyer’s most recent writings from the current term. Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement Thursday marked the departure of a justice firmly committed to democracy and preserving the legitimacy of the U.S. Supreme Court. It also marked the arrival of his successor and former clerk, Ketanji Brown Jackson, who is the first Black female justice.
Big Changes Coming with Biden Administration’s M&A Review
Each week, the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek brings you the trends, disruptions, and shifts our reporters and editors are tracking through coverage spanning every beat and region across the ALM Global Newsroom. The micro-topic coverage will not only help you navigate the changing legal landscape but also prepare you to discuss these shifts with thousands of legal leaders at Legalweek 2022.
'A Remarkable Woman': Legal Community Remembers Sarah Weddington, Who Successfully Argued Roe v. Wade
The legal community was in mourning this weekend after the death of Sarah Weddington, the lawyer who successfully argued Roe v. Wade before the U.S. Supreme Court, a precedent that is before the justices this term. At 26, Weddington was the youngest person to argue before the high court, helping establish a precedent that ensured women had the right to obtain an abortion. Weddington had also never tried a case before making her debut before the justices. This content has been archived.
Citing Multiple Filing Errors, Judge Threatens to Toss John Eastman's Challenge to Jan. 6 Subpoena
A federal judge is threatening to throw out conservative lawyer and former President Donald Trump ally John Eastman’s lawsuit after Eastman and his attorney repeatedly failed to fix errors in their initial complaint challenging a House select committee’s subpoena related to the Jan. 6 riot. The order to show cause issued in a minute order Tuesday said Eastman and his attorney, Charles Burnham of Burnham & Gorokhov, have until Dec.
DOJ Executes Its Return to Strict Corporate Compliance
Each week, the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek brings you the trends, disruptions, and shifts our reporters and editors are tracking through coverage spanning every beat and region across the ALM Global Newsroom. The micro-topic coverage will not only help you navigate the changing legal landscape but also prepare you to discuss these shifts with thousands of legal leaders at Legalweek New York 2022.
Saule Omarova, Biden's Controversial Pick to Oversee Banking, Reveals Cornell Law Pay
A Cornell Law School professor nominated to be the Biden administration’s top banking regulator reported earning $291,629 from the university, according to her financial disclosure. Saule Omarova was nominated as the comptroller of currency for the U.S. Treasury Department in September, a position tasked with overseeing and regulating the banking industry.
Civil Rights Lawyer, Former Public Defender Jia Cobb Confirmed to DC District Court
Civil rights lawyer and former public defender Jia Cobb was confirmed to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Tuesday. The Senate’s 52-45 vote makes Cobb the fourth Black woman to ever sit on the D.C. District Court, where she will replace Judge Emmet Sullivan, who is taking senior status. Want to continue reading?
October Editor's Note: Inside the High Court’s New Term
The start of the October marks the new supreme court term, and our cover story takes a look at the key cases and issues on the docket. Lawyers are watching to see who the new swing votes are, with many observers expecting to see a bloc of three judges emerge as the deciding factor going forward. The term also has critical cases for abortion and gun rights, among other issues.
Emory Law Professor, Biden's Pick for CFTC, Reveals $200K Salary
An Emory University law professor who is President Joe Biden’s pick for a vacant seat on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission reported earning a $205,813 salary from the school, according to her financial disclosure. Kristin Johnson, who joined the Emory faculty at the beginning of 2021, specializes in financial market risk management and complex financial products.
Biden's Pro-Labor NLRB Pick Reveals $227K Levy Ratner Salary
Recently confirmed National Labor Relations Board member Gwynne A. Wilcox reported earning a $227,197 salary as a partner at labor and employment firm Levy Ratner. Wilcox was confirmed by the Senate on July 28 and will serve through August 2023.
Big Law Associate Raises Miss the Mark
As the economy picked up steam this summer, the Big Law associate salary wars predictably flared up again. Firms have been tripping over themselves to match the highest bidder. Young lawyers can be forgiven if they’ve suffered whiplash. After all, just 17 months ago, as the pandemic spread uncertainty and anxiety throughout the economy, many associates were let go, furloughed, or saw compensation cuts. Now, to meet rapidly increasing workloads, Big Law firms are desperate for talent.
Fordham Law School's Dean Dishes on Return-to-Campus Plans and a 'Need to Be Flexible'
With the delta variant of COVID-19 spreading across the U.S., law schools have had to navigate a highly fluid situation while also thinking about how to prepare students for a changing legal landscape. This week, we sat down for a phone call with Fordham Law School Dean Matthew Diller to talk about the process of managing fall return-to-campus plans, in addition to the school’s surprising increase in applicants and changes in legal education moved forward by the pandemic. Want to continue reading?
Finalist Named for The National Law Journal Legal Awards 2021
We are pleased to unveil the finalists and honorees for The National Law Journal Legal Awards highlighting the top litigation and appellate work from the past year. The law firms and lawyers being honored this year stood out for their work guiding clients through hearings on Capitol Hill, their handling of high-profile pro bono cases, and their expertise in areas such as intellectual property and products liability litigation. Also in this list is the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Two DC District Court Decisions Highlight Judicial Nonpartisanship
“Where you stand depends on where you sit.” That political maxim, coined by Richard Neustadt, eminent 20th Century Harvard professor of government and onetime adviser to Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, conveys that the policy stances officials take depend on the post they occupy. Want to continue reading?
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