Bloomberg Industry Group

•

Channel • 4 Shows

Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated Aug 12
News Commentary

News Commentary

Updated Jul 1
Business News

Business News

Updated Weekly
Business News

Business News

Updated Weekly

Aug 12

When Judges Stop Believing the Government

Federal courts run on a quiet assumption: when the government speaks, it's telling the truth. Over the past two episodes of UnCommon Law, we've watched longstanding norms between the White House and the Justice Department erode. Now we turn to the judges. Over the next two episodes, we'll look at how the courts are responding to Justice Department attempts to carry out the president’s agenda — the questions judges ask, the deference they typically give, and what happens when some judges begin to question whether they can trust what government lawyers are telling them. Through a remarkable case involving hundreds of Guatemalan children, we examine what happens when that trust begins to break down — and what judges can do when government lawyers no longer get the benefit of the doubt. Guests: Efrén Olivares, vice president of litigation and strategy, National Immigration Law Center Ryan Goodman, professor, New York University School of Law Suzanne Monyak, reporter, Bloomberg Law *** CREDITS Host/Producer/Sound Design: Matthew S. Schwartz Editor/Executive Producer: Josh Block Cover Art: Jonathan Hurtarte Special Thanks: Cesca Antonelli, Tom Taylor, Seth Stern
Jul 1

Justice Stephen Breyer on Trump, the Rule of Law, and Whether the Supreme Court is Political

Former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer sits down with Bloomberg Law's Matthew S. Schwartz to discuss the Court, executive power, Dobbs, judicial independence, and the rule of law. Reflecting on nearly three decades on the bench — and the perennial question of whether politics shapes when justices choose to retire — he explains how justices make decisions, and why preserving public trust in the Supreme Court and the Constitution is essential, even as polls show trust in the judiciary near a 50-year low.
Jul 30

When Winston Met Taylor: US-UK Firm's Chief Looks to Bridge Gaps

"Culture" is a popular buzzword for law firm leaders describing in vague terms what sets them apart from their rivals. For Winston Taylor's Steve D'Amore, it's a key part of melding the two firms that combined in June in Big Law's latest transatlantic merger. "We put culture at the top of the list of things that were important to make sure we had right," D'Amore said on Bloomberg Law’s podcast, On The Merits. That includes blending US and European approaches to consensus building and urgency to attain "urgent collaboration" across the newly minted $1.75 billion firm, he said. Chicago's Winston & Strawn and UK firm Taylor Wessing hired BDO Global to analyze cultural compatibility before the merger was announced and brought the consultants back to look at pain points after completing the tie-up, D'Amore told Bloomberg Law reporter Roy Strom. Winston Taylor's leaders are also trying to bridge gaps on lawyer pay, client conflicts, practice group structures and AI tools. Do you have feedback on this episode of On The Merits? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.
Jul 1

SPECIAL: Justice Stephen Breyer on Trump, the Rule of Law, and Whether the Supreme Court is Political

In this special episode of UnCommon Law, former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer sits down with Bloomberg Law's Matthew S. Schwartz to discuss the Court, executive power, Dobbs, judicial independence, and the rule of law. Reflecting on nearly three decades on the bench — and the perennial question of whether politics shapes when justices choose to retire — he explains how justices make decisions, and why preserving public trust in the Supreme Court and the Constitution is essential, even as polls show trust in the judiciary near a 50-year low.
Jun 18

How the DOJ Decides Who Gets Charged and Who Doesn't in America

How does the Justice Department decide who gets charged with a crime and who doesn't? In the post-Watergate era, the Justice Department developed policies and institutional safeguards intended to separate political considerations from prosecutorial decisions: typically career attorneys delve into the law and investigate the facts, evaluate the evidence needed to secure a conviction, and recommend whether a case should move forward. However, Trump administration critics say that process is under pressure, pointing to a series of high-profile cases involving political figures and former government officials. On this episode of UnCommon Law, we explore the doctrine of selective prosecution — the claim that someone was targeted for prosecution because of who they are, what they said, or the political positions they hold. Through the cases involving James Comey, Letitia James, and Eric Adams, legal scholars, journalists, and former Justice Department officials examine how the DOJ decides whether to pursue or abandon a case, and what that process reveals about prosecutorial discretion, independence, and accountability. We'll also examine the changing role of the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section, the office created after Watergate to help oversee politically sensitive prosecutions. Guests: Bennett Gershman, professor of law at Pace University and a former prosecutor in the New York State Anti-Corruption Office; author of the treatise Prosecutorial Misconduct Stanley Brand, former general counsel to the US House of Representatives and a veteran white-collar defense attorney; now Distinguished Fellow in Law and Government at Penn State Dickinson Law John Keller, former chief of the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section; now a partner at Walden Macht Haran & Williams Chris Strohm, senior reporter at Bloomberg News covering the Justice Department *** CREDITS Host/Producer/Sound Design: Matthew S. Schwartz Editor/Executive Producer: Josh Block Cover Art: Jonathan Hurtarte Special Thanks: Ben Penn, Chris Strohm Thank You: Andrew Satter, Cesca Antonelli, Tom Taylor, Seth Stern
Apr 15

Corporate Tax Disclosures Let Investors Peer Into the Black Box

Investors are getting a lot more information about an area that’s been a mystery in the past: What goes into companies’ tax bills. The US, the European Union, and Australia all have new or forthcoming requirements for companies to publicly disclose more details about the makeup of their tax payments—especially where they’re paying. That can help investors compare companies and shed light on instances where multinationals might be locating their profits in lower-tax countries to cut their payments. The new requirements are already forcing companies like Meta Platforms Inc., Merck & Co. Inc., and Caterpillar Inc. to disclose that they’re making big tax payments in countries like Ireland and Switzerland that have long had a reputation as “tax havens.” Meta paid Ireland $567 million in income taxes last year, according to its first-ever disclosures as part of new US accounting requirements. Still, the different regions' rules differ significantly—in some ways they complement each other, but gaps in information remain. On this week's Talking Tax, Bloomberg Tax reporters Jorja Siemons and Michael Rapoport discuss the new sets of rules, how the new disclosures will play out, and how companies are responding to them and in some cases trying to get around them. Do you have feedback on this episode of Talking Tax? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.
May 6

Justice Transformed: When DOJ Norms Disappear

When Robert Jackson stood in the Great Hall of the Justice Department in 1940 and told the country's federal prosecutors that they held more power over life, liberty, and reputation than any other person in America, he was not describing a rule written into law. He was describing a creed. For the better part of a century, attorneys general from both parties invoked Jackson's words as a kind of shared oath. The principle was simple: no fear or favor, just the law. The catch was that almost none of it was codified. In President Trump's second term, he has broken traditional norms of independence by purging career staff, calling for the prosecution of his enemies, and challenging the judiciary. In the season premiere of UnCommon Law, host Matthew Schwartz traces those norms from their origins through their greatest tests — and asks whether the system that held through Watergate, the Clinton impeachment, and even the first Trump term was ever as durable as it seemed. In this episode and the ones ahead, we will explore: Allegations of selective prosecution — indictments of political adversaries, dropped cases against allies — and what the law actually permits. How the federal judiciary has responded, and what judges can and cannot do when the executive branch refuses to comply. A reckoning with the parts of the Justice Department that have been dismantled — the Civil Rights Division, the public integrity section, the career staff — and what their absence means in practice. Also, the stories of the prosecutors and lawyers who quit — and what they saw on the way out. Featuring: Stuart Gerson, former Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division under President George H.W. Bush; co-founder of the Society for the Rule of Law Jed Shugerman, professor of law at Boston University School of Law Chris Strohm, senior reporter at Bloomberg News covering the Justice Department Ben Penn, senior reporter at Bloomberg Law covering the Justice Department *** CREDITS Host/Producer/Sound Design: Matthew S. Schwartz Editor/Executive Producer: Josh Block Cover Art: Jonathan Hurtarte Special Thanks: Ben Penn, Chris Strohm Thank You: Andrew Satter, Cesca Antonelli, Tom Taylor, Seth Stern
Jul 20

Baker McKenzie Head: Law Firm Billing Should Be Ready to Move On

AI is changing the way the legal profession operates and everyone — lawyers, law firms, and especially clients — needs to look past the institution that is the billable hour, according to Baker McKenzie global chair Sunny Mann. “We all need to collectively move on in our thinking to get alternative fee arrangements working in the right way," he said on Bloomberg Law's On The Merits podcast. Mann spoke to Bloomberg Law reporter Roy Strom about how his firm is using AI to change its relationship with its clients, the role AI played in its recent layoffs of professional staff, and what it's like for him to lead a global law firm during a time when globalization may be on the wane. Do you have feedback on this episode of On The Merits? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.
Apr 8

Accounting Firms Navigate Compensation as AI Tools Upend Work

Artificial intelligence is putting accounting firm leaders on alert for workers well-versed in using and managing the new tools as the industry invests heavily in modernizing workflows. Firms should be staying attuned to the talent market and updating their salary structures accordingly to both attract early-career workers and retain staff looking to climb the ranks, according to Dominic Piscopo, founder of compensation data analytics firm Big 4 Transparency. They should also be having transparent conversations with their workers so compensation isn't a "black box." "Having transparency in those models and being willing to talk about it with people—not just have this very kind of cold process where a number is thrown out—can make all the difference, even if the number is exactly the same," Piscopo told Bloomberg Tax. Big Four accounting firms—EY, Deloitte, PwC, and KPMG—have started equipping staff with AI tools that promise increased efficiency and improved workflows. The new tech is prompting the industry at large to examine its workforce strategies and pricing models to stay competitive and attract talent. In this week's Talking Tax, Piscopo sat down with Bloomberg Tax reporter Jorja Siemons to discuss how firms and workers alike can navigate the current talent market. Do you have feedback on this episode of Talking Tax? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.
May 19

Sidley Leader Yvette Ostolaza Shares Growth Strategy

Sidley Austin LLP crossed $3.74 billion in revenue last year and has its sights set on $4 billion — but according to its top leader, the number is a byproduct, not the goal. The real question is whether the firm is built for what comes next. Today on On the Merits: Yvette Ostolaza, chair of Sidley's management committee, sits down with Bloomberg Law reporter Meghan Tribe to discuss strategic lateral hiring, formal integration plans, and a willingness to pull back from practices and geographies that aren't growing. "There are no sacred cows," Ostolaza said. "We need to continue to evaluate how the industry is changing." She also weighed in on how Sidley is treating AI: not as a pilot project, but as core leadership infrastructure deployed across the firm with dedicated governance, training, and practice-group liaisons. "It doesn't replace judgment, it sharpens it," Ostolaza said.

Bloomberg Industry Group is an affiliate of Bloomberg L.P. and a source of legal, tax, regulatory, and business information for professionals. We update this channel regularly with fresh podcasts about legal, tax, and government topics.

Website

Bloomberg Industry Group

Top Shows

When Judges Stop Believing the Government

Justice Stephen Breyer on Trump, the Rule of Law, and Whether the Supreme Court is Political

When Winston Met Taylor: US-UK Firm's Chief Looks to Bridge Gaps

SPECIAL: Justice Stephen Breyer on Trump, the Rule of Law, and Whether the Supreme Court is Political

How the DOJ Decides Who Gets Charged and Who Doesn't in America

Corporate Tax Disclosures Let Investors Peer Into the Black Box

Justice Transformed: When DOJ Norms Disappear

Baker McKenzie Head: Law Firm Billing Should Be Ready to Move On

Accounting Firms Navigate Compensation as AI Tools Upend Work

Sidley Leader Yvette Ostolaza Shares Growth Strategy

About

Bloomberg Industry Group

Top Shows

Top Episodes

About