Jenner & Block Launches Taskforce as Race-Conscious Programs Raise Litigation Risk

On June 17, 2026, the General Services Administration (GSA) published a revised proposed contract clause, 552.239-7001, “Basic Safeguarding of Data within Large Language Model Artificial Intelligence Systems (LLMs),” which would impose substantial obligations on contractors processing government data through LLMs. This alert follows up on our prior coverage of GSA’s developing rules on the use of AI in GSA contracts.

On July 13, 2026, the Department of War (DoW) announced the immediate suspension of the Phase II requirements of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program, which had been scheduled to take effect on November 10, 2026. The suspension, memorialized in a memorandum dated July 10, 2026, and signed by DoW Chief Information Officer Kirsten Davies, also halts the pending Phase III and Phase IV implementation milestones and directs a comprehensive, 60-day review of the program.

Partner Joanna Ludlam - Chair of Jenner & Block's London Public Law and Crisis Management Practice, Co-Chair of the firm's Global Hearing Preparation and Global Crisis Management and Strategic Risk practices, and Co-Chair of the firm's Investigations Department - was featured in City AM's examination of the mounting pressure for a broader overhaul of the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) following John Edwards' resignation.

On July 14, Partner Karin Dryhurst will speak on a panel hosted by the American Bar Association Business Law Section’s In-House Counsel Committee titled "How to Handle Current Discrimination Risks Across Industries: What In-House Counsel Need to Know About the Evolving Landscape."

Jenner & Block ranked among the top three firms in Law360's annual scorecard of which firms argued most frequently before the US Supreme Court during the 2025–26 term.

London Partner Lucy Blake was featured in Forward Law Review, where she commented on the UK government's proposed overhaul of the Modern Slavery Act 2015's corporate reporting regime - the biggest changes to section 54 since it was introduced. Lucy's insights highlight the shift toward mandatory disclosure, board-level accountability, and financial penalties for organisations and public authorities that fail to comply.

In a recent "My Path to Law" profile, Partner Katya Jestin shares the experiences that shaped her career, from prosecuting the Mafia as a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York, to running a busy white collar defense practice, to representing Guantánamo Bay high-value detainee Majid Khan in a pro bono matter.

Partner Ashley Callen spoke with Global Investigations Review about the likely uptick in congressional oversight of companies if Democrats retake a chamber of Congress in the November 2026 US midterm elections.

Associate Christina Lopez has been honored by the Chicago Bar Foundation with the Maurice Weigle Exceptional Young Lawyer Award at its Pro Bono & Public Service Award Luncheon.

Jenner & Block has been named a leader in pro bono in The American Lawyer's 2026 Pro Bono Report, ranking in the top three nationally and #1 internationally for a second consecutive year.

Tony Barkow, Managing Partner of Jenner & Block's New York office, has been named a finalist for the Office Managing Partner of the Year award in the New York Law Journal's New York Legal Awards 2026.

A Jenner & Block team secured summary judgment on behalf of a pro bono client who was sued under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 after reporting a sexual assault and cooperating with law enforcement, bringing to a close nearly seven years of retaliatory litigation.

Directive (EU) 2026/1021 (the Directive) is the most far-reaching development in European anti-corruption law in more than two decades. It harmonises the criminal anti-corruption laws of the participating Member States by establishing a single set of criminal offences, penalties, and prevention duties.1