Category Archives: PLI

New Edition! Directors’ and Officers’ Liability: Current Law, Recent Developments, Emerging Issues (Fourth Edition) 

The newest edition of Directors’ and Officers’ Liability provides a straightforward explanation of the obligations of directors and officers of public companies, the penalties that they face if those obligations are not met, and the protections they are afforded under the law or by agreement. This updated treatise serves as an essential reference for corporate counsel, private practitioners, and the directors and officers themselves, as it covers current law, new developments, and arising issues.  

Highlights of the new edition include:  

  • Chapter 2, Board Committees, examines the recent changes in the realm of diversity policies, including the successful legal challenges to California’s board diversity requirements and the Fifth Circuit’s ruling regarding the Nasdaq’s board diversity rules. (Section 2:3.3[C]) 
  • Chapter 8, Emerging Issues, includes a brand-new section discussing the increasingly common securities class action lawsuits regarding artificial intelligence, with a focus on the prevalence of “AI washing” in said lawsuits. It also addresses the effects of the Trump administration’s embracement of cryptocurrency on liability. (Section 8:10 & section 8:4) 

Order a print copy today. 

Book Update: Patent Law: A Practitioner’s Guide (Fourth Edition) 

 Patent Law: A Practitioner’s Guide provides a comprehensive approach to navigating the framework of patent law. This guide covers a wide array of essential topics, such as new developments under the America Invents Act, relevant federal regulations and court decisions, and document drafting techniques. It also includes various forms and diagrams to provide practitioners with a wealth of resources to enhance their knowledge of patent law. 

Highlights of this most recent release include: 

  • Chapter 1, General Information, discusses Executive Order 14179, Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence (Jan. 23, 2025), and its applicability to previous policies and practices (Section 1:6.1 and 1:7.1) 
  • Chapter 26, Patent Licensing, provides a new section which explores the Ninth Circuit’s ruling in C.R. Bard, Inc. v. Atrium Medical Corp. (Section 26:7.6) 

Order a print copy today.  

Book Update: Commercial Ground Leases (Fourth Edition)

Commercial Ground Leases is a practical guide for creating fair and accurate lease agreements between landlords and tenants. It explains key topics such as lease terms, property use, and occupancy rights. This seventh release of Commercial Ground Leases is updated with the latest developments in the law and practice of ground leases.

Highlights of Release #7 include:

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PLI PLUS subscribers can access this title through their subscription.

Book Update: New York Elder Law (Second Edition)

New York Elder Law explores the evolving legal landscape shaped by the growing population of older adults in New York. As seniors live longer, their legal needs become more complex and urgent. Edited by Douglas J. Chu—one of New York’s leading elder law attorneys with over thirty years of experience—this authoritative volume brings together a team of seasoned experts to address the critical issues facing aging individuals today. From estate planning to healthcare decisions, this essential guide offers clear, practical insights for navigating the legal challenges of aging with dignity and security.

Updates in this sixth release include:

  • Chapter 5, Nursing Homes, offers an updated look at key legal protections for residents, including the prohibition against third-party payment guarantees and unlawful financial recovery from family members. It also covers discharge planning requirements, residents’ rights to appeal discharge decisions, and the obligation of facilities to provide assistive devices that support hearing and vision.
  • Chapter 6, New York Power of Attorney, is revised to further clarify rights and obligations of individuals holding the power of attorney in New York and adds discussion of special proceedings that may be brought for a number of purposes related to power of attorney.
  • Chapter 3, Medicaid for the Elderly, Blind, or Disabled, includes updated appendices to provide quick references to information on regional rates for nursing homes, and allowances for income for personal needs of an applicant and community spouse income and exempt resources.

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PLI PLUS subscribers can access this title through their subscription.

Meet Our AALL 2025 Booth Raffle Winner: Iain Barksdale

At the 2025 AALL Annual Conference in Portland this summer, PLI raffled off a coffee gift set. We are pleased to announce this year’s winner is Iain Barksdale, Technical Services Librarian at University of Alabama School of Law! Read on to learn about Iain’s path to librarianship, and his PLI favorites.

Tell us a little about yourself. Why did you become a librarian?

I had worked as a part-time librarian before law school while I was an Adjunct Professor of Anthropology at two Kentucky community colleges. During law school I worked in the law library and then later was the library manager for the Legal Aid Society in Louisville. In my third year of law school, I decided that I did not want to practice law but rather move back into academia and teach. Since I enjoyed librarianship and research, I made a plan to earn an MLS and enter into law librarianship full-time.

What do you like most about your job as a Technology Services Librarian at Alabama Law?

I enjoy educating others in the use of technology in order to be more effective and efficient in the work they need to do in law school and later on in practice. 

Which PLI product do you most frequently recommend to students or faculty?

I am a big fan of PLI practice guides and checklists. Our students receive plenty of quality doctrinal instruction, so I like to guide them towards practice-oriented sources that can save them time by not “reinventing the wheel.”

What did you think of this year’s AALL conference? What was the highlight for you?

I thought it was a good conference this year with plenty of forward-looking sessions. The highlight for me was reconnecting with fellow colleagues, as I have not been to a conference since the first conference cancelled due to COVID, and talking about what they are doing in their libraries, particularly regarding access to legal data and legal research instruction. Nothing can really replace being physically present with friends and colleagues.

Book Update: Fintech, Regtech, and the Financial Services Industry

Fintech, Regtech, and the Financial Services Industry offers a comprehensive exploration of how innovations in securities trading and payment systems are reshaping the financial landscape. Through contributions from seasoned professionals, the book highlights emerging trends, regulatory developments, and the opportunities these changes present for market participants. This timely volume serves as a vital resource for understanding the intersection of finance, technology, and regulation in a rapidly shifting environment.

Highlights of this seventh release include:

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PLI PLUS subscribers can access this title through their subscription.

Book Update: Mutual Funds and Exchange Traded Funds Regulation (Third Edition)

Mutual Funds and Exchange Traded Funds Regulation delivers up-to-date, practical guidance on navigating the complex regulatory landscape governing mutual funds and ETFs. It covers everything from prospectus standards and contract drafting to valuation methods, marketing compliance, and cybersecurity risks. With expert insights on avoiding legal pitfalls and meeting regulatory expectations, this annually updated volume is a vital tool for staying ahead in a rapidly evolving financial environment.

Highlights of this release include:

  • Chapter 1, An Introduction to Mutual Funds, follows the latest developments in the history of the mutual fund industry (Section 1:1).
  • Chapter 40, Treasury and Related Reporting, outlines key reporting obligations for U.S. institutional investors under the Treasury International Capital system, the Treasury Foreign Currency system, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s “BE system.” The discussion has been updated to include recent developments, with expanded coverage of the BE-10 Benchmark Survey (Form BE-10), highlighting its scope, filing requirements, and implications for cross-border investment reporting (Section 40:4.1[C]–[C][5]).
  • Chapter 45, Investment Management M&A, has been updated to cover the enforceability of non-compete agreements (Section 45:2.1); DOL fiduciary rule implementation (Section 45:3.7); and the U.K. FCA MiFID II rules on purchasing investment research (Section 45:5).
  • To aid in your research, the Table of Authorities and Index have been updated.

Order a print copy today.

PLI PLUS subscribers can access this title through their subscription.

Book Update: Investment Adviser Regulation: A Step-by-Step Guide to Compliance and the Law (Third Edition)

Stay ahead in the complex world of investment adviser compliance with Investment Adviser Regulation: A Step-by-Step Guide to Compliance and the Law. Covering SEC, state, and statutory standards, the book offers practical insights on registration, disclosure, advertising, cybersecurity, and more. With annual updates and expert guidance on Form ADV, advisory contracts, and best execution practices, it’s a must-have resource for advisers, attorneys, compliance professionals, and regulators.

Highlights of this release include:

  • Chapter 14, Privacy of Client Financial Information: An Overview, has been updated to reflect key regulatory developments, including the FTC’s May 2024 amendments to the Safeguards Rule, which now require financial institutions to report certain “Notification Events” (Section 14:2.2[E]). It also covers the NYDFS’s revised Cybersecurity Regulation—effective April 2024 and fully adopted by November 2025—introducing enhanced governance requirements for CISOs, expanded risk assessments, and updated incident response protocols (Section 14:6.3). Additionally, the chapter discusses Bermuda’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), applicable to organizations handling personal data in Bermuda, including fintech firms (Section 14:7.4).
  • Chapter 42, Mutual Funds, covers the most recent reporting requirements affecting mutual funds (Section 42:1).
  • Chapter 43, Managed Advisory Accounts & Wrap Fee Programs, discusses the SEC’s Division of Examinations April 2024 risk alert that highlights the Division staff’s observations regarding compliance with the Marketing Rule (Section 43:10.2).
  • Chapter 54, Municipal Advisor Regulation, features expanded coverage of enforcement actions involving municipal advisors, focusing on both regulatory and fiduciary obligations (Section 54:1.1[A][1]–[A][4]). It also includes deeper analysis of how municipal advisory activities intersect with other professional services offered by advisor firms (Section 54:1.1[E][1]). Updates to MSRB and SEC rule discussions reflect recent rulemaking, including obligations for solicitor municipal advisors and requirements to obtain CUSIP numbers in certain competitive offerings (Section 54:18), along with enhanced guidance on supervisory and recordkeeping duties (Section 54:21).
  • Chapter 64, Blockchain and Digital Assets, has been updated to cover regulatory developments involving digital securities (Section 64:6.1) and commodities (Section 64:6.2).
  • To aid in your research, the Table of Authorities and Index have been updated.

Order a print copy today.

PLI PLUS subscribers can access this title through their subscription.