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SBA Issues Final Rule On WOSB Contracting Program But Has Yet To Identify Eligible Industries

Client Alert | 1 min read | 10.07.08

On October 1, 2008, the Small Business Administration issued both a proposed (http://www.crowell.com/PDF/Fed-Register_Vol73-No191_Proposed.pdf) and a final rule (http://www.crowell.com/PDF/Fed-Register_Vol73-No191_Rules-Regs.pdf) regarding the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) contracting program. While the long-awaited final rule makes a few changes to the December 27, 2007, proposed rule, including clarifying that a contracting officer may award a contract or begin performance after receipt of a protest after determining that an award is necessary to protect the public interest, the final rule dodges the key issue and fails to identify those industries where set-aside acquisitions are authorized based on WOSB underrepresentation, and, instead, in the proposed rule, the SBA seeks comments on or before October 31, 2008, on the underlying data used to determine WOSB underrepresentation, including data identifying 31 NAICS codes in which WOSBs were either underrepresented or substantially underrepresented.

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Client Alert | 6 min read | 10.08.25

NetChoice, LLC v. Bonta: What the Ninth Circuit’s Ruling Could Mean for Online Speech Regulation

On September 9, 2025, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court’s denial of a preliminary injunction as to certain provisions of California’s Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act. This interlocutory ruling is significant for two reasons. First, it demonstrates why and how state laws can withstand and avoid First Amendment challenges. Second, it showcases the potential difficulties in establishing associational standing on behalf of member technology and digital commerce companies....