Crowell & Moring Releases 2019 Regulatory Forecast: What Corporate Counsel Need to Know for the Coming Year

Trade Winds: How Global Businesses Are Navigating Trade, Tariffs, and Uncharted Waters Ahead

Washington — February 27, 2019: Crowell & Moring LLP is pleased to announce the publication of its fifth annual report on regulatory trends for in-house counsel. “Regulatory Forecast 2019: What Corporate Counsel Need to Know for the Coming Year” explores a diverse range of regulatory developments coming out of Washington and other leading regulatory centers of power, and it takes a deep dive into international trade—examining the challenges and opportunities that will arise in the year ahead as global businesses compete in the digital revolution and operate their businesses across borders.   

The cover story, “Trade Winds: How Global Businesses are Navigating Trade, Tariffs, and the Uncharted Waters Ahead,” examines how changing international trade policies are causing businesses to rethink strategies for everything from supply chains to data transfers, while uncovering new opportunities along the way. The article forecasts changes on the horizon that include how new tariffs and trade barriers may drive up costs and cause companies to rearrange their supply chains; how some countries are restricting the flow of data across borders; and the impact of the growing number of stronger enforcement of financial crimes regulations, among others. The article also identifies hot spots for 2019 in an international trade infographic. An additional international trade article examines the increased oversight on foreign investment in the U.S., and its impact on innovation.

“The pace of technological change has revolutionized commerce and industry. At the same time, an increasing emphasis on global trade has been met with a shift in regulations across borders that have had an impact on all aspects of business,” said Philip T. Inglima, Crowell & Moring chair. “Businesses need regulatory strategies that are as nimble as they are forward-thinking, enabling them to chart a course when the routes they’re traveling are less predictable than ever.”

“International agreements and organizations that have been viewed as driving prosperity since World War II are now in doubt, and this means businesses need to understand the risks and the opportunities that lie ahead,” said Ambassador Robert Holleyman, a former deputy U.S. trade representative, who is a partner at Crowell & Moring and president of Crowell & Moring International, the firm’s international policy and regulatory affairs consulting affiliate. “This is a time of tremendous uncertainty for global companies, as the U.S. makes aggressive use of its trade tools. It’s also a time of opportunity for companies that can engage in the necessary planning. Right now, you see more free trade agreements being negotiated by more countries, at a faster pace, than any time in history.”

Additional articles in the Forecast include:

• International Trade: Navigating Increased Oversight of Foreign Investment in the U.S.
• Regulatory: How the Supreme Court Might Constrain Agencies (A Look at Chevron Deference)
• Energy: Electricity—Prepare for Continuous Disruption
• Government Contracts: Battening Down the Hatches on Cybersecurity
• Corporate: It’s a Data-Driven World. Protect Yourself.
• Intellectual Property: 3-D Printing: Manufacturing, Disrupted
• Government Affairs: Congressional Influence on Rulemaking Is on the Rise
• Health Care: In Search of Value
• Insurance/Reinsurance: Navigating InsurTech Regulation without a Map
• Environment & Natural Resources: Will Streamlining NEPA Implementation Work?
• Tax: Got Tax Questions? Be a Squeaky Wheel
• Antitrust: Antitrust Enforcement Policy for Big Data? Stay Tuned.

The Forecast examines how the pace of technological change has revolutionized commerce and industry, and those charged with developing and enforcing regulations are working to keep up. The government affairs article, “Congressional Influence on Rulemaking Is on the Rise,” explores how congressional input on rulemaking is increasing as the Trump administration pursues deregulation, while the energy article, “Electricity—Prepare for Continuous Disruption,” explores how the digital transformation is bringing extraordinary risks and opportunities to incumbent utilities, competitive suppliers, and consumers.

All of the articles from the Forecast are available at https://www.crowell.com/regulatoryforecast. Follow the conversation on social media with #RegulatoryForecast.

About Crowell & Moring LLP

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with approximately 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity. The firm has offices in Washington, D.C., New York; Los Angeles; San Francisco, Orange County, London, and Brussels. Visit the firm at www.crowell.com.