An overview of Feburary 2025 State aid developments
In recent years, the European Commission has taken a proactive stance in approving state aid measures aimed at bolstering strategic sectors across Europe.
Trump Starts Targeting Law Firms
* Executive Order: Trump revoked security clearances and federal contracts for law firm Perkins Coie on March 6. * Motive: The directive targets the firm's 2016 representation of Hillary Clinton and ties to the Trump-Russia probe. * Pattern: Follows a late-February order targeting Covington & Burling over its association with Special
ABA calls for American lawyers to oppose attacks on the rule of law
* ABA Condemnation: The American Bar Association (ABA) formally criticized the administration's systematic intimidation of judges and lawyers, warning of severe threats to judicial independence and the separation of powers. * Judicial Interference: The administration is utilizing baseless corruption accusations and impeachment demands to influence court rulings and foster political
European Commission Launching Sanctions Helpdesk for SMEs
* EU Sanctions Helpdesk: The European Commission launched a compliance and due diligence platform for SMEs navigating EU restrictive measures. * Platform Constraints: Targets responses within 5-10 days. Excludes third-country sanctions. Advice carries no official EU legal liability. * Sanctions Expansion: EU policy shifted from targeted individual penalties to broad, sector-wide economic embargoes
Join the ECLA Community
Get the latest news, event invitations, and regulatory updates directly from the European Company Lawyers Association.
Subscribe ↗Redirects to the ECLA homepage.
Next-Gen General Counsel: Redefining Legal Leadership Amid Estonia’s Digital Transformation of Legal Services Delivery Model
In the global legal landscape, the role of the General Counsel (GC) is evolving rapidly, driven by advancements in technology and shifting corporate demands. e-Estonia—a pioneer in digital governance and innovation—offers fertile ground for reimagining what the next generation of General Counsel can achieve. As the nation continues
Apple and Meta fined under the DMA
These landmark decisions will not only set the tone for future DMA enforcement but can also affirm the Commission’s readiness to act decisively against gatekeepers who fail to meet their regulatory responsibilities.
U.S. Courts strike down Trump’s law firm retribution
For European counsel, the episode offers a stark, transatlantic illustration of how legal institutions—long assumed to be neutral instruments of justice—can become entangled in political retribution, in particular in a country that has long praised itself as a bastion of freedom.
TikTok Under Heavy Scrutiny in the EU
The European Commission has escalated its regulatory scrutiny of TikTok, with multiple investigations now converging under the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
What the EU’s 2025 International Digital Strategy Means for Businesses and Legal Departments
The European Union has unveiled a sweeping International Digital Strategy aimed at redefining how the bloc engages with the digital transformations of the wider world
Antitrust Enforcement in 2025: European Commission Advances Legal Boundaries in Labour Market and Pharmaceutical Cartel Investigations
The cases concern separate sectors, the online food delivery industry and the pharmaceutical ingredients market.