BW INSIGHTS

BrownWinick GR Update - 8.3.26

By Matthew H. McKinney & R.G. Schwarm | 08.04.2026
Candidates have posted new fundraising totals, and the financial battleground is taking shape. The November 3 general election is approaching and is now only 92 days away, meaning fundraising totals, spending patterns, and cash on hand figures provide important insight into the competitive landscape. Our government relations team continues to... Read More

***Disclaimer: A Blog Post About Trademark Disclaimers

By Christopher Proskey | 07.02.2026
Even as a trademark attorney, trademark disclaimers sometimes don’t make a lot of sense to me. A central premise of trademark law is: “the trademark must be considered as a whole”. However, many times during the trademark process the applicant is required to “Disclaim” a part of the mark. If that’s confusing, you’ve come to the right place. What... Read More

CIPA Shakedown Letters: What Every Business with a Website Needs to Know

By Brian McCormac | 06.30.2026
Businesses across the country are receiving demand letters alleging that their websites violate California’s decades-old wiretapping law -- the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), Cal. Penal Code §§ 630–638. The CIPA was enacted in 1967 to address phone and telegraph wiretapping. California plaintiffs’ attorneys and pro se litigants are now... Read More

Government Relations Update 6.17.26

By R.G. Schwarm, Matthew H. McKinney & Douglas E. Gross | 06.18.2026
With Iowa’s primary elections and state party conventions concluded, the political landscape shifts entirely to the November general election. To help you track key battlegrounds, our team has analyzed the latest June voter registration data. The accompanying chart highlights the most competitive races based on raw registration numbers and... Read More

Government Relations Update - 6.3.26

By Matthew H. McKinney & R.G. Schwarm | 06.03.2026
Iowa’s Primary Election was held yesterday, June 2, featuring several closely watched contests, including multiple open-seat races and challenges to incumbent legislators. Zach Lahn wins GOP Gubernatorial Primary At the top of the ticket, five Republican candidates competed for their party’s nomination for governor. The race intensified in the... Read More

USCIS Issues Policy Guidance Regarding Adjustment of Status Applications

By Matt J. Mauntel-Medici & Steffi S. Lee Dwyer | 06.01.2026
According to a new policy memorandum issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services this week, individuals who are in the United States temporarily and applying for lawful permanent residence (commonly referred to as a “Green Card”) may need to return to their home country to do so. This is in stark contrast with the commonly available... Read More

Government Relations Update - Candidate Fundraising Reports 5.20.26

By Matthew H. McKinney & R.G. Schwarm | 05.22.2026
With the May 19, 2026, state campaign finance disclosure deadline now behind us, the political playing field for Iowa’s high-profile races is taking sharp focus. With only 13 days remaining until the June 2nd primary election — and 167 days until the November 3rd general election — fundraising, capital deployment, and cash-on-hand metrics offer... Read More

2026 Property Tax Reform: The Bill’s Most Significant Changes

By Tim C. Reilly | 05.13.2026
Iowa Legislature Passes Sweeping Property Tax and Local Government Finance Reform On Sunday, May 3, 2026, the Iowa Legislature approved one of the most significant overhauls of Iowa’s property tax and local government finance system in the state’s history. Senate File 2472 affects nearly every major component of the property tax system, including... Read More

DOL Proposes New Rule Regarding Joint Employer Liability

By Ashley L. Ritter | 04.30.2026
On April 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a proposed rule to clarify when two or more entities may be considered joint employers under three federal laws: the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA). For several years, there... Read More

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