Flipping the Real-Life Sopranos: How the FBI Dismantled a Notorious Crime Family

By Squire Patton Boggs on July 8, 2026 Posted in General, Podcast

In this episode of Bad News, Good Lawyers, host Tom Firestone, head of our Government Investigations & White Collar Practice, speaks with Séamus McElearney, a retired FBI Special Agent and author of Flipping Capo: How the FBI Dismantled the Real Sopranos, about the investigation that helped dismantle the DeCavalcante organized crime family (the model for the Sopranos).

McElearney explains how he and his colleagues secured the cooperation of Anthony Capo, a member of the DeCavalcante organized crime family, paving the way for additional members and associates to come forward and helping investigators solve 11 murders and secure convictions against 71 defendants.

The conversation explores the challenges of developing cooperating witnesses within organized crime organizations and the broader impact the investigation had on the FBI’s efforts against La Cosa Nostra. McElearney also discusses the connection between the DeCavalcante family and HBO’s The Sopranos, sharing how real-life figures reacted to the series and which storylines were inspired by actual events.

This episode offers a rare insider’s perspective on organized crime investigations, witness cooperation and the real-world history behind one of television’s most iconic crime dramas.

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UAE Central Bank Fines Foreign Bank and Compliance Officer for Money Laundering Violations

By Richard Gibbon and Katy Fisher on June 26, 2026 Posted in General

Yesterday, the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) announced a financial penalty of AED 20 million (c. USD 5.45 million) against the UAE branch of a foreign bank following an investigation that revealed significant and repeated failures in the branch’s Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) and sanctions compliance programs.

FinCEN and Banking Agencies Propose Customer Identification Program Rule for Stablecoin Issuers

By Adam Klauder and Delia Antemie on June 19, 2026 Posted in General

Introduction

On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”), together with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union Administration (collectively, the “Agencies”) issued a joint notice of proposed rulemaking (“NPRM”) to implement certain customer identification program (“CIP”) requirements under the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (“GENIUS Act”).[1]

Australia’s Social Media Age Restrictions: Unpacking the New Legal Landscape with Tanvi Mehta Krensel

By Squire Patton Boggs on June 18, 2026 Posted in Australia, General, Podcast

Australia has taken a bold step in regulating youth access to social media, adopting legislation that places new obligations on digital platforms to restrict underage users. The measure has sparked significant debate, particularly among industry leaders and free speech advocates. Now that UK Prime Minster Keir Starmer has announced that the UK will adopt similar regulations, Australia’s experience takes on even greater significance.

In the latest episode of Bad News, Good Lawyers, host Tom Firestone, who leads our Government Investigations & White Collar Practice, is joined by Tanvi Mehta Krensel, head of our Data Privacy, Cybersecurity & Digital Assets Practice in Australia. Together, they explore how the new rules are likely to function in practice and consider the broader implications for platforms and users.

Listen to the full episode here.

DOJ Doubles Down on Procurement Bid-Rigging Enforcement

By Squire Patton Boggs on June 1, 2026 Posted in Antitrust, Department of Justice, General

Recent remarks from leadership within the US Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division point to a sustained and increasing focus on antitrust enforcement in the government procurement space. In particular, the DOJ continues to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of bid rigging and other forms of collusive conduct that undermine the competitive bidding process.

Evaluating US Sanctions and Counterterrorism Policy with Anna Morris

By Squire Patton Boggs on May 29, 2026 Posted in General, Podcast

In this episode of Bad News, Good Lawyers, host Tom Firestone speaks with Anna Morris, former acting assistant secretary for terrorist financing at the US Treasury and a principal in our Public Policy Practice, about the evolution of US counterterrorism and sanctions policy.

Morris shares her perspective on how the US approach to terrorist financing has changed over time, along with her views on the successes and limitations of the war on terror. She also examines the role sanctions continue to play in advancing US foreign policy objectives.

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Geopolitical Trends and the Impact on Disputes and Investigations

By Squire Patton Boggs on May 12, 2026 Posted in Corporate compliance, General, Industry Investigations, United Kingdom

Geopolitical volatility is now a defining driver of corporate risk, with shifting alliances, trade tensions and national security priorities reshaping how organisations operate across borders. As major powers recalibrate their economic and strategic positions, global supply chains, energy markets and technology ecosystems are becoming more exposed to political pressure.

As part of London International Disputes Week 2026 (LIDW), we are hosting a diverse panel of experts spanning disputes, investigatory, global affairs and political worlds who will discuss the current geopolitical landscape, how it is shaping the global disputes and investigations market, as well as the steps practitioners and businesses can take when legal, commercial and geopolitical issues overlap. The panel will offer a broad perspective on this highly topical subject.

This is an in person event at our London office on 4 June 2026 from 2 – 3:30 p.m. BST, registration can be made on the LIDW26 website.

Additional events we are running as part of LIDW are:

A New Chapter in US Cuba Sanctions Enforcement

By Squire Patton Boggs on May 8, 2026 Posted in General, Sanctions

On May 1, 2026, the US issued a new Executive Order that significantly expands the reach of Cuba-related sanctions. Foreign companies and financial institutions may now face exposure based solely on their commercial dealings with certain sectors of the Cuban economy or with Cuban state-linked entities — even without a US nexus.

The new framework closely resembles the sanctions models used against Iran and Russia, raising immediate compliance questions for a wide swath of foreign persons engaging in economic activities involving Cuba. Longstanding assumptions about the scope of Cuba sanctions may no longer apply.

We recently published an update examining what has changed, which sectors are most at risk and what companies should be watching as enforcement begins to take shape.

Read the full insight here.

Hungary’s 2026 Election: Assessing Péter Magyar’s Victory

By Squire Patton Boggs on April 23, 2026 Posted in General, Podcast

In our latest episode of Bad News, Good Lawyers, host Tom Firestone, head of our Government Investigations & White Collar Practice, speaks with David Kostelancik, a longtime U.S. State Department diplomat and former chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest, about the political shakeup following Hungary’s 2026 national elections.

Strengthening Accountability: Insights from the 2025 IG Annual Report

By Squire Patton Boggs on March 20, 2026 Posted in Inspector General, Podcast

In the latest episode of The Inspector General, host Clark Ervin sits down with Andrew Cannarsa, Executive Director of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), to reflect on a remarkable year for the US Inspector General (IG) community. Their discussion centers on CIGIE’s newly released Annual Report to the President and Congress – Fiscal Year 2025, which highlights the extraordinary achievements of US Inspectors General last year.

Cannarsa outlines how the IG community delivered measurable, high‑value results throughout the year. Their oversight efforts identified nearly US$66 billion in potential savings to federal programs and operations and produced close to 2,000 audits and inspections. In addition, IG investigations supported almost 4,000 prosecutions and approximately 1,300 civil actions, underscoring the central role IGs play in deterring misconduct and protecting public resources.

At a time when the nation faces growing fiscal pressures—from expanding deficits to increasing long‑term obligations—the need to curb waste, fraud, and mismanagement has never been more critical.

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