The Sidley Podcast

Hosted by Sidley Austin LLP

Business

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Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Welcome to The Sidley Podcast. Join us as we bring a unique perspective to complex issues at the intersection of law and business.

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53 recent

June 15, 202639 min

How Stablecoins Could Transform Payments and Finance

Stablecoins are transforming money. Their very name implies more stability in value than their blockchain siblings such as bitcoin. As their use expands and momentum builds following recent legislative developments, they are increasingly being viewed as a potential means of improving the speed and efficiency of certain payments. But with that rapid growth come important questions about the appropriate regulatory framework and the interaction between stablecoins and the broader financial system. While new legislation is establishing safeguards, market participants differ on the appropriate balance between innovation and risk.How are stablecoins transforming money? Who are the players at the center of this transformation? And how can businesses benefit?Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with one of the firm’s thought leaders on these issues — Jess Cheng, a partner in Sidley’s Banking, Payments and Fintech and Blockchain practices. Together, they discuss how stablecoins are transforming the digital payments ecosystem and the players who are driving that change. Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

June 10, 202632 min

Navigating the Sweeping SEC Rules Proposed for Public Companies

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed sweeping new rules that would encourage companies to go, and stay, public. If adopted, the changes would facilitate access to the capital markets and reduce compliance burdens. Industry groups have broadly welcomed the proposals. They say companies will be able to take advantage of desirable market conditions quickly and efficiently. But others are voicing concerns about the balance between flexibility and investor protection. Meanwhile, stakeholders are standing by, assessing the proposed changes for their potential impact. How will the proposed rules affect how companies offer shares and report to investors? How significant is the regulatory impact? And what are the challenges and operational stakes? Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with two of the firm’s thought leaders on these issues — Sonia Barros, co-leader of Sidley’s Public Company Advisory practice, and Carlton Fleming, a partner in Sidley’s Capital Markets and Public Company Advisory practices. Together, they discuss the SEC’s proposed overhaul of the public company regulatory framework – both for raising capital in registered offerings and for ongoing public company reporting obligations – and how Sidley is advising clients to prepare for the potential changes. Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

March 25, 202632 min

Who Gets a Refund? Reverberations From the SCOTUS Tariffs Decision

The Supreme Court of the United States has clipped the power of the executive branch in ruling that President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs was illegal. The decision is leading thousands of companies to seek refunds, and threatening to upend trade agreements the U.S. previously struck with countries seeking lower rates. Meanwhile, the administration is vowing to implement new tariffs using different legal statutes.Just how much does this ruling curb the will of the president? Will businesses and households get refunds? And what’s in store for the future of global trade?Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with two of the firm’s thought leaders on these issues — Ted Murphy, co-leader of Sidley’s Global Arbitration, Trade, and Advocacy practice, and Kwaku Akowuah, co-leader of the firm’s Supreme Court, Appellate, and Litigation Strategies practice. Together, they discuss the Supreme Court’s tariffs ruling and its impact on executive power, the effect of the decision on businesses, consumers, and supply chains, and the prospects for those who request refunds. Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

March 2, 202633 min

Superpowers — and Potential Perils: Deploying AI for Business

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is taking the world by storm, promising to enhance efficiency and revolutionize business. Corporations are embracing the technology, with AI market size expected to reach $1 trillion by 2030. But companies that deploy AI for their operations are confronting risks involving litigation, privacy, and ethics. And regulators are struggling to keep pace with its rapid deployment, leading some to fear AI is out of control — that it could spawn a surveillance state and render portions of the workforce obsolete. How can businesses best employ AI efficiently? What are its superpowers — and potential perils? And what’s in store for the future of AI technology?Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with one of the firm’s thought leaders on these issues — Dave Gordon, a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, the co-leader of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Disputes practice, the head of the Litigation group in the firm’s Chicago office, and the co-chair of the firm’s Artificial Intelligence Council. Together, they discuss who is using AI and why, the risks and best practices to deployment, and what to expect in the ever-changing legal and regulatory landscape.

November 4, 202558 min

SCOTUS in Session: Tariffs, the “Shadow Docket,” and Executive Power

The Supreme Court of the United States is back in session with a blockbuster docket that could shift the levers of power in America. Issues range from the scope of executive authority, and the role of the federal government, to the power of the lower courts in resolving executive power disputes. As cases on the so-called “shadow docket” pile up, some district judges are speaking out, raising concerns about risks to the high court’s legitimacy. Meanwhile, the business world is watching and waiting for a decision on the administration’s tariff-setting power that could shake the global economy.Have the courts provided sufficient guardrails, what limits can Congress impose — and will those checks and balances last? Will SCOTUS rein in the administration’s tariff strategy? And how should businesses respond? Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with two of the firm’s thought leaders on these issues — Kwaku Akowuah and Tacy Flint, the co-leaders of Sidley’s Supreme Court, Appellate, and Litigation Strategies practice. Together, they discuss the monumental cases of the Supreme Court’s last term, the majority’s backing of executive power over the federal bureaucracy, and the court’s use of the emergency docket. Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

September 9, 202538 min

Tokenized Real-World Assets Have Gone Mainstream — Is Your Business Ready?

A brave new world of investing is now open for business, and with it, a new way to conceive of property. Tokenized real-world assets have gone mainstream. Major financial institutions are racing to tokenize everything — from U.S. treasuries, to art, to real estate, converting these assets into digital form and storing them on blockchains so they can be traded easily on new marketplaces. But the breakneck pace has fueled concern over compliance with existing laws, as Congress, regulators, and investors struggle to harness both the potential and risk of the technology. What’s in store for the tokenization of real-world assets in the U.S. and Europe? Will new legislation assuage concerns — or hinder widespread adoption? Has Europe surpassed the U.S. in regulating tokenization effectively? What is the impact of tokenization on the broader global marketplace? And what role does AI play with regard to digital assets?Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with two of the firm’s thought leaders on these issues — Lilya Tessler, who leads Sidley’s Fintech and Blockchain group, and David Stewart, a partner in the firm’s Capital Markets practice. Together, they discuss what’s driving the surge in adoption of the tokenization of real-world assets and the related legislation in the U.S. and Europe, including the ability of these laws to drive innovation and enable entrepreneurs to create technologies. Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

July 23, 202534 min

What the Trump Administration’s Tariffs Mean for Your Business

President Donald Trump’s tariffs have upended world trade. And they are spawning haggling over international commerce — even between the U.S. and its closest allies. With the global economy on notice, the business community is feeling the uncertainty, as the Trump administration calibrates just how much executive power it can wield on trade without congressional input. Meanwhile, litigation has hit U.S. dockets and the World Trade Organization.What’s in store for businesses in the days and weeks ahead? Are the tariffs enforceable? Will Congress or court cases ultimately prevail against them? And how are companies and consumers responding?Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with two of the firm’s thought leaders on these issues — Ted Murphy, a co-leader of the firm’s Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy practice, and Andy Shoyer, a partner in that practice. Together, they discuss President Trump’s goals for his tariffs, the impact on the business community and our trading partners, and what litigation is taking shape in response. Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

April 22, 202534 min

How Companies Can Navigate Uncertainty Amid Tariffs and Government Cuts

The GOP majority in Congress is looking to build on the Trump administration’s political and policy agenda, prioritizing tax cuts, energy reform, and border security, but tariffs could provoke a trade war that has already roiled the market and international business. Meanwhile, the administration is implementing major cuts to federal agencies — including the FDA, HHS, and NIH — and calling into question the breadth of research and development for the life sciences industry in the United States.What’s in store for businesses in the days and weeks ahead? Will the impending budget reconciliation process go smoothly? And how are tariffs impacting companies, our international trading partners, and consumers worldwide?Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with three of the firm’s thought leaders on these issues — Michael Borden, who leads Sidley’s Government Strategies practice, Pattie DeLoatche, a senior policy advisor and a member of the firm’s Government Strategies practice, and Andy Shoyer, a partner in the firm’s Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy practice. Together, they discuss President Trump’s tariffs, the recent cuts to federal agencies, and how businesses can best navigate the evolving landscape. Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

January 31, 202530 min

How a New U.S. Administration’s Policy Playbook May Impact Businesses

With the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the Republicans now control the White House, House of Representatives, and the Senate. That balance of power comes with its caveats: a GOP majority in the Senate may secure most of Trump’s cabinet picks. But the tight margins in the House may mean having to use executive orders to push through some policy priorities. Across the aisle, Democrats are re-grouping, and pinning their hopes on clawing back the House and Senate in the 2026 midterms. What’s in store for America’s relationship with other countries like China, Canada, Mexico, Russia, and Ukraine? Will proposed tariffs tank — or bolster business, trade, and the economy? And how might the nation’s healthcare legislation shift under a Republican budget? Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with three of the firm’s thought leaders on these issues — Michael Borden, who leads Sidley’s Government Strategies practice, Pattie DeLoatche, a senior policy advisor and a member of the firm’s Government Strategies practice, and Andy Shoyer, a partner in the firm’s Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy practice. Together, they discuss what the new Congress may be able to accomplish and how foreign policy under the new administration could affect business. Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

November 14, 202440 min

How SCOTUS is Shaping How We Do Business

The Supreme Court made monumental moves last term, discarding the Chevron doctrine, and scrambling how regulation of the environment, public health, and consumer protection has worked for 40 years. And it granted the president of the United States vast immunity from criminal prosecution, raising alarm over how that expanded power might take shape. As the United States emerges from election season, the Supreme Court faces potential challenges on many fronts. Will proposed reforms finally take shape to restore faith in the nation’s highest court? And how will SCOTUS rule on several new cases involving commercial law?Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with two of the firm’s thought leaders on these issues — Kwaku Akowuah and Rob Hochman, co-leaders of Sidley’s Supreme Court, Appellate, and Litigation Strategies practice. Together, they discuss the Supreme Court’s monumental decisions last term and upcoming cases on the docket relating to the business community — and our culture at large. Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.