On September 30, 2026, the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law hosted the inaugural Heartland Government Enforcement & Investigations Conference. The day-long program brought together federal prosecutors, judges, state regulators, in-house counsel, and private practitioners across seven substantive sessions spanning DOJ enforcement priorities, federal sentencing and discovery practice, healthcare fraud, legal ethics and artificial intelligence, state antitrust enforcement, internal investigations, and securities and commodities regulation. Below is a summary of each session.
The Next Frontier in State and Federal Junk Fees Enforcement
States continue to lead the way in actions to enforce consumer protection laws against junk fees across a growing range of industries. In a recent Husch Blackwell Government Enforcement Investigation and Compliance webinar, that included its Antitrust & Competition group, the Texas AG’s cases against junk fees charged by major hotel and booking chains were highlighted and broader state and federal junk fee initiatives were summarized. Since then, two significant new state developments have concentrated attention on junk fees.
Right to Repair: Legal Landscape and Enforcement
“Right to repair” laws have recently gained momentum across the United States, becoming a legislative and regulatory priority. Evolving state laws, federal action, and high-profile lawsuits are shaking up the legal landscape in this area for manufacturers, businesses, and consumers.
At its core, the right to repair gives consumers and independent businesses access to the
Antitrust Risks for Environmental, Social, and Governance Joint Ventures
A recent decision in the Eastern District of Texas highlighted the risks for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives involving market competitors. The decision, when paired with recent enforcement efforts from Republican state attorneys general (AGs), is the latest indicator of the increased scrutiny faced by ESG joint ventures.
Background
Over the past decade, as