Important Announcement
We are pleased to share that as of August 1, 2025, Braeden Anderson, the founder of Anderson P.C., has joined Gesmer Updegrove LLP as a Partner. Work currently performed by Anderson P.C. will be transitioning to Gesmer. This website will remain active as a curated archive for legal insights.
Gesmer Updegrove LLP, founded in 1986, is a nationally recognized law firm with a premier reputation for representing high-growth companies, innovative technology pioneers, and venture-backed startups. Together, we are enhancing our ability to provide comprehensive, end-to-end legal support to entrepreneurs, founders, investors, and scaling businesses across every stage of the corporate lifecycle. From formation, fundraising, and IP strategy to tax planning, M&A, securities compliance, enforcement defense, and strategic exits, our combined strengths now span the full spectrum of business law.
Thank you for following and supporting us on this journey. To learn more or to connect with Braeden or a member of the Gesmer team, please visit: www.gesmer.com or e-mail him at braeden.anderson@gesmer.com
TikTok’s Day in Court: Supreme Court Weighs National Security Against First Amendment Rights
On January 10, 2025, the Supreme Court heard arguments in one of the most closely watched cases of the term: whether to uphold a federal law requiring ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, to divest from the platform or cease its operations in the United States. At the heart of the case is a collision of First Amendment principles, national security concerns, and the growing influence of foreign-owned technology platforms in American life. Based on the tenor of the arguments, TikTok’s legal challenges appear uphill, with the justices expressing skepticism toward the platform’s defense.
Supreme Court's Landmark Ruling in SEC v. Jarkesy: Implications for SEC Enforcement and Administrative Adjudication
On June 27, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a groundbreaking opinion in SEC v. Jarkesy, which fundamentally alters the landscape of securities enforcement and administrative adjudication. The Court’s decision unequivocally declared unconstitutional the SEC’s use of its in-house administrative courts to levy civil penalties in securities fraud cases. This ruling not only challenges the SEC’s procedural practices but also raises profound questions about the authority of federal agencies to seek similar forms of administrative relief.