The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued its December 2025 revision of the Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP), the primary reference used by examining attorneys and a key resource for trademark applicants, owners, and counsel.

The December 2025 update includes clarifications affecting domicile address requirements, specimen standards, and fraud-prevention procedures. These revisions are published on USPTO.gov and apply to trademark examination moving into 2026.

The New York LLC Transparency Act (LLCTA) is a new state law that requires limited liability companies (LLCs) that are formed in New York or authorized to do business in New York to report information about their beneficial owners to the New York Department of State.

 This requirement is separate from — and in addition to — the federal Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) rules. The New York law applies only to LLCs and is enforced by the State of New York, not the federal government.

 This law is designed to make LLC ownership more transparent and prevent fraud, money laundering, and other financial crimes.

U.S. courts continue to enforce the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, requiring parties to act honestly and not deprive each other of the benefits of their agreement. While the doctrine doesn’t override clear contract language, recent decisions show that courts will intervene when one party uses contractual power in a way that undermines the bargain.

In November 2025, the USPTO under Director John A. Squires announced a major reversal of its prior, more lenient practice regarding “Real Party-in-Interest” (RPI) disclosures in inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review proceedings. This shift signals the agency’s increasing focus on transparency and procedural integrity in patent-challenge processes—and has important implications for both patent owners and those who challenge patents.

If you're planning to visit, study, work, or exchange ideas in the United States, recent updates to the visa application process are important to know. Starting October 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of State has revised its non-immigrant visa interview waiver policy, affecting applicants across various visa categories.

If you're planning to study in the U.S., there’s an important update you need to know: in 2025, the State Department expanded social media screening requirements for student visa applicants (F, M, and J visas). These changes affect what foreign students must do, how consulates evaluate applications, and how careful you need to be with your online presence.

Below is what is confirmed so far, what it means for you — and how Borderless Counsel helps applicants navigate these new rules.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is preparing to implement significant changes to the employment-based green card system, aiming to modernize and clarify eligibility and evidentiary requirements for high-skilled foreign professionals. These proposed changes, expected to be published by January 2026, could reshape how individuals with extraordinary abilities and outstanding professors/researchers qualify for permanent residency in the United States.

In September 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed John A. Squires as the new Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). He steps into the role at a time when patent eligibility, artificial intelligence, and fraudulent trademark filings are hot issues for innovators and entrepreneurs.

For startups, leadership changes at the USPTO can directly affect how quickly applications move, how intellectual property is protected, and how disputes are resolved. Here’s what we know so far — and what it might mean for business owners and founders.

Starting a business is exciting—especially if you’re forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC). But one question many solo entrepreneurs ask is:

“If I’m the only owner of my LLC, do I really need an operating agreement?”

The short answer: Yes, you do.
Even if you’re a single-member LLC, having an operating agreement is not just a formality—it’s a key legal and business tool. Let’s break down why.

Remote work has made the world feel smaller. Today, even solo entrepreneurs and small U.S. businesses can hire top talent from anywhere—whether it’s a developer in Eastern Europe, a designer in South America, or a virtual assistant in Asia.

But once you’ve found the right person, the big question is: how do you pay them legally and compliantly?

This is where many U.S. companies (especially startups and remote-first businesses) get stuck. Let’s break it down in plain English.