Over the last several years, artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved into a central component of many companies’ growth strategies. As organizations increasingly integrate AI into their operations, products, and business models, the associated litigation risks have begun to emerge as well. The D&O Diary has been tracking the rise of AI-related litigation, from early AI-washing cases to a growing number of securities suits involving AI infrastructure investments, AI-enabled business models, and AI-related disclosure issues.

Continue Reading AI, D&O Risk, and the Limits of Underwriting

The SpaceX initial public offering has captured global attention, positioned to potentially become the largest IPO in financial history. Beyond its massive scale, the offering is drawing heavy scrutiny from corporate law experts and institutional investors due to the extraordinary measures implemented to isolate the company from D&O litigation. By embedding unprecedented “litigation-aversion” provisions within its Form S-1 registration statement, SpaceX is establishing a highly controversial precedent for how founder-led companies can systematically shield insiders from future shareholder challenges.

Continue Reading SpaceX’s IPO Filing and the Expanding Use of Litigation Deterrence Provisions

The D&O Diary has been chronicling how securities plaintiffs continue to expand litigation theories beyond traditional “AI-washing” claims. The recent securities class action against data protection company Commvault Systems, Inc. demonstrates how AI hype and strategy can become entangled with traditional securities claims, even when actual AI integration is not the central issue of the lawsuit.

Continue Reading AI-Adjacent Securities Litigation

The recent securities and derivative litigation involving e.l.f. Beauty reflects a familiar D&O liability pattern: a high-growth narrative challenged by operational headwinds, followed by securities litigation and a derivative action. While e.l.f. and its D&Os achieved meaningful success at the motion to dismiss stage, the survival of certain securities claims and a recently filed a derivative complaint in Delaware highlights the potential of prolonged D&O exposure.

Continue Reading Securities Suit Partially Survives; Derivative Action Follows and Prolonged D&O Exposure

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s move to formally rescind its 2024 climate disclosure rule represents a significant turning point in the evolution of ESG-related regulation and the associated D&O risks. According to the federal regulatory tracking website, SEC staff submitted a proposed rule entitled “Rescission of Climate-Related Disclosure Rules” to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for review on May 4, 2026, formally initiating the withdrawal process. 

Continue Reading SEC Moves to Rescind Climate Disclosure Rule

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision invalidating tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), litigation risk has entered a new phase. As previously noted on The D&O Diary, early lawsuits seeking recovery focused on companies that passed tariff costs on to consumers. A newly filed class action against Sony Interactive Entertainment suggests a second wave may now be emerging; one targeting companies for allegedly pursuing a “double recovery” by retaining both higher consumer prices and government tariff refunds.

Continue Reading A Second Wave of Tariff Recovery Litigation and Expanding D&O Risk

The U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2024 decision in SEC v. Jarkesy continues to generate follow-on litigation, as regulated entities increasingly challenge the constitutionality of administrative enforcement proceedings. As D&O Diary readers will recallJarkesy held that when the SEC seeks civil penalties for securities fraud, claims the Court characterized as “legal in nature,” defendants are entitled to a jury trial under the Seventh Amendment. That ruling is now fueling a growing wave of challenges to state administrative regimes, including a pending appeal in Delaware and a closely watched case before the Arizona Supreme Court.

Continue Reading Recent Jarkesy Developments and D&O Impact

The D&O Diary has chronicled mounting stress in the private credit market, underscored by the high-profile collapses of borrowers such as Tricolor and First Brands, and the resulting migration from borrower insolvency into securities litigation against private credit lenders themselves. This escalation highlights sharpening scrutiny from private credit fund investors and public shareholders alike. Exemplifying this trend, Blue Owl Capital Corporation (“Blue Owl”) recently moved to limit redemptions following a historic surge in withdrawal requests. This liquidity strain coincides with putative class actions filed in December 2025 and January 2026 (Blue Owl SCAs) as well as a derivative suit filed on April 27, 2026 (Blue Owl Suit).  

While the Blue Owl SCA alleges that Blue Owl’s leadership concealed pressures on the firm’s direct lending vehicles, the Blue Owl Suit additionally alleges that Blue Owl was acting in a dual capacity when determining illiquid private credit fund valuations.  Below, we discuss the allegations against Blue Owl and the developing D&O and E&O risks for private credit funds.

Continue Reading Blue Owl and the Growing D&O and E&O Risks in Private Credit

The recent Chapter 11 filing of QVC Group, Inc. (QVC) underscores a trend that has been building over the past year: consumer-facing companies, facing a combination of leverage, shifting consumer behavior, and tightening credit conditions, are increasingly turning to the bankruptcy courts to restructure their obligations. As recent reporting has highlighted, the QVC’s filing follows mounting losses and ongoing pressure on its traditional television-based retail model, as consumers continue to migrate toward digital and social commerce platforms. Against this backdrop, the QVC filing reflects not only company-specific challenges but also broader structural shifts affecting legacy retail and media-driven commerce businesses.

Continue Reading QVC’s Chapter 11 Filing and the Continuing D&O Coverage Challenges in Bankruptcy

Peloton Interactive, Inc. (Peloton) has faced well-publicized operational and reputational challenges over the past several years. The company’s trajectory, from pandemic-era growth darling to post-pandemic recalibration and product safety scrutiny, has resulted in securities litigation. As previously discussed on the D&O Diary, Peloton successfully defeated a COVID-19-related securities suit at the pleading stage. More recently, the company faced a second securities class action tied to alleged product defects in its flagship bike (Peloton SCA). In a March 31, 2026, decision, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York granted Peloton’s motion to dismiss, rejecting plaintiff shareholders’ attempt to convert operational challenges into actionable securities fraud.

Continue Reading Peloton SCA Dismissed: Product Safety Allegations and D&O Exposure