As we look ahead to 2026, Wilson Sonsini remains at the forefront of emerging legal and regulatory trends. In anticipation of the new year, our attorneys have prepared a series of focused 2026 Year in Preview alerts. These publications highlight the top issues companies should watch across artificial intelligence, consumer protection, data privacy and cybersecurity, digital regulation, competition policy, and litigation strategy. Below is a consolidated reference of these alerts for your convenience.
Artificial Intelligence, Consumer Protection, Data, Privacy, and Cybersecurity
AI Regulatory Developments for Companies to Watch Out For
Businesses will face an increasingly complex regulatory environment for artificial intelligence in 2026. With new state laws and various federal actions on the horizon, this alert outlines ten key AI developments that companies should watch out for in the year ahead.
Regulatory Consumer Protection Trends for Companies to Watch Out For
This alert examines the top transatlantic consumer protection issues expected to impact companies in 2026.
U.S. Data, Privacy, and Cybersecurity Predictions
Highlighting significant developments in U.S. privacy and cybersecurity law, this alert identifies the key issues and anticipated regulatory actions that organizations should monitor in 2026.
Global Minors’ Privacy and Online Safety Predictions
Following a year of sustained global focus on minors’ privacy and online safety, this alert reviews the most important developments of the past 12 months and provides predictions for expected legislative and regulatory initiatives in 2026.
European Digital Regulatory Developments for Companies to Watch Out For
This alert outlines the most significant European digital regulatory issues to monitor in 2026.
For more information about the developments discussed above, please contact any member of Wilson Sonsini’s Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Data, Privacy, and Cybersecurity, and Digital Health practices.
Antitrust Issues
Last year was a landmark in the development of antitrust law. Enforcers, legislators, and private parties grappled with the fundamental shift represented by artificial intelligence technologies, the resolution of important digital technology antitrust cases, and significant divergence in policy across a presidential administration transition. The changes will not stop in 2026. The alerts set forth below focus on some of the economic sectors that were most impacted by developments in antitrust law in 2025 and identify the trends that will drive governmental and private activity in antitrust in 2026.
2026 Antitrust Preview
2026 AI Preview
2026 Algorithmic Pricing Preview
2026 Big Tech Preview
2026 Labor Markets Preview
2026 Life Sciences and Healthcare Preview
Litigation Trends
Litigation Trends to Watch in 2026
As we enter 2026, Wilson Sonsini litigators see a landscape defined by AI‑driven disputes, continued tightening of patent‑review standards, renewed securities and governance litigation, stronger consumer and influencer enforcement, and escalating Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) exposure—trends that require companies to align legal strategy with technical and operational controls.
