Risk Management
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on Thursday released its 2026 'Dirty Dozen' list of tax frauds and scams, adding for the first time artificial intelligence (AI) abuse and fraudulent filings involving undistributed long-term capital gains as new threats. Tax professionals noted that AI has become the 'number one culprit' in current tax scams, with its information-gathering capabilities exacerbating risks of identity impersonation and fraudulent filings.
The latest report from Duane Morris LLP shows that US class action settlement amounts reached a historic peak in 2025, with the top 10 cases totaling $79 billion. Federal courts received over 13,000 new cases throughout the year, averaging more than 36 per day. Data privacy lawsuits exceeded 1,800, up over 25% year-over-year. The $38 billion settlement between Visa and Mastercard and the $2.8 billion payout by Blue Cross Blue Shield became landmark cases of the year.
A quarterly survey released by The Conference Board on Thursday shows that for the first time, CEOs view artificial intelligence as the biggest risk, with its threat level exceeding geopolitical turmoil, cyber intrusions, and financial and economic instability. At the same time, the proportion of CEOs planning to increase capital expenditure jumped from 22% in the previous quarter to 35%, and the CEO confidence index also rose to its highest level since the first quarter of 2025.
Project management software provider Atlassian announced on Wednesday the appointment of LinkedIn's current CFO, James Chuong, as its next chief financial officer, effective March 30. Chuong has been with LinkedIn for 13 years, serving as the top finance executive for nearly five. At LinkedIn, Jordan Levy will succeed him.
An EY survey released Tuesday found that among companies investing in artificial intelligence, only 17% have reduced their workforce due to productivity gains from AI. In contrast, more companies are reinvesting AI benefits into new AI capabilities (42%), cybersecurity (41%), R&D (39%), and employee upskilling (38%). Dan Diasio, EY's global consulting AI leader, noted that the data challenges the common narrative that "AI primarily replaces labor," as companies shift from a productivity mindset to a growth agenda.
Warehouse retailer Costco filed a lawsuit on Friday with the U.S. Court of International Trade, alleging that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are illegal and demanding a full refund of paid duties. The complaint emphasizes that because customs 'liquidation' procedures for some imported goods could be completed as early as December 15, 2025, the company faces 'imminent and irreparable harm' if legal action is not taken promptly.
A report released Monday by technology company Digitate indicates that nearly three-quarters of North American enterprises expect to operate 'semi-autonomous or fully autonomous' information technology systems by 2030, compared to 45% currently. The report states that enterprise AI adoption has reached a 'critical turning point,' and the rapid rise of AI agents is accelerating the arrival of the autonomous IT era. However, research from Capgemini and Gartner simultaneously suggests that declining trust, rising costs, and insufficient governance may put some projects at risk of cancellation.
After several years of relative quiet, the IPO market is showing strong momentum and optimism. Although the total number of listings this year remains below earlier expectations, it is significantly higher than in previous years. As of mid-October, the pipeline of companies preparing to go public grew by more than one-third year-over-year. In the first three quarters of 2025, over 160 companies completed listings, already surpassing the 150 companies for the full year of 2024. If this momentum continues, IPO activity from autumn 2025 through 2026 is expected to reach levels not seen since 2021.
CFOs and their teams have long faced the challenge of balancing revenue growth, financial risk management, and superior customer experience, with credit decisioning at the core of this challenge. Traditional credit tools rely on outdated bureau data and manual reviews, offering only a partial view, leading to slow decisions, customer friction, and lost revenue opportunities. Craig Lenders, Director of Product Management at Capital One Trade Credit, notes that modern credit decisioning must be fast, data-rich, and aligned with risk appetite. By integrating bank and credit card activity, payment behavior, and real-time cash flow patterns, businesses can achieve automated decisions for 85% of applications within 30 seconds, turning credit into a tool for building trust, loyalty, and growth.
A report released this week by NYU Pollack Center for Law & Business and Cornerstone Research shows that in fiscal year 2025 (ending September 30), the number of enforcement actions brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against public companies decreased by 30% year-over-year, totaling 56 cases. Of these, 93% of enforcement actions occurred during Gary Gensler's tenure as SEC Chair, while only 4 cases emerged after Paul Atkins took office. The report noted that total monetary settlements decreased by 45% year-over-year to $808 million, the lowest level in over a decade.