Australian law firm Johnson Winter Slattery and American firm Sheppard Mullin are advising American winemaker DAUO Vineyards on a significant $1 billion sale to Australia’s Treasury Wine Estates. Also involved in the transaction is Herbert Smith Freehills, which is guiding Treasury Wine Estates through the acquisition process. The transaction includes not only the DAUO brand…
In a recent vote, Texans have made their voices heard with a resounding no to a proposal that would have raised the mandatory retirement age of judges and justices. Currently, judges in Texas are required to retire at 75. However, a statewide proposition would have increased that age to 79. Despite the support this proposition…
A lawsuit filed in D.C. federal court underscores allegations of racial discrimination and retaliation within the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The plaintiff, a Black former litigator for the DOL, has claimed to have experienced a series of discriminatory episodes throughout his career at the agency. His experiences reportedly include instances of “harassing and discriminatory”…
Controversy surrounds a current age-bias trial involving Boeing, where a top executive has testified against a company IP manager. The manager had previously stated he was demoted in retaliation for calling attention to alleged mistreatment of older employees within the organization. Now, his superior has declared the manager as being ‘untrustworthy’ during his testimony. The…
In a recently decided trademark dispute case, the makers of Little Trees air fresheners were told they can’t pursue a direct liability claim against Meta Platforms Inc. This decision was held in response to their lawsuit, where they alleged that counterfeit versions of their products were being sold on Facebook Marketplace. The ruling that came…
In a significant legislative shift, Ohio has officially legalized recreational marijuana use for adults. In a vote held on November 7, 2023, Ohioans approved Issue 2, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative, permitting individuals aged 21 and over to purchase and possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana. This decision broadens the legal use of cannabis significantly…
On Tuesday, a Manhattan judge ruled against professional golfer Jack Nicklaus in an ongoing litigation over a $145 million intellectual property sale. The judge reinforced a preliminary injunction, prohibiting Nicklaus from signing any commercial endorsements as the case proceeds. In the judge’s view, the golfer’s evidence was insufficient to support his claim that the injunction…
In an increasingly stringent insurance market, policyholders who manage commercial property and casualty insurance need to be acutely aware of the shifting landscape. Earlier this week, Eric Jesse and Heather Weaver of Lowenstein Sandler’s Insurance Recovery Group provided expert insight into the issue, engaging in discussion with executives from two major insurance brokerage firms. The…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has been directed by the White House to produce guidance on the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) for patent law. This order could prove instrumental in shedding light on significant issues related to AI and patents, according to legal professionals. However, the fast-paced development of technology, coupled with…
Apple Inc. is further articulating its stance on legal proceedings involving intellectual property rights. Recently, the tech behemoth appealed to a California federal judge, asserting that the handling of proceedings at the patent board for a patent lawsuit should not be delayed. The company stressed that its request diverges significantly from situations where corporations initiate…
In a recent court ruling, Delaware’s Court of Chancery declared that Carter Carburetor LLC does not need to abide by the prices that Arizona-based engine parts manufacturer Walbro LLC had previously negotiated with customers. This ruling is related to a transaction where Walbro sold one of its three divisions to Carter. The Court, however, has…
A Washington federal judge recently dismissed a lawsuit by Amazon, in which the tech giant sought declaratory relief to affirm that it had developed a non-infringing system of its own, separate from an augmented reality company’s patents. The judge ruled on Tuesday that there was an overlap of legal issues with a previously filed lawsuit,…
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is ramping up its scrutiny on large, intricate partnerships as part of an effort to zero in on compliance issues. However, the agency is still in the process of defining what aspects of compliance it will target, according to statements made by IRS officials this past Tuesday. The approach to…
In a bid to advance their technological frontiers further into the edge of 5G technology, Korean automobile giants Hyundai and Kia have struck significant accords with patent licensing firm Avanci. With this development, both Hyundai and Kia aim to fortify their position in the tech-world by effectively combating potential patent lawsuits. Dallas-based Avanci, renowned in…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced on Tuesday its decision to delay the transition to its new Patent Center. This move comes after patent applicants expressed worries over the functionality of the new software system. Consequently, the retirement dates for the two main existing software systems have been pushed back. The USPTO’s decision…
On November 7th, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) challenged the validity of over 100 patents related to asthma treatment. These patents are currently held by 10 major pharmaceutical manufacturers, including AstraZeneca, Teva, and GlaxoSmithKline. The claim suggests that these manufacturers listed inaccurate patents inside the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Orange Book. The…
Renowned legal entities, Zhong Lun Law Firm and Clifford Chance, demonstrated their market-leading offerings at the 2023 China Law & Practice Awards. The rigorous competition bestows significant recognition upon leading firms and individual legal professionals who have made noteworthy contributions in the industry. Zhong Lun Law Firm, a domestic practice, walked away from the event…
In a significant turn of events, a reputable Denver-based law firm, Sherman & Howard LLC, discontinued its legal representation of a beauty parlor chain following a lost defamation case at the Colorado Supreme Court. The dismissal of their legal responsibility came about after the beauty chain failed to compensate the law firm for their services,…
In a recent federal court proceeding, Chairman of Spirit Airlines Inc, Mac Gardner, revealed his initial apprehension toward last year’s takeover bid from JetBlue Airways Corp. In his view, this offer could have been a stratagem to disrupt Spirit’s proposed amalgamation with fellow discount carrier Frontier Group Holdings Inc. As reported by Bloomberg Law, the…
This past Tuesday, His Majesty King Charles III took part in The State Opening of Parliament, a ceremonial event marking the formal beginning of a new parliamentary session in the United Kingdom. This significant constitutional event featured the King’s Speech, written by the government, and introduced the legislative agenda for the upcoming session. The King’s…
Ohio Supreme Court Justice, Jennifer Brunner, a democrat, has filed a lawsuit against state officials over a law that requires the political affiliations of justice and appellate judge candidates be made visible on general election ballots. Brunner argues that this law infringes her First, Fifth, and 14th Amendment rights. This law was operative during her…
In a recent announcement, renowned legal firm Milbank unveiled a pay raise for its associates by $10,000. This change aligns with last year’s bonus scale, satelliteing the firm’s recognition of its associate’s diligence and hard work in an exceptionally industrious year. Productivity has allegedly experienced a ‘material’ escalation and the decision also reflects the firm’s…
Intellectual property disquiet in the biotech sector ramped up this week when a Federal Circuit judge expressed skepticism regarding certain broad-scoped enzyme patents held by PureCircle USA Inc. These patents, pertaining to the production of non-caloric food sweeteners, face uncertainty surrounding their validity. It has been suggested that their extensive reach could encompass thousands of…
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) newest commissioner, Kalpana Kotagal, has indicated her eagerness to work alongside her two Democratic associates to furnish further guidance and champion diversity and inclusion initiatives in US workplaces. The Democratic Commissioner shared her intentions during a press event that took place this Tuesday. Kotagal has voiced her plans…
Changes are afoot at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, where long-time co-chairs Ed Herlihy and Daniel Neff are standing down from their leadership roles. The firm has selected corporate partner Andrew Nussbaum and William Savitt, co-chair of the litigation department, as its new co-chairs. Herlihy and Neff, who have served as co-chairs since 2006, presided…