On November 28, 2023, it was announced that the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion is set to hold a crucial hearing. The meeting, titled “Fostering Financial Innovation: How Agencies Can Leverage Technology to Shape the Future of Financial Services,” is scheduled for Tuesday, December 5, 2023,…
Despite a backdrop of controversial affirmative action court rulings and a multitude of lawsuits aimed at diversity initiatives in top-tier corporations, 61 legal departments have demonstrated that their commitment to diversity is unwavering, achieving the Mansfield Rule 2.0 certification this year. This number has risen dramatically from 41 last year, a clear sign that large…
In the face of rising cybersecurity threats, significant steps are being taken by federal entities in the United States. On November 17, 2023, the United States Treasury Department’s Federal Insurance Office (FIO) in coordination with the Volatility and Risk Institute at the NYU Stern School of Business co-hosted a conference on Catastrophic Cyber Risk and…
Europe’s prominent privacy enforcement non-profit organization, NOYB—European Center for Digital Rights, has taken legal action against Meta, contending that the company’s newly implemented ad-free, paid subscriptions for its Instagram and Facebook platforms violate privacy stipulations. The complaint was lodged with the Austrian data protection authority. The issue at hand pertains to Meta’s recent decision to…
The legal profession is a field that thrives on precision and preparation. Questions of law and fact require in-depth analyses — be it for daily operations, interactions with clients, or interactions with opposing parties on various legal matters. A recent article underscores the importance of this principle by emphasizing a seemingly simple, yet profound, mantra:…
On November 28, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted a limited extension of the critical deadline vital to the tech-law sector. The deadline revolves around the prioritization of Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)-formatted emergency alerts. Pertinently, these regulations chiefly impact customers of equipment vendor Sage Alerting Systems (Sage). These clientele, operating as Emergency Alert System…
On November 6, 2023, the US Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Inspector General released a fresh compilation of compliance guidance titled General Compliance Program Guidance (GCPG) for the benefit of the healthcare compliance community and other healthcare stakeholders. This new development is in line with the OIG’s announcement made on April…
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) published a new report on November 15 highlighting the EPA’s top management challenges for the fiscal year 2024. The report, entitled “The EPA’s Fiscal Year 2024 Top Management Challenges”, provides a detailed insight into the main issues faced by the EPA’s top management….
In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it might be easy to overlook the vitality of your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. Just as you would deck the halls and trim the tree, your CRM also deserves a refresh to ensure it remains a vital and efficient tool for your business. With the…
The question of resolving mass torts remains a persistent hurdle for today’s commercial litigators. This complex challenge encompasses a variety of legal specialisms and infiltrates nearly every business sector, not just in the US, but also in the UK. Whether these mass torts involve personal injury incidents or the mis-selling of financial products, finding an…
In a recent development, key regulators have claimed that the new Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rule was designed purposefully to elevate the expectations for CRA performance. However, this may bring management woes to the banking industry, with some projecting it as a potential disaster. Thus, the new CRA rule is under scrutiny not just for…
The Senate Judiciary Committee has moved forward with President Joe Biden’s latest selection for the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, as well as two trial court nominees who have been long-delayed. Assistant US attorney Seth Aframe in New Hampshire; who was also President Biden’s pick, interestingly didn’t receive any Republican votes in…
In accordance with the announcement made on October 17, 2023, by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD), the U.S. Tanker Security Program (TSP) has reached full enrollment alongside its sister program, the Maritime Security Program (MSP). Both these initiatives play critical roles in supporting the U.S. Department of Defense during times of need….
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has announced the commencement of a comment period for proposed updates to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). This invitation allows stakeholders to discuss and propose suggestions on forty-six distinct topics related to the regulatory updates on hazardous materials (Hazmat) transportation. The comment period…
In a significant development within the legal sector, law firms engaging with bankruptcy cases seem to be experiencing highly profitable returns. A historic trend has been observed, notably by law firms such as Sullivan & Cromwell and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, which shows that companies declaring bankruptcy can produce significant profit margins for such…
The National Advertising Division (NAD), the Better Business Bureau’s self-regulatory body in the advertising world, recently called out a sneaker brand for its arguably inadequate disclosure practices. According to NAD, the use of the term “Sponsored” was insufficient for consumers to distinguish between ads and editorial content in the brand’s sponsored posts on social media…
With end-of-year holidays rapidly approaching, various corporate entities brace themselves for the annual routine of festivities and celebratory gatherings. This time-honored tradition typically involves company-wide holiday parties, catered office luncheons, or the distribution of year-end bonuses and gifts. Even though these events are meant to foster camaraderie and boost the morale of employees, potential liabilities…
Winning, in the traditional sense of achieving favourable outcomes in trials or scoring desirable clients, can be straightforward for associates in law firms. Not only are such victories celebrated at meetings firm-wide, but they make for easy talking points during performance reviews. Additionally, contributing to the profile of your esteemed client, while impressive to your…
On November 27, 2023, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published its concluding report on its review into corporations’ noticing and implementation of internal capital adequacy and risk assessment (ICARA) methodologies and reporting obligations. This comes as part of the Investment Firms Prudential Regime (IFPR) initiative, which is intended to shift the way investment…
Regulation can often seem like a labyrinth to those attempting to bring a new product to the table in the U.S., especially within the healthy food and beverage sector. Identifying the authorities that govern one’s product and understanding their respective purview is a paramount initial step. However, this task might not always be as straightforward…
A US district judge recently denied a motion presented by former US President Donald Trump that requested the disclosure of records from the House Select Committee’s investigation into the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol. Trump’s Motion for Pretrial Rule 17(c) Subpoena sought materials, which he claimed were “missing”, from seven different individuals….
In a recent development, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has overturned a district court’s decision to certify a large-scale class action lawsuit implicating contamination of blood with PFAS/PFOA (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). The class comprised an estimated 11.8 million individuals, representing all residents of Ohio. According to the court’s directive,…
A New York appeals court recently reinstated a series of gag orders prohibiting former President Donald Trump and his lawyers from speaking publically about the law clerk for the judge presiding over the state’s civil fraud trial against him. The reinstated gag orders had been temporarily blocked by Trump as he contested them, however, this…
Executive compensation is an area of perennial interest for corporations and law firms alike, with changing trends heavily influencing decision making in the world’s most established firms. This article, based on coverage from jdsupra.com, offers some insights into the latest shifts in this arena. As we move closer to 2024, concerns relating to end-of-the-year cash…
France’s Minister of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti, has been found not guilty of abusing his power to retaliate against his former opponents in 2020, according to a recent ruling by the France’s Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR). Reports detail how Dupond-Moretti, appointed as justice minister by President Emmanuel Macron in 2020, had been accused…