In the rapidly evolving world of corporate law, significant events continue to shape and redefine the landscape. A series of recent events served a reminder of the uncertain and high stakes world which legal professionals grapple with daily. Take, for instance, WeWork; once hailed as a tech industry superstar, is now on a startlingly new…
In a significant development from Canada’s mining sector, the Supreme Court of British Columbia issued a landmark ruling in the case of Gitxaala v. British Columbia (Chief Gold Commissioner) on September 26, 2023. The court uncovered administrative breaches of the province’s mineral tenure regime within its duties to consult with Indigenous peoples. The ruling mandates…
In a recent Ontario case, Giacomodonato v. PearTree Securities Inc., 2023 ONSC 5628, the Superior Court of Justice ordered an employer to pay costs to an employee to discourage the trend of tactical litigation intended to deter employees from standing up for their rights. The case centered around a wrongful dismissal claim by an employee…
Holland & Knight has welcomed a new addition to its corporate team with Cliff DeGroot joining the firm as a partner in its corporate, M&A, and securities practice group in Portland, Oregon. Prior to joining Holland & Knight, DeGroot practised as a partner with Davis Wright Tremaine. In his new role, DeGroot will offer his…
The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced its annual inflation adjustments for the year 2024 on November 1st, impacting several aspects, including limits for qualified retirement plans. Interestingly, this year’s changes seem more moderate when juxtaposed to the notable spikes observed in the preceding year. As Proskauer’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group reports, crucial…
In a rare case, a prominent Texas law firm, Jackson Walker, is facing difficult questions over alleged ethical misconduct involving a bankruptcy judge. The law firm, which has handled many cases on one of the country’s busiest bankruptcy courts, is fighting to maintain its position. This has resulted from allegations by the Justice Department’s bankruptcy…
Water agencies that are considering participating in the multi-district per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) litigation against chemical giants like DuPont, Chemours, Corteva, and 3M should mark their calendars with the upcoming deadlines related to this case. All these parties are alleged to have manufactured various PFAS chemicals. Public and private water agencies, sewage treatment plants,…
In an effort to bring cryptoassets under stricter regulatory ambit, the HM Treasury of the UK Government recently delivered its report titled “Future Financial Services Regulatory Regime for Cryptoassets.” The report, which was made public on October 30, clearly endorsed the government’s plan towards an extensive regulation of digital assets. This follows an intensifying global…
As we navigate forward into 2024, it’s crucial for employers to carefully note the upcoming changes to minimum wage rates across the United States. A significant shift is on the horizon in the state of Washington, where the minimum wage will soon see an increase. According to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries…
The landscape of remote work for Mortgage Loan Originators (MLOs) and mortgage company employees is rapidly changing in favor of flexible work conditions. The majority of American states are now allowing MLOs and mortgage employees to work remotely, and this changing trend signifies a fundamental shift in the way this industry operates. The latest state…
Attention is called to all U.S-based employers as a new implementation has been enacted on their hiring procedures. Beginning November 1, 2023, employers are mandated to use the updated Form I-9, titled ‘Employment Eligibility Verification’, edition dated 08/01/23, as a crucial part of the employment eligibility verification process for new hires. Employers can locate the…
The world is currently grappling with rapidly changing weather patterns, raging wildfires, record-breaking heat, and a slew of other climate-related challenges. Consequently, the need to develop technology that can aid in the fight against climate change has increased substantially. Innovative measures to capture, remove, and store carbon, power renewable energy solutions, enhance energy management and…
In a recent development, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has stated that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Staff Accounting Bulletin 121 (SAB 121) qualifies as a rule and subsequently, should have been submitted for congressional review. This assertion was disclosed on October 31. SAB 121 is a directive that explains how SEC staff…
In a significant shift, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) introduced a final rule on joint employment, upending its prior standard set in 2020. This new rule, issued on October 26, 2023, has important implications for numerous businesses, particularly in sectors with intricate labor relations, including staffing agencies, client companies, and entities in vendor-client relationships,…
The Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law has been recently amended, offering employees the ability to utilize accrued paid leave, such as sick time, vacation time, and personal days, supplementing PFML benefits during time off work. This capability comes as a key development in providing greater ease of access to benefits for qualified…
In a significant move, Earthjustice and several other organizations have served notice to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), alleging the agency’s failure to revise certain regulations. The document sent on August 31st is styled as a “60-day Notice of Intent to Sue for Failure to Perform Non-Discretionary Duty Under the Resource Conservation and…
In response to the increasing threat of ransomware attacks, an international coalition has taken a significant stand. The United States, along with 39 other nations, recently joined the International Counter Ransomware Initiative. The primary goal of this initiative is to stem the flow of ransom payments to cybercriminals, thus eliminating a significant source of funding…
In Fall 2023, developments in labor law have shown some abnormal trends in the Third Department, according to recent legal documentation. On the typical route, there are various Labor Law decisions to report on. However, the most recent reporting timeframe has revealed only a single decision related to Labor Law construction case from the Third…
In a recent move that has the potential to reshape the landscape of the Federal housing Administration’s Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) for Purchase program, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published a Federal Register Notice for public comment on October 24, 2023. JD Supra reports the details about this proposed notice,…
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law (IU McKinney) has announced a novel partnership with Indiana State University to launch a new law scholarship program. Such partnerships are part of a wider effort to further academic rigor and service to the legal profession, echoing the mission of IU McKinney. These collaborations, as mentioned by…
In the latest cycle of legal updates regarding the United Kingdom’s tax policies, October 2023 has been a significant month, with a variety of impactful court decisions and legislative developments. The month was notably marked by the Supreme Court’s judgment on the operation of the employment-related securities deeming provision. This provision, typically used as part…
In a noteworthy revision, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the 2024 annual dollar limitations for retirement plans. These updates are driven by the applicable cost-of-living adjustment guidelines, resulting in increases in numerous limits. The details of the changes were recently reported on the JD Supra website. One of the significant shifts involves elective…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) have concurred on a noteworthy $1.1m settlement with a group of auto dealers based in Wisconsin. This agreement follows allegations of charging customers by means of illicit junk fees and practising unlawful discrimination against American Indian customers. The lawsuit was initiated under the…
While it may seem like an unusual comparison, the experience of participating in a blind date and conducting an investigation interview share more similarities than one might initially envisage. In a recent article by the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, it was posited that the skills honed in conducting effective interviews and those required…
The concept of supervision is far from new to professionals in various fields, lawyers included. But now, as these legal professionals find themselves in charge of overseeing AI technology, the key theme is accountability. The importance of this responsibility can’t be overstated, as it empowers lawyers to mould AI into a tool that promotes fairness…