Contracts, in their ideal form, are meant to represent terms voluntarily chosen by all parties involved. For the greater part, courts dutifully enforce the contract terms as expressed by the participating entities, even if fairness could be drawn into question in some cases. While upholding the principle of freedom of contract supports liberty and prosperity,…
Businesses that manufacture and sell energy components achieved long-anticipated clarity with the unveiling of the Treasury Department’s rule proposal on December 14. The proposal addresses the advanced manufacturing production tax credit as outlined in Section 45X of the tax code, delineating a much-needed direction for this highly technical and advantageous credit. Companies involved across various…
In the highly charged and adversarial world of law, where attorneys are trained to identify what’s wrong or could potentially go wrong, one important aspect of team management is often overlooked – appreciation of what’s going right. This was brought forth effectively by Janea Hawkins, Assistant General Counsel at Freddie Mac and Rob Falk, General…
In the ever-evolving arena of legal jurisprudence, 2023 proved to be a pivotal year for the nation’s smallest appellate circuit. Hailing significant court decisions, the Boston-based First Circuit played a decisive role in shaping the legal precedents for corporate and appellate lawyers across the country and beyond. Several of these decisions had sweeping impacts, among…
High-profile law firm Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP has reportedly signed a 20-year lease for an expansive 765,000-square-foot office space in a prestigious midtown Manhattan skyscraper, marking the largest commercial office lease in the U.S this year. The expansive lease agreement, as noted by real estate titan Fisher Bros., underscores the firm’s sustained…
In the latest legal news, a trade secrets lawsuit filed on Thursday in New York’s federal court alleges that the former editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed improperly used his subsequent role at The New York Times. It is alleged that he wrote a series of detrimental articles that significantly impacted a competitor in the media field. According…
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, a notable multinational law firm, has announced that it has successfully reached a preliminary settlement for litigation over a significant data breach that occurred in March. The alleged data breach is said to have exposed personal data, involving social security numbers of over 461,100 individuals. This settlement has been communicated…
HSBC bank has requested that a California federal judge dismiss a lawsuit filed by First Citizens Bank. In the suit, First Citizens alleges that HSBC is responsible for a theft of confidential information resulting in employee poaching from the ill-fated Silicon Valley Bank during its distribution among U.K. and U.S. buyers. First Citizens contends that…
In an effort spearheaded by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), pharmaceutical companies have taken measures to remedy cases of alleged misuse of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) database. The FTC’s initiative aims to combat attempts by drug manufacturers to artificially extend their exclusivity period. Three major companies in the pharmaceutical sector, GlaxoSmithKline, Kaleo,…
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) recently announced that it will be presenting a case to the Irish High Court, taking issue with the state’s ineffective housing provisions for asylum seekers. Significantly, this case serves as a notable example of IHREC utilizing its statutory powers to challenge the state in court. A press…
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director Kathi Vidal has confirmed her decision to scrutinize the rejections of patent disputes presented by Ford Motor Company and Honda Motor Co. These negations are particularly striking, considered in connection to earlier petitions filed by their rival, Volkswagen. The automakers have expressed concerns stating this situation contradicts prevalent regulations….
In a landmark decision that will significantly impact the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, the UK Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that an ‘inventor’ under the Patents Act 1977 must be a ‘natural person’ and not AI. This ruling came as a conclusion to the appeal case Thaler v Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks…
Two key House Republicans are pushing TikTok, Alibaba, Shein and a number of other China-based e-commerce businesses to divulge more information on their measures to address data privacy and security risks, the circulation of counterfeit products and instances of human rights abuses on their platforms. These prominent political figures are spearheading efforts to hold large…
In a recent development, Pandora, the music streaming platform, has sought the intervention of a California federal judge to compel discovery from a group of comedians who have accused the company of streaming their performances without permission. This move, however, has not gone down well with the counsel for the comedians. Responding to Pandora’s legal…
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, a renowned law firm in the United States, has announced plans to conclude its operations in Beijing, China by 2024. A spokesperson from the firm communicated the decision via email to Law.com International, stating the firm currently houses four lawyers in its Beijing office. Despite this move, Akin Gump…
In a significant turn of events in the world of digital book lending, proponent groups and individuals of the medium are rallying behind Internet Archive in their second circuit appeal. The nonprofit organization was previously found to be in violation of copyright laws with their lending program by a federal judge. This appeal is an…
A New Mexico-based device manufacturer has made allegations in a Texas federal court stating that State Farm, a substantial player in the insurance sector, has infringed two of the manufacturer’s patents. The patents in question relate to safe driving technology, a crucial aspect in the field of automobile insurance. The alleged infringement involves the “Drive…
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) has initiated a review of a patent related to a blood medication owned by Alexion. The decision comes after PTAB found that the company had presented “incomplete and inaccurate” information to an examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The alleged ‘misleading’ provided by Alexion has…
In recent legal news, Damian Williams, currently serving as the first Black U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, is said to have his sights set on New York Mayor Eric Adams. While it remains to be seen exactly who Mr. Williams will target in his upcoming prosecutions, we can be sure that…
In one of the significant M&A deals announced this month, Nippon Steel’s $14.1 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, three major law firms have provided expert advisory. As reported by Law.com, Ropes & Gray advised Japan’s largest steelmaker, Nippon Steel, whereas U.S. Steel sought advice from Milbank and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Despite facing some…
In an effort to support those who may often lack the resources to navigate the complex patent process, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced its upcoming “pre-application review program”. Catering specifically to underfunded inventors, the initiative seeks to level the playing field and spur on the innovation economy. Although details regarding the…
In recent legal news, a 12-year-old skier, Alexander Hache, will be heading to trial over a lawsuit against Wachusett Mountain Ski Area’s insurance companies. This follows a previous case in which the young skier was awarded $3.75 million after a fall of 30 feet from a moving ski lift at the aforementioned resort, which resulted…
Romero Cabral Da Costa Neto, a 33-year-old Brazilian attorney, formerly associated with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, has been sentenced to two months in prison due to insider trading charges. This conviction follows his guilty plea for illegal trading based on material, nonpublic information, as divulged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia….
Scott Levine, a partner at internationally recognized law firm Jones Day, is poised to succeed Michael Plowgian as the leading OECD negotiator at the US Treasury Department. This information was corroborated by a source familiar with the thinking within the Biden administration, as reported by Bloomberg Tax. Levine brings to the role a wealth of…
In a recent contract dispute involving an attorney and potential expert witness, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in favour of the lawyer, thereby legitimising the exercise of personal jurisdiction over the expert. Attorney Marc Harding sought the services of Dr Rick Sasso with a $10,000 retainer, anticipating his testimony in a potential lawsuit. However, upon…