Arnall Golden Gregory Appoints Financial Partner as New Managing Partner: Implications for Law Firms

Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, an Atlanta-based law firm, announced a reshuffling at the executive level. Beginning January 1st, the firm’s current financial partner, who is also a seasoned attorney, will take up the new role of managing partner. All professionals, both from a financial and legal perspective, should consider the implications of this transition for…

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Curbing Money Laundering: Corporate Transparency Act Demands Enhanced Reporting Obligations

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) is bringing forward increased reporting obligations in an attempt to curb money laundering and related illicit activities. Under the Act, many entities including, but not limited to, ones formed for investment purposes or for holding rental or vacation property are set to be heavily impacted. The new legal framework, enacted…

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Ninth Circuit Upholds Dismissal, Sanctions Attorney Challenging First-Party Insurance Policy Exclusions

In a recent unpublished decision, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals supported the Northern District of California Court’s dismissal of a complaint spearheaded by plaintiff’s attorney Montie S. Day. Known for challenging California auto insurers, Day argues that the policy exclusion that inhibits coverage for first-party diminution of value damages claims is unenforceable. In the…

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Missouri MDNR and Prairie Valley Disposal Reach Agreement on Air Conservation Law Case

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and Prairie Valley Disposal, Inc., (Prairie Valley) have entered into an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) on October 24th. The matter in question centers around an alleged infringement of the Missouri Air Conservation Law, according to case reference No. APCP-2023-026. This update is noteworthy for legal professionals in…

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SBA Boosts Small Businesses with $50 Billion in FY23 Lending and Relief Efforts

As highlighted in the Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses for November 2023, the Small Business Administration (SBA) made noteworthy strides in small business lending in response to the initiatives of the Biden-Harris Administration at the close of Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). On November 21, Small Business Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced that…

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Appellate Litigation Update: Voting Rights Act Weakened and Texas Book Rating Law Contested

Welcome to the weekly roundup of notable issues from Howard Bashman’s How Appealing blog, a venerable resource focusing on appellate litigation. One of the most intriguing stories this week revolves around a Pennsylvania case where a tied vote was decided by drawing lots. This unusual solution was necessitated after a court ruled that undated, but…

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Fortifying Data Privacy Compliance Through Workflow Automation Advancements

In the era of constant surveillance and increasing regulator scrutiny, data privacy compliance has surfaced as an exigent concern for major corporations and law firms. As companies are stung by massive non-compliance penalties, they are now recognizing the value of driving data privacy compliance by leveraging workflow automation. A recent mediatization extended on how workflow…

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Anaheim’s Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance: Impact and Implications for the Hospitality Industry in 2024

In a development that warrants attention from corporate law professionals, especially those managing hospitality industry interests, Anaheim’s Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance is set to take effect January 1, 2024. This noteworthy announcement follows after a journey that was, at times, somewhat turbulent. Earlier proposals for the ordinance, which initially promised broader terms, were presented in…

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Fifth Circuit’s AI Review Certification Proposal: Discouragement or Accountability for Legal Professionals?

A proposed amendment to the rule of certification by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit involving artificial intelligence (AI) review might discourage lawyers from utilizing AI technology, according to legal scholars. Under this proposal, in order to submit a filing, lawyers would need to affirm that no generative AI software was employed…

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IRS Adjustments for 2024: How Estate, Gift, and GST Tax Exclusions Impact Strategies

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has recently declared augmented transfer tax exclusions for the calendar year 2024 under Revenue Procedure 2023-34. The considerable growth in the unified credit against estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax were evaluated. Answers to the increased annual gift tax exclusion amount and gifts to non-citizen spouses must be orchestrated…

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New CRA Rule Impact: Understanding Key Changes for Small Banks

The financial regulatory landscape has experienced noteworthy changes, exemplary of which is the final rule issued by the Federal Reserve System’s Board of Governors, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. On October 24, 2023, these bodies have amended regulations implementing the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) – alterations…

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Understanding Glass Lewis Proxy Voting Guidelines: Impact on Corporate Clawbacks and Legal Compliance

Significant changes in the legal environment often prompt implications for the corporate governance landscape. One such key change has arisen due to Glass Lewis’s recent update on proxy voting guidelines regarding clawbacks. These developments necessitate an enlightened understanding for legal professionals in the corporate sector and law firms alike. The updated Glass Lewis proxy voting…

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Insurance Franchise Agreements Under Scrutiny as Wisconsin Court Advances Unregistered Case

In a recent legal development involving franchising agreements, a Wisconsin federal district court has allowed a field representative’s claims that his representation agreement was an unregistered franchise to proceed beyond the pleading stage. The field representative is in the employ of an insurance company and his allegations have sparked a discourse on the legal dynamics…

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