Welcome to today’s wake-up call for legal counterparts around the globe. We aim to offer you a brief, but informative rundown of the top news attorneys, legal departments, and law firms should be aware of. In an example of tensions surrounding year-end holiday planning within the legal industry, partners at the London office of Simpson…
Legislative and ballot wrangles over elevated minimum wages appear set to trouble both red and blue states across the US in 2024. Advocates for workers are striving to reproduce and augment successful outcomes in their mission to strengthen compensation for hourly employees. Underlying this trend is the relentless push to institute an hourly minimum pay…
Legal troubles experienced by attorneys and law firms have inundated 2023’s news landscape. From the fall of the crypto exchange FTX to high-stakes showdowns in Washington, the following nine law firms and individual lawyers found themselves entangled in some of the year’s most significant legal controversies: 1. Fenwick & West, a Silicon Valley-based firm, was…
The last year has brought both highs and lows for the litigation finance industry, an increasingly significant area of interest for many of the top law firms and corporations across the globe. Here, we explore the five most crucial developments in this sector throughout 2023. Firstly, the controversial Sysco Corp. case saw the corporation file…
In the pursuit of cleaner alternatives to gas-powered cars, the past year has seen a measured approach from various states in the United States. Despite initial lofty ambitions to overhaul the automotive market, transitions have been more cautious, marked by steady progress over radical change. Seven states have joined in with the Advanced Clean Cars…
As we head into 2024, employers are keeping a close watch on the evolving efforts by state and local governments to enforce stricter regulation on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The anticipated crackdown has now led employers to push for a more stringent federal law preemption of these measures. Bloomberg Law recently reported this emerging trend,…
The legal profession lost several notable personalities this year, some of whom have left an indelible imprint on the law and jurisprudence practices in the United States. The death of Sandra Day O’Connor, the first female US Supreme Court Justice, claimed major headlines while the passing of about three dozen other federal judges transpired more…
On December 11, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2023-80. This notice details forthcoming proposed regulations concerning the interaction between the US tax system and Pillar Two. It takes into consideration whether Pillar Two could stimulate a recapture of “legacy” dual consolidated losses and to what extent US taxpayers will…
In early December, bills were introduced in the New York State Assembly and Senate that propose the repeal of property tax exemptions for private universities. Under the potential new law, universities with property tax obligations exceeding one hundred million dollars would be prime targets. The legislation is flexible, however, and would permit adjustments or complete…
The US Tax Court’s Nov. 15 ruling in YA Global Investments v. Commissioner carries potentially important implications for investment funds operating with foreign investors. This ruling, a first of its kind, centered around the context of an investment fund that originates debt instruments and other securities in the US. This case had drawn the attention…
Coping with litigation related to privacy violation will be a primary challenge for companies using AI and web technologies this year, according to an article published on Bloomberg Law. Many businesses may need to carry out proactive reviews of their privacy programs to handle anticipated trends in privacy litigation, regulation, and enforcement. The availability of…
Former President Donald Trump recently informed a federal appeals panel that he should be exempted from prosecution concerning his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, under the principle that he was performing his official presidential duties when he took the pertinent actions. Trump expressed his argument in a filing presented to the US Court of…
Almost three weeks after a prominent Russian dissident, Alexei Navalny, disappeared from the Russian prison system, he has now been located in the Russian penal setup in IK-3 situated in Kharp of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District. A statement verifying his location was released on Monday by his spokesperson. This disclosure comes after Navalny’s unanticipated absence…
Serbian police detained 38 individuals during protests held against speculated irregularities in the recent snap elections. In response to the demonstrations, the police employed tear gas to disperse the crowds demanding the annulment of the parliamentary and local council election results. The ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) found itself losing its parliamentary majority for the…
Niger’s military leadership has announced the suspension of all cooperation with the International Organization of Francophone Nations (OIF). This move is perceived as a clear-cut attempt to sever ties with former colonial ruler France. The OIF is an institution with 88 members across French-speaking countries, aiming to promote political, educational, economic, and cultural cooperation. In…
Tensions between Mali and Algeria have reached a new height following Mali’s decision to recall its ambassador in Algiers. According to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mali, this action was taken “for consultation with immediate effect” following recent criticisms by Algerian officials regarding the escalating violence in Mali. This diplomatic drama…
The Ukrainian Kyiv Court of Appeal recently overturned the acquittal verdict of the Dniprovskyi District Court of Kyiv in a case concerning a former officer of the Berkut Military Police. The officer has been sentenced to six years in prison. This verdict follows the court’s determination that the former officer intentionally inflicted severe physical pain…
In an interesting turn of events, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has granted bail to former Prime Minister Imran Khan. In its ruling, the court held that the existing evidence does not give reasonable grounds for believing that Khan has wrongfully communicated confidential information. Nevertheless, sufficient grounds necessitate further inquiry into the matter. Khan is…
US President Joe Biden recently reduced eleven non-violent drug prison terms and pardoned a substantial number of marijuana possession offenses under federal law or in Washington, DC. Continuing his administration’s pursuit to reform the nation’s approach to marijuana, Biden’s actions are already drawing both praises and criticisms in equal measures. The pardoning power, as enshrined…
Last Thursday, the Thai House of Representatives passed four bills that propose amendments to the country’s Civil and Commercial Code, thus seeking to legalize same-sex marriage. The bills aim to alter phrases like “men and women” and “husband and wife” in the Civil and Commercial Code to “individuals” and “marriage partners,” respectively, thus enabling same-sex…
On Thursday, Albania’s Parliament voted to lift the immunity of opposition leader Sali Berisha, a former Prime Minister, in light of his indictment on corruption charges. This decision was a response to prosecutors’ requests to remove Berisha’s parliamentary immunity after he failed to comply with their decision for regular reporting throughout the investigation. Charges against…
The Supreme Court of Pakistan issued an order that mandates the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to address complaints related to the fairness and freedom of the upcoming election process. The forthcoming Pakistan general election, slated for February 8, 2024, aims to elect members of the 16th National Assembly. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), a key…
The Court of King’s Bench of New Brunswick has granted the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) a public interest standing to challenge a policy change enacted by the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. The policy in question is Policy 713, which mandates parental consent for the formal use of a preferred first name…
In a recent controversies revolving around Hong Kong’s political landscape, the Hong Kong High Court ruled against activist Jimmy Lai over a challenge regarding the jurisdiction of court to hear the charge of conspiracy to sedition. The court decided that the alleged conspiracy to sedition was an ongoing act. Therefore, the limitation period began after…
According to a report released by the Perviy Otdel, a human rights organization made up of Russian activist lawyers, the Russian authorities have opened an unprecedented 70 cases in 2023, charged either under state treason or for confidential cooperation with a foreign state or organization. This figure includes both new cases and 28 cases pending…