The Federal Circuit has affirmed a decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, declaring a claim of an Express Mobile website generation patent invalid due to obviousness in light of prior inventions. This ruling underscores the continuing challenges patent holders face in defending the uniqueness and innovation of their claims when scrutinized against existing…
Robert Lamkin, who has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to the energy sector since his early career days, has recently joined Eversheds Sutherland as a partner in its global energy group. Lamkin, whose experience includes a tenure at McDermott Will & Emery LLP, will be operating out of the firm’s Washington, D.C. and New York offices….
On Thursday, May 30, at 9:45 a.m. EDT, the Supreme Court is expected to release one or more opinions, generating significant anticipation among legal professionals. Those interested can access live coverage of the announcements. This provides an invaluable opportunity to stay current with the latest judicial decisions that could impact various aspects of law practice…
By now, you’ve probably noticed the rapid ascent of nicotine pouches like Zyn and Velo. These products are becoming ubiquitous, advertised in convenience store windows, scattered across sidewalks, and prominently featured in social media feeds. Zyn’s synthetic nicotine offers an alternative to traditional tobacco products, delivering the kick of a cigarette or dip without the…
The demand for competition specialists in Africa is on the rise, driven by a substantial increase in regulatory activities across the continent. For example, Egyptian regulators have significantly intensified their efforts, with the number of investigations escalating from about 20 to 30 five years ago to now between 200 and 300 annually. This uptick in…
On Thursday, May 30, the Supreme Court of the United States is set to release opinions in one or more argued cases from the current term. Legal professionals and interested parties can follow the real-time updates as SCOTUSblog will be live blogging the announcements starting at 8:45 AM. The frequency and significance of these announcements…
The American Arbitration Association (AAA) and its international division, the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), have announced their acquisition of Resourceful Internet Solutions Inc. (RIS), the parent company of online dispute resolution platform ODR.com. This strategic move is set to leverage AAA’s extensive resources to further develop advanced AI-powered alternative dispute resolution solutions. RIS,…
In a strategic acquisition aimed at enhancing its online dispute resolution (ODR) offerings, the American Arbitration Association (AAA) has taken over ODR.com, a pioneer in ODR systems, along with its parent company, Resourceful Internet Solutions Inc. (RIS). This acquisition also includes Mediate.com, Arbitrate.com, and Ombuds.org, which are all part of RIS’s portfolio. The immediate priority…
Habib Al Mulla and Partners, once the United Arab Emirates partner firm of Baker McKenzie, is poised to become the first Arab law firm to set up shop in Russia. This move comes during a period of ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine. The firm’s new office aims to support Emirati businesses and investments in the…
Amid the ongoing media scrutiny and legal battles, a notable entry has emerged in Fox Corp.’s defense roster: Jesse Barrett, the husband of US Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Operating out of SouthBank Legal’s Washington office, Barrett is advocating for Fox in a defamation lawsuit centering on reports broadcasted by one of its local…
UK Top 50 law firms are experiencing a notable decrease in cash balances, primarily due to escalating people costs, rising energy prices, and substantial investments in technology, especially in the realm of cyber security. This financial strain underscores the complexities these firms face in an increasingly competitive and expensive operational landscape. For more details, please…
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher have assumed prominent roles in facilitating New Jersey-headquartered pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co.’s $3 billion acquisition of Eyebiotech, a U.K.-based ophthalmology drug development company. This transaction exemplifies a prevailing trend of U.S. companies acquiring U.K. businesses, thus providing substantial work for U.S. law firms….
As the gap widens between the federal minimum wage and the higher state rates prevailing in many regions, the ability of the US Department of Labor (DOL) to hold employers accountable for wage violations, often referred to as “wage theft,” is being compromised. The federal minimum wage has remained stagnant at $7.25 an hour since…
Quarterback Jaden Rashada’s lawsuit claiming University of Florida boosters and football coach Billy Napier reneged on a $13.8 million contract marks an inflection point amid the rapidly changing landscape of compensation in college athletics. Rashada was promised a lucrative name-image-likeness (NIL) deal in 2022 to play for the Florida Gators instead of the University of…
Most S&P 500 companies enforce stringent policies aimed at preventing employees from using confidential information to trade stocks of other businesses. However, a recent development has prompted some companies to reconsider and possibly narrow these bans. This reaction surfaces in light of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) recent success in its first-ever “shadow trading”…
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is waging a legal battle against pornographic websites in Texas, a campaign that has already prompted the departure of industry giant Pornhub from the state. Paxton’s actions aim to enforce a new age verification law and could result in millions of dollars in fines for non-compliant sites. This initiative has…
The IRS has prominently featured employee retention credits (ERC) on its Dirty Dozen list of tax scams since 2023, extending the statute of limitations for potential ERC repayment to five years under certain conditions. This regulatory environment has added complications to the already intricate process of closing mergers and acquisitions (M&A). ERC-related disputes have delayed…
The European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act and Colorado’s Artificial Intelligence Act mark the first-ever comprehensive AI laws in the EU and US. Both laws have extraterritorial effects. Colorado’s, adopted by the governor on May 17, applies to developers and deployers of high-risk AI systems doing business in Colorado, potentially covering out-of-state businesses providing AI products…
For any corporation, maintaining the confidentiality of communications with legal counsel is crucial for effective risk management. The attorney-client privilege serves to shield these communications from discovery. However, the persistence of this privilege after a company dissolves remains uncertain, with no hard-and-fast rule governing such situations. Judicial perspectives vary, often hinging on whether the dissolved…
Enforcement agencies have long stressed the importance of robust compliance programs within companies, including internal whistleblower hotlines for employees to report suspected misconduct. Yet, government programs offering monetary rewards for whistleblowers are thriving as well. For instance, the SEC has awarded more than $1.9 billion through its whistleblower rewards program, with nearly $600 million awarded…
In a significant legal development, Hong Kong has convicted 14 pro-democracy activists, marking the city’s most extensive national security case to date. The accused individuals are part of a larger group of 47 activists charged in relation to unofficial primaries conducted in 2020. These primaries were intended to select candidates for the city’s Legislative Council…
South Korean prosecutors have initiated an appeal against a lower court’s decision to acquit Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee of fraud and stock manipulation charges relating to a contentious 2015 merger. Prosecutors argue the merger between Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries disadvantaged minority shareholders. The high-profile case resumed on May 27, with Lee being…
New Zealand Māori Protesters Delay Traffic Decrying New Government Budget New Zealand’s Indigenous protesters caused severe traffic delays in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, on Thursday. The opposition party Te Pati Māori and Indigenous activist groups initiated the protest against the government’s proposed budget, which allegedly compromises the country’s ability to protect Indigenous rights. The…
The US Supreme Court is set to deliberate on the legality of generic prohibitions in pollutant discharge permits as outlined under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The case, City and County of San Francisco v. Environmental Protection Agency, hinges on whether the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to enforce vague, narrative limitations in…
Regulation 2024/791, known as the MiFIR Review, was published on 8 March 2024 and introduces transparency requirements for single-name credit default swaps (CDSs). These rules apply only if the CDSs reference global systemically important banks (G-SIBs) or an index of such banks. While the revised rules aim to bring more transparency to this market segment,…