The upcoming November U.S. election is expected to pause some energy deals in Texas as companies reconsider corporate tax rates potentially rising, according to a prominent M&A lawyer in the state. “The amount of regulatory change in the last year has been so significant that what happens with the election is in the minds of…
A new coalition, launching this Thursday, is strategically targeting centrist Democrats to advocate for a critical tax deduction affecting pass-through business income. The initiative, spearheaded by the tax policy practice at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, is known as the PROTECT Coalition—Passthroughs Relying On Tax Equity & Championing Thriving Businesses. This group aims to advance lobbying…
Legal scrutiny is mounting for Wall Street powerhouses, such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo & Co., over allegations they shortchanged millions of clients through their cash sweep programs. In recent weeks, multiple proposed class actions have been filed against these financial giants and their broker affiliates. These suits assert that customers were…
The Nebraska Supreme Court’s ruling in a tax case involving a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary has significant implications for state taxation of multinational companies. The court upheld the Nebraska Department of Revenue’s decision to deny Precision Castparts Corp.’s request to deduct income generated by its foreign subsidiaries since 1986, treating it as untaxed dividends. This…
In-house counsel voices have become an integral part of corporate conversations about implementing artificial intelligence. These discussions range from learning about employees’ individual experiences to addressing agenda topics in the boardroom. As you use these insights to guide executive leadership on AI implementation, here are some operational considerations to build a strong foundation. Feedback Loop…
Using tax insurance to mitigate transfer pricing risk offers a strategic way for corporations to manage potential financial exposure arising from transfer pricing audits and disputes. Businesses traditionally managed these risks by setting up transfer pricing policies and maintaining appropriate documentation. Although methods such as advance pricing agreements (APAs) and mutual agreement procedures (MAPs) offer…
A coalition of 17 advocacy groups is urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to require manufacturers to disclose the duration of support for smart devices. In a letter sent to FTC officials, organizations including Consumer Reports, the US PIRG, and iFixit highlighted the impact of \u201csoftware tethering\u201d—an increasingly common practice where devices rely on software…
Tameka “Tiny” Harris testified in a California federal court on Wednesday, asserting that she was taken aback upon seeing MGA Entertainment’s O.M.G. dolls for the first time. Harris, the creator of the OMG Girlz pop group, expressed her belief that the dolls were a direct rip-off of her group’s aesthetic. She further mentioned that a…
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is banking on his popularity to make consumers associate the number “8” with his merchandise. However, this has led to a trademark dispute with a beer company linked to Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, who famously wore the same jersey number. Aikman’s beer brand disputes Jackson’s claim, leading to…
Leech Tishman is set to expand its footprint in California by integrating with Nelson Hardiman, a Los Angeles-based healthcare and life sciences law firm. Announced on Tuesday, the merger will bring 17 attorneys from Nelson Hardiman to Leech Tishman’s Los Angeles office. The combined entity will operate under the name Leech Tishman Nelson Hardiman. This…
Leech Tishman is expanding its presence in California by integrating the healthcare and life science law firm Nelson Hardiman. Set to occur this fall, the merger will incorporate Nelson Hardiman’s 17 attorneys into Leech Tishman’s Los Angeles office. The combined entity will operate under the name Leech Tishman Nelson Hardiman, the firm announced on Tuesday….
Baker McKenzie, Simpson Thacher, and King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) are acting on Blackstone’s $16 billion acquisition of a Data Centre company, as reported by [FeedBlitz](https://www.feedblitz.com/fake/). The funds giant Blackstone has specifically acquired Australia’s AirTrunk. This transaction highlights a significant movement in the technology infrastructure sector involving prominent global law firms.
A patent litigation company and its former counsel have responded to an effort by Dish Network LLC to have the full Federal Circuit reconsider their ability to collect more than $3 million in legal fees. The case centers on whether these fees should be paid directly by the lawyers who initiated a failed patent case….
The Supreme Court of Georgia declared on Wednesday that restrictive covenants do not need to include a geographic limitation in order to be considered reasonable under state law. This decision has significant implications for businesses looking to enforce nonsolicitation clauses in their contracts. The ruling revitalizes a marketing organization’s effort to enforce such a provision…
In a notable development, Dynapass has decided to terminate its patent infringement allegations against Bank of America. This decision effectively concludes the litigation filed in the Eastern District of Texas, concerning the programming behind user-authentication software. For further details on this resolution, you can access the original Law360 article here.
On Wednesday, the Federal Circuit upheld a $2.3 million patent verdict against Planmeca USA Inc., a manufacturer of dental imaging devices. The court rejected Planmeca’s argument that Osseo Imaging LLC’s technical expert lacked qualification due to his experience being acquired after the invention in question. The decision underscores the court’s stance on the relevance of…
Months after U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director Kathi Vidal noted that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) had improperly declined to review a Neo Wireless patent challenged by Honda on the grounds that Volkswagen had already contested it, the board has once again dismissed Honda’s petition. The decision signifies a recurring hurdle for…
In a recent ruling, a Texas federal judge has mandated that North Carolina-based CommScope Holding Co. Inc. and its affiliated entities pay an additional $5.4 million. This sum comes on top of the previously awarded $11 million in patent infringement damages. The case pertains to a licensing company’s successful litigation asserting six patents against CommScope….
An artificial intelligence software developer has been granted permission to proceed with a lawsuit seeking at least $500 million in Delaware state court against an engine manufacturer. The claim revolves around allegations of misappropriation of trade secrets following the termination of a collaborative agreement aimed at developing an AI tool. More details about the ongoing…
In her first eight months as managing partner, Loren Barron of Kaufman Dolowich has strategically expanded her team by adding one partner, two associates, two staff members, and an intern. Barron aims to continue this growth trajectory, though the firm is rapidly approaching the capacity of its current office space. Her commitment to advancing chancery…
A former high-ranking aide to two New York governors, Linda Sun, has been charged with acting as an undisclosed foreign agent of China, according to a recently unsealed indictment. Sun was arrested at her Long Island home on Tuesday and faces accusations of violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud,…
Peter Wiley, who was Disney’s chief international counsel until October, has joined Directors UK as the organization prepares for royalty negotiations with major U.S. media firms. Directors UK, led by Andy Harrower, represents 8,000 members in the audio-visual sector. For more details, read the full article by Law.com.
In a significant development, attorney Jake Evans of Greenberg Traurig in Atlanta has successfully overturned another election result. Speaking about the case, Evans expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “This is a big win for the candidates and the voters, both of whom deserve fair elections.” This decision marks yet another instance of Evans’s legal…
In a notable victory for Winston & Strawn, U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay found opposing counsel noncompliant, specifically ruling that BHI Energy’s damages were predicated on calculations deemed too speculative under federal court rules. This judgment underscores the importance of robust and precise damage assessments in high-stakes litigation. For further specifics, including the underlying legal…
In a significant legal development, Johnson & Johnson has been ordered to pay $1 billion in damages following breaches of contract and allegations of fraud linked to their surgical robotics contracts. This ruling is a considerable victory for the legal teams from Ross Aronstam & Moritz and Selendy Gay, who represented a shareholder group in…