In an attempt to expedite the process of setting up new renewable power facilities, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) under the White House’s guidance has suggested a new regulation. The United States is taking steady strides towards decarbonizing its energy mix, and this proposal comes as part of that vision. The proposed rule aims…
As the landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve, playing host to a multitude of benefits and challenges, it is concurrently carving out diverse opportunities for legal professionals. In particular, attorneys with a focus in intellectual property (IP) and employment law are actively advising and litigating on behalf of clients who are grappling with…
John Fordham, prominent Stephenson Harwood partner and former head of commercial litigation, has died, aged 74. After a career spanning more than half a century at one of the United Kingdom’s leading firms, Fordham leaves a significant legacy and was amongst the longest-serving corporate lawyers in London. Fordham’s esteemed career of fifty years featured a…
Generative AI, a sophisticated branch of artificial intelligence that’s rapidly making its mark in various industry sectors, is increasingly finding its place in law school curricula. In a bid to keep pace with technological advancements, a number of esteemed law schools are pioneering innovative programs and collaborations aimed at preparing future legal professionals to work…
A recent ruling by the District of Massachusetts Court against software firm Pegasystems could have significant implications for corporate responses to lawsuits. Judge William Young is making headlines in the legal community for holding Pegasystems accountable for asserting the baselessness of a lawsuit despite its merit. This ruling could potentially alter the commonplace, reflexive response…
The narrative surrounding the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (DPF) remains a cornerstone topic for businesses and law firms alike. With the growing reliance on digital platforms for conducting business and transferring data, the past several years saw many keeping a keen eye on developments pertaining to this framework, chiefly those moving data from the European…
In a recent announcement made on August 1, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Enforcement Bureau informed a gateway intermediate provider and originator about alleged illegal transmission and origination of robocalls. If actions are not taken to rectify this situation, the FCC may grant downstream service providers the legal authority to permanently block its traffic, resulting…
In the continuously changing landscape of the internet, domain names have become one of the most critical assets for businesses and legal enterprises. With its July/August 2023 edition, Anchovy News provides an in-depth look into the current affairs in the domain name industry, covering topics such as domain recuperation, regional distributions, and dispute resolutions. The…
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has implemented a new standard, forcing employers in high-risk industries to turn over more detailed reports regarding on-site injuries and illness instances. Specifically, this regulation demands certain employers to electronically submit not only 300A data but also 300 log and 301 information for some locations, thereby expanding the…
On August 2, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) updated its Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) Examination Manual, a resource vital for legal professionals, examiners, and other stakeholders within financial establishments. The manual, according to a summary by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, provides necessary instructions for evaluating a bank or credit union’s adherence…
During the 9th Annual General Counsel Summit in Sydney on August 7, 2023, general counsel from some of Australia’s leading corporations listed greenwashing, data breaches, and regulatory changes as their most pressing concerns. This discussion highlighted a sense of increased vigilance from regulatory bodies such as the Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC) and the…
In a move aimed at promoting fairness in the housing market, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a partnership with the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) on August 2. This cooperative venture seeks to tackle appraisal bias and discrimination that have been identified as prevailing issues within the housing…
In a recent episode of “Trekking Through Compliance”, the focus was on a topic dubbed “The Empath”. The episode debuted on December 6, 1968, and occured on Star Date 5121.5. Within this installment, the plot centered around the Vions’ endeavor to evaluate if a planet inhabited by empaths is worthy to save. The resolution landed…
On July 21, 2023, five major U.S. agencies, namely the Federal Reserve, CFPB, FDIC, NCUA, and OCC, unveiled proposed guidelines on Reconsiderations of Value (ROV) in residential real estate evaluations. This initiative of the agencies aims to provide a clearer approach to ROV processes and introduce illustrative ROV policies and procedural frameworks. This information comes…
The role of Human Resources (HR) within a corporation has traditionally been focused on managing the company’s workforce. However, in recent years it has become increasingly clear that HR has a significant part to play in ensuring corporate compliance. In a recent video titled One Month to More Effective HR in Compliance: Day 5 –…
In a recent development, Elon Musk reportedly stated that he would cover the legal fees of individuals who were terminated due to abhorrent material published on Twitter. An intriguing assertion, given that Elon has a history of allegedly refusing to settle his own legal dues as per this report. More details on this story can…
On July 26, the Senate Banking Committee led by Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA), chairman of the committee, conducted a hearing concerning “fees and tactics impacting Americans’ wallets” with a focus on financial services and the role of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in tackling harmful fees. An alarming finding is that a third of…
As of July 20, 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) has made notable additions to the Specially Designated Nationals (“SDN”) List per the guidance of Executive Order (“EO”) 14024. This renewed effort is aimed at curbing Russia’s capabilities on several key industrial fronts. According to the facts shared…
In a critical development impacting labor standards, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), on August 2, 2023, overturned an employer-friendly standard from the Trump administration. The decision highly favors employees and workers’ rights, setting a new standard for judging infringements of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) through workplace rules. JD Supra reports. The ruling…
The California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) has recently made public its first inquiry, where they have declared a review of the data privacy practices of manufacturers of “connected vehicles” and related technologies. As reported by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP on JD Supra. The focus on ‘connected vehicles’ indicates the agency’s recognition of the increasing…
In a recent episode of All Things Investigations, legal experts Kenyen Brown and Kevin Carroll shed light on the legal intricacies surrounding the Donald Trump indictments. The discussion, hosted by Tom Fox, vigorously explored the indictment against the former President. The conversational depth illuminated the reality of a nation coming to terms with the unprecedented…
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) issued a significant update on July 27, 2023, revealing the release of new technical reports and case studies carried out by its Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium (FCIC). Eight comprehensive research documents were published, offering in-depth examinations of a variety of feedstock characteristics and processing techniques. This…
The recent Mining Reform in Mexico has placed new obligations on mining concessionaires. Among these obligations, one of the most significant is the requirement to request a change of water use from the National Water Commission. This change in the Titles of Concession of National Waters must go from “industrial” to “industrial in mining”. Notably,…
On July 31, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas granted, in part, and denied, in part, a preliminary injunction against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This injunction had been filed by a bank and two trade associations. Their purpose was to prevent the CFPB from enforcing its new final rule,…
The attention of legal professionals across corporations and law firms has shifted towards Texas, Arkansas, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as they withdrew their support for the pyramid scheme “Blessings in No Time” (BINT). BINT Operations LLC and its owners found themselves in the crosshairs of two separate but coordinated lawsuits as a result…