In a recent advancement, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has decided to restore and broaden an Obama-era requirement, compelling employers spanning dozens of identified industries to electronically submit their injury and illness forms. The reinstated rule, with additional expansions, targets workplaces with a minimum of 100 employees. JD Supra reported this update which…
In the era of information, data is an indispensable element of not only any organization but more crucially, their compliance function. The importance of this data’s integrity, accessibility, and security can hardly be overstated for a business to operate effectively and to ensure proper compliance. However, as digital landscapes continue to evolve and grow in…
On July 20, 2023, the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment of David Uhlmann as the new Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) Enforcement and Compliance Division. The confirmation marks an interesting development in environmental justice enforcement efforts in the United States. Uhlmann brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Notably, his…
The term “legacy” has lately stirred up mixed feelings. A legacy can be a gift, something passed down from a predecessor, or it often connotes a special status given to a person because of his/her familial relationship. However, recently the term has garnered some unsavory associations. The U.S Department of Education, for example, is presently…
In a move that will be of great interest to legal professionals around the world, LexisNexis has shed further light on its collaboration with Microsoft to develop generative AI products. In this unique partnership, the intention is to harness the potential of artificial intelligence to drastically change the way lawyers and law firms access and…
On July 6, 2023, Chancellor Kathaleen St. J. McCormick of the Delaware Court of Chancery provided a written opinion interpreting a previous bench ruling on a mootness fee awarded to a plaintiff’s counsel in a class action lawsuit from supposed stockholders. This lawsuit was initiated against Magellan Health, Inc. and its directors, linked to its…
On July 13, NextGen Healthcare Inc., a renowned electronic health record (EHR) software vendor, settled its issues with the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in quite a remarkable manner. The agreement, covering the resolve of alleged False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback…
The Biden administration recently made known its intention to enhance accessibility to mental health coverage through a proposed rule primarily involving the expansion of plan oversight and enforcement activity. Spearheading this initiative are the US Departments of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services. This move aims to address the issues concerning mental health…
In a recent episode of the Legally Contented podcast, Wayne Pollock, founder of the Law Firm Editorial Service, converses with Megan Braverman to spotlight the characteristics of potent law firm PR campaigns. Braverman, the principal and owner of the Los Angeles-based Berbay Marketing & Public Relations, brings an esteemed record of strategic PR management to…
The proposed Credit Card Competition Act of 2023 has been met with mixed reception from industry players since its introduction by Senator Durbin from Illinois. This legislation seeks to usher a reformat in payment processing, which will undoubtedly impact issuers, merchants, and consumers alike. Josh McBeain, in a recent episode of Payments Pros, a Payments…
In a significant ruling that caught the attention of the global legal community, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal handed down its decision earlier this year in a case involving Clearview AI and the Australian privacy regulator, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). This decision, for the first time, marked the extraterritorial application of the…
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has recently conveyed that employers are required to use a revised Form I-9 by November 1, 2023. A fresh rule authorising employers to utilise an alternative documentation verification system for employees operating remotely is also introduced by USCIS. The alterations indicate significant changes for businesses across the nation,…
With the ever-growing influence of the Internet of Things (IoT) devices in American lives, the risks of cyberattacks through these devices have also surged. Many of these attacks exploit vulnerabilities in IoT devices. In an attempt to mitigate such issues, the Biden-Harris administration has posited the creation of the US Cyber Trust Mark. This initiative…
As the landscape of health care continues to evolve rapidly, the future of healthcare is arriving sooner than we imagined. Based on a podcast series featuring conversations with Dr. Ben Locwin and Scott Endicott, significant current trends are emerging that are fundamentally shifting the industry. The series dives into a range of critical topics including…
While legal professionals worldwide continue with the adjustment to the ‘new normal’, the necessity of embracing technology for efficient legal practice has been underlined. This was a key takeaway from The Master’s Conference held recently in London. The conference shone a spotlight on an array of significant topics including eDiscovery/eDisclosure, Information Governance, and collaboration among…
According to a recent report, Asia-based law firms are progressively expanding their operations into Southeast Asia. Cities like Vientiane, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur have become hot spots for these pioneering law firms. More details here. Although specific firms are not identified in the provided text, it’s crucial to note that this strategic move suggests a…
Am Law 200 firms have imposed a ban on their legal personnel using ChatGPT and other forms of generative AI to undertake client-related tasks, with concerns centered on potential data breaches and “hallucinations”. The decision, however, does not signify a withdrawal from the use of AI within law practices, due to its unmatched capacity for…
Day one of the National Industry Liaison Group (NILG) 2023 National Conference commenced in Phoenix, Arizona, witnessing a full attendance despite soaring temperatures. Attendees comprising conference presenters, vendors, and agency representatives were treated to diverse and informative sessions that aligned seamlessly with this year’s proactive conference theme of “Transforming for Tomorrow”. The first day of…
In what may come as a surprise to many, Twitter, the popular social networking site, recently announced that it would be undergoing a rebranding. The CEO of Twitter, Elon Musk, disclosed last week that the platform would henceforth be known simply as “X”. This sudden shift provoked immediate and widespread confusion, with many users mistaking…
In recent weeks, there have been two significant developments involving Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a comprehensive set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on June 28, 2023, to aid small business lenders and finance companies in compliance with a final rule…
In the realm of real estate law, numerous legal professionals and industry insiders adhere to the understanding that for a contract for the purchase and sale of property to be deemed valid, it must contain a few essential elements. These usually include the identity of the parties involved, a description of the property in question,…
In its latest strategic move, cloud-based trademark docketing software company Alt Legal has stepped up its game with its fourth acquisition. The company has acquired customers and the docketing business of its competitor, TM Cloud. This acquisition enables Alt Legal to expand its customer base across the United States and globally, including regions such as…
On July 24, 2023, the US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) announced some notable changes in its review procedures, specifically in the interim Director Review (DR) process and Appeals Review Panel (ARP) process. These changes mark the end of the Precedential Opinion Panel Process, which was previously in place. One significant update to the interim…
Over the past five years, state legislatures have progressively turned their focus towards the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in the context of health care benefits. Instituting a significant expansion of PBM regulation, this development has set a precedent that is attracting global attention. Initially, legislation focused predominantly on the PBM services offered to…
International law firm Bird & Bird has posted another year of healthy financial growth, propelling its top-line revenue up nearly 11% to reach £495 million for the 2022-2023 financial year. This sizeable increase underscores the firm’s ability to navigate the challenges of the current market and maintain steady growth. In terms of profitability, the firm’s…