As of October 2021, a newly enacted law in Connecticut stands to modify the landscape of data protection, warranting attention from legal professionals worldwide. In particular, the law introduces specific protections for subsets of consumer health data, forms new rights in the realm of social media, and brings clarity to requirements around children’s data. The…
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), one of the significant bodies within the United States Department of Health and Human Services, unveiled a critical development earlier this month. On August 1, 2023, the CMS formally published its final rule for the federal fiscal year (FY) 2024 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term…
In a notable trend, municipalities are increasingly looking towards the reinvigoration of vacant or underutilized shopping mall sites. This is a response to market changes and the necessity to adapt to the evolving needs of communities. Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, serves as an illustrative example, where there are plans to revamp two key local sites. The…
Law firm Holland & Knight has released their latest Defense Situation Report for July 2023. This monthly update is a crucial resource for legal professionals around the globe, keeping them abreast of developments across defense policy, regulatory changes, and other significant occurrences in the industry. Given the extensive range of the firm’s practice areas and…
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new Form I-9 on July 21st, which has resulted in significant implications for many major corporations and law firms. This shift can largely impact your business operations and it is crucial to understand these changes to ensure compliance. The newly formulated Form I-9 became available for…
In a complex scenario indicative of the rapid expansion and legislative challenges of the crypto industry, two key cryptocurrency regulatory bills have been introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, offering somewhat divergent perspectives on how this emergent technology should be governed. This topic has gained special attention from global legal professionals, as…
On August 2nd, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) announced updates to certain segments and examination methods within their already-existing Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering Examination Manual. This Manual guides auditors in assessing a bank’s anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) program, alongside its adherence to other AML/CFT regulatory requirements. The most notable aspect…
In today’s fast-paced, technologically driven world, law firms and corporations are continually required to sift through large volumes of electronic documents. A key process in this endeavour is known as Document Review for eDiscovery, a critical stage that involves examining collected documents to unveil evidence that is pertinent, responsive and privileged. In this article posted…
In light of the recent case in the Court of Federal Claims (COFC), “CACI Inc.–Fed. v. United States”, it’s become compellingly clear that adhering to post-government employment restrictions is paramount. In a decision that could potentially impact thousands of corporations and law firms, the COFC upheld a contracting officer’s decision to exclude CACI from competing…
General Counsels (GCs) speaking at the ALM General Counsel Summit in Sydney, have highlighted the need for corporate legal departments to demonstrate their value within the business setup. This sentiment becomes all the more relevant amidst the transition to work-from-home norms and tightened corporate budgets. While technological advances and generative AI have made remote work…
In a recent patent dispute, a panel from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) invalidated eight claims tied to the design of a uniquely developed orthopedic implant by surgical device powerhouse, Stryker. The implant, geared to fit between two bone parts, was contended in a lawsuit set forth in an Illinois federal court against…
Donald Trump’s lawyer, John Lauro, has proclaimed an intention to expose the Jan 6th case to public scrutiny, rather than seeing it litigated within the chambers of the US District Court of the District of Columbia. Lauro has been vocal in his criticism over a potential protective order barring Trump from sharing trial-related evidence on…
In a significant decision, the Supreme Court has reviewed and rendered judgement on Cardali – Prima Facie Case of Cohabitation. The judgement has ostensibly made it easier to demonstrate a prima facie case of cohabitation, a requirement to obtain discovery and potentially suspend or terminate alimony payments. The decision follows the Appellate Division ruling in…
Two years ago, the esteemed legal community resource firm, Vault, seemed to vanish abruptly, culminating in it living on merely as a sub-site of Firsthand, a career mentoring and engagement platform. Utilized by law students and lawyers for over twenty years, its sudden absence was marked within the industry. Though it continued to issue its…
Michelle Cross, the self-termed “Legally Blonde Atlanta” DUI attorney, is now under fire from movie studio MGM for her usage of their copyrighted phrase. After receiving a cease and desist letter from the movie giant, Cross has decided to take down the related billboards, but she isn’t ready to give up her Instagram handle just…
General counsels (GCs) have cited greenwashing, data breaches, and regulatory changes as some of the major issues causing them concern, according to discussions at the ninth annual General Counsel Summit in Sydney on August 7. These issues loom large in their thought processes and strategic planning due to their potentially disruptive impacts on their respective…
With legal firms turning their sights towards strong marketing initiatives for the next years, it’s imperative to ascertain the ethical implications of their strategies – notably in the context of social media marketing. This includes examining standard marketing practices such as TV commercials, billboards, radio advertising, and internet advertising, with a keen focus on the…
Each year, the United States Supreme Court pronounces numerous decisions which carry far-reaching implications. It’s especially consequential in criminal cases where a single court decision can dramatically impact the fate of hundreds or even thousands of defendants across the nation. A recent report by Kenneth Notter highlights key trends and takeaways from the high court’s…
For compliance professionals working in major corporations and global law firms, the question of how to fully operationalize compliance and embed it within the very tapestry of their organization is a critical concern. One often overlooked area central to cultivating and upholding an ethical culture within an organization is the Human Resources (HR) function. How…
For legal professionals working in corporate and financial law, a recent ruling by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) should serve as a notable reminder of the importance of proper estate planning for retirement accounts. The IRS’ Private Letter Ruling (PLR) 2023-22-014 has highlighted several key considerations when handling Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), despite a finding…
Recently, the Second District Court of Appeal (Div. 5) affirmed a judgment which was of major significance in the realm of property law and development initiatives. The judgment involved the voiding of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)’s infill exemption for a Hollywood hotel project. The hotel construction proposal in question planned for the demolition…
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has recently adopted final rules regarding the disclosure of cybersecurity incidents, presenting companies with new reporting requirements. Coming into effect on 26 July 2023, these rules are expected to bridge the gap left by previous disclosure guidance from 2011 and 2018, implementing a definitive obligation to disclose cybersecurity…
In a significant data breach incident, American National Insurance Company, also known as American National Group (“ANICO”) reported that confidential customer data was accessible to an unauthorized party. The insurance company lodged a notice of the data breach with the Attorney General of Texas on August 7, 2023. According to the notice submitted by ANICO,…
Over the last year, the banking industry has observed an interesting shift in the dynamics of lender sizes and their rates. Many top-tier, larger financial institutions increased their deposit rates during the second quarter of 2023, a move that could pose a significant challenge for smaller, regional banks. A detailed assessment of this scenario can…
The ‘State of R&C Report’ has recently highlighted a critical issue — the inconsistent commitment to compliance by mid-level management. Ethics and compliance are two sides of the same coin. Compliance refers to adherence to laws, while ethics signifies action that is deemed right regardless of what the law stipulates. Conventionally, compliance has been viewed…