Pauline Newman, a highly respected name in intellectual property law, has found herself under scrutiny from colleagues and subjected to a ruling by a Federal Circuit panel recommending a year-long suspension from judging. The crux of their claim lies in questioning her mental and physical health. The panel has pointed to supposed deficiencies in Newman’s…
The legal landscape for corporate entities in New Jersey is undergoing significant alterations. As of July 3, 2023, New Jersey Governor, Phil Murphy, gave his stamp of approval to Bill A.B. 5323, amending the state’s Corporation Business Tax (CBT). By signing this new legislation into law, a variety of clarifications, corrections, and amendments have been…
Internationally renowned law firm, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, announced on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, that it is initiating a specialized team directed towards scrutinizing how its clientele manages aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This prominent move towards advancing social justice on the legal scene substantiates the growing importance of advocating for civil rights…
In a recent judicial development, the Northern District of Texas Judge Brantley Starr, who is known internally as the nephew of Ken Starr, ordered Southwest Airlines’ in-house legal team to participate in “religious freedom” training offered by a Southern Poverty Law Center designated hate group, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). ADF is recognized for its support…
On July 17, 2023, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a new final rule that amended its occupational injury and illness recordkeeping regulation. This introduces new electronic reporting requirements for certain employers, which further includes modifications to regulations that pertain to the reporting of work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. (JD Supra) The newly…
In a shift towards a more inclusive blood donation policy, the American Red Cross has eased restrictions on gay and bisexual men, implementing guidance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revamp their donor assessment questionnaire. The revisions aim to focus more on a donor’s individual history, rather than their gender or sexual…
In the ever-evolving digital age, the significance of technical SEO in enhancing the performance of law firm websites in search engines cannot be understated. The technical elements of a website play an imperative role in its accessibility by search engines like Google. In the absence of a refined and optimised technical SEO, Google may face…
Several leading cities in the Southeastern United States, including Atlanta, Charlotte, and Nashville, are experiencing a significant increase in lateral partner moves this year. This trend reflects the overall surge in legal industry activity throughout the region. According to newly released data from Decipher Investigative Intelligence, the majority of these moves occurred during the second…
In a seeming turn of events, two island communities on the East Coast, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, are witnessing what appears to be the end of lawsuits characterised by ‘Not In My Backyard’ or NIMBY attitudes. Residents of Nantucket had initiated a lawsuit to block the operation of a local fried clam and soft serve…
In the wake of New York’s burgeoning legal cannabis market, intending beneficiaries are grappling with the challenge of financing their new ventures. This financial struggle has opened room for predatory lending practices to thrive, thereby putting these entrepreneurs at a higher financial risk. Despite New York state’s fervent efforts to prioritize residents who were adversely…
During its annual meeting in Denver on August 8, 2023, the American Bar Association’s policymaking body deliberated for two hours before making vital changes to its Model Rules of Professional Conduct. These changes hold the potential to significantly alter attorney procedures when it comes to dealing with clients. See full article In a bid to…
Recent developments in the Ripple Labs litigation case have caught the attention of both the cryptocurrency community and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Just a fortnight ago, we noted the partial win for Ripple when Judge Analisa Torres granted a partial summary judgment in favor of Ripple. The decision addresses the question of whether…
A recent lawsuit has raised alarm in legal circles, attributing the untimely death of a U.S. Senate candidate to a cryptocurrency scam allegedly masterminded by a campaign staffer. This comes at a time when the legal community is paying keen attention to developments in the cryptocurrency sector, with its potential for misuse causing concern among…
Environmental advocacy and the protection of clean water continue to play significant roles in public policy and legal arenas. A recent development in this space involves Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Black Warrior River watershed. The organization, together with the Greater-Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution, has…
In the highly competitive pharmaceutical services sector, avid bidding for prominent businesses have observed an exponential acceleration as new players and investors are showing everyday interest. This surge in investors, who previously didn’t focus much on the pharma sector, has necessitated an urgent understanding of central considerations for due diligence. These considerations significantly influence risk…
In light of recent developments, we examine the July 11 announcement by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The Office of the Chief Economist publicized the 2022 updates to its Trademark Case Files Dataset and Trademark Assignment Dataset. An evaluation of these updates shows an ongoing investment by the USPTO in improved transparency…
In a landmark decision that could potentially affect corporations and law firms worldwide, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a ruling on employer work rules, setting a stricter standard. In the Stericycle, Inc. case, 372 NLRB No. 113 (2023), the Board overruled existing precedent to establish this tighter test, which could make certain existing…
The enduring rise of arbitration as a chosen route for dispute resolution has led to a surging requirement for arbitral awards to be acknowledged and executed in offshore jurisdictions. This developing trend is an observation underlined by some of the world’s strongest offshore jurisdictions— Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Ireland, and…
Keeping track with the latest developments in legal compliance can often seem like an overwhelming task for legal professionals or insurance administrators. Recently, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) released an Informational Memorandum (“Memorandum”) to Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), laying out the manner of implementation of certain requirements under the Prescription Drug Reform Act….
The concept of ‘shotgun’ pleadings in U.S federal litigation can be complex and yet, pivotal in the way a trial progresses. For legal professionals working in corporate law firms, these pleadings become a part of the intricate legal strategy around federal cases. Paraphrasing a popular phrase from House of Pain’s 1992 hit song, “Jump Around,”…
In a surprising development, a Special Committee of Federal Circuit judges, consisting of Chief Judge Kimberly Moore, former Chief Judge Sharon Prost, and Judge Richard Taranto, has recommended a one-year suspension of Judge Pauline Newman. The disciplinary action relates to inquiries into allegations surrounding Judge Newman’s competency to remain on the bench. An order released…
In recent times, numerous states are making significant strides to implement limitations on the protections provided by local employment laws. These efforts are, in part, a response to employment policies that are often administered in accordance with “applicable federal, state, or local law”. According to an analysis by Foley & Lardner LLP, in the specific…
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…