Surveys of corporate legal departments across the globe describe an environment of increasingly tight budgets. Corporate legal teams face undue pressure from Biglaw firms, who insist on higher fees despite budgetary constriction. The increasing pressure on budgets, however, hasn’t affected the bottom line of many chief legal officers. On the contrary, they continue to enjoy…
Increasing compensation for legal professionals and support staff is causing an upward trajectory in law firms’ operating costs, applying continuous stress to their net revenues. This trend has been illuminated by recent statistics from major financial institutions that service the legal industry. During the past six months, law firms around the United States experienced a…
The rapidly evolving world of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) regulation in Asia is garnering attention globally, due to its significant implications for corporations and law firms alike. A recent update on the issue has been published by lawyers from Latham & Watkins LLP. A growing trend across the world, ESG focuses on three key domains…
It appears that Illinois is breaking new ground with measures to protect temporary workers. On August 4, 2023, Illinois Governor Pritzker signed HB2862 into law. This legislation stipulates that temporary staffing agencies must provide equal pay and benefits to certain temporary workers, alongside their directly employed colleagues. This new law, informally known as the “Equal…
In eminent domain litigation, a prevailing topic has been whether or not condemnors—entities which are legally empowered to acquire private properties for public use—should be responsible for the legal fees of the property owners they displace. This controversial issue, underpinned by a 50-state survey on the issue, carries critical implications for both property owners and…
Australia’s Victoria Court of Appeal on Friday refused to grant the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne leave to appeal an earlier decision concerning child sexual abuse allegations against the late Cardinal George Pell. In February 2022, an individual referred to as RWQ filed a claim against the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne alleging mental harm and nervous…
We start the year off with news already influencing corporate America. 2022 witnessed a challenging economic setting with soaring interest rates and an uncertain forecast that rocked the nation. The effects were particularly prominent within the tech industry, where falling stock prices landed startups and tech giants alike into a cycle of retrenchment and widespread…
The senior partners of Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling, Wim Dejonghe and Adam Hakki respectively, are conducting a series of roadshows at each other’s firms. The roadshows, which are question and answer sessions, come as part of a planned merger between the two firms. This merger is set to be decided upon by…
An atypical arbitration case linked to a long-standing dispute over a 19th-century land deal has drawn the government of Malaysia and two top independent European firms into a contentious legal battle with one of the world’s largest litigation funders. The case at present is adding fuel to the ongoing discussions centered around the regulation of…
As noted by Law.com, several law firms have chosen to increase salaries for their newly qualified (NQ) lawyers, though the chances of reigniting a wider talent pay war this year appear slim. A studied instance is Baker McKenzie, who announced a boost in its NQ salaries in London from £110,000 to £118,000, a growth of…
3M Co. has consented, albeit tentatively, to pay upwards of $5.5 billion in an effort to resolve over 300,000 lawsuits that claim that the company sold defective combat earplugs to the US military, according to information from individuals connected with the agreement. Bloomberg Law reports. This significant settlement would sidestep a potentially much bigger liability…
A recent development indicates that Spain has failed to comply with international law, as per the findings of a UN Human Rights Committee on Follow-Up Rapporteur. The findings, which have been published, reveal that Spain did not implement the United Nations Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) decision concerning the case of Baltasar Garzón v Spain. Interestingly,…
The Supreme Court of the Netherlands has ruled that Palestinians cannot proceed with a lawsuit against Israeli military officers for their alleged involvement in an airstrike in the Gaza Strip in 2014. The lawsuit is directed toward Benny Gantz, former military veteran and subsequent politician, and Amir Eshel, former Chief of Air Staff, who are…
Next Monday marks the start of strike authorization votes by the 85,000 members of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions. Voting is expected to continue until September 13. The coalition, which accounts for half of Kaiser Permanente’s workforce, has raised concerns over the healthcare system’s unhurried attitude in addressing their grievances and offering an acceptable…
In a recent development pertaining to labor laws, the First Circuit Court has affirmed an employer’s jurisdiction to modify commission payments under the Massachusetts Wage Act. This decision carries significant implications for corporations and law firms managing employee compensation frameworks, especially those involving sales commissions. Renowned psychologist Abraham Maslow once said, “If the only tool…
A change in regulations impacting retirement plans, specifically the age 50 catch-up contribution changes, is slated to come into effect on January 1, 2024. However, there’s a possibility this amendment might be postponed. The proposition in question primarily affects Section 401(k) Plans, Section 403(b) Plans, and governmental Section 457(b) Plans; these generally permit employees to…
Coplex and intricate as ever, the U.S. environmental law is throwing yet another curveball in its statute, pushing legal professionals onto their toes. Over recent years, anyone exhausting the labyrinth of environmental law likely faced a case demanding a plunge into the mysterious well that is the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act’s (CERCLA)…
In an effort to enhance transparency within the financial realm, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed both new and amended rules under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 pertaining to private funds, their advisers, and investor transparency earlier this summer. One of the most notable developments in this legislative journey was the adoption of…
Children are expensive. Moreover, expenses could mount dramatically when the parent-to-be needs to resort to surrogacy due to reasons like a medical condition or having a partner lacking the complementary reproductive capability. The cost of surrogacy could be especially heavy due to a rising phenomenon: Surrogacy insurance liens. The American medical insurance system is especially…
As the trans-Atlantic legal landscape sees an escalating lateral war, the focus is on a shift that is likely to turn heads. Three top partners from Kirkland & Ellis are making a move to rival firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, with their annual compensation expected to surpass the $10 million guarantees that have…
In the realm of employment law, July 2023 has marked several important decisions by Californian courts. The following are summaries of key judgments, unpacking their implications for legal professionals working in multinational corporations and the foremost law firms. Kuciemba v. Victory Woodworks Inc., 14 Cal. 4th 993 (2023): The details of the case remain undisclosed,…
Recent years have witnessed an ongoing debate about the validity of capping general damages via contract provisions for liquidated damages. This discussion gained momentum with a couple of contradictory verdicts in the last two years – casting ambiguity on a common feature of construction contracts. The topic came to light as liquidated damages clauses frequently…
A major legal battle is underway, with a coalition of 21 Attorneys General (AGs) throwing their weight behind former Saks retail store employees’ allegations in a no-poach agreement case. The AGs have filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, in support of the former employees who allege they…
In a crucial interpretation of longstanding legislation, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently addressed the scope of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) term “operator”, in a case headlined by MRP Properties Company, LLC v. United States. This examination brings into focus the role and responsibilities of…
In an emerging predicament, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has found himself in the midst of an ethics scandal, generated by his ties to affluent figures. According to a recent report, Thomas’s circle is far richer, featuring more billionaire associates than the average person’s network of less wealthy friends . The precise nature of the…