In the wake of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s decision to close embattled firm Axiom Ince, the remaining leaders are reportedly striving to recover a significant £64 million shortfall in the firm’s client account. This gap, presumably due to the alleged misconduct under investigation involving the firm’s owner, has left several clients in an uncomfortable situation….
The Superior Court recently confirmed a decision that denied a petitioner’s request for increased medical bill payments for ketamine infusions under the theory that the Delaware Fee Schedule doesn’t apply. The petitioner argued that the Board should compel payment of the “reasonable cost” of treatment rather than the limited payment prescribed under the fee schedule….
Amid recent discussions surrounding gender wage gaps, a surprising trend has emerged. According to the BarkerGilmore and Equilar General Counsel Pay Trends Reports for 2023, female General Counsels at Equilar 500 companies are earning more than their male counterparts – by nearly 8%. General Counsel roles, bearing immense responsibility and requiring a wealth of knowledge…
When the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution is discussed, it is often referred to in the context of criminal procedures. However, an understated aspect of this amendment, the takings clause, provides a crucial constitutional protection for property owners. This comes into effect when the government, for whatever purpose, infringes upon an individual’s property rights….
The fiduciary standards of ERISA and applicable tax rules have, for a long time, presented a challenging spectrum for benefit plan administrators. Given the complexity of the responsibilities, sourcing for formidable best practices has emerged as a common concern for plan sponsors aiming to enhance their compliance, regardless of the plan type involved. Following our…
In a recent development, the Supreme Court of New York ruled in a landmark case, State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Tamagawa, Index No. 510977/2021, 2023 N.Y. Misc. Lexis 5434, that an insurer has the right to settle its property subrogation lawsuit with the offender and discontinue the lawsuit regardless if the insured has…
As the COVID-19 pandemic relief suspending loan payments and interest accruals on federal student loans comes to an end, a significant number of borrowers are faced with the impending resumption of student loan repayments. The cessation of benefits, with interest accruals having resumed September 1, and loan payments set to resume in October, calls for…
In a recent development, Corp Fin has released a new set of Compliance & Disclosure Interpretations (CDIs) on pay versus performance matters. The move comes a year after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) formed a rule mandating the disclosure of information that reflects the relationship between executive compensation actually paid by a company and…
On the 13th of September 2023, Oliver Street Dermatology Management LLC, a renown dermatology practice manager, reached a settlement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas. According to the Public Report, Oliver Street agreed to a payment of $8.892 million to the United States to resolve self-reported allegations of violating multiple…
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued new guidelines for employers that have or are contemplating the implementation of leave-based programs. These programs permit employees to forfeit sick, vacation, or personal leave in order for their employers to make donations to charitable organisations, specifically those assisting victims of the 2023 Hawaii wildfires. The information came…
On September 27, 2023, the Division of Corporation Finance (Corp Fin) within the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) introduced nine new Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations (CDIs). These new interpretations aim to bring clarifications on pay versus performance disclosure requirements. In this same initiative, Corp Fin also revised existing CDI Question 118.08, which addresses the…
In a significant turn of events, the Delaware Supreme Court put a stop to double recovery for injured employees, subverting a longstanding precedence. The court came to this conclusion after a close inspection and reevaluation of a section of the state’s Workers’ Compensation Act (WCA) (19 Del. C. § 2301 et seq.). The upshot of…
On September 6, 2023, a new legislative amendment was signed into law by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, marking a significant development for the state’s employment law. As part of the New York Penal Law amendment, wage theft is now considered a criminal larceny. To provide some context, under the New York Penal Law, larceny…
The U.S. Supreme Court is back in session after their summer recess. Developments have begun to unfold with numerous cases being put forward in the first week of proceedings. More on this can be found on Reuters. Simultaneously, a much-anticipated legal event, the Trump NY trial, has started. For readers interested in the unfolding of…
In a notable shift in strategy, leading law firms are reassessing compensation models. This decision signifies a significant evolution in the legal sector as firms grapple with changing demands and new realities. Captured in a recently published Law.com article, there’s a new inclination among firms to reconsider long-standing pay structures. While specifics of the re-evaluation…
In a recent legal development, a case involving Robert Friesen and the State of Florida Highway Patrol/Division of Risk Management underscores the requirements for compensation under the Heart-Lung Statute. The decision, handed down by Judge Massey on June 21, 2023, revolves around the crucial factor of proving “Disability”. (Full details) The claimant, Robert Friesen, a…
The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) in association with TRU Staffing Partners recently held a webinar presenting their 2023 Privacy Professionals Salary Survey. The survey offers an in-depth analysis of global compensation and job market trends within the privacy sector. Among the important speakers were TRU Staffing Partners’ Founder and CEO, Jared Coseglia, IAPP’s…
The economic cycles of recent years have highlighted financial disparities between different practice areas, triggering discussions on partner compensation systems within law firms. This is being increasingly felt as partner pay surpasses $20 million at some firms, making way to a reinvigorated interest among firm leaders to compare their partner compensation methods against their peers….
In a regulatory update that deserves close attention, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently settled an administrative proceeding, during which it argued that an employer acted in a way that could have discouraged potential whistleblowers. In the case at hand, the employer, as a part of a severance agreement, mandated its employees to confirm…
In what seems to be a shift from tradition, the well-established partner and associate lockstep compensation systems, in existence since the early 1900s, may need to be reassessed. Used extensively among old “White Shoe” law firms, the pay structure was designed to boost cooperation and collegiality among partners, and in time, associates as well. The…
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has recently issued a consent order with a non-bank mortgage lender, aiming to resolve multiple alleged violations of the state’s Consumer Loan Act, primarily focusing on loan originator compensation. As stated in the underlying charges brought by the DFI, the lender is alleged to have managed a…
The common belief is that recruiters only prove their worth during an active job search. However, continuous engagement with a legal recruiter, even if one is content in their current role, can offer significant value. A skilled legal recruiter can offer positive impacts on your career development and help set you on the path toward…
In a demonstration of the ever-increasing influence of social media in contemporary societies, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has resolved to establish new guidelines to structure how social media influencers wield their impact. In particular, these rules concern endorsements that have financed extravagant getaways and lavish lifestyles, as displayed in social media images from the…
The state of New Jersey has made recent amendments to its Workers’ Compensation laws that affect both physicians and corporations alike. Based on the statutes A4832 / S3309, which Governor of New Jersey signed into law on July 20, 2023, several modifications have been enacted. According to legislative analysis available at JD Supra, these amendments…
In a recently decided case, Act 111, which introduced the Impairment Evaluation Provisions of Section 306(a.3) of the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, was found to be applicable to injuries sustained prior to its effective date, and is not an unlawful delegation of legislative authority. Legal professionals working in Pennsylvania should pay close attention to these…