As the construction industry readies itself for another year of operational complexities, Arizona businesses are eyeing this year’s annual Construction Sales Tax Seminar with anticipation. Slated for October 26, from 9:00 am to 2:45 pm MST, the seminar will be delivered as a webinar, enabling participants from across the state and beyond to tap into…
Amnesty International and over 200 civil society organizations have urged governments participating in the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to address the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) human rights record and climate policies. COP28, an annual global conference to discuss climate policies, is scheduled to run from November 30 through December 12. The civil society…
On September 2nd, over 20,000 individuals staged protests in Berlin which took the form of dances. Conflicting with common associations of protests as violent and disillusioned, this stand against the German Federal Ministry of Transport’s plans to expand the A100 highway, portrayed an entirely different image. The affected area, well-known for its vibrant nightlife, stands…
In an arbitration dispute involving the Panama Canal Authority and contractor Grupo Unidos por el Canal, S.A. (GUPC), the Eleventh Circuit federal court decided to uphold an arbitral award last month even though the arbitrators’ failed to disclose certain potential sources of bias. This litigation stems from the issues that arose during the construction of…
The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO) is preparing to host a significant forum, the symposium on “Enabling the Nanotechnology Revolution”, to be held on October 10, 2023. The event is set to take place at the prestigious National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. As per the details provided, this much-anticipated symposium is aimed at…
The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) move to revise the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA) has implications for a range of legal professionals in several sectors, with a strong impact on construction professionals and federal contractors in particular. Often complex, these regulations concern wage laws for federally funded construction projects, with the recent changes represented…
In a recent judgment, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Court of Appeal provided essential guidance on common issues that arise in construction disputes. The case in question is Panther Real Estate Development LLC v Modern Executive Systems Contracting LLC [2022] DIFC CA 016. Two central issues were addressed in this judgment: a) the implications…
As the week of September 11 commences, Congress appears to be inevitably heading towards a shutdown. Both the House and Senate are scheduled to be in session this week. One of the main issues on the agenda is the considerations of Senate appropriators to discuss a three-bill package on the Senate floor. Key topics within…
The Dominican Republic suspended the issuance of visas to citizens of Haiti as of Monday, and is considering closing its border following a conflict over water access. The dispute centers on Haiti’s construction of a canal, leading to concerns about diverting water from the Dajabón River. Recognized for its paramount importance within the Dominican Republic’s…
The City of Atlanta recently opted not to confirm a multitude of signatures gathered by protestors against the construction of a police and fire training center, known colloquially as “Cop City”. This decision unfolded after the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued a judicial stay earlier this month. Activists, combined under the banner of the…
Legal professionals may be interested in a notice on future significant legislative development — the “Build America, Buy America” Act, also known as BABA, contained within the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Signed into law on November 15, 2021, by President Biden, the act is scheduled to become effective from October 23, 2023. The Infrastructure…
In a recent upheaval, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) made a shift in its historical alignment towards secret ballot elections for workers’ union representation. The move was made in the decision for the case of Cemex Construction which poses notable implications for employers and will inevitably call for a reassessment of labor relations risks…
The U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have recently issued proposed regulations concerning the prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements per the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. More details can be found here. The drafted regulations adopt the Department of Labor’s published rates for prevailing wages pertinent to the type of construction within the…
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), a material often used in building construction, has recently come under intense scrutiny. As numerous schools prepared to reopen this September following the summer holiday, many were informed that, owing to the use of RAAC in their buildings (and the current status and condition), they would not be able to…
In light of recent allegations of excessive force used by Brazilian law enforcement, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Brazil’s Attorney General, Augusto Aras, to ensure the independence of investigations into all police killings. The announcement came on Tuesday, after a series of police officers have faced discouraging accusations. Expressing concerns over the country’s…
In September 2023, there are key developments in Washington’s healthcare sector that legal professionals need to stay abreast of. These potential changes could have profound implications for corporations and law firms operating in the healthcare space. A significant hearing scheduled for September 13th in the House of Representatives merits attention. The House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee…
In the multifaceted world of Oil and Gas industries, Joint Ventures (JVs) present their own set of unique challenges, especially when disputes surface. Two main areas around which disagreements often centre are production and distribution, and construction of infrastructure. This report by Ankura delves deeper into these complexities. Production and Distribution: The oil and gas…
Although new legislation centered around advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) might still be months away, an increasing number of insightful legal professionals are already implementing comprehensive best practices. These strategies not only enable them to adapt to potential regulations but also leverage the benefits of AI in their enterprises. Detailed information on this topic was…
Over the past week, the ongoing dispute between Afghanistan and Pakistan regarding the Torkham Border Crossing has significantly escalated. Both nations have issued statements alleging that the other has indiscriminately opened fire on their respective border patrol forces. This contentious issue was further escalated by Pakistan’s decision to close the Torkham Border Crossing last week,…
The United States Treasury Department has issued eagerly anticipated wage and apprenticeship regulations affecting energy tax credits, a substantial change affecting the legal landscape of renewable energy tax credits. This move comes in the wake of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022’s significant roll-out of alterations. Among these many changes, one stands out. The Act…
Engineering and construction giant Fluor Corporation finds itself in difficult legal waters as the SEC brings settled charges against the company, citing allegations of improper accounting on two of their large-scale, fixed-price construction projects. The charges were also extended to five of Fluor’s current and former officers and employees. The full story details can be…
Across the globe, construction contracts commonly include specific provisions allowing for predetermined or “liquidated” damages in case of a contract breach. These provisions can arm the contracting parties with some level of certainty regarding potential repercussions of a contract breach and may ease the process of demonstrating damages during a court proceeding. In an intriguing…
In a recent development in the German legal landscape, the Federal Supreme Court (Bundesgerichtshof, or BGH) had to address the legal categorization of an over-arching underground garage (Grundbuchsache V ZB 12/22). Specifically, the question was whether an underground parking garage that spans across property lines, constructed as a legal overbuilding, can be seen as a…
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) penned a major revision to the definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) within their own regulatory frameworks on August 29, 2023, according to a report by Holland & Knight LLP. This decision expands on the Clean Water Act (CWA), 33…
The Council on Environmental Quality has recently unveiled its second phase of a two-step approach to revise the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementation regulations, dubbed the “Bipartisan Permitting Reform Implementation Rule”. An accompanying White House Fact Sheet has outlined the objectives of this proposal which include accelerating environmental reviews, fostering community involvement, fast-tracking advancements…