Former commander of the Wagner Group, Andrey Medvedev, was arrested in Norway on Friday under suspicion of attempting to illegally cross the Russia border, as reported by the local Norwegian news site the Barents Observer. This incident comes at a time when Medvedev had already sought asylum in Norway this year. Norwegian police in Finnmark…
Emerging as one of the most rapidly growing industries, e-sports gaming presents a host of new legal challenges and opportunities. The exhilarating domain of e-sports brings with it not only an incredible expansion of viewership numbers and sky-high profits, but also introduces specific legal issues that both the gaming industry and legal professionals must navigate….
In a case decided on June 27, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued an important ruling impacting corporations and their consent to jurisdiction in states where they are registered to do business. According to the case report, the case – Mallory v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co. – primarily revolved around whether a foreign corporation…
In a recent court ruling which is causing ripples in the legal sector of employee benefits, the Ninth Circuit Court concluded that plan fiduciaries were engaged in prohibited transactions following the modification of an existing recordkeeping contract, including the addition of brokerage and investment advisory services. This legal development is covered in detail by JDSupra….
In a recent legal development, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has been asked by the Federal Court to impose further limitations on the 8(a) Program. This move comes after the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee blocked the SBA on July 19. Critically, the court curtailed the SBA from using a…
As we near the end of the federal fiscal year, it’s likely that we’ll see a rush of contract and task order awards. This phenomenon, which often goes hand in hand with agencies frantically allocating remaining fiscal year 2023 funds, could result in a sudden influx of award notices for contractors awaiting decisions on multiple…
The scourge of forced labor in trade is not a fresh phenomenon. Over several decades, the United States has enforced a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced labor through the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930 (“Tariff Act”). Specifically, Section 307 of the said Act has outrightly forbidden the importation of “all goods,…
In anticipation of a potential government shutdown, contractors around the world are grappling with the implications this might have on their operations and are in dire need of a strategy to navigate the enigmatic terrain that lies ahead. Fret not, law professionals, as firms such as Holland & Knight LLP have once again risen to…
With the deadline for filing the VETS-4212 Reports quickly closing in, it’s crucial for federal contractors and subcontractors to take note. Those meeting the VEVRAA eligibility threshold, referred to as ‘Covered Contractors,’ have until September 30, 2023, to file their reports. This is a legal requirement that can severely impact the status of their contracts…
In a recent development, the Federal Arbitration Act’s (FAA) “Transportation Worker” exemption has not been deemed applicable to contracts between businesses. According to a report published on JD Supra, this results from a dispute that occurred between Amazon and one of its “delivery service partners.” Amazon, post this dispute, sought to compel arbitration following an…
For employees considering a move from cooler climates to warmer ones, California is likely becoming a top choice. As of September 1, 2023, Governor Newsom signed into law legislation that extends the state’s restrictions on non-compete agreements to those contracts drafted and signed outside of California. This new legislation will be effective from January 1,…
In a significant legislative development for employers across the state, Governor Kathy Hochul has signed four bills amending the New York Labor Law. These bills cater to critical aspects relevant to employers, including handling social media account information, unemployment benefits notification, mandatory meetings about political and religious beliefs, and invention assignment provisions in employment contracts….
The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) has proposed modifications to the manner in which wages under the Davis Bacon Act (DBA) are calculated, a move that appears to favor employees. This decades-old legislation has been the foundation for numerous prevailing wage cases and the proposed changes raise interesting implications for legal professionals in the…
Illinois Governor, Pritzker, is making waves yet again with the introduction of a number of amendments to Illinois’ Prevailing Wage Act (IPWA) signed on July 28, 2023. The bill that’s gaining considerable attention is HB 3370. It amends the IPWA to include “power washing”. This new addition to the law has sparked conversations amongst legal…
In a recent New York decision, a key reminder has been issued to legal professionals involved in contract drafting: remain vigilant to the role public policy plays when enforcing choice-of-law provisions. The case underlines the need for clarity when determining how disputes will be governed by the law. Every day, attorneys act as advisors to…
In the ever-evolving landscape of employment law, recent developments have amplified potential risks associated with non-solicitation clauses in California. This has cast a profound effect on corporations and firms aiming to retain top talent and prevent poaching. There’s been always a certain degree of ambiguity around the enforceability of employee non-solicitation provisions, which seek to…
In a significant move toward regulatory oversight in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has simultaneously filed and settled charges against three DeFi platforms on September 7, 2023. Details on the crackdown reveal that the platforms involved offered, or made available for trading, contracts based on various cryptocurrencies and digital…
The legal parameters and implications of digital ledger technologies continue to be a topic of rigorous scrutiny among legal professionals. This iteration of Polsinelli’s Bi-Weekly Blockchain+ bulletin serves as another significant roundup of key stories that navigate this very intersection of blockchain, Web3, crypto ecosystems and U.S. law. The bulletin, viewable here, includes insights curated…
As we approach the end of the fiscal year, the federal contracting community finds itself once again under the shadow of a potential government shutdown. With federal funding set to dry up on September 30 and increasing tensions within the House, the likelihood of a shutdown is intensifying. In the face of such possible disruptions,…
The New York Labor Law has recently faced significant changes that will affect all corporations in the state. New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a new section into law on September 15, 2023, which limits the assignment of inventions by employees to their employers. In accordance with a brief provided by Jackson Lewis P.C., the…
Blue Heron Capital, a growth equity firm specializing in healthcare and tech-enabled business services, has reportedly successfully closed its latest fund, accumulating a total of $102 million. This financing news has sparked interest in the legal and corporate world, with the prospects of investment in healthcare and tech firms likely to impact market dynamics. According…
In a significant development, Virginia’s Fairfax County ‘Parking Reimagined’ project has taken a substantial step towards adoption following a favorable recommendation from the Fairfax County Planning Commission. On September 13, 2023, the Commission released a vote suggesting approval to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. This recommendation appears to endorse a progressive redesigning of the…
As industries across the globe adapt to the rapid advancements in technology, the construction industry is no exception. As it stands, standard form construction contracts don’t fully address the unique challenges posed by ‘Smart Infrastructure,’ a term coined to represent infrastructure projects that integrate both digital and physical elements. The analysis by Hogan Lovells highlights…
It has come to the notice of legal professionals that the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has recently settled enforcement actions against operators of three decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols which were found to be in violation of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA). This action by the CFTC seems a part of an enhanced enforcement…
In a significant move for the business landscape, California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed Senate Bill (SB) 699, tightening prohibitions on noncompete agreements as well as other restrictive covenants for businesses. This legislative development provides further protection for employees, essentially reinforcing the state’s reputation as being fiercely protective of labor rights. SB 699 brings changes…