The Australian government has announced plans to consider the quantity of pro bono work conducted by law firms when making decisions on work allocations. The policy shift suggests that firms’ commitment to pro bono work could play a significant role in securing government contracts. Undertaking pro bono work may become an important business strategy for…
In a significant ruling, the Maryland Supreme Court has declared that a ‘bad boy clause’ stipulated in a postnuptial agreement is lawful, permitting spouses to predetermine a division of marital assets if one party commits adultery. The case of Thomas L. Lloyd and Anna Niceta served as a cornerstone for this judgement. The court upheld…
Recent developments have raised a significant concern for the legal profession and what it might mean moving forward. According to an article titled “A Big Red Flag” penned by Olga V. Mack, some crucial points of reflection are brought to the fore. Olga V. Mack is a renowned figure in the legal world, holding dual…
The summer of 2023 has been a period of significant legal developments in the evolving landscape of Web3 and the metaverse. This article aims to provide a concise summer DigiDigest update, as presented by Reed Smith, focusing on the most noteworthy events across June, July and August. As most of our readers know, the laws…
In a recent legal development, the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit confirmed the validity of term provisions in wholesale power contracts between generation and transmission cooperatives and their member distribution cooperatives. The case in question, Dakota Energy Cooperative, Inc. v. East River Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., 75 F.4th 870 (8th Cir. 2023),…
The legal world remains as dynamic as ever in September 2023, with blockchain and related technologies taking pole position in shifting paradigms. Notable lawyers at Polsinelli, a renowned law firm, share some illuminating insights on developments in these areas within their regular column, the Blockchain+ Bi-Weekly. Gathered from their experiences at the crossroad of code,…
A family-owned business or a trust can both be highly valuable yet associative with inevitable troubles. These entities, representing important economic engines, have displayed a noteworthy tendency to turn into arenas of dissent, particularly when they coincide. Legal professionals within the corporate sector should remain attuned to these oft-found predicaments, which can evolve to be…
The legal landscape is always dynamic. It morphs and evolves to reflect regulatory changes, significant case judgments and approaches to justice. On October 3rd, at 10:00 am PT, there is a webinar that captures these trajectories. “Arbitration and Class Action Waivers: A Vision of a Classless Society” offers legal professionals an opportunity to examine one…
On August 25, 2023, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals changed the rules of the game with the ruling on Deslandes v. McDonald’s. The case, which initially was dismissed by a district court, questioned the legality of no-hire and non-solicitation clauses included in McDonald’s franchise agreements. The full details of the case can be found…
In recent times, the intersection of fundamental research and national security has attracted attention and changes in legislation. The gravity of this subject was recently explored in an article published on JD Supra. According to the JD Supra report, the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) states that the U.S. research universities’ scientific…
In the two short years since the birth of college Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights, a significant lawsuit has come to light, contesting the violation of Florida’s NIL laws. On September 1, 2023, Gervon Dexter Sr., a former University of Florida Gator and a current player for the Chicago Bear, filed a lawsuit with…
The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) is looking to tighten its grip on the control of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). In what DFS describes as “the most comprehensive set of market conduct rules for pharmacy benefit managers in the country,” proposed regulations have been announced that would broaden the state’s oversight scope…
In a remarkable ruling, the Delaware Court of Chancery has found a company in contempt due to its failure to cover defense costs for a pending case, as per a recent article from JD Supra. The case in question, Gandhi-Kapoor v. Hone Capital LLC, demonstrates the execution of rights under a company’s organizational documents to…
As the pandemic continues to overwhelm court dockets globally, several courts have turned to a method of dispute resolution known as court-ordered arbitration to manage the surge in lawsuits. This method seeks to resolve lawsuits without proceeding to trial, therefore easing the strain on the legal system. According to an article on JDSupra, legal professionals,…
In a recent legal update, the Public Law team at Hogan Lovell’s Paris office presented an analysis of recent French and European developments regarding public contract law and public procurement law. The analysis provided in the update touches on court decisions and regulatory texts from the past two weeks. This comprehensive analysis, which is available…
Contract management company Ironclad is set to introduce a chat interface for complex contract analysis, aiming to reveal the process of artificial intelligence’s (AI) decision-making. The interface, known as Ironclad Contract AI (CAI), breaks down multifaceted analyses into subtasks, building the next set of tasks from the insight gained. The beta launch is slated for…
Recent regulatory adjustments by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) have led to a shift in how large businesses can accrue small business credit for subcontracting to their own mentor-protégé joint ventures (MPJVs). The final guidelines put forth by the SBA stipulate that, when a substantial federal prime contractor issues subcontracts to its own MPJV,…
Last month, Illinois entered the historical record books by becoming the first state to enact legislation that compels companies using independent contractors to provide contracts with strictly prescribed terms. Particularly pertinently, this law states that these freelance contractors are to be paid all their fees within a set number of days. According to an insightful…
In a rather unusual move, the State of California has taken an assertive measure to protect the rights of its employees, as far as non-competition agreements are concerned. This step took the form of Senate Bill 699, which reaches beyond the mere borders of the state to restrict non-compete agreements in contracts that are signed…
In a critical decision on September 1, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 699 into law. The legislation acts to prohibit employers from entering into or attempting to enforce noncompete agreements, arrangements which will henceforth be void under state law. The law is scheduled to come into effect on January 1, 2024….
In a pair of decisions issued on August 30, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has introduced restrictive standards for assessing when a unionized employer can evade bargaining over alterations to employees’ terms and conditions of employment grounded on “past practice.” The new stipulations, reportedly, are a departure from the employer-friendly legal standard established…
In a recent move that could potentially impact an estimated 3.4 million workers, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) concerning updates to the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime regulations. This most notable aspect of this proposal is the planned increase in the weekly salary level threshold…
In a significant ruling in the realm of securities law, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reaffirmed a judgment from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The court’s decision dismissed allegations brought under state securities laws against certain banks acting as the arrangers (“Defendants” or…
In an intriguing development, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA) has seen fit to award COVID-19-related expenses to a contractor working under a fixed-price contract, in the case of StructSure Projects, Inc. This information is found here. Though detailed information regarding the entire context of this case may not currently be accessible, certain…
As legal professionals, it’s central for us to understand contracts and their implications in various scenarios, one such prominent case is signing a Quitclaim Deed while remaining on the Mortgage. Schorr Law, APC recently discussed this topic providing important insights worth considering. A Quitclaim Deed, as we are aware, is a document that allows the…