On July 24, 2023, the California Office of Administrative Law endorsed alterations made by the California Civil Rights Council (CCRC) to the regulations associated with California’s Fair Chance Act. The latter prohibits employers with a workforce of at least five from asking prospective employees about their conviction history until a job offer has been extended….
In an era of rising cross-border transactions and heightened threats to national security, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has become an essential element in the U.S government’s arsenal. With a focus on identifying, tracking, and blocking financial transactions associated with criminal enterprises, terrorist activities, and other threats, OFAC has consistently shown its growing…
Former Hogan Lovells partner and one-time Trump legal team member, Ty Cobb, weighed in on ex-President Donald Trump’s present legal predicaments in a televised interview with CNN. A point of discussion revolved around current Trump attorney John Lauro’s First Amendment defense in connection with pressuring then-Vice President Mike Pence into reversing the 2020 election outcome….
In the sixty-ninth episode of Trekking Through Compliance, titled “Whom Gods Destroy”, an intriguing narrative on mental health, criminal insanity, leadership and strategy is explored. This episode takes us back to January 3, 1969, occurring on Star Date 5718.3, and provides a lens into how these themes are interwoven within the larger context of organizational…
A recent libel suit filed by attorney Mark Geragos against the Los Angeles Times has come to an abrupt end. The suit concerned the Times’ reportage on payouts from a $37 million settlement for Armenian Genocide victims, which was also under investigation by the State Bar. A Californian state judge has now concluded this case,…
Major law firms in Washington, D.C. like Baker Botts, K&L Gates, Sidley Austin, and Thompson Hine are in a race to bolster their litigation and dispute teams, as client demand in such practices is helping to balance out slowdowns in transactional work. This wave of recruitment is a response to a robust Q2 for countercyclical…
Former Fisher Phillips partner Claud Lee “Tex” McIver III is once again seeking a bond from an Atlanta judge ahead of a retrial slated for October, over allegations concerning the fatal shooting of his wife. According to McIver, he has now procured a local apartment for living arrangements. Fisher Phillips, an internationally recognized law firm,…
In light of the recent case in the Court of Federal Claims (COFC), “CACI Inc.–Fed. v. United States”, it’s become compellingly clear that adhering to post-government employment restrictions is paramount. In a decision that could potentially impact thousands of corporations and law firms, the COFC upheld a contracting officer’s decision to exclude CACI from competing…
Each year, the United States Supreme Court pronounces numerous decisions which carry far-reaching implications. It’s especially consequential in criminal cases where a single court decision can dramatically impact the fate of hundreds or even thousands of defendants across the nation. A recent report by Kenneth Notter highlights key trends and takeaways from the high court’s…
With the fast-approaching implementation of new UK cryptocurrency marketing regulations, it is essential for anyone involved in the crypto industry, regardless of their location, to be aware of these changes and how they will affect crypto business practices. Starting 8 October 2023, anyone who offers a cryptoasset or service to investors or users in the…
The Department of Justice (DOJ) of Hong Kong has taken a step further to appeal the High Court’s judgement, which initially refused to grant an injunction prohibiting the popular protest song titled “Glory to Hong Kong”. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam on behalf of the DOJ, applied for the injunction, with the intent to uphold…
In a recent development that highlighted the crucial role of objectivity in the courts, a Federal Judge was reported to have remarked that a defendant under his judgement ‘Looked like a criminal to him.’ The case in question saw Leron Liggins undergoing trial for drug-related charges under the purview of Eastern District of Michigan Judge…
On Monday, US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced a significant shift in foreign policy: the US Department of Justice (DOJ) will now support Ukraine’s ongoing investigations into Russian war crimes. This will also extend to the International Criminal Court (ICC), marking a departure from past practices where the Department of Defense (DOD) impeded cooperation with…
US District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan recently dismissed former President Donald Trump’s counter-defamation suit against author E. Jean Carroll. Carroll publicly accused Trump of sexual assault, with a jury finding that Trump had sexually assaulted and defamed Carroll by accusing her of lying. In response to these charges, Trump had claimed that Carroll’s statements on…
A recent survey published by the UK Association of Prison Lawyers (APL) reveals a concerning trend among prison lawyers, indicating a significant reduction in numbers due to inadequate legal fees. The exhaustive and underpaid work expected of these legal professionals have reportedly pushed prison law legal aid work past the point of sustainability. The survey…
In recent legal news, a series of events have unfolded that might leave one questioning the integrity and ethics among esteemed members of the legal community. The stories range from questionable finance practices to suspicion of heinous crimes, painting a disturbing picture. The everyman image of Justice Clarence Thomas seems to be specifically under question…
In a high stakes legal challenge, a woman who was found guilty of drug trafficking is disputing the use of expert testimony that led to her conviction. Labelled a “blind mule”, Delilah Diaz argues that she was unaware of the nearly 28 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed within the door panels of her boyfriend’s car when…
In a recent unsettling incident, Jeffrey Ferguson, a California criminal court judge, has been arrested on the suspicion of his wife’s murder. The arrest took place outside of his home in Anaheim Hills, California, where his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, was later discovered dead from at least one gunshot wound. More information can be found in…
Sidley Austin LLP, a preeminent international law firm, has recently shared that the outgoing chief of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division will be joining their ranks. The yet-unnamed official is scheduled to start in October, assuming a leadership role in the firm’s white collar defense and investigations practice. This move is of significant…
As the pressure from three pending criminal indictments starts to rise, former president Donald Trump seems to be pushing back against the legal hurdles facing him. He appears to be using his Truth Social feed as a platform to voice his discontent and dissatisfaction with the whole process. This was evident in a post he…
The legal expertise of Trump-appointed judge Aileen Cannon, known for her controversial involvement in the fight over the search warrant for top-secret documents at Mar-a-Lago, has been under increasing scrutiny. While her actions in this high-profile case have drawn public attention, professionals within legal circles are also expressing concern about her numerous judicial missteps in…
On July 26, 2023, an important message was delivered from the offices of the Commerce, Justice, and Treasury Departments in the form of a “Tri-Seal Compliance Note”. This second-ever issued note marks a significant moment in the development of corporate compliance and violation disclosure standards, aiming to guide businesses towards a path of self-regulatory transparency….
Industry insiders warn founders and operators of startups about the impending requirement potentially impacting their businesses. Specifically, their firms may be required to report the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) unless there is an exemption under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). This obligation comes into effect as of January 1, 2024, and is detailed in this…
In a recent development, Elon Musk reportedly stated that he would cover the legal fees of individuals who were terminated due to abhorrent material published on Twitter. An intriguing assertion, given that Elon has a history of allegedly refusing to settle his own legal dues as per this report. More details on this story can…
In the ever-evolving realm of corporate compliance, the Justice Department’s recent revisions to its Corporate Enforcement Program and Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs highlight a renewed emphasis on compensation systems and consequence management. This paradigm shift and its implications were discussed extensively in a recent podcast episode titled Episode 284 — How to Implement a…