The world lost Joan Meyer last week. After facing the stress of a police raid on her home and newspaper office—Marion County Record—this respected journalist and co-owner of the 153-year-old publication died amid significant difficulties. Despite their small-town origins, Meyer’s paper had been undaunted in raising potentially controversial local issues, something that brought them head-to-head…
In a notable development, Chief Judge Laura Taylor Swain of the Southern District of New York ruled against former Allianz Global Investors executive, Gregoire Tournant’s motion to dismiss his securities fraud indictment. Concluding that Tournant renounced attorney-client privilege with his erstwhile legal counsel, Sullivan & Cromwell, she unsealed a 40-page opinion to dismiss his request….
Just earlier this week, a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia made great strides and managed to indict former President Donald Trump along with 18 others for suspected attempts to manipulate the results of the state’s 16 electoral votes in the 2020 election. Trump’s former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, quickly sprang into action and…
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has reportedly asked Disney to drop its ongoing lawsuit against him, claiming that he’s “basically moved on” from the dispute. This plea follows numerous unsuccessful attempts by his legal team to counter the legal onslaught from the multinational entertainment conglomerate. Above the Law discussed the legal back-and-forths between the governor and…
In a recent and rare unanimous decision, the California Supreme Court invalidated a Monterey County voter-endorsed local initiative designed to ban oil and gas drilling while imposing stiff restrictions on oil and gas developments in the county. Such a precedent-setting ruling brings a focus to the legal tension between local and state laws surrounding the…
Two conservative law professors, William Baude of the University of Chicago and Michael Stokes Paulsen of the University of St. Thomas, have explored the legal implications surrounding Donald Tump’s eligibility to run for an elected office. This inquiry focuses particularly on the implications arising from the events of January 6th, the day known for the…
In what can be considered a major victory for the federal government, the Association of Air Medical Services’ case against the No Surprises Act encountered a defeat at summary judgment. This occurrence marks the government’s first distinction in the fold of court challenges against the No Surprises Act. The case was decided in U.S. District…
On August 9, 2023, an Executive Order was issued by President Biden which gives the U.S. Department of Treasury the power to establish a highly restrictive, unprecedented regulatory regime to limit outbound U.S. investments in China. The Treasury Department also took the step of issuing an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on the same day….
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has recently released its statutory annual report for the calendar year 2022. This unclassified edition of the report – issued on July 31, 2023 – offers an overview of crucial trends within the realm of inbound foreign investment reviews by the U.S. government. The report…
Welcome to another installment of our review of the most significant recent legal cases and developments. Our review brings together a variety of key sources to deliver a concise summary tailored specifically for legal professionals. One of the notable developments covered in the How Appealing blog this week is a U.S. Appeals Court case from…
Repercussions of the patent application disclosure process for medical device companies intending to profit from their inventions has long been under-discussed. Industries across the board have the shared experience of navigating two agency approvals, one from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and another from the U.S. Patent and Trade Office. Recently, a fascinating…
For government attorneys, the current market boasts a surge in demand for their unique skills. Prestigious firms such as Cravath, Sidley Austin, Skadden, Cleary, Kirkland, Jenner, Arnold & Porter, Mayer Brown, and Boies Schiller have all recently integrated high-level government attorneys into their cadre of legal expertise. Notably, this could be an opportune time for…
The North Carolina General Assembly, composed of representatives from municipalities, corporate transportation entities and nonprofit organizations, among many others, continues to shape policy and advocacy, according to a recent post by Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP. The firm, known for advising an array of clientele ranging from local community bodies to Fortune 500 companies, provides…
In a crucial interpretation of longstanding legislation, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently addressed the scope of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) term “operator”, in a case headlined by MRP Properties Company, LLC v. United States. This examination brings into focus the role and responsibilities of…
The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy plan, a matter that has stirred substantial controversy within the legal community. The plan, previously greenlit by the Second Circuit, has been criticized by the federal government as manipulative behavior of the bankruptcy system. Read more This development prompts questions…
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has concluded his visit to Iraq, expressing concerns that Iraq’s water crisis may have widespread regional implications. The situation necessitates proactive measures from all countries to manage water resources as a global public good. This marked the first-ever visit to Iraq by a UN High Commissioner for…
In an industry characterized by geopolitical tensions and economic strategies, the U.S.’ nascent semiconductor chip industry has recently experienced an influx of both public and private investment. This surge has been stimulated in large part by the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act that was passed last year, which introduced measures to enhance domestic manufacturing. The…
The United Kingdom’s HM Treasury recently published a near-final draft statutory instrument and accompanying policy note, delineating proposed reforms to the nation’s securitization regime. These publications have sparked extensive dialogue within the domestic legal sphere, calling for a constructive response from legal professionals and key stakeholders. Previously, securitization has proven to be a lucrative strategy,…
In a significant judgement that has profound implications for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) screening, the Court of Justice of the European Union (Court) passed a ruling undermining Hungary’s national foreign investment screening laws. Dated July 13, 2023, the decision specifically penalises the Hungarian government for blocking the proposed purchase of a Hungarian sand and gravel…
The legal community is closely following the case surrounding Donald Trump’s alleged election interference, in which Special Counsel Jack Smith has proposed that the trial date be set for January 2, 2024. If the court accepts this, it would be the first of Trump’s three pending indictments to go to trial, the other cases being…
In March 2021, the Italian government issued the Legislative Decree n. 24/2023, acting on the EU Directive n. 2019/1937 to introduce significant changes and obligations for employers regarding whistleblowing matters. Under this new legislation, corporations operating within Italy must exhibit due diligence and careful response to any received reports of misconduct as it protects the…
In the latest ‘Compliance Notes’ issued by Nossaman’s Government Relations & Regulation Group, a range of topics have been discussed pertaining to campaign finance, lobbying compliance, election law, and government ethics issues. These topics are addressed at the federal, state, and local level, casting a light on the understanding and interpretations of relevant recent statutory…
The realm of renewable energy in Alberta has been recently thrust into the spotlight. This was a result of an unforeseen announcement made by Alberta’s Minister of Affordability and Utilities. On August 3, 2023, the Minister disclosed that the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) had received directives to put a temporary halt on the issuance of…
Employment on-boarding managers worldwide may have been relieved when the pandemic-induced shift to remote environments led to a modification in existing regulatory protocols accommodating these new realities. One such change has been in the form of a new Form I-9, offering fresh options for employment eligibility verification, albeit with a few conditions. As detailed in…
The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023 has been passed by Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, amidst significant opposition. The bill’s passage has sparked controversy, as previous versions were considered in 2019 and 2022, but have been withdrawn each time. The current iteration of the bill was introduced on August 5th,…