The news of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas having his recreational vehicle (RV) financed by a health care executive, Anthony Welters, has stirred speculation within the legal community. Thomas, who portrays himself as a down-to-earth man, comfortably mingling with affluence to accept undisclosed monetary gifts, have his child’s private tuition covered, and even providing…
Donald Trump’s legal troubles continue to pile on as the flurry of civil litigation against him remains unresolved. These include defamation lawsuits and appeals, and a second suit brought forward by E. Jean Carroll. In addition to the civil prosecution by the New York Attorney General, Carroll’s litigation has put Trump in a defensive stand….
In recent developments, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued proposed regulations for website accessibility. These proposed rules are specifically aimed at state and local governments and are set under the umbrella of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II. The interpretation and execution of these regulations will undoubtedly be of interest to legal…
The federal government’s contracting practices have played a significant role in shaping the Alaska economy over the past four decades, with numerous local businesses and Native corporations relying heavily on these contracts for revenue. According to the annual Top 49ers list from Alaska Business, federal government contracting constitutes a substantial portion of the income for…
An Arkansas federal judge has decided to maintain a lawsuit that contests a state court’s failure to provide indigent clients with legal representation before their bail hearings. The decision further stresses that state-appointed lawyers offer “critical assistance” during these bail proceedings. The suit is led by Abigail Farella and Logan Murphy who claim that they…
In a significant development, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas has stopped the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) from implementing and enforcing the small business lending rule, also known as Section 1071. The Court’s decision to grant an injunction is pending the Supreme Court’s judgement in a related case, Community Financial…
The future of non-compete agreements in the state of New York remains uncertain as Governor Kathy Hochul awaits signing off on legislation that could potentially establish one of the country’s most rigid bans on such agreements. The proposed legislation faces stern opposition from lobby groups across the financial and corporate sector who are pressing the…
Trade and compliance professionals operating in the international legal landscape have a fresh set of complexities facing them. The intersection of “Buy America” provisions and the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) are causing a stir within the sphere of global commerce and procurement, particularly in government contracts. A noteworthy development, as observed by the Braumiller Law…
Regulation of facial recognition technology by law enforcement agencies has taken a new turn in Montana. The state has just enacted the Facial Recognition for Government Use Act (FRGUA). This critical legislation not only permits state and local agencies, including the police, to employ facial recognition in the search for suspects, victims, or witnesses to…
The Biden administration’s recent Executive Order could introduce further rigidity to U.S. manufacturing prerequisites for federally funded inventions. This measure’s intended objective is to bolster American manufacturing industries and job market. However, it may have inadvertent ramifications that could deter U.S. companies from engaging in federally funded research and development endeavors. A more stringent enforcement…
Recent years have witnessed significant shifts in the landscape of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, particularly within the health care systems. These changes have prompted the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to propose updates to their merger guidelines. While the changes are expected to bring increased clarity and uniformity…
As legal professionals working in global corporations and law firms, it’s crucial to stay updated on significant legislative developments. One such key development is the recent ratification of the U.K’s latest Financial Services and Markets Act (FSM Act) on June 29, 2023. As described by Shearman & Sterling LLP, this act is the result of…
On August 2, 2023, the UK government publicized its proposals for comprehensive reform of the UK product safety regime. The long-anticipated plans consist of 13 wide-ranging proposals, which introduce potential significant changes to the UK product safety landscape. Stakeholders are expected to experience major effects as a result of the proposed transformations. This important update…
Changes are coming to the way American companies, along with others outside the European Union (EU), engage in large M&A transactions and public tenders within the EU’s single market. From July 12, 2023, under the EU’s new Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR), these entities must adhere to a stringent set of provisions if they have benefited…
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….
The Biden administration has announced several new measures intended to lower housing costs and bolster supply. Central to these steps is an effort to incentivize municipalities to loosen restrictive land use and zoning policies. This will be achieved by adopting these considerations into the grant criteria for key government programs. As part of the strategy,…
On August 2-3, 2023, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, Elizabeth Rosenberg and Acting Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Himamauli Das, convened with their counterparts from the Government of Mexico. The meeting took place at the Strategic Dialogue on Illicit Finance (SDIF) event in Mexico City. The SDIF…
In the current complex legal landscape, the classification of workers as employees or independent contractors continues to generate much debate, as evidenced by the ongoing deliberations at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The decision-making criteria employed by ongoing government entities, the NLRB included, carry notable ramifications for corporations and their HR departments, especially considering…
The US Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) has reviewed a record number of foreign investments for potential national security risk during the past year, according to its Annual Report to Congress for 2022. The Committee evaluated 440 covered transactions, marking an increase from the 436 transactions scrutinized in the previous year. This rise in reviews…
China is making notable strides in artificial intelligence (AI) regulation, with the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and six other Chinese government agencies jointly releasing a finalized version of the Interim Administrative Measures for Generative Artificial Intelligence Services on July 13, 2023. You can refer to the Chinese version here. The new measures are due…
Protests erupted in Belém, Brazil this past Sunday, coinciding with a Brazilian government environmental conference titled The Amazonian Dialogues. The focal point of the demonstrations were against Petrobras, the Brazilian state oil company’s proposal to begin offshore drilling near the mouth of the Amazon River. This proposed project would be in the deep waters off…
In a recent update, PilieroMazza, a renowned law firm serving government contractors, highlights the necessity of I-9 Physical Inspections, which are now required by August 30. This announcement came through their podcast series, “Clocking in with PilieroMazza: Labor and Employment News for Government Contractors.” This series aims to provide employers, specifically those operating within the…
The Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA) carries considerable implications for the victims of crimes involving fraud against the Federal Government. The Act, according to some legal experts, isn’t always adequately considered by prosecutors handling such cases. Federal prosecutors are urged to view beyond the four corners of the conspiracy to defraud as billed in the…
On July 31, 2023, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) signaled its intent to recast its regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) across the federal government. This move is evidence of an increasingly fluctuating Federal environmental policy disposition, as it marks a second attempt at an overhaul after CEQ’s original regulations…
Afghan refugees living in the UK are facing homelessness following government-led evictions from accommodations provided in hotels, according to local government officials. This unsettling situation comes at a time when inadequate long-term housing availability intensifies the crisis, attributing homelessness to about 20% of Afghan refugees exiting the hotel accommodations per anecdotal accounts, as indicated by…