In a significant ruling, the Connecticut Supreme Court dispensed with the concept of governmental immunity in a case involving a police officer and a traffic incident. The case revolved around Officer Jonathan Sykes, a Bloomfield police officer, who, in responding to a possible abduction on Aug. 10, 2017, collided with a woman’s car, causing injury…
With Cybersecurity increasingly drawing the attention of federal and state policymakers, developments in this space are poised to impact a broad array of private sector organizations. Accordingly, the Biden administration is taking steps to explore the harmonization of cyber regulations, as seen in their recent activities. This initiative underscores the government’s growing role in setting…
Hong Kong’s highly contentious National Security Law has once again stirred up interest in the legal community. This time, the focus is on the ex-wife and children of Elmer Yuan Gong-yi, a pro-democracy activist who has avoided the reach of Hong Kong authorities after fleeing the region. In a recent development, the national security police…
In a recent update from the North Carolina General Assembly, KTS Strategies has brought to light the extent of their unique role and vast experience in providing comprehensive policy and advocacy advice. Serving a wide range of industries and operating across federal, state, and local agencies, KTS Strategies indeed has played a pivotal role in…
The U.S. Treasury Department recently released its 2022 annual report to Congress on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). This report, which covers the entirety of the 2022 calendar year, provides important insights and statistical data regarding the CFIUS process and the state of foreign investments into the United States throughout…
In a significant move towards reestablishing trust in corporate governance and auditing disciplines, the Department for Business & Trade is set to introduce new regulatory reforms. On 19 July 2023, the Department published draft regulations, colloquially referred to as “the Regulations”. These will effectively carry forward the pledges made by the government with the wrap-up…
In a significant move that aligns with global sustainability trends, the UK government announced on August 2, 2023 that it plans to establish company sustainability disclosure standards. The proposed standards will be in place by July 2024, with the aim of enhancing the comparability and value of reported information for investors. This initiative demonstrates the…
The False Claims Act (FCA), a Civil War-era statute, has seen significant developments in recent times. This act, once chiefly associated with dealing with defense and other government contractors, now extends its scope far beyond those particular sectors due to a series of amendments. Enforced by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and qui tam…
Nebraska has revamped its financial legal landscape by implementing a new licensing requirement specific to small-dollar loans. The state governor, Jim Pillen, assented to Legislative Bill 92 on June 6, 2023, enacting it into law with effect from June 7, 2023. As per the amendments, the Nebraska Installment Loan Act now incorporates specifications regarding entities…
In a Thursday letter, federal prosecutors countered arguments made by Harvard Law School professor emeritus Laurence Tribe and Sam Bankman-Fried’s attorneys who were advocating against the detention of Bankman-Fried, the FTX founder. The prosecutors urged a Manhattan federal judge to uphold the detention, asserting that it did not violate Bankman-Fried’s constitutional rights. Assistant U.S. attorney…
The previous week’s litigation in London was marked by a flurry of legal activity. Law firm Hugh James instigated legal actions against Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP due to the guidance it provided to a medical group involved in a case over non-medical-grade silicone implants[1]. In more international news, Panasonic has lodged a patent claim against…
Last week, the legal scene in London was abuzz with several noteworthy cases. These included a dispute between Hugh James law firm and Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP, a patent claim by Panasonic against Chinese companies Xiaomi and Oppo, and collapsed law firm Carillion’s lawsuit against the U.K. government and three partners from PwC. Hugh James,…
The topic of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Management Directive 715 (MD-715) is both important and complex. Government agencies must rigorously prepare their annual filings for the EEOC MD-715, in conjunction with their regular self-assessments to locate and remove any potential barriers obstructing equal employment opportunity. This process has taken on even greater significance following…
In a significant legal motion, 21 Democratic Attorneys General (AGs) have intervened in the conversation surrounding the degree of free communication permissible between the U.S. government and social media platforms. These AGs have filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, asking the Court to overturn a preliminary injunction…
In a recent ruling by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), staking rewards from certain cryptocurrencies are to be considered taxable income. This extends to taxpayers using a cash method of accounting who receive additional units of a cryptocurrency because of their staking activities. Under the new guidelines, these taxpayers must now include the fair market…
The Canadian federal government has officially published a template to guide employers in the preparation of mandatory employment statement. This follows changes to the Canada Labour Code and its regulations that were implemented on July 9, 2023. These amendments necessitate federal Crown corporations and federally-regulated employers operating within the private sector to provide a written…
The aviation industry is on the brink of a significant transformation. Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), an umbrella term for a next-generation air transportation method for both people and cargo, is in the spotlight as it promises a sustainable way forward in the field. This new tech-driven leap is powered by emerging, innovative technologies. This article…
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has overturned a lower court’s ruling this week that had temporarily blocked enforcement of Guam’s in-person, informed consent law for abortion access. The law had previously allowed Hawaii physicians to remotely administer prescriptions for medicinal abortions via telemedicine. The Ninth Circuit vacated the lower court’s…
According to recent reports, William Hochul has announced his decision to step down from his position as the general counsel of Delaware North, a private food service and hospitality firm based in Western New York. His departure will become effective on August 15, as stated by the company. Hochul, married to New York Governor Kathy…
On August 3, 2023, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced the release of the much-anticipated Pre-enforcement Notice and Conciliation Procedures Final Rule, perhaps better known within the industry as the “PDN Rule”. The news of the rule’s release carries particular significance for legal professionals with clients or interests in the areas of…
In a move poised to enhance the safety of pipelines and underground natural gas operations nationwide, the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) declared on Aug. 2, 2023, the awarding of $64.4 million in grants to the states. Details of the development were recently released by the law firm McGuireWoods…
As with any public sector entity, local and state government bodies are increasingly grappling with the demands of managing eDiscovery in response to Access Requests and Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs). Evidently, sizable data management challenges coincide. State and local groups generate and store copious volumes of data, spread across a myriad of departments, committees…
Legal professionals should be aware that on October 4, 2023, at 2:20 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). A test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) will kick off two minutes…
Amid ongoing social unrest over a military coup that took place last week, the UK announced on Thursday that it would reduce the number of staff at its embassy in Niger. This move echoes the actions of other nations such as the United States and several European Union states, all of which have also chosen…
According to a recent report released by Human Rights Watch (HRW), Zimbabwe authorities have come under fire for their inability to guarantee a free and fair electoral process in the impending general election on August 23. The report emerged from a two-week-long investigation, involving interviews with representatives from the main opposition party, election observer groups,…