In July, just before lawmakers went on summer break, the French Senate passed a bill that would extend legal professional privilege to written advice provided by in-house counsel. It’s worth noting that this legal shield will only apply to advice pertaining to commercial, civil, and administrative legal matters. However, before it can come into effect,…
Google’s chief legal officer, Kent Walker, has found himself under the spotlight due to a recent trial, as noted in a report from Law.com. Known for his high-powered position amongst American lawyers and his inherently reputable persona, Walker may be the archetype of the legal professional, as per a profile in The New York Times….
When you’re an in-house counsel at a bustling corporation, daily routine responsibilities might push personal and professional growth to the back-burner. However, regardless of how hectic the year has been, personal development remains an essential aspect of career growth, and it’s never too late to invest time in yourself. Here, we highlight ten ways in…
Artificial Intelligence – a term that has become commonplace today in the corporate lexicon. While much literature exists about AI, a fundamental question remains: what exactly is AI? And, more significantly for our audience, how does it impact the legal sphere and its multifaceted sub-fields, such as the insurance industry? As per a piece originally…
In the light of recent developments and court decisions, holders of patents need to reassess their patent strategy. The crucial case of In re Cellect signals an important shift, where granted patents could potentially be at risk of facing Post-Grant Double Patenting challenges. These challenges may result in the loss of the patent altogether or…
On September 8, 2023, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) released a second round of audits for the year. In this round, the OFCCP listed 1,000 establishments specifically for supply and service federal contractors. These entities are the next to receive advance audit notices, otherwise known as Corporate Scheduling Announcement Letters (CSALs). The…
In recent years, corporate in-house counsel has grappled with the complexities and challenges of joint-defense and common-interest agreements when companies become the subject of government investigations. These situations often involve a government subpoena requiring an employee to provide testimony, resulting in the employee retaining separate legal counsel to engage with the government under a proffer…
Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC is presently embroiled in a legal struggle aiming to bar a legal team from representing a Nevada-based toy manufacturer that, in 2020, initiated a lawsuit against Sony in a California federal court for purported contract violations. At the heart of Sony’s claim is the assertion that the lawyers in question had…
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…
On 26 June 2023, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) unveiled its first two standards- IFRS S1 and IFRS S2. Culminating a long-awaited juncture for global firms, these standards serve to harmonise disclosure requirements related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. As detailed on JD Supra, the IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 standards draw…
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) has been a long-anticipated legislation, and now, after its enforcement on June 27, 2023, employers are provided with some much-needed guidance. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on August 11, 2023, aimed at implementing this key law. JdSupra reports that, following this announcement,…
Providing clarity on patient rights for informed consent in clinical investigations, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued its final guiding document as of August 15, 2023. Titled ‘Informed Consent: Guidance for IRBs, Clinical Investigators, and Sponsors’ (final guidance), this decisive documentation finalizes, with new examples and minuscule updates and alterations, the FDA’s…
In a significant proposal from the US Department of Labor, the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) may undergo a critical adjustment, looking to increase the white-collar exemption salary threshold for employees to qualify as exempt. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, announced on August 30, 2023, outlines this considerable boost, which elevates the cap from $35,568…
In a recent case, a Minnesota bankruptcy court made a significant ruling that is of particular consequence to legal professionals dealing with franchise law. The court granted Fantastic Sams, a well-known hair salon franchise, a preliminary injunction against a former franchisee. The plaintiff was operating four new hair salons, which the court found to be…
On September 1, 2023, a notable data breach occurred at ACSO of Texas, L.P., trading as Advance America. The company filed a notice of data breach after realizing an unauthorized entity had gained access to confidential consumer information within its IT network. This breach impacted 278,491 Advance America customers in Texas, marking a significant violation…
High profile business litigations and the success of small e-discovery cases often involve fascinating interplays of various complex legal strategies. This September provides an excellent opportunity to delve into these intricate relationships, as ACEDS Advisory Board Members are scheduled to analyse the Sedona small law firm guide to e-discovery on the 15th, at 2:00 pm…
Work for Elon Musk: opportunity of a lifetime or accelerated path to gray hairs? It’s a thought-provoking question for attorneys, considering the innovative brilliance and sometimes perplexing mannerisms of the billionaire mogul. Musk’s dynamism propels some of the world’s most avant-garde companies, a characteristic that aspirant in-house counsel might find irresistible. But this comes with…
In-house counsel are taking a proactive approach as they stand at the forefront of addressing how to engage with emerging artificial intelligence (AI). Recognizing how they can benefit from AI while being aware of and mitigating against potential legal pitfalls these new technologies may create has become a critical area of focus for legal practitioners….
Above the Law annually publishes a comprehensive report about in-house lawyers’ compensation. As a part of this annual custom, it is once again time to collect data for this year’s report. If you are an in-house attorney interested in participating, you are kindly requested to contribute by completing a brief, completely anonymous survey. Central to…
In a notable decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has reviewed the application of the Contract Disputes Act’s (“CDA”) requirement for claims to state a “sum certain”. The case, ECC Int’l Constructors, LLC v. Sec’y of Army, No. 2021-2323, 2023 WL 5355302 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 22, 2023), posed vital questions regarding…
A recent survey indicates a significant discrepancy in the expectations for contract turnaround times within corporate legal departments in Latin America, potentially raising tensions among business sectors. The study was conducted by ODDS Legal, a consultancy for legal operations. The survey involved interviewing 72 in-house counsels from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Spain….
In an intriguing shift away from conventional thinking, there has been recent discussion concerning product liability lawsuits pertaining to surgical robots. While it’s common to envision liability suits from patients after unsuccessful operations, it’s considerably less common to consider potential claims from healthcare providers over injuries sustained while operating these technological wonders. Shook, Hardy &…
In an effort to enhance corporate governance norms and ensure fair market practices, both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq have mandated that issuers must adopt compliant clawback policies by December 1, 2023. This pertinent development, recognized in a recent write-up by Snell & Wilmer, necessitates immediate attention from corporations and law firms…
In reaction to heightened client demand for counsel on issues such as white-collar investigations, competition, litigation, and other compliance concerns, Stephenson Harwood has convened a multidisciplinary compliance team based in its Paris office. The composition of the team combines both existing lawyers from Stephenson Harwood and distinguished recruits from external institutions, including a compliance specialist…
Reaching the role of general counsel (GC) has traditionally been seen as the pinnacle of accomplishment for in-house attorneys not looking to transition into other C-suite positions. This notion, however, is gradually shifting with a growing trend of GC roles paving the way for a special adviser position within the corporation. Seen as a strategic…