As 2023 approaches, compliance with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is becoming a critical priority for financial institutions and businesses subject to its oversight. This is especially true considering the increasingly active role that OFAC is playing in managing financial transactions between U.S. and foreign entities. This enforcement is keyed towards safeguarding national…
Compliance professionals worldwide should take note of the latest edition of Compliance Notes from Nossaman’s Government Relations & Regulation Group. This periodic digest touches on an array of legal matters that are pivotal for those maneuvering in the labyrinth of modern corporate regulation. Within the notable headlines, statutory alterations, regulatory adjustments, and court rulings discussed,…
In a recent development, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted new rules targeting private fund managers. The regulations tackle issues concerning the preferential treatment of investors, a subject previously dealt with by the EU Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD). Goodwin law firm provides in-depth discussions on these topics. The SEC’s updated guidelines…
The much-anticipated Financial Promotions Gateway has officially become law. This transition is part of a large-scale alteration currently taking place in the UK’s financial promotions regime. This key change, along with other ongoing revisions, has been discussed in a previous article authored by Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. As the financial promotions gateway progresses from promise…
In recent news, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, in conjunction with international data protection authorities, has made a collective call to websites and social media platforms, urging them to bolster efforts to protect personal information from unlawful data scratching. This was revealed in a joint statement issued by these authorities. As the cyberspace landscape continues…
In a recent development, Corp Fin has issued a sample comment letter to corporations regarding their eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) disclosures. This move can be seen as an attempt to streamline the process of understanding and maintaining consistency in these specific types of corporate disclosures. For some background, XBRL is the open international standard…
In recent weeks, noteworthy developments have showcased the breadth of the UK Government’s capabilities in terms of sanctions-related powers. The changes underline the UK’s mission to demonstrate not only the robustness of its sanctions, but also an enforcement-centered focus. As outlined in an article by Allen & Overy LLP, the UK Government is moving decisively…
As an entrepreneur embarking on your startup journey, it is paramount to understand that transforming innovation into a successful business can be an intimidating ordeal. However, an expert panel at the 2023 BIO International Convention has shown light on the intricate challenges and solutions that can guide you on your way. This esteemed panel comprised…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on August 4, 2023, its recent efforts to provide resources to biotechnology developers so as to optimize the use of exemptions available under the Plant Incorporated Protectants (PIP) exemption rule. This announcement, with further details documented here, signifies a measure to potentially improve the accessibility and application of…
In recent discussions around corporate law and compliance, the hosting of hotlines for identifying compliance issues is attracting significant attention. A thought-provoking article published on JDSupra by the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics considers the matter. According to this piece, hotlines serve as a critical tool for uncovering compliance issues alongside a host of…
Corporations around the globe, particularly those operative within the domain of worldwide investing, may find themselves confronted by a new set of challenges brought about by the EU’s recently implemented environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure rules. These guidelines have been designed to enhance awareness of investors, stakeholders, and securities regulators alike. However, the fragmented…
In a recent legal development, Estlund Law successfully secured the removal of a red notice by INTERPOL for one of its clients, Derek Ong. This case draws international attention due to Ong’s former executive position at Deutsche Bank and the long-standing dispute between Deutsche Bank and South Korea. According to the report by JD Supra…
In a strategic move reflecting redistributions within the legal industry, leading international and domestic law firms are strengthening their team formations across Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. These recruitments have seen firms enhancing their competencies in core areas such as banking & finance, construction, and dispute resolution. Notably, Angelia Kodama has taken major strides with…
In the realm of commercial transactions, the role of standby letters of credit has experienced a notable evolution. These documents, once primarily tools to facilitate international commercial transactions involving the sale of goods, have now become a preferred form of collateral in a diverse array of commercial deals. Traditionally, the commercial letter of credit served…
On August 25, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) accepted an Offer of Settlement from 3M Company (“3M”), an international conglomerate, in response to alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act’s (“FCPA”) books and records and internal accounting control provisions (§§ 13(b)(2)(A) – (B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). 3M did…
The Spanish law firm, Garrigues, has expanded their team with a new partner in Lisbon. João Lima Cluny, formerly of Morais Leitão, will lead the firm’s criminal law and internal investigations service. Hitherto, such cases in Portugal were handled by Garrigues’s dispute resolution team. The identity of the criminal law and internal investigations practice in…
Reputable international law firm White & Case has announced the addition of two seasoned lawyers, José Antonio de la Calle and Sanna Orkan, in its newly launched antitrust practice in Spain. The Madrid office of White & Case is set to serve as the new home for the duo, who had previously operated a unique…
Legal professionals tend to immerse themselves in fact-based realities; operations, regulations, and codes of conduct are all grounded in hard-set truths. Yet, every once in a while, a dip into the world of legal fiction can offer an intriguing perspective on “alternative” legal practice who push the boundaries far beyond what any ethical committee would…
In stark contrast to U.S. norms, international privacy watchdogs have issued calls to social media behemoths to shield their users’ publicly available information from web-scraping, a widely-employed commercial practice in the United States. In other jurisdictions, this can be tantamount to a reportable data breach. These concerns are echoed in Britain, particularly. “Social media companies…
There have been a number of U.S. sanctions and restrictions sustained on Ethiopia and Eritrea due to their incomplete execution of the peace agreement made with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front in November 2022. The drawn-out contention, marked by repetitive reports of human rights violations in the region, has drawn international attention. While substantial strides…
August 2023 marked another engaging month in the sphere of the International Trade Commission (ITC) law, as a variety of impactful legal developments came to the surface. The month was particularly highlighted by a new complaint filed for a violation of Section 337 in the ITC. The filing was initiated by a single complainant, a…
In a groundbreaking decision issued on August 31, 2023, the Democratic majority of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has broadened the sweep of Section 7 protections under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). This now reaches statutory employees who advocate on behalf of nonemployees. This noteworthy development arose from the case, American Federation for…
In a recent ruling, the Federal Circuit took a novel stance that has jolted the patent law landscape, specifically the strategy surrounding terminal disclaimers. In the case titled In re Cellect, a series of patents were invalidated based on obviousness-type double-patenting (ODP). The ruling found that term-adjusted patents (PTA) in the same family are invalid…
In a significant legal development on June 22, 2023, the Supreme Court issued a 6–3 opinion in the case of Yegiazaryan v. Smagin, establishing that a foreign award creditor can enforce claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) pertaining to the enforcement of an arbitral award granted in the United States read…
The Law Commission of England and Wales has finally concluded its review of the Arbitration Act 1996, ushering in the much-anticipated Arbitration Act 2024. This extensive review process has given rise to numerous potential areas for reform, many of which were highlighted in the International Arbitration Survey 2022. The details of the review and the…