A group of US-based Chinese nationals earlier this month accused Paul Hastings LLP of not registering as a foreign agent, however, their suit was thrown out. The defendants, represented by law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, subsequently requested over $327,000 in attorneys’ fees. The plaintiffs, in response, have asserted that this request is both…
Legal professionals in corporations and law firms will want to pay close attention to recent cases in sales tax law. A summary of sales tax cases has been compiled by the TiNY Blog for the week of March 25, 2021 and has surfaced some interesting outcomes that may have implications on how multinational corporations navigate…
The Supreme Court of Vanuatu, in a decision presided by Judge Edwin Goldsbrough, has ruled that Vanuatu’s opposition party won a no-confidence motion against incumbent Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau. The verdict came on the heels of an initial ruling by the Parliament speaker, who concluded that the motion fell short, as it had not achieved…
In the second quarter of 2023, global antitrust enforcement maintained a consistent presence, specifically in the technology domain. As per recent reports, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) have announced a series of proposed guidelines that primarily focus on the technology mergers happening within the country. Simultaneously, major tech deal…
In a recent update, The United Nations (UN) published an electronic version of the tenth revision (Rev 10) of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), as noted by Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The document was made available free of charge for consultation purposes, dated July 27, 2023. This iteration brings…
On August 23, 2023, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued its final guidance, a noteworthy shift in policy that endeavors to implement the Build America, Buy America (BABA) provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Hogan Lovells, a multinational legal practice, delivered a detailed examination of these developments. The…
Following a blend of intense negotiations, legal discourse, and regulatory scrutiny, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has arrived at a consent order poised to quell antitrust concerns revolving around a proposed $5.2 billion cash-and-stock deal. This deal puts private equity firm, Quantum Energy Partners, in line to become one of the largest shareholders of natural…
The Biden administration issued a keenly awaited executive order on August 9th concerning US outbound investment in selected technology and products with national security applications produced by “countries of concern.” Named Executive Order 14105 (EO), it was introduced in tandem with an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) from the US Department of the Treasury….
The Federal Government of Canada has made clear its regulatory intentions over electricity in its newly-drafted Clean Electricity Regulations. Published on August 10, 2023, the draft outlines the government’s plan to mandate a net-zero emissions power grid by 2035. The announcement, as expected, has generated a mix of anticipation and concern across various sectors within…
When addressing the complex issue of pay equity, one cannot overlook the significant steps taken by the European Union and Canada in fostering an equitable work environment. Key legislation in these regions, such as the EU Pay Transparency Directive and the Canadian Pay Equity Act, are making strides in closing the gender pay gap, setting…
In an episode continuing to unfold, South Korean police arrested a notable number of protesters demonstrating outside the Japanese embassy. The issue at stake lies in the contentious decision by the Japanese government to dispose of treated radioactive water resulting from the 2011 Fukushima disaster into the ocean. All eyes have been on this act…
In the current digital age, we are seeing an interesting interplay between federal contractors and social media platforms (SPMs). While these platforms can offer entertainment and social connection, they can also pose unique legal challenges, particularly for federal contractors. Notably, in late 2022, as part of a larger budget bill, Congress passed the ‘No TikTok…
In recent years, nonpracticing entities have become increasingly active at the U.S. International Trade Commission. In fact, they have been responsible for bringing about a record 32% of Section 337 Investigations in 2022. This rise can be traced back to when Congress amended Section 337 in 1988. The amendments specifically allowed intellectual property rights-holders that…
Montana Attorney General, Austin Knudsen, is mounting a defensive campaign in support of a recently enacted Montana statute. This new state law places significant restrictions on TikTok, the popular social media platform, irrespective of its wide recognition for its entertaining short-form videos cherished across the globe. The law specifically obstructs TikTok’s operation within the state,…
In a recent episode of the ILN-telligence podcast, Henrique Lopes, a partner at KLA Advogados, the International Lawyers Network’s (ILN) member firm for Brazil, discussed various important aspects of the contemporary legal landscape. Find the full podcast here. Throughout the podcast, Lopes, along with the host Lindsay, deep-dived into the generational shifts in the legal…
The annual conference of the International Legal Technology Association, ILTACON 2023, reaffirmed its place as a leading legal tech conference. Due to its distinctly large and spread-out setting, it was described by attendees as more of a marathon than a sprint. This year’s ILTACON took place in an activity space of 431,000 square feet in…
In the latest developments in the realm of financial regulation, significant progress is being made to address issues relevant to small businesses. The U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship conducted a field hearing in Berlin, Maryland on August 23, 2023, focused on fostering small business resiliency, essentially referring to the ability of businesses…
Over the past half-decade, an uptick in lawsuits asserting claims under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) has been noticed in the State of Illinois. In particular, around 1,500 such legal actions have been initiated. The BIPA, at its core, prescribes regulations for the collection, use, and handling of biometric identifiers by private entities…
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has become an increasingly significant venue for the resolution of intellectual property disputes. On September 13, 2023, at 1:00 PM (EDT), Directors Uma N. Everett, Paul A. Ainsworth, and Josephine Kim will offer a webinar titled “Strategic Use of the ITC as a Complainant”. During this webinar, the trio will…
Douglas Clark, the former head of global disputes practice at U.K. intellectual property firm Rouse, is slated to join Hong Kong’s independent law firm Tanner De Witt. Come September 1, he is set to commence his role as a partner, with plans to build its intellectual property practice whilst assisting in the expansion of its…
McDermott Will & Emery, renowned for its comprehensive global services, has recently embraced Dechert M&A attorney Howard Kleinman into its transactions group. The firm disclosed this in a formal announcement made on Thursday. Mr. Kleinman brings rich expertise attained over 14½ years at Dechert. A significant portion of his practice is centered on Latin America,…
In recent developments, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has once again called into question the legitimacy of a union claiming to represent cannabis industry workers. Legal professionals tracking the evolving landscape of cannabis regulation will be interested in monitoring what effect, if any, this challenge may have on labor relations in this burgeoning industry. The…
A recent survey conducted on large U.K. law firms revealed that a majority of them expects the advent of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to lessen their dependence on the billable hour system. In the survey, 26 law firms were asked if they thought that GenAI technology would lead to reduced reliance on billable hours. Out…
Insider trading is a criminal act that does not spare even the most prestigious of professionals. This was reiterated when a former attorney from Top 10 Biglaw firm, Romera Cabral Da Costa Neto, found himself at the center of an insider trading scandal. The 33-year-old Brazilian started working as a visiting attorney at Gibson Dunn…
The legal field is not immune to the overwhelming influence of technology. In particular, artificial intelligence (AI) is causing quite a stir. Indeed, legal organizations are seemingly eager to implement AI in their work, despite a lack of fundamental understanding of the technology’s capabilities. This phenomenon was noted during the International Legal Technology Association’s 2023…