In a recent development, the Delaware Supreme Court ruled that there must be a manifestation of physical harm for a claim to be made for an increased risk of illness under Delaware law. This ruling only sharpens Delaware’s stance on medical monitoring claims, making it stand apart from its neighboring states. In a case identified…
Recent developments in trademark law in China have brought good news for international corporations and law firms. One of China’s largest regulatory bodies, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), has announced important amendments to Chinese Trademark Law. Of particular note is a significant shift in review, accepting, and filing procedures, which will notably impact…
As of January, William Peake, an Irish litigator who transferred to the Cayman Islands early in his professional journey, now carries the responsibility of the global managing partner at offshore firm Harneys. At 45 years of age, Peake is juggling the task of unifying a diverse firm culture across Harneys’ 11 offices located throughout the…
Friday evening marked a significant occasion for the African legal community, as professionals from various countries and fields convened for the African Legal Awards 2023. Although the full range of achievements and details of the event are locked behind a paywall, the occasion serves as a testament to the strides being made within the African…
In a recent incident highlighting transparency concerns surrounding corporate donations, the University of Toronto law faculty has decided to return a substantial monetary gift from major multinational company Amazon.com Inc.. The undisclosed $450,000 donation, purposed for the research and discussion of antitrust issues, was obtained privately. This situation has led to the emergence of crucial…
As geopolitical tension rises and the US continues to expand its sanctions, the national agencies are intensifying their resources and attention on the investigation of possible sanctions violations. The primary focus of these investigations covers dealings associated with Russia, China, and Iran. For this reason, companies must understand the investigative procedures undertaken by both the…
Miguel Zaldivar has been re-elected as Chief Executive Officer of Hogan Lovells for a further four-year term. Zaldivar, who has held the role since 2020, successfully navigated the firm through the pandemic to achieve record-breaking financial results just a year into his tenure. In a statement, Marie-Aimée de Dampierre, a Hogan IP partner and board…
Frequent power outages in recent years have led President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to propose a national referendum on the construction of a Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Kazakhstan. He made the announcement on September 1 during an address to the nation. The President argued that the country’s recent electricity problems, such as those experienced in Almaty…
On a notable day in court, the convictions of a former 21st Century Fox television executive and an Argentine sports marketing company were vacated by a Brooklyn federal judge in the FIFA corruption investigation. Interestingly, the decision is rooted in recent U.S. Supreme Court precedent which places foreign commercial bribery outside the scope of federal…
K&L Gates has recently expanded its Hong Kong team with the addition of Paul Haswell, a technology-focused partner from Seyfarth Shaw. Haswell, who has now become the 19th partner at K&L Gates’ Hong Kong unit, is expected to enrich the firm’s abilities in handling tech-related legal matters. While extensive details about Paul Haswell’s new role…
Offshore law firm Appleby continues to deepen its presence in the Asia-Pacific region with the recent addition of corporate M&A and private equity partner Hannah Yao to its Shanghai office, marking the firm’s first ever partner hire in the city. Yao, who has a background in both U.S. and Chinese law, was previously counsel at…
International law firm Jones Day has recently expanded its Asia Pacific energy practice amid a wave of significant hires. The hires include Simon Brown, former Ashurst partner, who is now joining the firm’s Brisbane office, and Paul Greening, previously associated with Akin Gump, who is moving to Jones Day’s Singapore office. The addition of these…
Nishimura & Asahi, the largest law firm in Japan by headcount, has significantly changed its ownership structure, granting foreign-qualified lawyers the legal ability to serve as equity partners with management rights. The firm inaugurated its foreign law joint enterprise structure on September 4 and is now operating as Nishimura & Asahi (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo). Fascinatingly,…
Herbert Smith Freehills has augmented its Asia private capital team, bringing Peiwen Chen on board from White & Case in Singapore. Chen was previously a local partner at White & Case and will join Herbert Smith Freehills as a partner. Simultaneously, the firm has arranged for the relocations of its Sydney-based M&A partner, Malika Chandrasegaran,…
Georgia’s governing party, Georgian Dream, has commenced impeachment procedures against President Salome Zourabichvili, citing supposed constitutional violations as justification, as reported by Interpress News. These actions come following Zourabichvili’s decision to disregard warnings from the ruling party by seeking a meeting with the European Council president in Brussels to gain support for Georgia’s assimilation into…
The annual African Legal Awards ceremony is a prominent event in the global legal calendar, recognising the outstanding work conducted by legal professionals across Africa. This year, the awards highlighted both established firms and rising stars, with Webber Wentzel garnering the most accolades. Webber Wentzel, a South African law firm, proved to be the biggest…
Tunisian authorities have placed Abdel Karim Harouni under house arrest. Harouni is the head of the Ennahda party’s advisory council and is a prominent figure within the opposition. The announcement regarding his house arrest came on Saturday, as revealed in a statement by the National Salvation Front, the primary coalition of opposition in Tunisia. Described…
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that 42 bodies were retrieved from the frontlines of the tense conflict in Somaliland. They also disclosed that over 300 detainees have been visited in the region on Thursday to support humanitarian purposes and provide information to their families about their whereabouts. The Red Cross accompanied…
The recent decision by the Russian Ministry of Justice has sparked an international debate, as it has designated Dmitry Muratov, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist, as a ‘foreign agent’. The ministry justified this classification by stating that Muratov “used foreign platforms to disseminate opinions aimed at forming a negative attitude towards the foreign and domestic…
Chongqing, duly recognized as China’s largest city with a staggering 32.12 million residents, has recently taken administrative steps towards fortifying national security. This move was realized through the introduction of a localized Anti-Espionage Regulation on Friday. Given its population size, which is even larger than both Shanghai’s and Beijing’s, Chongqing’s move could potentially influence other…
The latest gathering of the highest legislative body in China, the Fifth Session of the Fourteenth National People’s Congress, concluded recently with some significant changes to existing legislative acts. With 161 members present, the quorum was easily met, facilitating the passage of numerous laws and amendments. Perhaps the most significant legislative outcome of the session…
The complexities of managing international trade items, particularly within the realm of legal and business sectors, are notably extensive. One key component of the trade regulation landscape which professionals from multiple industries should be aware of is the ITAR, or International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Under ITAR, any individual or company situated in the United…
Adherence to compliance procedures in international trade relations is becoming increasingly critical for corporations, particularly in the current geopolitical context. Many companies have found it necessary to reassess their export control compliance procedures, especially with respect to nations such as Russia, China, and Venezuela, which have adversarial or strained relations with the United States. In…
Armenian state news agency Armenpress reported last Friday that the country’s parliament will consider ratifying the Rome Statute. The Rome Statute, the treaty that formed the International Criminal Court (ICC), was signed by Armenia in October 1999, but it has yet to be ratified. In 2004, Armenia’s Constitutional Court ruled that the Rome Statute did…
In the latest episode of the ILN-telligence Podcast, partner at MGRA & Associados, Tiago Dias José, discusses legal trends in Portugal, particularly in real estate and sustainability, and the favorable business environment in the country. Full episode available here. Dias José, based in Lisbon, Portugal, works primarily in the realm of public law. His contributions…