The ongoing pandemic has triggered a different set of concerns for law firms and in-house legal departments. One of these issues centers on nurturing relationships with ‘Zoom Associates,’ the new cadre of legal practitioners who have onboarded and are operating in a substantially remote work environment. Certain partners have expressed dissatisfaction with the current skill…
A recent court decision against Robinhood, the popular stock trading platform, may trigger compliance issues for financial service providers globally. While details on the implications of the ruling are still emerging, it’s clear that the landscape of regulatory compliance could be reshaped significantly. This recently-published piece enlightens us on the verdict’s potential impact. The ruling…
The renowned French law firm, Moncey, has recently attracted high-profile talent into its ranks by hiring veteran Linklaters partner, Fabrice de La Morandière. The legal jungernaut, known for his extensive industry experience and expertise, had previously operated at Linklaters for a noteworthy 22-year tenure. During this period, Morandière led the private equity practice and functioned…
A recent legal development casts an interesting light on the procedure colloquially known as the “expert hot tub.” Broadly defined, this term refers to an in-court, on-the-record “debate” between dueling expert witnesses, involving the direct participation of the court, parties, and the experts themselves in questioning roles. Particularly prevalent in antitrust class action practices, these…
The case of In re Cellect (Fed. Cir. 2023) may raise some eyebrows among legal professionals. A recent decision by the Federal Circuit has delved into an issue that has been left open for quite some time. This involves the judicially created doctrine of obviousness-type double patenting (ODP). The court has now shed light on…
Law firms across the globe are grappling with an increasingly contentious issue: employee monitoring. In the pursuit of efficiency and productivity, firms are adopting technologies to track virtually every aspect of their staff’s workaday lives; from badge swipes to keystrokes. The debate around these practices is heating up, with critics arguing the intrusion into personal…
In what continues to be a barrage of patent infringement lawsuits, Tesla once again finds itself defendant for the third consecutive month, with the latest action filed on August 4, 2023. Graphite Charging Company LLC, the entity responsible for the recent lawsuit, submitted the action in the Western District of Texas. This is the latest…
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has recently passed a verdict decertifying a class of stockholders who had made allegations against Goldman Sachs. They claimed that the banking giant was maintaining an inflated share price by resorting to misrepresentations about its business principles and its policies related to conflicts-of-interest. The case…
The California Department of Insurance (CDI) issued a bulletin on August 23, 2023, to insurers and brokers who are involved in selling long-term care (LTC) insurance in California. According to the bulletin, the CDI is worried about certain complaints received concerning marketing strategies aimed at encouraging Californian residents to buy LTC insurance prior to the…
The ever-changing landscape of employment law continues to be a fascinating subject for our legal community. One of the current hot topics in this realm includes the recent developments in the United Kingdom’s employment laws, particularly focusing on the Flexible Working regime. With the Royal Assent of the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill 2023 on…
In an unexpected development, the Ninth Circuit has once again revised its opinion in the Wit v. United Behavioral Health case. Affirming its prior ruling that denied motion to vacate and superseding its prior Wit Opinion, the federal appellate court has been persistent in its adaptations. This index case involves patients struggling with mental health…
In an intriguing examination of the generational gap between partners and associates in Big Law, a recent article expands this conversation to show that the issue is considerably larger and more complex. The article, written by Dan Packel, Editor at Law.com, delves into the rising frustrations between the groups and the possible implications for the…
In an important development in the field of consumer privacy, the state of Oregon has enacted the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act (OCPA). As per this recent legislation, signed off by Governor Tina Kotek on July 18, 2023, Oregon now joins the states of California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Iowa, Indiana, Tennessee, Montana, Florida, and Texas…
In a recent ruling, the Federal Court of Appeal in Canada upheld Health Canada’s decision to label the Thrive Premium Lifestyle Derma Fusion Technology Patch (the Patch) a Natural Health Product (NHP). This appeal was made by Le-Vel Brands, LLC against The Attorney General Of Canada, and has significant implications for the classification of such…
In a recent piece by Michael Lehet, he sheds light on the integral role of knowledge management attorneys within law firms, providing insight into the common duties they perform and offering valuable advice for those considering this career path. Knowledge management attorneys work in a complex and ever-evolving area of legal practice. Engaged in the…
A recent study published by the Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A journal, an affiliated journal of the International Society for Mycotoxicology, may alter how legal professionals and others perceive the use of different types of straws for drinking. The study, titled “Steel Beats Glass and Plastic, All Beat Paper:” investigates the prevalence of Per-…
If you’ve been keeping tabs on the advancements in the realm of Generative AI, you’d know that the terrain has been in a constant state of upheaval since the public release of ChatGPT 3.5 on November 30, 2022. Navigating this exhilarating but often overwhelming landscape could be a bit of a challenge for legal professionals….
In an important recent development, a federal court has issued an order imposing an injunction that postpones the compliance dates for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) final rule. This rule governs the collection of small business lending data under Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). This…
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of the Treasury recently unveiled final regulations pertaining to the low-income community bonus credit, defined as the “Low-Income Community Bonus Credit Rules,” according to an announcement by Foley & Lardner LLP. These regulations stem from section 48(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”). Established…
The Garden State has recently taken significant steps towards regulating credit card surcharges. On August 18, 2023, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed into law a notable bill imposing limits on the surcharges merchants may charge their customers for choosing the option of credit card payment for goods or services.JD Supra provides an in-depth analysis…
An important development for environmental law professionals, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Corps of Engineers have issued a pre-Federal Register publication final rule on August 29th revising the definition of ‘waters of the United States’ (‘WOTUS’) under the Clean Water Act. This rule is a response to the United…
Concerns about potential risks to client confidentiality and privacy when using public artificial intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT led Australian law firm Allens to develop an alternative. Last year, the firm decided on a hands-on approach to understand generative AI better: to utilise it internally. Rather than resorting to public AI, Allens opted to create its…
In the realm of corporate law, protecting employee whistleblowers has become a highly significant issue, particularly in regions where such protections are still developing. Looking at the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for instance, some whistleblower protections have already been established, and more are in the pipeline. According to Ius Laboris, while the landscape of whistleblower…
Health Canada has recently published guidance distinguishing between advertising and non-advertising activities for health products. The newly released documents clarify the often ambiguous field of health product promotions, and could have a substantial impact on both marketing and legal departments of corporations operating in this sector. Promotional messages and activities regarding a health product, as…
In the realm of legal decisions and court cases of major corporations, the past week has seen a plethora of significant rulings. From consumer misrepresentation cases to broader issues of labeling instructions, decision-makers across geographies are navigating through intricate jurisprudence. Here’s a quick roundup of some of the prime legal pronouncements. One of the key…