On August 29, 2023, Sovos Compliance, LLC, a third-party service provider, filed a notice of data breach with the California Attorney General on behalf of RoundPoint Mortgage Servicing, LLC. This data breach incident allowed unauthorized parties access to RoundPoint Mortgage customers’ sensitive information. The data breach resulted from an observable security lapse in the MOVEit…
In a recent series of events, we’ve seen significant developments concerning Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency coin mixing service. Previously unheard of in the world of cryptocurrency, two concurrent events – a civil case verdict and subsequent criminal charges – are serving as a stark reminder of the reach of legal authorities in this arena. On…
In a recent decision impacting corporate legal departments and law firms managing large-scale litigation, the Seventh Circuit has ordered a lower court to reconsider the sum of $57.4 million awarded in attorney fees. This significant ruling stems from a case related to alleged price-fixing activities in the broiler chicken market. The pivotal plaintiff involves Tyson…
In a move that captures the attention of international corporations and law firms, the United States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) postponed the enforcement date for organizations to conform with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). Originally slated for November 27, 2023, the enforcement deadline affects drug and device manufacturers, wholesale distributors, dispensers, and…
The California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) has recently laid forth its plans for a meeting scheduled for September 8, during which, a preliminary draft of the Cybersecurity Audit Regulation and a draft Risk Assessment Regulation will be presented. While the introduction of the formal rulemaking process is yet to commence, the current drafts are set…
The United Kingdom’s tax scene continues to evolve with each month, bringing forth a range of noteworthy developments in August 2023. The most recent updates include intriguing rulings from the Upper Tribunal on two substantial questions: loan relationship unallowable purpose test and defining “exceptional circumstances” within the scope of statutory residence test. This summary provides…
In a recent development, The Federal Reserve Board (FRB) issued two sets of regulation and supervision letters concerning their program designed to monitor and regulate novel banking activities. This move had legal professionals within the biggest corporations and law firms speculating about the future implications and application of these guidelines. Welcome to the world of…
Despite considerable progress, gender parity at the upper echelons of the legal industry continues to be a pressing issue. However, certain law firms have made significant strides in shattering the proverbial glass ceiling that hinders women from securing leadership roles. While the journey towards true gender equality within the sector is long and arduous, these…
Driven by changing policies at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that favor the expansion of union activity, the landscape of employee rights and labor relations for major corporations and law firms continues to shift dramatically. The NLRB, under a current democratic majority, has issued new regulations rolling back several Trump-era changes that had previously…
With the turning of the midpoint of 2023, the arena of drug pricing sees an influx of developments. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized its guidance to prepare for unprecedented price negotiations, putting a highlight on the initial 10 drugs covered under the Innovation and Regulatory Affairs (IRA). Meanwhile, the constitutionality of…
Biglaw Chair, Paul Schmidt, has put forth a novel recommendation for law firm partners in an effort to enhance communication with associates – adopt texting and chat mechanisms. Schmidt believes immersing into such platforms, preferred by the younger generation of lawyers, would not only improve interactions but also address some of the distinct generational challenges…
In the realm of law practice, attention often gravitates towards Biglaw, yet it is lesser-known that the overwhelming majority of attorneys are employed in modest-size firms comprising fewer than 20 lawyers. This leaves many of these attorneys left to wonder how their income measures up in comparison to their peers in larger firms whose market…
Numerous restaurants based in Nevada are facing allegations of employment discrimination and harassment, according to a recently filed federal complaint. The suit, initially reported by Law.com Radar, highlights a growing concern over workplace equity and safety within the hospitality industry. Details about the identities of the restaurants involved, the nature of the alleged discriminatory practices,…
In a recent decision by the Federal Circuit, the long-standing practice of adapting terms for patents may be at risk of drastic changes. Specifically, under the doctrine of obviousness-type double patenting (ODP), term-adjusted patents can now be invalidated by earlier-expiring patents in the same patent family. The significant case under discussion is In re Cellect….
For those professionals who couldn’t tune into the highly anticipated Legaltech Week show last Friday, you’ll be relieved to learn that the entire show, featuring key ILTACON takeaways, is now accessible via video. An in-depth post-mortem analysis of the conference was discussed in the hour-long broadcast, providing essential insights for legal practitioners. For those not…
Recent developments have highlighted a delay in the implementation of an important provision of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. The IRS has announced a postponement in the execution of the Roth Catch-Up Contribution Provision for two years. This decision is vital to participants in 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, or governmental 457(b) plans aged 50…
In a significant shift in labor law policy, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) has altered its approach to determining union representation for employees. For close to 90 years, the preference was given to a secret ballot election administered by the NLRB whether employees wanted a union to represent them. This practice was…
The introduction of a heat injury and illness prevention standard, despite being regarded as one of the leading concerns for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), is yet to become a reality. Industry insiders have noted that according to several reports, OSHA has not yet crossed the midway point in the process of establishing…
In new research published by the journal Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology, a team from the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute has investigated the increasing interpretation of diagnostic imaging studies by non-physician practitioners (NPPs), including nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs). Their research builds upon previous work, striving to understand the extent of…
Singapore’s data protection authority published proposed guidelines on the use of personal data within artificial intelligence (AI) systems on July 18, 2023. These guidelines, titled as the Proposed Advisory Guidelines on Use of Personal Data in AI Recommendation and Decision Systems, aim to shed light on how the city-state’s privacy laws will apply to organizations…
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a caution to trademark applicants against ‘spoofed’ calls that impersonate the Office. These calls are a technique employed by phone scammers who are aiming to fool the call recipients into disclosing personal identifying or payment information. The scammers impersonate employees of the USPTO in an…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ), Antitrust Division, have announced they’ll hold a series of workshops to discuss their jointly issued Draft Merger Guidelines in 2023. This is a significant development for legal professionals operating in major law firms and global corporations who constantly navigate through the complexities of mergers and…
The legal sector has frequently deployed various strategies to manage budget and cut costs. These methods often include shifting casework from one law firm to another, transitioning from larger to smaller firms, increasing in-house tasks, and incorporating a wider range of alternative legal service providers. However, one tool which could significantly curb costs and support…
In an increasingly uncertain environment, it seems that the productivity of law firms is facing a downturn. However, the market’s distinctive attributes appear to be preventing widespread layoffs, typically seen as the routine response to such occurrences. Read more about this trend here. Simultaneously, the legal industry is being rattled by a series of lawsuits,…
Legal professionals across the golden state and beyond need to pay careful attention to recent amendments by the California Civil Rights Council. This relates to regulations interpreting California’s 2018 Fair Chance Act, which will fully come into effect on October 1, 2023. A detailed examination can be found at JD Supra. The amendments to the…