The labyrinth of employer diversity programs seized the legal limelight with the Supreme Court’s Students for Fair Admissions decision. Ever since, corporate legal teams have been grappling with the potential challenges posed to their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) policies and programs. Given the recent spate of litigation in the sector, this trend of legal…
Pursuant to Louisiana’s medical marijuana law, commonly known as the “Alison Neustrom Act” or simply the “Act”, both physicians and patients now face novel legal situations. Under the purview of this Act, Louisiana physicians who are registered with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners are allowed to recommend certain forms of cannabis for therapeutic…
In a recent court decision that may impact the way corporations manage insolvency procedures, an appeals court has declared that chapter 5 avoidance actions are considered part of a debtor’s bankruptcy estate. These actions can be sold in section 363 sales according to the case of In re Simply Essentials, LLC, No. 22-2011, 2023 U.S….
California is renowned for its progressive stance concerning employee rights, with the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) traditionally considered one of the most employee-friendly civil rights laws in the country. The law’s latest amendment signifies further progression, promising to reshape the professional landscape, as it extends FEHA liability to involve “institutional agents” of…
In a recent decision on August 23, 2023, The Delaware Court of Chancery addressed an issue of poorly drafted contracts in the case, Frontline Technologies Parent LLC et al. v. Brian Murphy et al. The case, as pronounced by the court, is described as a “textbook example of why parties should ensure their contracts say…
In an ongoing legal dispute, Apple Inc. has requested that a federal judge levy sanctions against law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, as well as the individual attorneys involved. This comes in response to their perceived inaction regarding what has been described as “the most consequential email you can get from a client”….
With India’s lunar south pole landing via Chandrayaa-3, the space race has surged ahead, achieving further strides and international attention. The feat has launched India into an ‘exclusive club of moon landers,’ joining the United States, China and Russia. As noted by Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, governments are increasingly diverting significant funds into their…
In a new development, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced this morning a selection of prescribed drugs that will be subject to price negotiation. This declaration signifies the first instance the agency has revealed such a list. The move comes as part of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation program….
Building a diverse, talented, and balanced team isn’t easy. It becomes even more challenging when it involves a large legal firm with over 601 attorneys. However, according to Law360’s Women in Law pipeline score methodology, one Biglaw firm stands apart from the others. The evaluative method takes into consideration how well firms are keeping pace…
Federal Judge M. Casey Rodgers has requested to understand the extent to which outside investors backing lawsuits will benefit from a $6 billion settlement established for military veterans who were injured by faulty earplugs manufactured by 3M Co. The disclosure came on the heels of 3M Co.’s announcement of a settlement to resolve the countless…
Auto insurers are frequently requested by their insured parties and third-party claimants to compensate for what is commonly referred to as “diminished value” damages linked to automobile accidents. Broadly speaking, “diminished value” signifies the loss of a damaged vehicle’s market value due to an accident. In various parts of the United States, the subject of…
In recent years, in-house legal counsel have been increasingly implementing strict and often intricate “billing guidelines” for outside counsel. These guidelines, often comprehensive and complex, are designed to help clients maintain control over legal spend, but many observe it as merely another layer of administrative red tape that delays payments. With a growing burden of…
As per a recent ruling by a panel of California’s Court of Appeal, employers in the state are now required to reimburse workers for expenses incurred due to COVID work-from-home arrangements. These expenses include, but may not be limited to, Internet access, telephone service, a headset, as well as computing necessities and associated accessories. This…
On August 23, 2023, an announcement by the U.S. Department of Commerce sent ripples through the solar sector. Their publication disclosed final affirmative circumvention determinations on solar products originating from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Predominantly, these findings aligned with those issued in a set of preliminary determinations from December 2022. This decision by Commerce…
On August 21, the U.S. Supreme Court declined a plea from West Virginia Attorney General (AG) Patrick Morrisey and 26 fellow state AGs to partake in oral arguments in the case of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) v. Community Financial Services Association of America. The request was made by a primarily Republican group of state…
The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) recently unveiled the fifth phase of updates to the FFIEC Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) Examination Manual (the Manual) on August 2, 2023. As outlined in a report by Perkins Coie, although the Manual is not explicitly intended as guidance for the banking industry, it offers critical insight…
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…