Global Atlantic Financial Group (“Global Atlantic”) suffered a data breach at Pensions Benefits Information, LLC, one of its third-party vendors. The breach, related to the MOVEit software system, was announced on August 8, 2023, filling with the Massachusetts Attorney General. Details from the notice provided by Global Atlantic conveyed that an unauthorized party gained access…
Employment on-boarding managers worldwide may have been relieved when the pandemic-induced shift to remote environments led to a modification in existing regulatory protocols accommodating these new realities. One such change has been in the form of a new Form I-9, offering fresh options for employment eligibility verification, albeit with a few conditions. As detailed in…
In recent years, the world of technology has seen an alarming rise in social engineering and fraudulent instruction scams. This steady increase in criminal activity has had far-reaching repercussions for corporations across the globe. However, what has been even more concerning is the seemingly stealth disappearance of coverage for such events. Notably, insurance coverage for…
The legal landscape in corporate America is constantly shifting, with new developments occurring almost daily. One such major development in July revolved around significant movements in employment law at various levels of the American judicial hierarchy. This included updates from both the U.S. Supreme Court and federal courts of appeal. This news was encapsulated and…
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CTFC) has announced the appointment of Tamika Bent, previously a counsel at Linklaters LLP, as the new Chief Counsel to Commissioner Kristin N. Johnson. This development follows a recent trend of corporate legal professionals transitioning to roles within regulatory bodies, where they bring a unique understanding of compliance issues from…
In a closely observed development, the United States Supreme Court recently granted Certiorari, indicating it will consider the particularly significant issue of when federal agencies need to provide for the right to a jury trial in civil enforcement actions. If decided favorably for defendants, the ruling has the potential to alter several enforcement mechanisms employed…
As cybersecurity threats loom increasingly over various sectors, the American Bar Association stands firm, calling upon law firms to enhance their defences against digital intruders. More than just an advisory, the ABA’s House of Delegates approved three resolutions relating to cybersecurity, underscoring the significant role that law firms play in preserving the confidentiality of information…
The dwindling caseload at the U.S. Supreme Court has seen lawyers at major law firms increasingly shift their focus to federal circuit courts. The past term at the Supreme Court saw just 59 cases, a mere fraction of which consisted of the business disputes underpinning the primary revenues for Supreme Court practices at leading firms….
In a notable development, the EU Commission disseminated new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the evening of 2nd August 2023, concerning oil importation activities in the EU’s territorial waters. Two significant FAQs have been released, particularly emphasizing Ship to Ship (STS) operations involving Russian oil and petroleum products. The EU Commission’s new FAQs can be…
The Loren D. Stark Company (LDS), a reputable firm managing retirement accounts, recently reported a data breach incident. The company filed a notice with the Vermont Attorney General on August 4, 2023, acknowledging that it had been the victim of a significant cyberattack. The assailant was reported to have gained unauthorized access to consumers’ confidential…
Law firms including Baker & Hostetler, Seyfarth Shaw, and Shook, Hardy & Bacon have been dealing with a surge in disability suits related to website accessibility, a situation necessitated by a perceived regulatory vacuum. Critics have frequently urged the Department of Justice to enforce technical standards, facilitating website usage for visually impaired individuals who rely…
Recent reports expose a concerning imbalance within the legal profession: while women constitute most law school students, they far from represent the majority of those in leadership roles within corporate organizations and law firms. This sizable gap is more acutely seen in light of the recent Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, which now places…
Every commercial transaction begins with an offer, and understanding the psychology and legal principles behind the formulation of effective offers can have profound impacts on the success of law firms and corporations alike. One powerful concept, drawn from Alex Hormozi’s book, “$100 Million Dollar Offers”, is the “grand slam offer.” Embodying a different approach to…
On a recent development in TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) case law, a district court judge in the Central District of California denied a motion for class certification. This case featured in the proceeding was Wiley v. American Financial Network, Inc. The judge’s decision was reportedly influenced by evidence provided by the defendant, American Financial…
Proving minimum contacts for personal jurisdiction in digital transactions has always been a point of contention in the legal industry. A recent case has brought this issue to the forefront once again. In the case Kendall Hunt Publishing Company v. The Learning Tree Publishing Corporation, Case No. 22-1885, the US Court of Appeals for the…
In contrast to the burgeoning trend within the legal industry, Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP has purportedly chosen not to implement the four days per week in-office work schedule for its attorneys. The shift towards a four-day workweek has been gaining traction amongst numerous law firms globally, a move anticipated to promote work-life balance without…
The U.S Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a final rule, revising its procedures for determining prevailing wages under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA) for the first time in four decades, according to Ballard Spahr LLP. This reinstatement of a three-step process has implications for construction workers and the broader industry. The DBRA requires…
In a world where generative AI is becoming an increasingly fundamental part of the modern economy, it’s not just technologists and innovators who are taking note. The artificial intelligence sector is also under the scrutiny of competition enforcers and consumer protection agencies. Concerns continue to mount over the technology’s potential to foster unfair competition methods….
In important recent developments, Montgomery and Anne Arundel Counties in Maryland have increased their recordation and transfer taxes. At the same time, the increases in recordation and transfer taxes imposed in the District of Columbia in 2019 are anticipated to expire. For corporations and law firms dealing with properties in these regions, it’s critical to…
The European Union continues to take strides towards a more sustainable future by reinforcing corporate responsibility for human rights and their environmental impact. The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), set to pass in early June 2023, reflects these ambitious efforts. The focus now falls on the passing of this significant legislation following its successful…
Proposed legislation introduced earlier this spring in the New York State Legislature could potentially lessen the hurdles faced by unauthorized insurers looking to offer excess lines coverage in New York. This development could also potentially broaden the scope of that market. Normally, such coverages are only available when no or inadequate coverage exists in the…
After nine long years since the New York Legislature instigated comprehensive corporate tax reform, the New York Department has now officially disclosed its proposed rulemaking. This announcement moves on from the draft stage, which held everyone at bay for a number of previous years. This recent development marks a positive step forward for New York…
In a recent landmark ruling, the California Court of Appeal for the First Appellate District has made it clear that business-related expenses incurred by employees are potentially reimbursable. This is the case even if they aren’t directly triggered by the employer, but are instead a direct consequence of carrying out their roles. This decision was…
In a recent precedential opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit clarified the original patent requirement based on Title 35 of the U.S. Code, Section 251, which applies to reissue applications. The decision, named ‘In re: Float’N’Grill LLC’, differentiates the original patent requirement from the written description requirement, further explaining what is…
Recent updates to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Endorsement Guides show a clear intention to bring virtual influencers under the same regulatory standards as their human counterparts. As virtual influencers continue to rise in popularity, the question of how to adequately contract with such entities is increasingly asked in marketing departments. According to JD Supra,…