On Wednesday, August 2, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)’s return to older, more stringent policies intended to govern workplace rules commenced, a move that took many by surprise. This noteworthy shift is another example of the Board’s departure from numerous decisions made during the Trump administration. The defining turn which fostered these alterations…
As legal professionals, we often look to regulatory commissions for changes that impact our work. Recently, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) caught our attention with Order No. 2023. This order, issued on July 28, 2023, requires all public utility transmission providers to adopt reforms to FERC’s pro forma generator interconnection procedures and agreements. The…
The global commerce and investment landscape has endured significant alterations over the past decades. Undoubtedly, one sector being tremendously impacted is the commercial real estate (CRE) industry. Accumulating considerable benefits from prevalent favorable financing conditions, the CRE industry found itself uniquely equipped to cope with the tumultuous aftermath of the Great Recession. The ocean of…
The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) recently published its Quarter 2 Short-Term Assessment of Reliability (STAR) report on July 14, 2023, which raised concerns about potential electricity supply shortfalls in New York City beginning in the summer of 2025. The report has profound implications for law firms and corporations around the city and presents…
On August 4, 2023, a significant legal change occurred in Illinois. Governor JB Pritzker signed a bill into law that greatly modifies the Illinois Day and Temporary Labor Services Act—also known as “the Act”—effective from July 1, 2023. As provided in HB 2862, the amendment enhances equal pay rights and introduces new safety and training…
As the professional world gears up to reconcile remote work protocols with a return to on-site operations, law firms are especially confronted with the challenge of preserving the fundamental aspects of associate development integral to their trade. The law industry, renowned for its reliance on the practical training and experiential learning offered by the apprenticeship…
As law firms worldwide try to frame return-to-work strategies encompassing flexible working models, the significance of in-office engagement in the development of associate skills often seems to get overlooked. A typical characteristic of law firms, more than most other professional services firms, is their strong fidelity to the apprenticeship model for career development. In this…
As legal professionals operating in the health care sector, there are essential regulatory developments in California that demand your attention. The California Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) under its proposed regulations is scheduled to launch an advanced regulatory review of specific healthcare transactions, effective January 1, 2024. Transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, affiliations, or…
When undertaking due diligence of an Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-regulated company, several pertinent questions must be asked. These inquiries ideally encompass key regulatory, compliance, and privacy-related aspects. As these sectors are critical in determining the suitability and viability of a potential acquisition or partnership, professionals operating both in law firms and large corporations should…
The launch of Orrick Legal Ninja Series (OLNS) in 2019, aimed at bridging the American and German entrepreneurship ecosystems, is a noteworthy endeavor in the realm of technology law. This was announced by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, one of the top tech law firms globally. According to their statement, this series aims to provide…
As we mark the sixth anniversary of the global #MeToo movement, the impact on U.S. workplaces is garnering renewed attention. The spotlight placed on sexual harassment and misconduct led to significant shifts in cultural norms and made it more pressing than ever for corporations and employment law firms to prioritize and address these issues proactively….
Evidence before a Minnesota federal court this week revealed that food distribution giant, Sysco, and legal investment firm, Burford Capital, settled a dispute over control of settlement approval. However, this dispute has been dismissed as irrelevant to a request to replace the plaintiff in a pork price-fixing lawsuit with a Burford-affiliated entity. As Law360 reports,…
On July 21, 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adamantly refused a request that it reconsider its earlier decision taken in May 2022, permitting the use of eight different types of phthalates as food-contact substances. In the identical correspondence, the regulatory body further reiterated its commitment to maintain clearance for the additional five…
The legal landscape for corporate entities in New Jersey is undergoing significant alterations. As of July 3, 2023, New Jersey Governor, Phil Murphy, gave his stamp of approval to Bill A.B. 5323, amending the state’s Corporation Business Tax (CBT). By signing this new legislation into law, a variety of clarifications, corrections, and amendments have been…
Internationally renowned law firm, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, announced on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, that it is initiating a specialized team directed towards scrutinizing how its clientele manages aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This prominent move towards advancing social justice on the legal scene substantiates the growing importance of advocating for civil rights…
Several leading cities in the Southeastern United States, including Atlanta, Charlotte, and Nashville, are experiencing a significant increase in lateral partner moves this year. This trend reflects the overall surge in legal industry activity throughout the region. According to newly released data from Decipher Investigative Intelligence, the majority of these moves occurred during the second…
During its annual meeting in Denver on August 8, 2023, the American Bar Association’s policymaking body deliberated for two hours before making vital changes to its Model Rules of Professional Conduct. These changes hold the potential to significantly alter attorney procedures when it comes to dealing with clients. See full article In a bid to…
A recent lawsuit has raised alarm in legal circles, attributing the untimely death of a U.S. Senate candidate to a cryptocurrency scam allegedly masterminded by a campaign staffer. This comes at a time when the legal community is paying keen attention to developments in the cryptocurrency sector, with its potential for misuse causing concern among…
In light of recent developments, we examine the July 11 announcement by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The Office of the Chief Economist publicized the 2022 updates to its Trademark Case Files Dataset and Trademark Assignment Dataset. An evaluation of these updates shows an ongoing investment by the USPTO in improved transparency…
In a landmark decision that could potentially affect corporations and law firms worldwide, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a ruling on employer work rules, setting a stricter standard. In the Stericycle, Inc. case, 372 NLRB No. 113 (2023), the Board overruled existing precedent to establish this tighter test, which could make certain existing…
The concept of ‘shotgun’ pleadings in U.S federal litigation can be complex and yet, pivotal in the way a trial progresses. For legal professionals working in corporate law firms, these pleadings become a part of the intricate legal strategy around federal cases. Paraphrasing a popular phrase from House of Pain’s 1992 hit song, “Jump Around,”…
In recent times, numerous states are making significant strides to implement limitations on the protections provided by local employment laws. These efforts are, in part, a response to employment policies that are often administered in accordance with “applicable federal, state, or local law”. According to an analysis by Foley & Lardner LLP, in the specific…
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new Form I-9 on July 21st, which has resulted in significant implications for many major corporations and law firms. This shift can largely impact your business operations and it is crucial to understand these changes to ensure compliance. The newly formulated Form I-9 became available for…
In a complex scenario indicative of the rapid expansion and legislative challenges of the crypto industry, two key cryptocurrency regulatory bills have been introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, offering somewhat divergent perspectives on how this emergent technology should be governed. This topic has gained special attention from global legal professionals, as…
In today’s fast-paced, technologically driven world, law firms and corporations are continually required to sift through large volumes of electronic documents. A key process in this endeavour is known as Document Review for eDiscovery, a critical stage that involves examining collected documents to unveil evidence that is pertinent, responsive and privileged. In this article posted…