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,…
On July 11, 2023, the United Kingdom enacted the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (‘FIRS’). Embedded as part of the National Security Act of 2023, FIRS is a compliance obligation that bears strong parallels to the United States’ Foreign Agents Registration Act (‘FARA’). Although the UK and US policy frameworks have distinct intricacies, the core objective…
Law firm Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian has announced the launch of ChatGD, its internally developed generative AI chat application, intended to facilitate its attorneys in their practice. The firm’s chief innovation officer, Joe Green, describes the tool as “an accelerant for subject matter expertise,” that will help attorneys perform their roles more…
Dentons, a multinational law firm, has chosen to conclude its collaboration with Dacheng Law Offices, which is the mainland China branch of the company. The firm cited the reason for this decision as changes in the legal regulations facing Chinese law firms in China. New directives and requirements concerning data privacy, cybersecurity, capital control and…
Employers across the United States are grappling with increased examination of their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in June to overturn affirmative action in university admissions. This new legal landscape has prompted several substantial law firms to form specialized teams, aiming to audit and defend employers’ actions in…
In their August 2023 edition of the Privacy & Data Security Newsletter: The Digital Download, Alston & Bird shed light on some of the most pressing issues and updates in data strategy and security. The team responsible for the publication includes Dave Brown, Kate Hanniford, Kim Peretti, Julia Mediamolle, Cara Peterman, Sierra Shear, Kristen Bartolotta,…
With the legal industry increasingly turning to technological advancements to streamline operations and improve efficiency, Large Language Models (LLMs) like GPT and Claude 2 are becoming instrumental in circumstances beyond reviewing and analyzing discovery documents. Surpassing their traditionally perceived functionalities, LLMs have demonstrated their potential as useful tools in matters concerning hearing and deposition transcripts….
This week, the legal community bids farewell to esteemed compliance professional, Robbie Robertson. Reported by JD Supra, Robertson, originally hailing from Canada, made significant contributions to the world of compliance, akin to his impact in the American music scene as a member of the rock and roll group simply known as The Band. Robertson’s sharp…
In a recent development, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking. This significant event requires the attention of legal professionals working in large corporations and law firms. According to an article by Bricker Graydon LLP on JD Supra, the announcement coincides with an earlier publication from this year pertaining…
In an official announcement made on August 8, 2023, the Department of Labor (DOL) outlined their final rule revising the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) and related acts regulations, marking the most significant revisions to take place in the past 40 years.[1] Addressed in this announcement were the major changes to the Davis-Bacon Act, a law of…
For legal professionals across the globe, it’s imperative to stay updated with recent developments in legal news. One such noteworthy announcement is the suspension of the arbitration process for “Surprise Billing” put in place by the “No Surprises Act”. This marks the second time the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has opted to…