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…
The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), and Bank of England have jointly published a revised version of their Complaints Scheme. This updated scheme outlines how complaints against these prominent U.K. authorities should be submitted and processed. This is a significant update from the previous version of the scheme, featuring several important…
On April 17, New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) finalized its Environmental Justice rules (EJ Rules), following the state’s pioneering Environmental Justice Law (EJ Law) that was enacted in September 2020 (N.J.S.A. 13:1D-157 et seq.), laying the groundwork for a framework strengthening protections for communities disproportionately burdened by environmental contamination. According to the publication…
In a bold move towards transparency, the New York State Assembly has recently passed the LLC Transparency Act (the LLC Act), a significant piece of legislation focusing on limited liability companies (LLCs)source. If endorsed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the LLC Act will necessitate LLCs registered or formed in the state of New York…
In an important development for the legal professionals working in multinational corporations and international law firms, President Biden signed a new executive order on August 9, dealing with United States investments in certain national security technologies and products in the so-called “Countries of Concern.” This came after months of in-depth deliberations. The detailed report can…
On August 4, 2023, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) passed a final rule eliminating self-imposed regulatory standards concerning systemic discrimination allegations against federal contractors and subcontractors. The final rule also removed certain disclosure and transparency requirements that provided contractors with adequate information regarding legal and factual bases for systemic discrimination allegations during…
The UK’s HM Treasury has initiated a Call for Input on The Future of Payments review, opening up an investigation into the prospective landscape of transactions. This review is primarily aligned with consumer needs, notably the needs of individuals and businesses engaged in retail payment processing. This strategic move adds to the wider global conversation…
The rapid pace of regulatory changes in the field of finance can sometimes be challenging for professionals to keep up with. As such, our coverage aims to aid understanding of these important changes and what they could mean for businesses. On August 9, 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury made significant strides when it…
Despite the attention often lavished on Biglaw, the truth of the matter is most private practice attorneys are operating within firms that employ less than 20 lawyers. However, reliable information on market rates for associates in these largest firms and the average earnings of partners tend to overshadow key remuneration data needed by attorneys in…
In a noteworthy legal development, the case of Braga Investment & Advisory, LLC v. Musa Yenni, et al., serves as a poignant reminder for legal professionals and corporates about the importance of thoroughly reviewing agreements. The judgement laid out by the Delaware Court of Chancery in the recent case, C.A. No. 2019-0408-PAF (Del. Ch. May…