Early on Tuesday, global law firm Dentons announced a surprise de-merger from its mainland China branch, Dacheng Law Offices. Effective from this month, Dentons will no longer operate as a combined entity with Dacheng. In an email alert to its clients, Dentons attributed the split to “an evolving regulatory environment for Chinese law firms in…
Two prominent U.S. law firms, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and Fried Frank, have recently extended their remote work policies for their UK-based employees for the entire month of August. The decision highlights a continuing trend found mainly among U.S. companies, allowing staff greater flexibility during the summer months. Quinn Emanuel typically requires their employees…
Global law firm CMS has witnessed a notable deceleration in its global revenue growth, according to a recent report. This news follows a period when the firm promoted a record number of partners across its global offices. This extensive growth initiative was part of a strategic effort to solidify the company’s footing in several international…
Global law firm Dentons is reportedly ending its association with Beijing Dacheng Law Offices. This notable split comes as a response to China’s newly implemented data privacy and cybersecurity regulations. Notably, this association previously brought thousands of lawyers under the Dentons banner, significantly expanding its global reach and areas of practice. The shake-up in this…
In an unexpected development, Dentons, one of the world’s most expansive law firms, has decided to terminate its merger with Dacheng, its mainland China arm. According to the details shared by Dentons with its clients during partner communications, the firm intimated that it will be “modifying its relationship with Beijing Dacheng Law Offices”. Under the…
In a response to the evolving demands of the legal services sector, Dechert LLP is permitting its current summer associates to defer their expected start dates by a full year. The law firm, which initially planned for the associates to start in the fall of 2024, is now offering these individuals the option to begin…
In a landmark scenario that could set precedent for future environmental legal cases, California witnessed the first appellate case in the country regarding the matter of the state versus the federal environmental regulation. A ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday requires San Francisco city and county to adhere to limits set…
In the realm of international trade, the role of customs brokers is essential, and maintaining their competency through formal accreditation has been historically significant. Recently, changes to U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) regulations have made this even more critical. The CBP published the Final Rule on continuing education for individual customs broker license holders…
The legal landscape relating to asbestos cases continues to evolve, with significant changes to filings throughout 2023. The data compiled by KCIC in their recent 2023 Mid-Year Asbestos Filings Update provides a succinct snapshot of the current situation. This mid-year update provides insights derived from information collected up to July 31. By analyzing this data,…
On July 10, Governor Gavin Newsom enacted an expansive streamlining plan that serves to reform the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) immensely. The plan includes the signing of five CEQA reform bills—SB 145, 146, 147, 149, and 150—an act that the Governor’s office has synonymously characterized as “the state’s most ambitious permitting and project review…
As employers are increasingly calling their employees back to the office, a case from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Oross v. Kutztown University, sheds light on the need for individualized assessments when considering requests for remote work accommodations. The case implies that any policies categorically denying requests for remote work…
In a recent turn of events anticipated by many GovCon news followers, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced a “temporary suspension” of new 8(a) application submissions. A development of significant judicial and business implications. For individuals who haven’t been closely tracking related news, this crucial development might appear slightly disorienting. To understand this better,…
In an attempt to regulate governance and risk management framework requirements within the insurance industry, the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI) is holding a virtual rulemaking hearing on August 31, 2023. As reported, this hearing pertains to the proposed regulation on life insurers making use of external consumer data and information sources, as well as…
In recent developments, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued proposed regulations for website accessibility. These proposed rules are specifically aimed at state and local governments and are set under the umbrella of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II. The interpretation and execution of these regulations will undoubtedly be of interest to legal…
Adding to its international footprint, the Japanese law firm TNY Group is preparing to inaugurate its first office in India. This comes following India’s decision half a year prior to liberalize its domestic legal market. The recent establishment of the TNY Group came in 2021, under the co-guidance of managing partners Yuji Tsutsumi and Takahisa…
As law firms across the globe grapple with the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, a trend is emerging among larger firms, particularly those based in New York, pushing for policies mandating lawyers to return to in-office work four days a week. However, Washington D.C. firms appear to be less inclined to follow suit, with…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making an increasingly visible mark on numerous sectors, with the legal field being no exception. While no lawyer expects AI to eliminate human roles entirely, many perceive a shift in the role of a law firm associate due to rapid technology adoption within the practice of law. Some attorneys have made…
The Fourth Circuit has made a pivotal alteration in its milieu on attorney’s fees for injunction wins, negating an old rule which previously impeded litigants from pursuing these fees unless they had been awarded a final judgment. In a recent ruling, the court decided that litigants in unique circumstances can be deemed a “prevailing party”…
Making partner at a prestigious law firm is no small feat. Yet, Genevieve G. Weiner of Sidley Austin makes it clear that communication is key in this process. Recently Weiner shed light on her journey of becoming a partner at the law firm, presenting practical advice for ambitious legal professionals on the verge of making…
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) applications are significantly transforming the efficiency and innovation of many sectors, while simultaneously introducing unique legal and operational risks. This emerging technology is primarily governed by end-user license agreements (EULAs), which establish the legal relationship between the AI software developer and the end-user. As the use of GenAI expands, it is…
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released its Summer 2023 Supervisory Highlights on July 26, detailing a range of Unfair, Deceptive, and Abusive Acts or Practices (UDAAPs). These findings span across an array of consumer financial products and violate the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA). Products identified in this report encompass auto origination, auto servicing,…
On June 3, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) proposed a comprehensive overhaul of new auditing standards that would mandate auditors to take into account a company’s noncompliance with laws and regulations when conducting an audit. The proposed measures, identified as PCAOB Release No. 2023-003, were approved by a 3-2 vote, with both Certified…
The concept of unionization among associates in major law firms is a topic of contemporary discourse, eliciting a spectrum of viewpoints from legal professionals worldwide. Most recently, this discussion resurfaced following a significant event last month, when associates at Outten & Golden succeeded in forming a union, subsequently recognized by the firm. Given these developments,…
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has recently published its Annual Report for calendar year 2022. Key points have emerged from the report, offering an intriguing insight into the workings of the Committee. The report suggests a significantly challenging, yet manageable, CFIUS process. A standout trend is the marked increase in…
On the first of August, Dentons, a prominent global law firm, released fleetAI, their self-developed version of the AI chatbot ChatGPT. Designed to cater to the firm’s offices across the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Middle East (UKIME), fleetAI aims at refining the efficiency and effectiveness of the firm’s legal operations. The firm’s innovative product,…