A new US law, set to take effect on January 1, is aimed at putting an end to the country’s infamous standing as a sanctuary for shell companies. For the first time, millions of businesses will be obliged to disclose their ownership information or risk significant fines and potential imprisonment for noncompliance. However, according to…
U.S. law firm Akerman has inaugurated a dedicated Japan sector team aiming to serve Japanese businesses with international operations. This step was facilitated, in part, through the recruitment of corporate M&A lawyer Hiroshi Sarumida, previously the U.S. chair of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe’s Japan transactional practice. Sarumida will now serve as a partner at Akerman….
In a significant privacy case, counsel representing a class of over 200 million Facebook users have secured a substantial victory with a $725 million deal. Final approval for this settlement, stemming from the notorious Cambridge Analytica data harvesting scandal, was granted by a California federal judge. The financial breakdown of the settlement sees nearly $181…
It’s the second week of the new term at the Supreme Court, with two somewhat standard cases set for argument. This week brings some notable highlights, however, as Tuesday sees the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s son, Eugene Scalia, making his maiden appearance before the high court in Murray v. UBS Securities LLC. As described in…
A high-profile case of legal intrigue has unfolded in recent times, with the Robins Kaplan law firm incurring a penalty of nearly $156,000. The firm was found engaging in unsanctioned access to a Dropbox belonging to its litigation opponent, The Pursuit Special Credit Opportunity Fund. The access was deemed more parallel to corporate espionage than…
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently implemented a novel Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Safe Harbor Policy, which has clear-cut implications for both acquiring and acquired businesses in the M&A ecosystems. For acquiring companies, this policy essentially enforces a six-month window from the date of closing within which they are expected to disclose misconduct discovered…
Recent developments in Delaware’s Chancery Court have sparked interest in the legal professional community, as high-profile figures and corporations battled it out in the courthouse. Notably, former executives of social media giant Twitter have successfully recouped their legal expenses. In another significant ruling, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, one of the leading pharmaceutical corporations, found itself on the…
The issue of efficacy of over-the-counter decongestants has once again made headlines as class-action lawsuits continue piling up against leading pharmaceutical companies. The contention at the heart of these lawsuits highlights an alleged ineffectiveness of certain pharmaceutical products, which has provoked a wide array of concerns among consumers and professionals alike in the health industry….
In the legal landscape of mass tort litigation, asbestos remains a potent player. A naturally occurring mineral, asbestos has been at the center of a multitude of lawsuits for many decades. Recent trends, however, signal a gradual decline in the traditional asbestos claims. Nonetheless, an influx of litigation alleging exposure to asbestos-infused talc is set…
In the world of pharmaceutical law, new cases with intriguing developments and possible generational ramifications pop up quite frequently. One such instance is the ongoing Purdue Pharma L.P. v. Accord Healthcare Inc., a case that draws attention to the highly sensitive matter of patents related to OxyContin® (oxycodone HCl). Here is a closer look at…
Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd., an India-based pharmaceutical company, has requested a class certification hearing related to their cholesterol medication, Lipitor, to be postponed. The request submitted to a New Jersey federal court cites a unique predicament – one of their attorneys, who has yet to be identified, is said to be trapped in a war zone…
On October 4, 2023, a significant development took place in the legal sphere relating to cybercrime. The Joint Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) made a notable move: it issued a Transfer Order that consolidated certain actions stemming from an incident back in May 2023 where a Russian cybergang exploited a vulnerability in Progress Software’s MOVEit…
In a recent turn of events, a Michigan federal judge has decided to dismiss wire fraud charges that had been leveled against three defendants. Among the accused was an attorney who, alongside his co-defendants, had been implicated in a scheme to illicitly acquire Michigan automobile crash reports. It was alleged that these reports were then…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently issued a final rule that mandates the reporting of prior manufacturing of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The rule falls under the jurisdiction of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and applies to both domestically produced and imported goods. Integrating this requirement into the existing legal framework…
In a recent development concerning the opioid multidistrict litigation, U.S District Judge Dan Polster ruled that David Cohen, the special master assigned to the litigation since 2018, would not be disqualified from the case. The decision comes after Cohen inadvertently sent an email intended for himself to the lawyers involved in the case, prompting a…
Things are heating up for property and casualty insurers in Florida. The reason? They’re finding themselves embroiled in a growing number of lawsuits, a trend noted by Law.com Radar. And as the suits stack up, three law firms are gaining more and more prominence in the landscape. One among these firms is Fowler White Burnett,…
On September 25, 2023, a putative class action was brought before Judge Pamela K. Chen of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The plaintiff alleges that a leading international IT portfolio management services company and its executive leadership violated Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933,…
The recent LF Dealmakers forum, a major event for litigation finance professionals, provided some valuable takeaways for IP lawyers and their clients, further cementing litigation funding’s relevance in today’s IP litigation field. The forum tackled important subjects and opened discussions on an array of topics crucial to IP practitioners. The significance of the rapidly growing…
In an announcement on September 29, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed it would be reviewing a prevalent assertion typically made in private securities litigation. This claim revolves around the purported failure to disclose, as mandated by Item 303 of Regulation S-K, or “Item 303”, allegedly supporting a case for securities fraud. The case in…
In a notable development for health and law professionals alike, an emerging area of legal concern revolves around the intersection of shingles vaccines and Rule 702 of the Federal Rules of Evidence. As discussed by legal insights platform JD Supra, one noteworthy health risk that significantly rises as individuals age is shingles. This illness is…
On Friday, October 6, 2023, in a significant legal development, Ultima Services Corporation, an influential participant in the administrative and technical support industry, filed a reply brief in the case, Ultima Services Corp. v. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, et. al., Case No. 2:20-cv-00041. The reply brief continues to argue for an injunction against the award…
The Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council released two notable proposals on October 3, 2023, which are likely to usher in significant changes to the duties of government contractors in terms of cybersecurity. The implications of these proposed changes are potentially far-reaching, and it is crucial for legal professionals dealing with government contracts to acquaint themselves…
In today’s increasingly digital world, understanding the intricacies of e-discovery becomes more important than ever for legal professionals. This extends to discerning what triggers litigation hold, a process essential to the proper preservation of evidence in legal proceedings. As detailed in a recent publication by the Association of Certified E-Discovery, the journey to demystify the…
In an increasingly complex legal landscape, the Healthcare Litigation, Compliance and Investigations Forum presents a vital opportunity for professionals navigating the healthcare arena. Organized by leading international law firm McDermott Will & Emery, this year’s event is scheduled for November 1st, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois, and will be conducted in a hybrid format. JD Supra…
Former Federal Prosecutor Joshua Drew has recently been added to the roster at Miller & Chevalier, a well-established law firm. In his latest role he forms part of the firm’s litigation department, a statement released by the firm on Monday confirmed. In his role, Drew will be advising clients on a multitude of matters including…