In an impactful turn of events, Governor Pritzker signed House Bill 2862 into law on August 4, 2023, significantly amending the Illinois’ Day and Temporary Labor Services Act. The legislation, articulated as being game-changing, was given the stamp of approval by the State Legislature and ushered in changes that will widely impact the Illinois’ Staffing…
When it comes to divorce and separation, the focus usually remains on the couple involved and the fallout their split may have on immediate family members. However, a recent article published on JD Supra calls attention to a less-discussed consequence of divorce: the impact on friendships. Having a robust network of friends is a blessing…
The U.S. Supreme Court, the very pinnacle of the American legal system. Each weekday, a multitude of news, commentary, and links surface, noteworthy for their relevance to the Supreme Court. This coverage includes articles from an array of legal and mainstream media outlets that can be crucial for updating awareness, increasing understanding, and shaping debates…
Designing compensation to operationalize compliance continues to be a vital and strategic topic for legal professionals. The shift towards incorporating compensation systems into a company’s compliance program is evident, highlighting the importance of alignment between monetary incentives and adherence to corporate compliance. In a recent podcast episode, compliance expert Tom Fox discusses the perspective of…
Silicon Valley-based international law firm, Gunderson Dettmer, has launched an artificial intelligence application known as a generative AI chat app, named ChatGD. The firm, which boasts more than 400 lawyers and has numerous clients in the artificial intelligence field, holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-based firm to create a proprietary internal tool using…
In an era where social progress is at the forefront of public conversation, it is alarming to read that black women lawyers still encounter discrimination in the workplace. This unsettling reality was brought to light through a recent survey, demonstrating that the issue is far from resolved and is still a detriment to equal opportunities…
In the sixty-ninth episode of Trekking Through Compliance, titled “Whom Gods Destroy”, an intriguing narrative on mental health, criminal insanity, leadership and strategy is explored. This episode takes us back to January 3, 1969, occurring on Star Date 5718.3, and provides a lens into how these themes are interwoven within the larger context of organizational…
Cellspin, the patent owner, is persistently urging the Federal Circuit to retroactively disqualify a California federal judge from an intellectual property dispute involving Fitbit LLC, a unit of Google. Moreover, the company makes an argument that the outcome of the case may have extensive implications for the United States’ judicial system. In various legal scenarios,…
The producer of a Kim Kardashian-themed energy drink has raised allegations of copyright infringement against a competitor in the beverage industry, along with a social media influencer. This battle over image rights was ignited after the rival company used an image strongly resembling the copyrighted, Kardashian-endorsed visual to hawk its own pink-hued beverage on Instagram….
In a recent development, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has made the final amendments to its Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (hereafter, Endorsement Guides). As we noted in a previous article, the proposed changes have been the subject for discussion for some time. The Endorsement Guides are designed to ensure…
As an increasing concern in today’s digital age, data security breaches continue to pose major threats to corporations worldwide. The most recent casualty is Mutual of Omaha Rx, a subsidiary of Omaha Health Insurance Company (“OHIC”), itself a division of Mutual of Omaha. OHIC reported a data breach involving sensitive member information to the Attorney…
With advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning models, organizations worldwide are thinking over the incorporation of these dynamic tools into their everyday operations. Given their advanced proficiencies and the media limelight they are receiving, it is not surprising to see the increasing interest of companies towards AI. Potential applications of these powerful language…
Freedom Debt Relief, LLC (FDR) recently came under the spotlight as it announced a data breach that put confidential consumer information at risk. Filed with the Attorney General of Montana on August 3, 2023, the notice alerts to an instance of unauthorized access to certain critical documents holding sensitive data of consumers. Having occurred at…
Leading Canadian news groups have requested that the country’s Competition Bureau investigate tech giant Meta for potentially prohibiting news content from being shared on Facebook and Instagram. Coincidingly, News Media Canada, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) associated to release a joint statement. The conglomerate’s urgent appeal for an investigation…
Major changes could be coming for professionals who deal with monetized installment sale transactions. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has recently introduced proposed regulations that would categorize these transactions in a new manner. The new classification, if finalized, will list them as a listed transaction. This change was announced on August 4, 2023. A recent…
In a setback for employers, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), has adopted a new legal standard for evaluating the legality of facially neutral policies, handbook provisions, and employment rules. Under the new framework, items that don’t explicitly restrict an employee’s National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) rights may still be deemed illegal under Section 8(a)(1)…
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…
In a recent judicial development, the Northern District of Texas Judge Brantley Starr, who is known internally as the nephew of Ken Starr, ordered Southwest Airlines’ in-house legal team to participate in “religious freedom” training offered by a Southern Poverty Law Center designated hate group, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). ADF is recognized for its support…
As of October 2021, a newly enacted law in Connecticut stands to modify the landscape of data protection, warranting attention from legal professionals worldwide. In particular, the law introduces specific protections for subsets of consumer health data, forms new rights in the realm of social media, and brings clarity to requirements around children’s data. The…
In a notable trend, municipalities are increasingly looking towards the reinvigoration of vacant or underutilized shopping mall sites. This is a response to market changes and the necessity to adapt to the evolving needs of communities. Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, serves as an illustrative example, where there are plans to revamp two key local sites. The…
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…
On August 2nd, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) announced updates to certain segments and examination methods within their already-existing Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering Examination Manual. This Manual guides auditors in assessing a bank’s anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) program, alongside its adherence to other AML/CFT regulatory requirements. The most notable aspect…
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…
Donald Trump’s lawyer, John Lauro, has proclaimed an intention to expose the Jan 6th case to public scrutiny, rather than seeing it litigated within the chambers of the US District Court of the District of Columbia. Lauro has been vocal in his criticism over a potential protective order barring Trump from sharing trial-related evidence on…
Michelle Cross, the self-termed “Legally Blonde Atlanta” DUI attorney, is now under fire from movie studio MGM for her usage of their copyrighted phrase. After receiving a cease and desist letter from the movie giant, Cross has decided to take down the related billboards, but she isn’t ready to give up her Instagram handle just…