This week, as we honor Juneteenth, we are reminded of the delayed arrival of emancipation news to Black Americans. This delay is emblematic of ongoing disparities, including those found within the United States tax system. As the temporary provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) near their 2025 expiration, Congress faces a critical…
In the coming weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court will rule on whether two fishing companies must bear the costs of third-party observers to ensure regulatory compliance on their vessels. On the surface, this issue appears to have little connection to biotechnology or medicine. However, the outcome could potentially alter the way the FDA interacts with…
Kirkland & Ellis, the country’s largest law firm by revenue, faces significant legal scrutiny following a broad data breach impacting approximately 2,600 companies. The firm has been named in a lawsuit filed in a Massachusetts federal court, which is part of a multidistrict litigation stemming from a hack of Progress Software Corp.’s MOVEit file transfer…
In the wake of a controversial ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court, which held that fertility clinics could be liable for the wrongful death of cryopreserved embryos, federal lawmakers are taking bold steps to protect access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) across the United States. The ruling led Alabama to swiftly pass emergency legislation offering…
Rudy Giuliani Faces Financial Control Crisis Amidst Bankruptcy Rudolph Giuliani is grappling with significant repercussions as his bankruptcy proceedings reach a critical juncture, endangering his control over his finances and potentially upending his daily life. Creditors have requested the appointment of a trustee to manage his Chapter 11 case, a relatively uncommon move that underscores…
Many entrepreneurs who dream of access to the US market often overlook the critical importance of comprehensive tax planning, leading to significant issues that might jeopardize both their personal finances and their business outlook. Failure to effectively navigate through corporate and individual tax issues can potentially lead to considerable losses and thwart a successful US…
A cybersecurity lawyer working for MITRE Corp. who brought a case against Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co. for disability benefits has managed to obtain a court directive that stops the insurer from reducing his disability payments due to his Social Security benefits. The counsel’s Social Security payments are based on his earnings, not his disability,…
Argentina’s main labor unions initiated a 24-hours general strike of public transportation services, including buses, trains, subways, and airplanes last Thursday. The course of action was a reaction to what they perceive as President Javier Milei’s austerity policies, which resulted in a shutdown of transportation services and the emptying of streets as millions of Argentine…
Kenya’s Ministry of Information and Communications has called for regulation rather than an outright ban of the social media platform TikTok. The Ministry stated the state should require TikTok to screen content to ensure it complies with Kenyan laws. They also suggested that the company be required to submit quarterly reports on the nature of…
A class of data-breach victims has lodged a request with a California federal judge to approve an $8 million settlement from Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. The lawsuit arose from a data breach incident in March 2023, during which Social Security numbers and other sensitive details of more than 638,000 individuals were ostensibly exposed. This…
In recent legal news, the Fifth Circuit dissolved a contested suspension and decided to hear arguments on a real stay after extensive back-and-forth on the matter. The determination of when a stay truly becomes a stay has become a complex issue in the ongoing proceedings. Keep yourself updated on these developments here. Recognition is due…
Petr Sutka, who operated several labor staffing firms in Key West, Florida, has been sentenced to four years of imprisonment over tax and immigration-related offenses, according to a recent report by the US Department of Justice. The punitive measures come as part of the efforts by legal authorities to ensure the accountability of business entities…
Renowned law firm Houser LLP is finding itself on the defendant’s side of the courtroom as two proposed federal class-action suits have been filed against it, following a successful ransomware attack on the firm’s data infrastructure in May 2023. The aforementioned attack reportedly resulted in the exposure of personal data relating to over 325,000 individuals,…
The US-Chile tax treaty, which entered into force in December, was designed to reduce tax hindrances between cross-border business relationships between the US and Chile. The objective of the treaty is to enhance the profitability of businesses seeking to establish foreign operations in either country by significantly impacting taxes and trade. The areas where major…
In an era where the majority of legal communication takes place digitally, you might be surprised to learn that faxes still hold some relevancy in the legal sector. Although the fax machine does not hold the same allure as other outdated yet beloved technologies, they still play an important, albeit niche, role in certain areas…
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico has recently announced his plans to launch a set of constitutional reform initiatives in February. These proposed reforms are intended to boost the income of citizens and address improvements in justice and democratic processes. In his announcement, the president described the upcoming proposals as a package that encompasses…
Pope Francis expressed serious concern on Monday over the crackdown on the Catholic Church in Nicaragua. As per Vatican News, Nicaraguan authorities have arrested at least 14 priests, alongside a bishop and two seminarians in the past week. The Vatican News also reported the 26-year sentence imposed on Bishop Rolando José Álvarez Lagos for conspiracy,…
The legal world is a rigorous battlefield of intellect, wit, and skill, where each move can have significant impacts. Today, we bring you a few stories at the forefront of this arena, proving yet again that business and law are ever intertwined. Firstly, our gaze turns to the prestigious Harvard University. The university’s governing board,…
Work and personal life have intertwined since the Covid-19 pandemic, proving that remote working can be a sustainable practice. Some employees are increasingly finding it attractive to work remotely while on overseas vacations, technically known as workations. In fact, this trend has been absorbed into corporate culture, with companies offering such work arrangements as part…
In reaction to urgent legal needs among Israeli citizens resulting from the Israel-Hamas war, the Israel Bar Association (IBA) has collaborated with the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) and Paladin, a legal tech firm, to launch a nationwide, emergency pro bono portal. Greenberg Traurig and Paul, Weiss law firms, together with the NYSBA, are…
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, a notable multinational law firm, has announced that it has successfully reached a preliminary settlement for litigation over a significant data breach that occurred in March. The alleged data breach is said to have exposed personal data, involving social security numbers of over 461,100 individuals. This settlement has been communicated…
The Scottish Court of Session, Scotland’s supreme civil court, has ruled that UK ministers acted lawfully in blocking reforms proposed by the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. This legislation aimed to allow Scottish residents to self-identify their gender and was endorsed by the Scottish Parliament in December 2022. The UK government invoked section 35 of…
Los Angeles’ trial court system has begun testing an artificial intelligence tool that aims to redact the personal information of minors from court records. As the largest trial court in the nation, this implementation marks a unique use of rapidly emerging technology. The artificial intelligence system is programmed to remove personal data such as social…
As legal professionals, we often deal with complex documentation and compliances across diverse practices. One area that’s been highlighted recently is the responsibility of taxpayers, especially those with specialized knowledge, towards the accurate filing of their tax returns. The US Tax Court’s decision in Johnson v. Commissioner clearly indicates that reliance on the advice from…
In some concerning news for data privacy advocates, the Berglund Management Group, Inc., also known as Berglund Automotive, has filed a notice of a significant data breach. This breach was discovered on November 22, 2023, and was promptly reported to the Attorney General of Maine, as per the mandates of transparency associated with such incidents….