In the realm of insurance law, it’s critical to be aware of and understand recent legislative updates. Most recently, we shine the spotlight on Florida, where significant statutory changes have brought alterations to the framework of bad-faith claims in insurance coverage litigation. These changes were instituted through Senate Bill 2A and House Bill 837, which…
In the recent period, there has been a surge in demand for Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technology. Energy producers in Canada are poised to reap the rewards of these unfolding opportunities. This arises from the commercialization wave of CCUS, a sophisticated technological approach aiming to mitigate global carbon emissions and counteract climate change…
The cost of obtaining a Juris Doctor (JD) degree has been a topic of contentious debate among law professionals across the globe. Recent insights add to this discussion, presenting nuanced opinions and valuable data. The Department of Education (DOE) is pressing law schools to provide more explicit financial information, undertaking a transparency initiative that has…
The ongoing trends and discussions on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) specifically reflect on various corporate behaviours. In this scenario, Australia has been recently experiencing noteworthy transformations. The changes in the landscape are attributed to heightened enforcement activity, proposed regulatory regimes centred on ESG affairs, alongside other market growth influencing the ESG risks and priorities…
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently pondered over a sensitive yet significant issue regarding the fallout of pandemic policies in workplaces. The question at hand was whether a home health aide, dismissed because she opted not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine citing her religious beliefs, is entitled to unemployment benefits. This dilemma was unleashed by…
Renewed focus on safety-oriented standards and regulations have placed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) firmly in the spotlight. It appears that OSHA is currently in the process of proposing several new rules, and employers across industries must take note to adequately prepare for what’s to come. Although detailed information from the original article…
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Cecelia Morris, recognized for her role in presiding over high-profile cases such as the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme scandal and a groundbreaking bankruptcy petition by a same-sex couple, is set to retire on January 31, 2024. The announcement comes after an impressive tenure of over 20 years, setting a benchmark for her…
Donald Trump has returned to the spotlight once again, proving that he’s far from idle after leaving the White House. In fact, it’s been a frenzied few days for him, both in the courtroom and on social media. Even though he had a civil fraud trial scheduled in New York, Trump seems to have suddenly…
Tweaking partner reimbursement in many of the large law firms is garnering the spotlight of late, reflecting critical changes in the global legal ecosystem. Based on insights shared in the Law.com Barometer newsletter, powered by the ALM Global Newsroom, it was learned that weekly evaluations of trends, disruptions and shifts are guiding the future direction…
Blockchain and its manifestations are influencing various aspects of the legal industry. Within the platform of blockchain technology, the spotlight has been progressively shifting towards Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs). Previously, the emphasis was largely on how the innovative blockchain technology could prove as a tool to enhance businesses. Yet, as noted by Stinson LLP, the…
For lawyers and law firms, traditional marketing strategies may feel increasingly antiquated in the digital age. Newer tactics like social media marketing and content-based search engine optimization (SEO) have taken the spotlight, but it’s important not to overlook the enduring effectiveness of another strategy: email marketing. According to Good2bSocial, despite the constant flurry of fresh…
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has urged Cyprus to intensify efforts to curb corruption within its executive branch, according to a report released on Monday. Despite the strengths of Cyprus’ legislation, it appears its efficacy is hindered by institutional flaws. The report cites the formation of numerous state committees with…
In a continued effort to provide valuable insights about dynamic legislative and regulatory happenings in Washington, D.C., Holland & Knight has released their latest weekly report titled “Holland & Knight Health Dose”. Published on October 3, 2023, the comprehensive analysis aims at keeping various stakeholders informed about developments impacting the health sector. Unfortunately, the full…
The Crispin Odey case, a saga involving the founder of Odey Asset Management (OAM), has reignited debates about non-financial misconduct in the financial services sector. The outcome of this case could redefine how allegations of behavioural misconduct are investigated and managed going forward. The financial services sector has long been scrutinized for its approach to…
The legal landscape experiences consistent evolution and the latest shift has spotlighted the concept of ‘Predominant Purpose’. In particular, amendments to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), in 2022, have refined the interpretation and implementation of this legal term. In essence, the 2022 amendments to the UCC can be considered a sweeping expansion and revision of…
In this third edition of our Horizon Scan, we’ll be taking a comprehensive look at some crucial recent and anticipated developments that we believe will captivate the attention of professionals in the private funds and investment management sectors. Welcome to the third edition of our Horizon Scan, where the spotlight is on noteworthy developments in…
In an intriguing development amongst legal and corporate health care professionals, the October 2023 edition of the Better Health Care Newsletter spotlights the often-overlooked hazards of noise and light pollution on our health, akin to the detrimental effects of contaminated air and water quality. This comprehensive study draws attention to the need for a harmonious…
Legal professionals working within the healthcare sector, including providers, business associates, and other entities accountable to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), are put on high-alert for a potential enforcement action by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The OCR, the body responsible for ensuring HIPAA compliance, is underlining the necessity for close…
Earlier this week, a lawsuit was filed by Foley & Lardner against Am Law 50 recruiter, Mark Bruce International. The focus of the suit is to reclaim the fee paid for the placement of a partner who left the firm within three months of his start date. As part of the filings in the New…
On September 11, 2023, an event transpired in the legal realm that is now getting the attention of many legal professionals globally. The Federal Circuit issued an opinion that vacated and remanded two final written decisions of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (the “Board”) in Apple, Inc. v. Corephotonics, Ltd.. The case revolves around…
In a recent surge of events, Section 112 of the patent statute, previously a somewhat relegated area of patent law, has been thrust into the spotlight, setting the stage for a major shift in the landscape of patent law for biotechnology. The last twenty-five years have been characterized by a roller-coaster of legislation and rulings…
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, recently published a proposed “Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace” up for public comment. This initiative is poised to mark a substantial adjustment to the commission’s guidance regarding workplace harassment, given that it has not seen any updates since 1999. Dinsmore & Shohl LLP mentioned that the…
In a turning point for the U.S. cannabis industry, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a recommendation to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (CSA). Historically, marijuana has been classified as a Schedule I controlled substance – a category defined as a substance with no…
The world of medicine has recently accorded recognition to two path-breaking researchers, Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman, who have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Their crucial discoveries relating to messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, particularly pivotal in times of the COVID-19 pandemic, have set a milestone in the study and application of…
In an unexpected turn of events, Frederick Douglass Moorefield Jr., the Deputy Chief Information Officer for Command, Control, and Communications, for Office of the Secretary of Defense, has been charged with illegal animal fighting, according to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. Moorefield, it appears, had been…