In January 2020, plaintiff Sean Dailey filed a complaint against his former attorney Sam L. Amirante and his law firm, Sam L. Amirante & Associates, P.C., alleging legal malpractice, among other allegations. Dailey’s petition led to a trial court trial which culminated on July 23, 2021, with the court granting a motion to dismiss the…
In a recent ruling by the Supreme Court in R (on the application of PACCAR Inc and others) (Appellants) v Competition Appeal Tribunal and others (Respondents) [2023] UKSC 28, the legal industry has been imbued with uncertainty, particularly around the future direction of litigation funding. JDSupra reports that this case presents an array of questions…
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently updated its policy statement related to the law considerations applicable to state and local regulation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The original policy, issued back in 2015, was designed to control the escalating surge of state UAS regulations. In its latest effort, the FAA has demonstrated that federal preemption…
The United States has introduced a new Form I-9 and updated procedures for U.S. employers to verify the identity and employment authorization for individuals hired in the country. These changes come under the aegis of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and is mandated for all employers operating…
The US Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) has reviewed a record number of foreign investments for potential national security risk during the past year, according to its Annual Report to Congress for 2022. The Committee evaluated 440 covered transactions, marking an increase from the 436 transactions scrutinized in the previous year. This rise in reviews…
Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to infiltrate numerous sectors, including law. Legal professionals have begun leveraging advanced technology to streamline operations and deliver efficient services. However, with this development, lawyers are now faced with the dilemma of negotiating contracts for AI services. This exposure emphasizes the need to be thoroughly aware of all aspects surrounding AI…
In the rapidly evolving era of digital health, many medical practitioners and healthcare providers are turning to artificial intelligence tools to streamline their operations and enhance patient care. Among these AI developments, ChatGPT, an advanced conversational AI developed by OpenAI, has been gaining attention for its potential application in the healthcare sector. ChatGPT’s impressive ability…
Generative AI, a sophisticated branch of artificial intelligence that’s rapidly making its mark in various industry sectors, is increasingly finding its place in law school curricula. In a bid to keep pace with technological advancements, a number of esteemed law schools are pioneering innovative programs and collaborations aimed at preparing future legal professionals to work…
During the 9th Annual General Counsel Summit in Sydney on August 7, 2023, general counsel from some of Australia’s leading corporations listed greenwashing, data breaches, and regulatory changes as their most pressing concerns. This discussion highlighted a sense of increased vigilance from regulatory bodies such as the Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC) and the…
As of July 20, 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) has made notable additions to the Specially Designated Nationals (“SDN”) List per the guidance of Executive Order (“EO”) 14024. This renewed effort is aimed at curbing Russia’s capabilities on several key industrial fronts. According to the facts shared…
The California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) has recently made public its first inquiry, where they have declared a review of the data privacy practices of manufacturers of “connected vehicles” and related technologies. As reported by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP on JD Supra. The focus on ‘connected vehicles’ indicates the agency’s recognition of the increasing…
Morrison Foerster’s London office has recently gone through changes on its team. The office has seen the departure of finance partner, Vlad Maly, who is moving to McDermott Will & Emery, while also welcoming a new senior tech partner, Charlotte Walker-Osborn. These changes come amidst a spate of key partner moves in U.S. firms which…
Leading law firms Goodwin Procter and Nelson Mullins, Riley & Scarborough have been enlisted to advise on a major $685 million merger between Crown LNG holdings AS, a notable player in the realm of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and regasification terminals technologies, and Catcha Investment Corp., a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) listed in New…
In the first quarter of 2023, equity investor counsel witnessed some of the highest activist shareholder activity. The increasingly assertive role of shareholders in corporate decision-making is changing the dynamics of corporate governance across the globe. As defined by the Investopedia, an activist shareholder is an individual or group that purchases large numbers of a…
In a telling display of the ongoing economic impacts of the global pandemic, another high-profile law firm, BigLaw, has announced significant staff reductions. The firm recently let go of 11 lawyers and eliminated a further 24 staff positions. This move was taken in response to a reported drop in partner profits. This latest round of…
In a development that has captured the attention of the international legal fraternity, a large legal fee amounting to $266.7 million has been approved in relation to the $1 billion Dell settlement. This news has raised the expectations of a number of law firms who stand to benefit from this significant payout. This fee gained…
In a noteworthy move, the Government of India has presented a new digital privacy bill to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India’s Parliament) despite voiced apprehensions from opposition leaders. The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, follows the withdrawal of a similar privacy bill from last year and has been introduced amid renewed…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently initiated an investigation into OpenAI. This development isn’t trivial, since it can be considered the most robust action taken against OpenAI since the unveiling of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot, ChatGPT, in November 2022. The regulatory scrutiny by the FTC intends to evaluate possible unfair or deceptive privacy…
In a recent development concerning Envestnet, a leading financial technology firm, a Delaware federal magistrate judge argued that the company’s attempt to evade accusations of illicitly acquiring FinApps’ trade secrets should, for the most part, be dismissed. The rationale for this recommendation rests on the existence of disputed evidence that necessitates a jury’s evaluation. The…
In a recent development, an Ohio Federal Judge is reported to have predominantly rejected initial victories in a high-stakes legal suit concerning copyright infringement and trade secrets. A robotics and technology firm, the plaintiff in this case, had filed a claim amounting to millions of dollars against a Swedish entity. The accusation was that this…
In a recent development, a Texas federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit aimed at PGA Tour Inc. The suit had accused the entity of infringing upon patents permitting spectators to monitor the real-time performance of individual golf players as they manoeuvre around the course during a tournament. The case, initially filed in West Texas, confronted…
In an era of digital domination, the tactile pleasure of leafing through a physical book remains a distinctive experience. Despite the wealth of e-books, audiobooks, and other digital reading tools at our disposal, there’s no better time to pick up an old-fashioned paperback than National Book Lover’s Day on August 9. This sentiment rings especially…
In an interesting development in the field of copyright law, the Ninth Circuit recently issued an opinion stating that Zillow, the popular real estate marketplace, infringed thousands of copyrights owned by a real estate photography studio. This critical opinion was presented as part of a podcast episode on The Briefing, led by Scott Hervey and…
The director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has imposed penalties on a company challenging a key VLSI microchip patent, securing Intel a $2.2 billion jury verdict. The company under question is Patent Quality Assurance, which was brought before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. This punitive action has been taken due to what’s…
On July 28, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Order No. 2023, which pertains to the interconnection procedures for both large (20MW and above) and small generating facilities (under 20MW). This was documented in an indicative summary by Troutman Pepper. As outlined by FERC in the Final Rule, the implemented reforms aim to address…