We include the 2018 chapter in its entirety for reference following the 2019 update. Background - As part of last year’s Labour & Employment group paper, "Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: What Your Company Needs to Know", we… more

Finding that a guarantor is not an “applicant” under ECOA, the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court’s summary judgment against a husband and wife who claimed that a bank discriminated against them based on their marital status by… more

How design-focused Taiwanese businesses can craft a design patent protection strategy. Aesthetics matter in 2019. Companies are investing more resources to design sleek, modern products that let customers feel they own the… more

It is no longer much of a secret that Amazon rolled out a pilot program for what it hopes will provide quick and cost-effective resolution of patent disputes for products sold on its website. The program is called the Amazon Utility… more

International trade litigation requires patience. These disputes often span several years and involve multiple redeterminations by the agency whose action is subject to judicial review. The appeal can get even further complicated when… more

You know the scenarios: an employee reports his chair is bothering him; another employee reports the glare of the computer screen is hurting her eyes; and a third employee explains he needs a different office space, better tools, or to… more

Seattle Delays Registration Deadline for STR Operators. Again. ("Seattle delays deadline again for Airbnb operators to register," Seattle Times on Aug 29, 2019) The City of Seattle has again delayed the deadline for short-term… more

It is clear that English law permits a party to avoid a contract on the grounds of economic duress but there is some uncertainty as to the circumstance in which a contract may be avoided for economic duress. Requiring particular… more

When faced with a problem or question, do you reach for a resource book or simply Google it to find a solution? Chances are, you Google it (or ask Alexa). Typing in a quick search for an answer is not only easier but usually… more

Buy-sell agreements are critical when dealing with a closely held business and yet often ignored or given short shrift by business owners. Life insurance is an effective tool that business owners can use to implement the provisions of… more

• On September 12, 2019, in ZB, N.A. v. Superior Court (Lawson), Case No. S246711, the California Supreme Court held the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) does not allow recovery of unpaid wages under Labor Code Section 558. •… more

Ten years ago, the first Belgian offshore wind turbines started producing electricity, benefiting from financial support mechanisms established by the government to ensure the economic viability of these projects. This sector has now… more

An interdealer broker agreed to pay a fine of US $13 million to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to resolve charges that it failed to supervise brokers on a swaps desk that allegedly made numerous false or misleading statements… more

Effective January 1, 2020, the new Illinois Trust Code (ITC) will replace the Illinois Trusts and Trustees Act, ushering in several changes of note for fiduciaries. In light of the ITC, fiduciaries and estate planners should review… more

Judge Dabney Friedrich of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) that would have prevented the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency… more

Big Tech as well as other global companies will likely have to modify their business models - Japan’s growing e-Commerce market continues to benefit both businesses, which are able to reach more customers and reduce costs, and… more

The Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PP-4422 dated August 22, 2019, (The "Resolution") focuses on improving of electricity consumption efficiency by implementing modern mechanisms and standards in… more

Social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter are essential to any successful modern marketing and outreach strategy. But the pursuit of turning likes and shares into dollars and cents is not without its risks. For example, the… more

In a significant victory for California employers who use arbitration agreements, the California Supreme Court ruled (ZB, N.A. et al. v. Superior Court of San Diego County, S246711 (September 12, 2019)) that the recovery of underpaid… more

Early in September ITFA launched its new Unfunded Master Risk Participation Agreement (MRPA) and associated user guidelines for use by its members. Later this month it has also arranged for Sullivan to issue a CRR compliant legal… more

Fall has definitely arrived here in the Pacific Northwest. This week’s OTA & Travel Distribution Update is below and features stories on TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Vacasa and the soon-to-be-effective, Strong Customer Authentication… more

The recent Delaware Court of Chancery decision to deny a motion to dismiss in Genuine Parts Company v. Essendant Inc.1 provides worthwhile reminders of the necessity of deal participants in acquisition transactions to strictly comply… more

Pay equity concerns in Hollywood are not limited to famous actresses (such as Michelle Williams) or comediennes (such as Mo’Nique). As reported this week by the Hollywood Reporter, the co-writer of smash hit “Crazy Rich Asians”… more

In Local 702, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO v. National Labor Relations Board and Consolidated Communications, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently upheld the termination of a long-term… more

Bass, Berry & Sims attorney Chris Lazarini analyzed a case in which 27 Chinese individuals alleged securities fraud after investing significant funds in a failed electric vehicle startup. The court dismissed the case, finding the… more