Global companies face serious challenges in the design and implementation of compliance programs to meet increasing risks in emerging markets.  As global companies grow, so do compliance programs. The specific design and structure… more

Pension issues in corporate transactions can be complex when a defined benefit (final salary) scheme is involved. Factors to consider include - - risks of action by the Pensions Regulator; - penal fines and criminal sanctions… more

There are times when Taxpayers will attempt to use the “it is not my fault” argument as a defense relating to IRS penalties. Taxpayers might argue that they relied on guidance from a tax professional or from a tax software that turned… more

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has issued new guidance on HIPAA and individual authorization of uses and disclosures of protected health information (PHI) for research, as called for in… more

Small venture capital funds and special purpose vehicles, which otherwise qualify as “venture capital funds,” can now raise money from up to 250 beneficial owners and remain within the 3(c)(1) exemption of the Investment Company Act of… more

This past weekend, the White House announced that President Donald Trump plans to nominate Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Associate Director Kathy Kraninger to be the next director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau… more

Alphabet Inc.’s Google has taken advantage of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to gain a larger share of digital marketing spending in Europe. On the first day that the GDPR took effect, approximately 95%… more

On May 16, 2018, the Appellate Division approved for publication a decision ruling that citizens from states outside New Jersey also have standing to obtain New Jersey’s public records under the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”). The… more

The Do Not Track Kids Act has made a return to Congress, with lawmakers hoping the third time will be the charm and the protections of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) will be extended to children up to age 15… more

Focus - EPA moves toward rewriting Obama water rule - THE HILL - Jun 15 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers on Friday sent their proposal to redefine “Waters of the United States” to the… more

06/15/2018 – OSHA Trade Release – OSHA Extends Comment Period for Proposed Rule to Ensure Crane Operators Are Qualified to Safely Operate Equipment - 06/12/2018 – Region 5 OSHA News Release – U.S. Department of Labor Finds Wisconsin… more

About Court Report:  Each week we will report briefly on recently filed biotech and pharma cases, and a few interesting cases will be selected for periodic monitoring. Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC v. Eurohealth International Sarl… more

Pro “C” Corporation Bias? Although closely-held businesses have generally welcomed the TCJA’s amendments to the Code relating to the taxation of business income, many are also frustrated by the complexity of some of these changes… more

Whether due to an upcoming contract expiration, change in leadership, decline in service quality, regulatory issues, or any of the other many events that occur during an outsourcing engagement, invariably, the original agreement with… more

June 20 - Senate Finance Committee Hearing to examine current and proposed tariff actions administered by the Department of Commerce. 9:00 AM — SD-215..… more

I remember when we used to be able to disagree. Friends could vigorously debate, and go home friends. We could go to school, work alongside, and build neighborhoods with folks with whom we held differing views, values and… more

Readers of the Ethics & Compliance Matters blog already know that a common theme is the idea that “you can’t delegate ethics.” Senior executives, including the CEO, must model the standards of good conduct they want everyone else to… more

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced 25% tariffs on Chinese goods on June 15, targeting industrial goods that amount to roughly US$34 billion in annual exports to the United States, with a review underway for an additional… more

The Senate convenes today at 3 p.m., and the House meets Tuesday at noon. All eyes will be on the House chamber this week as members prepare to take up two bills to reform the U.S. immigration system and address the fate of DACA… more

Focus - Residential solar capacity additions to remain flat in 2018 - GREENTECH MEDIA - Jun 12 After a year of 15 percent contraction from 2016, the residential sector will remain flat through 2018, according to the latest U.S… more

With the primary senate sponsor of House Bill 110, Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, retiring this year, it remains to be seen if there will be any last-minute legalization of the adult use of cannabis in Delaware. While in the down-revenue… more

Following the US Supreme Court’s denial of cert in Nextel, taxpayers with protective refund claims held pending the ultimate outcome of Nextel will need to re-evaluate their claims as Pennsylvania begins to address them individually… more

Outlook for This Week in the Nation's Capital - Appropriations on Senate Floor. This week, the Senate plans to take up a three-bill appropriations package, commonly referred to as a “minibus”, including Military… more

In an important development for the cryptocurrency industry, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has declared that Bitcoin, Etherium and other coins operating on truly decentralized platforms are not securities. The agency’s… more

Robot vacuums battled it out before the National Advertising Division, with the self-regulatory body ultimately siding with iRobot in a challenge to claims made by its competitor, Bobsweep USA, about the bObsweep vacuum… more