As we discussed in prior updates, on July 13, 2022, Christian Bruckner filed a lawsuit in the federal district court in Tampa, Florida, seeking to enjoin the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s set-aside of 10% (around $37 billion) of transportation funding for “small business concerns” owned and controlled by “socially and economically disadvantaged individuals ...
On October 28, 2022, the Department of Defense’s amendments to FAR 52.212-3 and FAR 52.219-1 became effective. These changes amended the Federal Acquisition Regulations to be in line with prior changes by the SBA to its mentor-protégé program, and recognize that a mentor-protégé joint venture qualifies for a socioeconomic program (8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, etc.) if one of the parties to the joint venture meets the associated requirements of the socioeconomic program ...
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting is a major and evolving regulatory area in Europe. Disclosures play a crucial role in helping the financial sector address climate change and sustainability. They are also being used to address issues such as poor workplace diversity and gender pay gaps. Several jurisdictions have introduced or plan to introduce measures dealing with ESG risks in supply chains ...
Given the ubiquitous nature of end-user license agreements, terms of service, and similar agreements for websites and other software,[1] it is unsurprising that a company has filed a Petition for Certiorari with the Supreme Court this term (in Genius v. Google) asking the Court to consider the extent to which the Copyright Act preempts private contracts involving a promise not to copy digital content ...
On 17 November 2022, the State Administration Council (“SAC”) enacted the Law Amending the 2022 Union Tax Law (“2022 UTL Amendment”). This law provides tax exemptions for Battery Electric Vehicles (“BEVs”) and increases the corporate income tax rate of companies engaged in the oil and gas exploration and production sector in Myanmar. We highlight below the major changes under this law: 1 ...
Congratulations! You won your case in court and all the expense and hard work of the past few months, or years (not to mention the broken business relationships and sleepless nights along the way) might just have been worth it to experience this moment of jubilation ...
On the 12th of April 2021, the Malta Financial Services Authority (‘MFSA’) introduced the requirement for all collective investment schemes that are locally licensed or notified to submit a novel return, being the Annual Fund Return. Various amendments to the Annual Fund Return have been made as can be seen in the Circular issued by the MFSA on the 21st of December 2021, along with the updated Guidelines ...
Following the 2018 enactment of regulations governing contractual terms contained in vehicle hire-purchase agreements, the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (“OCPB”) has recently resolved to adjust such regulatory scheme as part of their initiatives to alleviate the ongoing economic downturn and financial hardships suffered by consumers as a result of the pandemic, and to prevent consumers being subject to any unfair contractual terms in this respect ...
The Procedures reflect updates to the de-registration process for mutual funds and establish for the first time the de-registration process for private funds, which aim to create a streamlined and harmonised regime for regulated funds ...
The benefits of Guernsey as a fund domicile. Guernsey is one of the world’s largest offshore finance centres, with a thriving funds industry. Over 1,400 investment funds and sub-funds are currently administered in the island. The value of funds under management and administration in Guernsey as at the end of June 2021 is US$533 billion (up 24.4% in 12 months), based on the most recent available data published in The 27th annual Monterey Insight Guernsey Fund Report ...
On 11 November 2022, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission ("CBIRC") issued for public consultation a draft revision to the PRC Banking Supervision Law (the "Consultation Draft"). The current PRC Banking Supervision Law was first promulgated in February 2004 and was amended once in 2006 (the "Current Law") ...
2022 saw the removal of all COVID-19 related restrictions. As we enter our first winter restriction free, we are likely to see a significant spike in COVID-19 cases in addition to other cold or flu viruses. So, what should employers do to manage this? It is imperative that employers consider what they can do to effectively manage COVID-19 within the workplace this winter and how best to protect their employees from associated risks ...
On 18 November 2022, the People's Bank of China and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange ("SAFE") jointly promulgated the Provisions on Administration of Funds Invested in China's Bond Markets by Foreign Institutional Investors (《境外机构投资者投资中国债券市场资金管理规定》, the "New Rules") ...
Launching Lavery’s Brand Into the Future Anik Trudel likes to take risks. When she began her legal career, she decided to pursue litigation. She didn’t make this choice because it played to her strengths. “I decided to go into litigation because I was rather shy and quite afraid to speak in public,” she says. “I said to myself, ‘I might as well fix that issue ...
This article first provides an overview of the current state of the crypto disputes landscape, which arises at a novel intersection of crypto, arbitration and insolvency. It then looks at the type of legal and practical factors that may be relevant to a creditor in deciding on a dispute strategy when faced with a financially distressed crypto company, including in the context of arbitration and liquidation proceedings ...
On November 18, 2022, Ekachai Chotpitayasunon and Kongkoch Yongsavasdikul, partners from Kudun and Partners, together with senior associate, Supatra Kerinsaguna and Warathorn Wongsawangsiri from Herbert Smith Freehills visited Bangkok University as guest lecturers to provide insights on the regulations governing public listed companies and the definition of initial public offering (IPO) and the processes involved in an IPO ...
While originally opened to great fanfare between 2017 and 2019, over the course of 2022 Shell has discreetly closed down all of its UK hydrogen filling stations, citing that "the prototype technology had reached the end of its life". This decision is perhaps not surprising, given the low volume of domestic fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) on UK roads ...
In conjunction with Malta Enterprise, Residency Malta Agency has launched a new residence programme for beneficiaries under the Malta Start-Up Residence Programme. Similar to the Nomad Residence Permit , the Malta Start-Up Residence Programme seeks to attract business-driven individuals to set up their new business venture in Malta ...
On November 9, 2022, the Financial Market Commission (“CMF”) published General Instruction No. 2,325 which updates the regulations on the prevention of money laundering, financing of terrorism and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (“New Instruction”) applicable to: (i) banks (including their subsidiaries and support companies); (ii) savings and credit cooperatives; (iii) and payment card issuers ...
On 15 November 2022, the Secretary of the Department of Energy (“DOE”) signed DOE Department Circular (“DC”) No. 2022-11-0034 which amends the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9513 (otherwise known as the Renewable Energy Act of 2008). The amendment removes the nationality restrictions on the exploration, development, and utilization of renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, biomass, ocean or tidal energy ...
Due to recent global events causing high inflation, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) issued a final rule on November 17, 2022. This final rule has two primary components. First, it adopts, without change, the interim final rule published by the SBA on July 18, 2019 that increased in all industry-specific monetary size standards. Second, in an effort to account for inflation that has occurred since 2019, the final rule also increases by an additional 13 ...
On November 18, 2022, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Cyberspace Administration of China jointly released the Rules on Implementation of Personal Information Protection Certification (《个人信息保护认证实施规则》) (the"Rules"). The Rules mark a major step toward improving China's specialized institution certification regime for personal information (the "PI") protection.The Rules (in Chinese only) are available at:http://www.cac.gov.cn/2022-11/18/c_1670399936983876.htm ...
Contents Government attitude and definition Cryptocurrency regulation Ongoing obligations Sales regulation Taxation Money transmission laws and anti-money laundering requirements Promotion and testing Ownership and licensing requirements Mining Border restrictions and declaration Reporting requirements Estate planning and testamentary succession Government attitude and definition Bermuda has been recognised as a global leader in the regulation of blockchain and cryptocurrency-b
Contents Government attitude and definition Cryptocurrency regulation Sales regulation Taxation Money transmission laws and anti-money laundering requirements Promotion and testing Ownership and licensing requirements Mining Border restrictions and declaration Reporting requirements Estate planning and testamentary succession Government attitude and definition The Cayman Islands is a leading global financial centre and has developed a reputation as one of the world’s most
Contents Government attitude and definition Cryptocurrency regulation Ongoing obligations Sales regulation Taxation Money transmission laws and anti-money laundering requirements Promotion and testing Ownership and licensing requirements Mining Border restrictions and declaration Reporting requirements Estate planning and testamentary succession Government attitude and definition Bermuda has been recognised as a global leader in the regulation of blockchain and cryptocurrency-b