On August 11, 2023, the Court of Appeal of Quebec handed down a decision in CFG Construction inc. c. R.,1 dismissing the appeal of the guilty verdict against an employer, CFG Construction inc. (?CFG?), for criminal negligence having caused the death of one of its employees. This decision serves as a reminder of the potential criminal liability of an employer, depending on its legal form, for the death or bodily injury of its employees in the workplace ...
Last week, Shoosmiths hosted an event with leading industry body, Regen on REMA, The UK’s Review of Electricity Market Arrangements. During this event we heard directly from representatives from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, debating the most important issues for the clean energy sector to consider and discuss the key options for reform with leading developers and investors ...
Yesterday, the Oslo District Court issued its decision in the case. The court determined that all three PDO permits are invalid because the greenhouse gas emissions from the fields have not been adequately assessed for their environmental consequences. This is in violation of procedural rules in the petroleum law, interpreted in light of Article 112, paragraph two, of the Constitution, and the EU Project Directive ...
In recent years, there has been an increase in understanding the impacts of wind power development, which has also led to legislative changes in the sector. To reflect this development, the Finnish Ministry of the Environment is currently updating its Wind Power Guide, which was published in 2016. In this article, our Energy practice's Associates Teemu Huhtala and Janne Helaskoski discuss the key objectives and the main features of the revision of the Wind Power Guide ...
Packaging and packaging waste has been regulated by the European Union (“EU”) since 1994. As consumers, we all know that most goods are sold in packaging, and that there may be various packaging at the several stages of the product’s life. Packaging comes in a diversity of material (glass, paper, cardboard, metal, plastics, wood, corks, textile, ceramics or porcelain…) and items (cans, tubes, boxes, films and bags) ...
The Court of Appeal confirmed that, on the proper interpretation of a reservation of rights clause, residential tenants had obtained a right to park on a private road outside their flats. In the recent case of Duchess of Bedford House RTM Co Ltd v Campden Hill Gate Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ 1470, the Court of Appeal has confirmed that, on the proper interpretation of a reservation of rights clause, residential tenants had obtained a right to park on a private road outside their flats ...
After a disappointing outcome at COP28 and a weakening of several key net zero policies by the government in 2023, what does 2024 hold for environmental law and regulation? Here are our top 10 things to watch out for. 1. Extended producer responsibility for packaging 2023 saw the introduction of packaging waste data reporting regulations in England, Scotland and Wales ...
On January 10, 2024, the Government submitted to Congress three billsintroducing significant modifications concerning environmental regulations and sectorial permits. Bill that modifies the Law of General Bases of the Environment Through Presidential Message No. 292-371, the Executive branch presented a bill with the purpose of strengthening the environmental institutional framework and improving its efficiency, introducing amendments to the Law of General Bases of the Environment (Law No ...
Introduction The United States Trustee Program is part of the United States Department of Justice and oversees the administration of bankruptcy cases, including oversight of panel trustees. When a bankruptcy court grants a motion to appoint a Chapter 11 trustee, the United States Trustee (“UST”) is responsible for selecting and appointing the individual who will serve in such capacity ...
Following an antitrust investigation, in 2017 the European Commission had fined Google LLC and Alphabet Inc. a record €2.4 billion for abuse of Google’s dominant position. In brief, it found that Google was self-preferencing, by presenting results from its own Google Shopping first upon a so called “Google search”. On appeal to the General Court, the fine was confirmed in 2021 ...
Following the Act of 19 December 2023 (published on 27 December 2023), the legislator has introduced a reconciliation procedure in the commercial and labour courts as well as in the courts of appeal. Previous situation The tool that Father Christmas has just added to the Belgian ADR toolbox is not new. Reconciling the parties has expressly been part of each court’s remit since 2018 ...
James Wood-Robertson, head of the energy & infrastructure sector at Shoosmiths, comments on some of the upcoming trends and developments to expect in 2024 for the sector. Corporate Power Purchase Agreements ("PPAs") Before the conclusion of 2023, the European PPA market had already achieved a ground-breaking record, thanks to a market-driven procurement strategy that played a pivotal role in fostering the much-needed expansion of renewable energy capacity in the region ...
Litigation arising from Winter Storm Uri remains active and ongoing since it began nearly three years ago. It has major implications for the Texas energy and power markets and businesses operating in those sectors ...
Can a patent be infringed even if the patented product is not manufactured, assembled, or even used? Indeed, such infringement is possible. In fact, this is known as the theory of inducement of infringement. Naturally, acts of ?inducement? must meet certain conditions before inducement of infringement can be found. The Federal Court of Appeal recently clarified these conditions ...
In June of 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States unanimously held in American Hospital Association v. Becerra that the United States Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) overstepped their statutory authority when cutting 340B-related reimbursements to hospitals from 2018 through 2022 ...
Please note the following press release. This press release is available at our homepage Roman Ettl-Steger, Salaried Partner based at the Munich office, and an interdisciplinary team from Heuking comprehensively advised a group of entrepreneurs and senior managers, led by family entrepreneur Martin Schoeller, on the structuring of GESI Green Energy Storage Initiative SE (GESI) ...
Another great year for the Ocean team at SVW has ended. The Shipping industry had a great year, as we have witnessed it through our clients’ engagements. More steps have been taken toward environmentally smarter investments by many clients, not only within the fuel engine options in new-building orders, but also piloting strategic joint ventures and collaborations in the fuel terminals infrastructure (hydrogen/ammonia), as well as power plants ...
Climate and environment In November 2023, SVW assisted Greenpeace and Nature and Youth Norway in a new climate case before the District Court of Oslo. The plaintiffs challenge the validity of three new oil field approvals on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and ask for a temporary injunction ...
On December 15, 2023, the Comptroller General of the Republic confirmed Supreme Decree No. 30/2023, which amends the Regulations of the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA) in order to adapt said regulation to the requirements of the Framework Law on Climate Change and the Escazú Agreement. The approved modifications include, among others, the following: Modification of the minimum contents of Environmental Impact Declarations (DIA) and Environmental Impact Studies (EIA) ...
Please note the following press release. This press release is available at our homepage. Hertha BSC restructuring with Heuking A challenging year for Hertha BSC is coming to an end. The Berlin-based team was forced to reorganize and restructure in particular due to business constraints and in view of its relegation to Bundesliga 2, Germany’s second division of professional soccer. Led by Dr ...
