In an era of increasing data breaches and cyberattacks, businesses face mounting risks that can lead to financial, reputational, and operational damage. The cost of a data breach reached an average of $4.88 million in 2024, a 10 percent increase from the previous year ...
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has released its long-anticipated final rule on patent fee adjustments (“Final Rule”). Set to take effect January 19, 2025, these changes represent the most significant fee restructuring since 2020. The changes aim to generate sufficient revenue to recover the USPTO's operational costs, while promoting efficient patent prosecution practices. Here's what patent applicants and owners need to understand about the upcoming changes ...
When must controllers respond to DSARs with more than just a copy of personal data? Is it enough to point to a privacy notice to satisfy the extra GDPR requirements? UK and EU courts are increasingly saying that it's not enough. Handling data subject access requests (DSARs) is an ongoing compliance burden for many organisations. In this series, we consider how different strategies can cut the task down to size ...
The domestic implementation of NIS2 continues to advance at pace. In this note, we outline Italy’s formal adoption of NIS2, highlight the key dates you need to know for registration, compliance and enforcement. For further information about NIS2, including sector-specific guidance, please visit our Resiliency page ...
In October of 2024, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) announced it had received two Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) requests to disclose EEO-1 Type 2 Consolidated Report data, which is filed annually by prime federal government contractors and first tier sub-contractors. The Type 2 report is one of the annual filings required for multiple-establishment covered contractors. The report includes demographic data for all U.S ...
On October 11, 2024, the United States Department of Defense (DOD) published a final rule implementing its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program, which is designed to verify that defense contractors are adequately protecting sensitive information from cybersecurity threats. The CMMC applies to contractors who process, store, or transmit Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or Federal Contract Information (FCI), which is most DOD contractors ...
Resolutions and meetings of Guernsey Companies The articles of incorporation (the “Articles”) of a company must always be checked for specific requirements relating to general meetings. Note, however, that in certain circumstances the Articles may be overridden by The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) (the “Law”), which provides for certain basic shareholder protections in specific circumstances ...
By: Ruben Gotlieb, Esq. As many of you know by now, Donald Trump has won a second term as president. Additionally, Republicans in the U.S. Senate will have a small majority in Congress. It is still uncertain who will hold a majority in the House of Representatives. What does this mean for tax legislation set to expire, or “sunset,” at the end of 2025? To pass a permanent tax law, a majority of at least 60 senators is needed. Without this, the law can only last for 10 years ...
Insurance M&A: Bermuda’s change of control requirements In the complex landscape of mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”), regulatory challenges play a critical role in the success of transactions ...
****Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!**** Since 2022 restrictions are imposed with respect to transactions with persons from “unfriendly” countries in the Russian Federation. Thus, for a certain number of transactions/operations (i.e. issuance/repayment of loans, execution of financial instruments, distribution of dividends/profits etc ...
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has approved a new credentialing organization for certain healthcare workers for immigration purposes. USCIS approved the application from International Education Evaluations, LLC (IEE), which went into effect October 25, 2024 ...
Abstract “[I]t is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer.” 4 William Blackstone, Commentaries *358. “[I]t is better that ten innocent men suffer than that one guilty man escape.” Otto von Bismarck, Germany’s first chancellor, quoted in John W. Wade, Uniform Comparative Fault Act, 14 Forum 379, 385 (1979). Punishing the innocent is considered an “error” that the legal system must minimize ...
By: Melissa Groisman, Esq. As of October 1, 2024, Florida has implemented stricter flood disclosure requirements for residential real estate transactions. This means that sellers are now required to disclose a property’s flood risk to potential buyers prior to executing a purchase and sale agreement. What Does This Mean for Sellers and Buyers? Sellers: To comply with the new law, sellers must disclose any previous flood damage claims and federal assistance received due to flooding ...
This is a meaningful Budget for the affordable housing sector, with positive signs that housing, particularly affordable housing, is being prioritised by the government. This reflects a recognition of how crucial community building is for social cohesion and the economy. As highlighted in the Radix Big Tent Housing Commission’s recommendations last week, a prompt rent settlement is essential for the affordable housing sector and for Registered Providers ...
Background In January 2022, the Hordaland District Court issued a decision that authorised the Competition Authority to conduct a dawn raid and seize evidence at Kommunal Landspensjonskasse Mutual Insurance Company (“KLP”). The dawn raid was carried out in February 2022. The seizure included, among other things, electronic material produced by KLP’s in-house lawyers ...
By: Matthew Ginder, Esq. As the general election approaches in November, Florida voters will have the opportunity to decide on the state’s adult-use marijuana initiative identified on the ballot as Amendment 3. In the most expensive state marijuana legalization effort to date, there have been various narratives about Amendment 3. This blog is intended to clarify important aspects of Amendment 3 ...
Insurance disputes are a timeless topic. However, in difficult economic times, the number of insurance disputes tend to increase. Our Dispute Resolution practice hosted a webinar on 17 September 2024 on the current trends in insurance disputes and shared their views on the challenges different parties may face in such disputes. The webinar also addressed practical strategies for managing disputes effectively. We have summarised the key topics of the webinar in the article below ...
October 8, 2024 By: John L. Hosack and Jason E. Goldstein In a victory for all insureds who have title insurance policies, and possibly a victory for insureds under other real property related insurance policies, the California Court of Appeal in Tait v. Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company (2024) 103 Cal.App.5th 271, 277 (rev ...
October 2, 2024 By: Manuel Fishman* Beginning on January 1, 2025, landlords of commercial properties – be they office, industrial or retail, will need to develop new procedures when entering into leases with a newly defined class of tenants, identified as “qualified commercial tenants ...
October 1, 2024 By: Braeden Mansouri and Alicia Guerra On September 29, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 98 (“AB 98”), which limits warehouses from being built near “sensitive receptors.” AB 98 establishes new standards for the construction warehouses of certain sizes and for warehouses located in certain parts of the state ...
By: Richard C. Giller, Esq. Late Thursday, September 29, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm. Before that, Helene’s winds created a dangerous storm surge that began wreaking havoc all along Florida’s gulf coast, particularly the Big Bend region, which experienced surges up to 15 feet ...
The rules on the duration and termination of insurance contracts governed by Belgian law have often been found overly formalistic and complex, especially by consumers. Save for a few exceptions, the duration of non-life insurance contracts can, in principle, not exceed one year. Instead, such contracts are tacitly renewed for successive one-year periods, subject to a notice for termination or objection to the tacit renewal being made by one of the parties ...
On the 23rd August, 2024 a new set of regulations (the “Regulations”) were promulgated under Legal Notice 196 of 2024 enabling requests for the amendment or revocation of conditions imposed in the original deed of sale or emphyteusis concerning property transferred by the Government of Malta (the “Government”), the Lands Authority (the “Authority”), or any ecclesiastical entity which subsequently transferred the title to the Government ...
The UK Government has now enacted secondary legislation to reflect the new “go live” date of the Procurement Act 2023 (the “Act”) on 24 February 2025. On 16 September 2024, the Procurement Act 2023 (Commencement No 3 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI 2024/959) (“Amendment Regulations”) were made ...
On 4 September 2024, the Cabinet Office published further guidance on the Procurement Act 2023 (the ‘Act’) which is now due to “go live” on 24 February 2025. The new guidance covers contract modifications under the Manage phase of the commercial pathway. Contract modifications may need to be made to reflect commercial reality, as demands and circumstances change throughout the lifetime of the contract ...
