Expert Opinion

Products Liability and the Evolving Internet of Things

Donald P. Boyle Jr., Mitzi L. Hill, LeeAnn Jones and Jonathan B. Wilson| March 18, 2019

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a rapidly evolving way of thinking about the internet and how the devices we use every day interact. IoT describes the developing system in which “smart” devices interact with each other through the internet to gather and exchange data to provide additional functions, security and ease-of-use for human users.

News

Women Corporate Counsel Share Career Advice, Experiences At Berkeley Law Event

Caroline Spiezio | March 15, 2019

Women partners and general counsel convened for a panel Friday on gender equity in business law, offering career advice and their own stories.

Analysis

Experts Say When General Counsel Leaves Abruptly, Board Has Duty to Ask Why

Sue Reisinger | March 15, 2019

Corporate governance experts say when a company’s general counsel departs—especially when the company does not know the reason for the departure—it should set off little alarm bells for the board of directors.

News

Ex-MGM Deputy General Counsel Lands Leading Legal Role at Spyglass

Kristen Rasmussen | March 15, 2019

Cheryl Rodman will oversee all legal matters and business and legal affairs at the newly announced premium content company, Spyglass Media Group.

How to Prevent a 5G Patent War

Marshall Phelps| March 15, 2019

“If you think the last patent war over smartphones was bad, just wait until 5G starts being deployed throughout the global economy.”

News

Study Shows 'Disheartening' Lack of Diversity at Legal Departments, Law Firms

Phillip Bantz | March 15, 2019

The study found that male in-house counsel tend to hire male external advisers and pick women as lead partner in a mere 17 percent of cases, while only 29 percent of law departments require the law firms they work with to provide diversity information.

News

Privacy Policies in Spotlight as Feds Investigate Facebook's Data Deals

Caroline Spiezio | March 14, 2019

Facebook is facing scrutiny over alleged deals with Amazon, Microsoft and others that allowed companies to obtain users' data without their consent. It's a reminder to all in-house counsel: privacy policies need to be transparent.

News

Ethics Conference Panel: Hammering Company Culture Is How to Keep Supply Chain Clean

Dan Clark | March 14, 2019

In-house counsel from Parsons Corp., Carter's Inc. and The Hershey Co. say they've cut ties with corrupt partners and looked at who was a part of the supply chain to ensure ethical practices.

News

With 'Soul of the Company Now at Stake,' What Can Boeing's Legal Department Do to Stem the Grounding Fallout?

Kristen Rasmussen | March 14, 2019

Boeing's in-house lawyers can help minimize the fallout from the 737 Max fleet grounding incident by taking the lead on figuring out what happened, preparing for potential litigation and reviewing internal and external communications, former general counsel told Corporate Counsel.

News

In-House Counsel in Construction Industry May See Uptick in Anti-Corruption Enforcement

Phillip Bantz | March 14, 2019

With big-money projects involving chains of subcontractors and sometimes corrupt foreign officials, the construction industry has become a target-rich environment for the DOJ, according to former federal prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys and construction and government contracts lawyers.

News

From Bentonville to Seoul, Jay Jorgensen Becomes General Counsel of South Korea's Coupang

Sue Reisinger | March 14, 2019

Jay Jorgensen, the former executive vice president and global chief ethics and compliance officer of Walmart Inc., is the new general counsel of Coupang, the largest and fastest growing e-commerce company in South Korea.

News

University of Texas Legal Chief Takes On Review of Admissions Cheating Scandal

Sue Reisinger | March 14, 2019

University of Texas has tapped its vice president for legal affairs to conduct a review of how its fired men’s tennis coach became embroiled in the nationwide college admissions scandal.

Slideshow

7 Reasons 2019 Is the Year of Privacy

Zach Warren | March 14, 2019

The legal world is going to have a lot to say in 2019 about how privacy will be viewed for the next decade and beyond.

News

Five Takeaways From Andrei Iancu's Testimony to Senate IP Subcommittee

Scott Graham | March 14, 2019

The USPTO director has won supporters on the Senate Judiciary Committee. But will he be able to stop them from using the phrase "patent troll"?

3 Things General Counsel, Labor and Employment Lawyers Need to Know About AI in Hiring

MP McQueen | March 13, 2019

Kelly Trindel, head of I/O science and diversity analytics at pymetrics and former chief analyst and research director at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, spoke with us recently about what lawyers need to know about the use of artificial intelligence and machine-learning in recruitment and hiring.

Authenticating Digital Signatures at Trial

Lynn Kappelman and Ryan Tilot| March 13, 2019

As courts and jurors become more comfortable with digital signatures, the process of admitting digitally signed documents will get easier. In the meantime, beyond meeting the technical requirements for admission, take the time to explain the digital signature process to jurors (and judges) in lay terms.

News

Poor Overseers or Victims? NCAA Opens Probe Into Colleges in Admissions Cheating Scandal

Sue Reisinger | March 13, 2019

The NCAA has announced it is looking into allegations against the indicted coaches for possible violations of its rules with colleges and their in-house counsel caught in the crossfire.

News

FDA Releases Guidelines for Tobacco Retailers After Trump Administration Seeks User Fees on E-Cigarettes

Dan Clark | March 13, 2019

The Food and Drug Administration's new guidance could ban retailers that do not have age-restricted areas of the store from selling flavored tobacco products for e-cigarettes and pushes up the premarket application deadline.

News

As Calls to Break Up Big Tech Grow, Spotify Files Antitrust Complaint Against Apple

Caroline Spiezio | March 13, 2019

Less than a week after Sen. Elizabeth Warren's call to break up big tech, Spotify has filed an antitrust complaint against Apple with the European Commission—the same regulators that fined Google $5 billion over antitrust concerns last year.

News

College Cheating Scandal Means General Counsel on Alert for Possible Civil Suits

Sue Reisinger | March 12, 2019

Federal prosecutors so far have named eight universities as unwitting victims of the cheating and say it was the largest-ever college admissions fraud in the U.S. They have charged at least 50 people, including actresses, CEOs and several college coaches with conspiracy to commit racketeering or fraud.

News

Securities Lawyers Weigh In on Elon Musk's Latest SEC Clash

Caroline Spiezio | March 12, 2019

Tesla CEO Elon Musk's counsel claimed the SEC has "no basis to issue contempt sanctions against him" in a filing Monday, adding cited First Amendment concerns. But some lawyers said Musk's second round of incorrect, Tesla-focused tweets didn't meet the "low bar" the SEC agreement set.

News

Privacy Notices, Opt-In Clauses Debated as US Regulators Shape Federal Privacy Law

Caroline Spiezio | March 12, 2019

Tech giants' privacy counsel and U.S. senators discussed opt-in policies, lengthy, legalese-filled privacy notices and location tracking at a hearing Tuesday morning. The discussion aimed to further shape a potential U.S. federal data privacy law, which could preempt the California Consumer Privacy Act.

News

US Businesses With Ties to Huawei Need to Prepare for Disruption

Phillip Bantz | March 12, 2019

U.S. banks and companies that do business with Huawei need to “understand where their pressure points would be in the relationship with Huawei,” which means examining flows of goods and services, data and money.

News

Should You Be Taking the Lead on Workplace Violence Training?

Kristen Rasmussen | March 12, 2019

As the corporate rule of law monitor, general counsel increasingly are working behind the scenes to address workplace violence and active shootings, experts told Corporate Counsel.

Uber Reaches $20 Million Settlement With Drivers Over Classification Dispute

Raychel Lean | March 12, 2019

Uber Technologies Inc. and its former CEO have signed onto a $20 million agreement with 13,600 drivers in California and Massachusetts, settling claims that the company misclassified its employees as independent contractors to cut labor costs.

Tech M&A Counsel Can Take Precautions as Regulators Propose Reversing Approved Deals

Caroline Spiezio | March 11, 2019

Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Federal Trade Commission regulators have both proposed reversing previously approved mergers and acquisitions by tech giants. In-house counsel can spot red flags and alter or block deals before their company ends up in a subsidiary fire sale.

News

US Sanction of Russian Bank Shows OFAC's Broad Reach, Says Former Treasury Official

Phillip Bantz | March 11, 2019

A former senior sanctions policy adviser for the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control described the Evrofinance sanction as a “two-for-one” move that ratchets up the pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and shows that “dealing with state-owned Russian financial institutions is a high-risk proposition.”

News

Dunkin' Taps Former Marriott Lawyer to Be Chief Legal Officer

Dan Clark | March 11, 2019

Dunkin' Brands Group Inc. announced Monday that it has hired a former Marriott in-house attorney to become its next senior vice president and chief legal officer.

Legal Operations: Why It Matters and How to Optimize Its Impact

Nathan Wenzel| March 11, 2019

Legal operations managers help legal departments get the most out of their budgets, vendors and technology. They optimize the larger legal supply chain matching up a portfolio of supply (e.g., law firms, alternative service providers, consultants and in-house teams) to the company’s portfolio of legal needs to meet strategic business objectives.

Q&A

Drawing on the Deals that Changed the Media Landscape: A Q&A With CBS' Laura Franco

Dan Clark | March 08, 2019

Newly named CBS general counsel Laura Franco talks about her 20+ years at the media corporation and what she hopes to accomplish in the top legal position.

News

National Association of Manufacturers' In-House Counsel Partner With 15 State Attorneys General on Climate Change Lawsuits

Sue Reisinger | March 08, 2019

Certain state attorneys general have joined Manufacturers’ Accountability Project, an undertaking by the legal arm of the National Association of Manufacturers, to file amicus briefs opposing recent climate change lawsuits.

News

Huawei Chief Legal Officer Says Posing a Security Threat to Other Countries Would Be 'Suicide'

Phillip Bantz | March 08, 2019

Huawei's chief lawyer said in an interview with Bloomberg the U.S. ban on Huawei's products had hurt the company and its reputation. But he asserted that Huawei would only leave the U.S. as a "last resort."

Analysis

For Attorneys of Color, Barriers to the General Counsel Role Remain

Caroline Spiezio | March 08, 2019

Legal departments are generally more inclusive than big law firms, but diversity advocates said there's still work to be done, especially at the general counsel level.

Early Thoughts on Labor Department's New Overtime Proposal

Erin Mulvaney | March 08, 2019

Management-side and workers' rights advocates have a lot to say about the U.S. Labor Department's new proposal to boost overtime eligibility. Here's a snapshot.

Expert Opinion

Beyond the New General Counsel Meet and Greet—Assess Your Team

Miriam Frank and Barrett Avigdor| March 08, 2019

Effective general counsel must develop strong relationships with the C-Suite and among leadership, but just as important, with the members of the legal team.

News

LendingTree Finds New General Counsel With Former Mastercard Lawyer

Dan Clark | March 08, 2019

Laura Yens, a former in-house counsel at Mastercard, started in her role last month at LendingTree overseeing all of the legal functions there.

News

Message Encryption Raises Legal, Safety Complications for Tech Platforms

Caroline Spiezio | March 08, 2019

As Facebook moves toward privacy-focused messaging, encryption's legal and ethical complications could come into play.

Commentary

A Seat at the Table: Making a Triangle Into a Circle

Dan Panitz| March 08, 2019

How to successfully transform the triangle between legal, finance and procurement into a circle—where solid relationships can be built and real work can be done—with each having a “seat at the table.”

News

Boardroom Battles Ahead Over Resolutions Seeking Median Pay Equity for Women

Sue Reisinger | March 07, 2019

Arjuna Capital, an investment firm specializing in sustainable and ethical investing, had asked a dozen bank and tech companies to reveal their median pay gaps.

News

FDA Commissioner's Departure Sparks Hope, Uncertainty for Tobacco Industry

Dan Clark | March 07, 2019

Scott Gottlieb was known for taking on the tobacco industry during his time as commissioner of the FDA. He plans on leaving at the end of the month and the tobacco industry is exercising cautious optimism that his successor will not focus on tobacco regulation.

News

Bucknell GC to Join Pepper Hamilton Higher Ed Practice

Lizzy McLellan | March 07, 2019

Amy Foerster is set to join Pepper Hamilton as co-chair of its higher education practice in May.

News

DOJ Cites Lack of Oversight in Bribery Case Against Russian Mobile Phone Company

Phillip Bantz | March 07, 2019

MTS’s “failure to implement effective internal accounting controls” had allowed the company’s executives and others to get away for years with disguising the bribery payments on the company’s books as acquisition costs, option payments, purchases of regulatory assets and charitable donations, according to the DOJ.

News

LexisNexis General Counsel Talks Legal Tech, Sticking to a Budget and the Rise of In-House Counsel

Caroline Spiezio | March 07, 2019

Ian McDougall, the general counsel of LexisNexis, offered his predictions on legal tech adoption, increasing legal department sizes and changing inside-outside counsel relationships at a Stanford event.

News

Ticketmaster Picks Ex-HotelTonight Legal Boss as New General Counsel

Kristen Rasmussen | March 07, 2019

Karen Klein, who also will serve as the live-event ticketing giant's executive vice president, is a tech travel in-house veteran, previously holding high-ranking positions at Kayak.com and Orbitz.

News

Publix Promotes New General Counsel From Within

Kristen Rasmussen | March 07, 2019

Merriann Metz, who also will hold the title of vice president and secretary, on May 31 will succeed a retiring John Attaway, who joined Publix in 1997 and started the Lakeland, Florida-based grocery giant's corporate legal department.

Expert Opinion

It's Hiring Season! Now Is the Best Time to Find Talent

Mike Evers| March 07, 2019

March through June is the most active window for recruiting at the professional level generally across disciplines.

News

With Gottlieb Leaving FDA, Uncertainty Over CBD and Hemp Regulation Remains

Dan Clark | March 06, 2019

With the FDA commissioner set to leave the agency this month, lawyers working with the hemp and CBD industries feel like his departure may lead to a pushback on regulations.

News

Two New Surveys Help Companies Focus on Enhancing Internal Investigations

Sue Reisinger | March 06, 2019

Two newly released surveys from Consilio and KPMG find many of their corporate respondents count internal investigations as a top priority.

News

How Lawyers at Talc Company Behind Johnson & Johnson May Be Weathering Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Kristen Rasmussen | March 06, 2019

Because Imerys Talc America Inc., the supplier of talc for Johnson & Johnson Services Inc.'s baby powder, is likely to use a bankruptcy procedure whereby litigants' claims that talc caused cancer are satisfied through trust assets set up during the process, the company and its legal department will likely operate normally, bankruptcy experts told Corporate Counsel.

News

Embattled Huawei Calls for Trust and Transparency Through Common Cybersecurity Standards

Phillip Bantz | March 06, 2019

Huawei deputy chairman Ken Hu's call for governments, regulators and other stakeholders to collaborate and create common cybersecurity standards is great, but experts are skeptical about the lack of detail. 

Commentary

The Power of a Platform: Why Your Corporate Legal Team Needs a Legal Hub

Rob MacAdam| March 06, 2019

It’s become clear that GCs must now run their legal function like a business, and they’re doing it by using technology and a platform strategy to create a centralized legal hub.

Judge's Pay-Data Ruling, a Trump Rebuke, Puts New Squeeze on Employers

Erin Mulvaney | March 06, 2019

"I imagine there are a lot of questions being posted and everyone is trying to figure out what this means,” one labor and employment lawyer says.

News

FTC Task Force: Will Tech Giants Face a Day of Reckoning on Antitrust?

MP McQueen | March 06, 2019

Some antitrust lawyers are skeptical of the announcement last week that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition is naming a 17-staff lawyer task force to examine antitrust issues around big tech — which could possibly include reviewing some past mergers such as Facebook’s acquisition of WhatsApp and Instagram.

News

LGBT Bar Names Altria In-House Counsel Wesley Bizzell as Board President

Sue Reisinger | March 05, 2019

The National LGBT Bar Association named Wesley Bizzell and Jesse Loffler to new leadership positions.

Patagonia Lands Ex-EPA General Counsel, Gibson Dunn Partner as New Environmental Advocate

Kristen Rasmussen | March 05, 2019

Veteran environmental lawyer Avi Garbow said of his move: 'For those of us who care ... we are really coming into a crucial period in the administration when those of us who have experience and have a voice need to speak up.'

News

Comedian Claims Barstool Sports General Counsel Offered Her a $50 Gift Card to Retract Copyright Notice

Caroline Spiezio | March 05, 2019

Comedian Miel Bredouw tweeted a series of emails from Barstool Sports' general counsel Mark Marin. The GC offered her a $50 gift card to retract a DMCA takedown notice against the sports blog, which republished a video she created in December.

News

Financial Sector Sees Major Spike in Mobile Cyberattacks, Report Says

Phillip Bantz | March 05, 2019

A new look at cybercrime trends throughout the world shows that the financial industry experienced a 37 percent increase in takeover attacks during the second half of 2018, and a whopping 107 percent spike when looking at fraudsters' attempts to gain control of user accounts during mobile transactions.

News

FDIC General Counsel Charles Yi to Leave Agency

Kristen Rasmussen | March 05, 2019

A successor for Charles Yi, GC at the FDIC since January 2015, has not yet been named, and it was not immediately clear why Yi is leaving or where he is headed next.

Commentary

Former GC Says Legal Departments Need to Play Offense

Dan Sanders| March 05, 2019

With a single player (could be an inside or outside resource), a game plan can be designed to identify and pursue, systematically, monies which may be owed to the company as a result of actions or omissions by third parties.

News

New Report Says Europe Now Has More Than Half of All Open Bribery Investigations

Sue Reisinger | March 05, 2019

TRACE’s 9th annual Global Enforcement Report is a country-by-country look at government-led investigations into suspected bribery allegations, offering general counsel a better understanding of global trends.

Federal Judge Hits Trump Agency for 'Illegal' Move to Stop New Pay-Data Rule

Erin Mulvaney | March 04, 2019

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan's ruling Monday was the latest blow to the Trump administration's maneuvering to block Obama-era rules.

News

No Shortcut to Copyright Registration, High Court Rules

Scott Graham | March 04, 2019

Applying and paying is not enough to clear the way for an infringement suit, the U.S. Supreme Court justices ruled in a blow to owners. The copyright register must also sign off, which can take weeks.

News

Google's Global Affairs Head Warns of EU Copyright Directive's 'Unintended Consequences'

Caroline Spiezio | March 04, 2019

Google's legal department head Kent Walker urged EU lawmakers to amend controversial aspects of its pending copyright directive before an upcoming final vote.

News

CLOC Appoints 3 New Board Members as Cisco Deputy General Counsel Resigns From Board

Dan Clark | March 04, 2019

Steve Harmon, the vice president and general counsel at Elevate Services Inc. and deputy general counsel at Cisco Systems Inc., will be stepping down from his role on the board.

Will the EU's New Copyright Directive Bring Big Changes for Google, YouTube and Other Platforms?

Simon Taylor| March 04, 2019

New copyright rules, the first update of copyright law in 20 years, would require platforms such as Google and YouTube to give content rights-holders a greater share of the revenue they earn from that content.

News

Patent Agent Fights Identity Theft Over Fraudulent USPTO Filings From China

Phillip Bantz | March 04, 2019

After being told that her signature had been forged on hundreds of bogus U.S. trademark applications, Miriam Paton said she sought advice from an IP ethics expert and worked with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to clear her name and resolve a misconduct investigation.

News

Three Companies Learn the Hard Way: Don't Breach a Federal Non-Prosecution Agreement

Sue Reisinger | March 04, 2019

A memorable ad used to say it’s not nice to fool Mother Nature. And good lawyers know it’s not smart to try to fool federal prosecutors, either.…

Commentary

Block to the Future II: Finance, Transformed

Stephen J. Obie and Harriet Territt| March 04, 2019

Financial institutions were among the first wave of commercial businesses to explore how blockchain technology can be applied to different aspects of financial markets, including syndicated lending, payment systems, and administration of capital markets.

News

From GDPR to Golden State Killer, DNA Sharing Presents Privacy Challenges

Kristen Rasmussen | March 04, 2019

Collaborations between popular consumer genetic testing companies like 23andMe and pharmaceutical giants like GlaxoSmithKline to develop new drugs raise data privacy concerns for in-house lawyers, who must navigate this murky compliance landscape largely through privacy policies.

Analysis

Dazed and Confused: Gray Areas in the Golden State's New Privacy Law

Frank Ready | March 04, 2019

Firms are helping clients prepare for the enactment of the California Consumer Protection on January 1, 2020. But it's difficult to hit the ground running with some vagaries surrounding the law still in place.

Q&A

Former US House General Counsel Remembers Tip O'Neill and Raising Level of the Job

Sue Reisinger | March 01, 2019

Stanley Brand discusses his role in modernizing the office of general counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives.

News

Williams-Sonoma, Amazon Gearing Up for Trademark War

Scott Graham | March 01, 2019

Durie Tangri's Mark Lemley and Orrick's Annette Hurst are duking it out over Amazon's advertising of goods as "by Williams-Sonoma" and "fulfilled by Amazon."

News

What Spinoff Old Navy, Gap's 'NewCo' Will Need in Their GCs

Kristen Rasmussen | March 01, 2019

Following the news of its split into two independent retail companies, Gap Inc.'s "NewCo" will need a GC prepared to handle the challenges associated with the legacy brands, while the new Old Navy's top lawyer must bring flexibility to the growth company, experts say.

Expert Opinion

Cyber Due Diligence Is Table Stakes for Effective M&A

Jennifer DeTrani| March 01, 2019

Don’t let a dangerous stranger beat you at your own game when your company acquires or merges with another. Always conduct cyber diligence to mitigate risk before the deal is done.

News

Chinese Trademark Scammers Forging US, Canadian Attorneys' Signatures on USPTO Filings

Phillip Bantz | March 01, 2019

When a U.S.-based trademark and copyright lawyer sought to find out why his client's trademark application for an app was rejected, he discovered that a Chinese company had filed an application for the same product based on screenshots of his client's app. Then he discovered that the company allegedly used the signature of a Canadian patent agent without her permission.

Commentary

Going In-House: What Law Firm Partners Need to Understand

Deborah Ben-Canaan and Lauren Drake| March 01, 2019

If you are a law firm partner looking to move in-house, here are some things you may want to consider in order to determine whether an in-house role will bring you the satisfaction you think it will.

News

As Its Chair Leaves for Big GC Role, Davis Polk Posts Best Year Ever

Meghan Tribe | March 01, 2019

As Thomas Reid readies to leave for a GC role at Comcast, Davis Polk is left in strong financial health.

Lyft Files to Go Public, Speeding Past Uber in Their Race to an IPO

Caroline Spiezio | March 01, 2019

Lyft has filed to go public, pulling ahead of competitor Uber in the race to an IPO. It's the first time Lyft general counsel Kristin Sverchek has taken a company public.

News

Davis Polk Managing Partner to Be Comcast's New General Counsel

Dan Clark | March 01, 2019

Thomas J. Reid will be taking over the role of senior executive vice president, general counsel and secretary for the Philadelphia-based telecommunications conglomerate.

News

American Express' Antitrust Guru Moves to Walmart

Kristen Rasmussen | March 01, 2019

Suzanne Wachsstock, who built American Express Co.'s global antitrust and trade association compliance program during her nearly 12-year tenure there, has been named chief antitrust counsel, a new position within Walmart Inc.'s legal department.

Wickr's Top Lawyer Heads to Cybersecurity Startup as General Counsel

Caroline Spiezio | March 01, 2019

Jennifer DeTrani, the top lawyer at ephemeral messaging service Wickr, has moved to a new general counsel role at cybersecurity startup Nisos.

News

Tesla, CBS and United See New General Counsel: February 2019 In-House Moves

Kibkabe Araya | February 28, 2019

A roundup of major in-house moves occurring in February.

News

FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Tobacco Products

Dan Clark | February 28, 2019

Retailers may receive a letter to stop selling not substantially equivalent, or NSE, products, meaning the products are not similar to already legally marketed products, therefore retailers can't sell those products until they are cleared by the FDA.

News

Is a National Strategy on Blockchain Technology Needed?

MP McQueen | February 28, 2019

The Chamber of Digital Commerce, headquartered in Washington, D.C., released its proposals last week asking "the highest levels of the U.S. government to embrace a comprehensive, national strategy for blockchain technology,” including a set of “guiding principles.”

News

US Chamber Legal Leader Warns of Flood of Lawsuits if Congress Ends Forced Arbitration

Sue Reisinger | February 28, 2019

Rickard issued a statement Thursday after two Democratic members of Congress introduced measures in the House and Senate to end forced arbitration clauses in company contracts and employee handbooks.

News

Thinking About Getting Into Food and Grocery Delivery Business? Consider These Issues First

Kristen Rasmussen | February 28, 2019

From auto insurance and background checks to protection of consumer data, in-house attorneys at food and beverage companies weighing whether to offer home grocery or restaurant delivery services have a number of tricky legal and other matters to consider.

SEC Names Gabriel Benincasa as First-Ever Chief Risk Officer

C. Ryan Barber | February 28, 2019

Gabriel Benincasa’s hiring comes just months after he joined Patomak Global Partners in New York, a firm headed by Paul Atkins, who served on President Donald Trump’s transition team as a top adviser on financial regulation.

News

In-House Leaders Can Find Opportunity in Chaotic Trade Landscape

Phillip Bantz | February 28, 2019

Now is the time to analyze supply chains, including the supply chains of competitors that are publicly traded companies. It’s also smart to scrutinize new trade deals happening outside the U.S.

News

Greenberg Traurig Closes Black History Month with a Panel on Diversity in Law

Caroline Spiezio | February 28, 2019

Black Bay Area in-house counsel discussed their legal departments diversity efforts, wins and challenges at a panel hosted by Greenberg Traurig Wednesday night.

News

CBS Chief Legal Officer to Leave in April

Dan Clark | February 28, 2019

Lawrence Tu, who tendered his resignation Feb. 22, will remain with the company as a senior adviser to acting CEO Joseph Ianniello until April 30, according to the filing. Tu will officially leave the company a month shy of the end of his latest contract with CBS.

News

Tobacco Companies Support Legislation Raising Smoking Age

Dan Clark | February 27, 2019

According to Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Hawaii, California, New Jersey, Oregon, Maine, Massachusetts and Virginia have laws that raised the age from 18 to 21 for consumers to purchase and use tobacco products.

News

Attorneys General Keep Targeting National Franchises over No-Poach Provisions

Sue Reisinger | February 27, 2019

Earlier this month Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that seven more corporate chains have eliminated employee no-poach practices nationwide, raising to 57 the number of chains that have signed such agreements with Ferguson over the past two years.

News

European Data Protection Supervisor Says GDPR Still 'Legal Puzzle' for Companies

Phillip Bantz | February 27, 2019

The 2018 EDPS annual report released Tuesday shows that the number of data privacy complaints increased by 111 percent from 2017 to 2018. And the number of admissible complaints that led to investigations spiked by 132 percent.

News

FTC Hits Musical.ly With Record-Setting $5.7M Fine Over COPPA Violations

Caroline Spiezio | February 27, 2019

Musical.ly, also known as TikTok, has been hit with the highest-ever FTC penalty for COPPA violations. The FTC alleged Musical.ly collected young children's data without parental consent.

Commentary

3 Ways Legal Counsel Can Use Technology to Hire Better and Spend Less

Raad Ahmed| February 27, 2019

Technology can help to build, manage and unite a legal team, allowing organizations to run leaner and spend less.

News

Tech Representatives, Senators Discuss Framework for US Federal Data Privacy Law

Caroline Spiezio | February 27, 2019

Tech industry representatives joined senators Wednesday to discuss policy points for a federal data protection law. Both sides have pushed for a federal law as data breaches become an increasing consumer concern and California's data privacy law implementation date approaches.

Market Insights

Gig workers’ importance to grow over next 5 years

Marlene Satter | February 27, 2019

According to a new report, “a sizable, semi-permanent gig workforce is becoming the norm.”

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Law.com Editors| February 27, 2019

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News

US Chamber's Legal Arm Calls for Reform of Explosive Securities Class Action System

Sue Reisinger | February 26, 2019

The U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Legal Reform held a press briefing Tuesday and released two research reports to substantiate its claims that plaintiffs and their lawyers are abusing the legal system.

News

As More Countries Seek Adequacy Decisions With EU, Will US Get Left Behind?

Phillip Bantz | February 26, 2019

“All these major economic areas are taking an omnibus approach to data protection,” while the U.S. "is still focused very much sectorally on how it regulates data protection,” said a London-based privacy and cybersecurity expert. A federal data privacy law would open the door for a U.S.-EU adequacy decision under the GDPR. But such a law appears to be a tough sell at the moment.