For your reference, here is a roundup of recent law firm advisories covering corruption-related happenings around the globe. Ranging from Burma sanctions to Biomet settlements, see: Fools Rush In: Social and Environmental Due Diligence in Burma (Foley Hoag LLP) “… companies should consider how they would conduct business responsibly in Burma, were the investment-related sanctions to… Read more »
On March 12, 2012, India’s Patent Office granted Indian drug manufacturer Natco Pharma a compulsory license to sell a generic version of Bayer AG’s kidney and liver cancer drug Nexavar. It’s the first time an Indian company has been granted a compulsory license under the Indian Patent Act of 2005, the law which allows the… Read more »
What’s on your mind? Human trafficking, the mortgage foreclosure settlement, investor visas to the US, and HIPAA compliance and violations, among other things. For your reference, here’s a look at the most-read Corporate Law Report posts over the past month: 1.California Transparency in Supply Chains Act Takes Effect January 1, 2012 “The California Transparency in… Read more »
Law firm Dechert has produced a useful overview of the ever-expanding EU sanctions against Iran, Syria, and Belarus and their implications for US companies: “It is a common mistake for businesses to believe that if you are based in the US or compliant with US OFAC provisions, then EU sanctions do not apply to you.… Read more »
When a unanimous Supreme Court earlier this month rejected Prometheus’ claims that isolated DNA sequences are patentable (see Mayo v. Prometheus: SCOTUS Issues Landmark IP Law Opinion), many wondered if the diagnostic testing patents held by Myriad Genetics would meet a similar fate. It took less than one week to get the answer. On March… Read more »
In November 2009, 57 unencrypted computer hard discs containing protected health information of more than one million people were stolen from a storage locker leased by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee (BCBST). Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services entered into a $1.5 million settlement with BCBST over privacy and security violations as… Read more »
For your reference, here’s a roundup of commentary on recent legal developments in the renewable and alternative energy industry: Wind Power Offshore Wind Energy Development in Mid-Atlantic Moving Forward (Venable LLP) “Coinciding with the publication of the environmental assessment, [the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)] announced that it is soliciting statements of interest from… Read more »
Brazil is making its foreign bribery bill easier to understand, which should help companies doing business in the country build and refine their compliance strategies. From anti-corruption lawyer Matteson Ellis: “The amendments clarify and boost the voluntary disclosure program, which should be a welcomed change for companies. In the earlier version, companies that self reported… Read more »
Foreign corporate spying and the theft of trade secrets are alive and well, according to the federal government. And the Economic Espionage Act is an important tool in combatting such activities. From law firm Quinn Emanuel: “The [Economic Espionage Act] is a far-reaching law that criminalizes two distinct but related types of trade secret misappropriation:… Read more »
International law firm White & Case has produced a useful overview of recent judicial decisions regarding the definition of “foreign official” and “instrumentality” of the government under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Their analysis highlights an important issue for businesses that interact with foreign state-owned companies: “… courts faced with challenges to charges based on… Read more »
Are the tactics of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement changing? That’s the question white collar and anti-corruption lawyer Mike Volkov ponders in Wiretaps — A New Tool for FCPA Enforcement?: “While the whistleblower rules are important and justify vigilant compliance efforts, there is a more significant, and possibly damaging, trend for FCPA enforcement. Corporations now… Read more »
Staying on top of global competition laws is crucial to the success of any company doing business in multiple jurisdictions. But it’s a challenging task, made all the more difficult as countries continue to refine and strengthen their regulatory regimes. For reference, a roundup by region of recent legal commentary and analysis on developments in… Read more »
From law firm Morgan Lewis, a comprehensive overview of ongoing initiatives in Congress and key federal agencies to loosen restrictions on raising capital. There’s something for everyone in this update, from startups to privately held businesses to public companies: “H.R. 3606 would create a new category of issuer, an ‘emerging growth company,’ defined as a… Read more »
We continue to see interest in the legal implications for US taxpayers and foreign financial institutions alike of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, known as FATCA. For your reference, here’s a roundup of recent advisories from lawyers and law firms on JD Supra. [See also the updated 5 Takeaways from New IRS FATCA Guidance] … Read more »
Law firm Thompson Coburn has produced a comprehensive guide to compliance with United States trade laws for general counsel and others in the business of importing and exporting products, technology, and services. Of particular note are the 33-page “dictionary of trade terms” (from “ACE” to “Zone Status”), and in-depth summaries of the import and export… Read more »
