Colleagues Jennifer Satterfield, and Jennifer Tharp have prepared a legal insight outlining the regulatory challenges litigators face as the technology of the autonomous vehicle (AV) industry quickly evolves. The legislative uncertainty in the US leaves the safety standards of these self-driving/self-parking vehicles up to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) and National Highway Traffic Safety … Continue Reading
This is a Cross-Post from The Trade Practitioner. Please contact Karen Harbaugh with any questions. The Biden Administration recently released the Federal Supplier Climate Risks and Resilience Proposed Rule requiring contractors of the federal government to disclose climate-related risks. Read more on the proposed requirements here.… Continue Reading
Our UK colleagues, John Alderton (Leeds), Monika Lorenzo-Perez (London), Charlotte Møller (London), and Devinder Singh (Birmingham) have prepared a legal insight outlining how the failure to recognize signs of business stress can cause a company to face a period of distress. To help identify some of the common signs of business stress and distress read … Continue Reading
#TeamSPB’s Litigation Partner Sarah Rathke recently participated in an on demand CLE presentation for Quimbee on Why is Everything Broken? Understanding Pandemic Supply Chains. This presentation discusses the causes of the current supply chain logjams, the ways forward to better deal with supply chain partners, solve problems expeditiously, and be knowledgeable about commercial rights and … Continue Reading
In our previous article about post-termination restrictive covenants we discussed the High Court case of Dwyer (UK Franchising) Limited v Fredbar Limited [2021] EWHC 1218 as an example of covenants being found unreasonable and therefore unenforceable. Since then, the Claimant has appealed the judgment and the Court of Appeal has once again found in favor … Continue Reading
The impact on working arrangements caused by the pandemic has led many workers to re-evaluate what they want from a job, with considerations such as flexible and remote working becoming both more desirable and attainable. This is affecting businesses in all sectors, and the impact it can have not only on a business’s workforce but … Continue Reading
Yesterday, SPB supply chain partner Sarah Rathke was quoted in Law360’s article entitled, “New Ocean Shipping Regs On Deck, But Inland Woes Persist,” discussing the substance and likely impacts of the new Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022, which cleared Congress and is expected to be signed into law by President Biden soon. Read more … Continue Reading
On December 14, 2021, lawmakers in the House and Senate announced that they had reached an agreement on compromise language for a bill known as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act or “UFLPA.” Different versions of this measure passed the House and the Senate earlier this year, but lawmakers and Congressional staff have been working … Continue Reading
This is a Cross-Post from American University Business Law Review. Please contact Sarah Rathke with any questions. The American University Business Law Review recently published an article entitled Why Choose LTAs? An Empirical Study of Ohio Manufacturers’ Contractual Choices Through a Bargaining Lens. In this study Case Western Reserve University Professor Juliet Kostritsky and now-Squire … Continue Reading
This is a Cross-post from the Capital Thinking blog . On Tuesday, August 11, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden announced that he has selected Senator Kamala Devi Harris (D-California) as his vice presidential running mate. Since joining the U.S. Congress in 2017, Harris has in some instances served as a bridge between progressive and … Continue Reading
On June 8, 2020, the Federal Reserve (or “Fed”) published updated FAQs (the “FAQ”) and updated term sheets for the Main Street Lending Program (“MSLP”). The new FAQ, which may be further revised, updates prior FAQs that were published on April 30, 2020 and revised on May 27, 2020. The most recent revisions increase the … Continue Reading
Most states and U.S. territories have now begun reopening at least parts of their economies. The reopening efforts purport to follow a three-phase White House plan, even though not many states have met the plan’s benchmarks, including a “downward trajectory” in coronavirus cases. The White House guidelines are not mandatory. Rather, they advise governors to take … Continue Reading
This is a Cross-post from the Insurance and Reinsurance Disputes Blog. Back in March, when the novel coronavirus was spreading and local and state governments were issuing stay-home orders, we published a blog post on Civil Authority Orders and COVID-19 Coverage. Since that time, there have been over 125 lawsuits filed by insured businesses, many … Continue Reading
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we often are asked what our clients should do if a business counterparty (such as a vendor, customer or other contract counterparty) is suffering distress and may be contemplating filing for bankruptcy. It is, of course, impossible to anticipate every possible scenario, but our colleagues in the Restructuring … Continue Reading
Businesses have been adopting unusual and novel practices to ensure their operations can continue during the period of the COVID-19 outbreak. The lockdown has forced many businesses to temporarily (or in some cases permanently) close down offices and other premises, and divert attention to remote working and the utilization of workforces predominantly working from home. … Continue Reading
In the ultimate act of service learning, many universities and schools have shifted their focus during the COVID-19 crisis to manufacturing personal protective equipment (“PPE”) or providing PPE supplies to the local medical community and first responders. Colleges and schools across the country are using 3D printers to make masks, face shields, and ventilators. Many … Continue Reading
As COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly across the globe, we have witnessed an unprecedented amount of altruism and goodwill across the supply chain. With a dearth of hand sanitizer, ventilators, medicine, gloves, masks, and other personal protective equipment (“PPE”) that is desperately needed to combat COVID-19, numerous businesses have rallied and responded to the call … Continue Reading
After much anticipation, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve (“Federal Reserve”) on April 9, 2020 announced additional actions “using its full range of authorities” to provide US$2.3 trillion of credit to a wide variety of business enterprises, States and municipalities. The Federal Reserve’s actions in support of existing and new programs, as described … Continue Reading
Countries around the world continue to enact policies aimed at mitigating the spread of COVID-19 that both recognize the importance of trade to their respective economies, but also seek to address domestic demand for key goods – especially medical supplies – related to the crisis. Similarly, some recent government policies around the world have shifted … Continue Reading
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many businesses are manufacturing essential public health and/or medical supplies that are now in high demand. Companies around the world—from global luxury brands like Dior and Givenchy to local distilleries throughout the United States—have been switching their alcohol-based product lines from the manufacturing of products such as perfume and spirits … Continue Reading
Our colleagues at the Restructuring GlobalView Blog have prepared guides to assist businesses in Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, and Spain to understand what financial support packages are available in those countries. These guides provide a country-specific overview of the package, eligibility, how to apply, and when it will be available. Click … Continue Reading
Our colleagues, Hon. John A. Boehner, Karol Denniston, Ed J. Newberry, and Stephen D. Lerner, will be joining the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) and FTI Consulting professionals for a webinar deciphering the most recent federal stabilization programs and developments and providing unique and practical advice for business leaders and professionals. The panel will also discuss how … Continue Reading
As world leaders respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses around the world have been forced to adapt. Our colleagues in Germany, Dr. Jens Rinze, Dr. Christian Bleschke, Tanja Weber, Dr. Andreas Fillmann, Markus Schmucker, and Siemer Krümpelmann, have prepared a comprehensive overview of the key legal issues for businesses with operations in Germany to consider, … Continue Reading
On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020. The CARES Act includes a range of extensive loan and grant programs that are vital to businesses across the country, including some US$500 billion in funding for the Department of Treasury that is expected to … Continue Reading
