Tag Archives: COVID-19

Supply Chain Webinar: “Why is Everything Broken? Understanding Pandemic Supply Chains”

#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

Case Update: Dwyer v Fredbar in the Court of Appeal

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

Upcoming CLE Hosted by Thompson Reuters:  Why Is Everything Broken? Understanding Pandemic Supply Chains

Partner Sarah Rathke is pleased to present an upcoming year-end CLE in connection with Thompson Reuters entitled, “Why Is Everything Broken? Understanding Pandemic Supply Chains” on December 20, 2021 at 2:00 pm ET.  This CLE will discuss areas causing stress to supply chains including changes in consumption patterns, the labor market, global diplomatic relationships, and … Continue Reading

Cross-Post from cleveland.com: Why are supply chains broken? Blame the ‘black swan’ tsunami: Sarah Rathke

This is a Cross-Post from The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com.  Please contact Sarah Rathke with any questions. In this article written by partner Sarah Rathke, she explains dramatic strain COVID-19 has put on our logistics networks worldwide and the “‘black swan’ tsunai” effecting today’s global supply-chain.… Continue Reading

From Supply Chain Management Review: Talking Supply Chain Podcast: The Legal Blacksmith

This is from Supply Chain Management Review‘s  Talking Supply Chain Podcast.  Please contact Sarah Rathke with any questions. Partner Sarah Rathke, who co-authored The Legal Blacksmith with Rosemary Coates, discusses the legal implications of today’s supply chain crisis including the disputes supply chain partners face due to disruptions and labor and materials shortages with Bob … Continue Reading

Upcoming Webinar: Why Is Everything Broken? Understanding Supply Chains in 2021

Partner Sarah Rathke is pleased to present “Why Is Everything Broken? Understanding Supply Chains in 2021” on December 9, 2021 at 11 a.m. EDT. This webinar will discuss the causes of the current supply chain logjams, put them into historical context and will outline various paths forward. As the holidays approach, our sponsor and our … Continue Reading

Cross-Post from Reuters: AI fixes for supply chain logjams carry legal risks

This is a Cross-Post by Reuters.  Please contact Sarah Rathke with any questions. Partner Sarah Rathke discussed with Reuters on how A.I. and digital twin technology can aid to help solve supply chain disruptions and the potential data privacy complications companies might encounter when  sharing detailed supply chain data.  You can view the video interview … Continue Reading

We’re In The WSJ!

We made the Wall Street Journal today in an article discussing recent efforts by suppliers to provide for greater price flexibility in their supply chain contracts, quoting supply chain partner Sarah Rathke. While price escalation clauses are well known in some industries (for instance, energy) and in some geographical markets (for instance, at times, in … Continue Reading

Interview with DC Velocity: China and U.S. face “reckoning” over trade disruptions in 2021

Please contact Sarah Rathke with any questions. SPB supply chain lawyer Sarah Rathke was interviewed by Ben Ames of DC Velocity regarding the potential international trade disruptions with China in 2021.  Sarah discusses the potential challenges facing the Chinese international trade supply chain and the difficulties in predicting Chinese policies this year.  You can read the full … Continue Reading

Interview with Supply Chain Dive: Biden invokes DPA to combat supply shortages, but experts say it’s no ‘magic wand’

Please contact Sarah Rathke with any questions. Through a recent executive order, the Biden administration has the authority to use the Defense Production Act (DPA).  Recently, SPB supply chain lawyer Sarah Rathke was interviewed by the Supply Chain Dive concerning use of the DPA.  The Supply Chain Dive article here explains how the DPA order will require … Continue Reading

Cross-Post from Employment Law Worldview:  EEOC Publishes Guidance on Employer Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policies (US)

This is Cross-Post from Employment Law Worldview.  Please contact Daniel Pasternak with any questions. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) updated COVID-19 guidance indicates that employers can implement and enforce mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for their employees.  The article here breaks down the key takeaways from EEOC’s updated COVID-19 guidance.… Continue Reading

Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Chain Challenges

At the time of this writing, two companies, Pfizer Inc. and Moderna, Inc., have announced promising early results from Phase 3 of their COVID-19 vaccine trials.  Additional promising results are hoped for from Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca soon, and perhaps from others later.  This is good news. Developing a vaccine is one thing, however.  … Continue Reading

Cross-Post from Law360: Key Gov’t Tools For Addressing National PPE Shortages

This is a Cross-Post from Law360.  Please contact Sarah Rathke with any questions. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed shortcomings in U.S. supply chains requiring immediate action to continue to provide personal protective equipment (“PPE”) during the ongoing crisis.  Here, we’ve been published in Law360, discussing federal solutions for our national PPE shortages.  Read the full … Continue Reading

Update to Main Street Lending Program

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

Making Rhyme or Reason out of Reopening

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

Government COVID-19 Trade Credit Protections – Backstops Are Not Just For Brexit!

The announcement from HM Treasury on May 13 2020 to support trade credit insurance has to be very welcome news for many UK businesses and their supply chains.  It is a very significant announcement because trade credit insurance plays a vital role in supply chains, oiling, as it does, the wheels of domestic and global … Continue Reading

Cross-Post from the Insurance and Reinsurance Disputes Blog: Is a COVID-19 Stay-Home Order Alone Enough to Trigger Business Interruption Coverage?

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

Managing Distressed Customer Relationships

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

Employer’s Guide to Return-to-Work Issues: COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency has changed life as we know it, including by severely disrupting business on a nationwide scale. In some cases, employers have been forced to temporarily close their doors and cease operations, while others have had to make radical changes to the workplace in order to maintain operations. … Continue Reading

Global Supply Chains In The Wake Of COVID-19 In Socially Critical Industries – Is It Time To Reshore?

As countries, economies, and businesses adjust to life in the COVID-19 era, many governments have started to ask questions about the wisdom and longer term implications of allowing key components of socially or economically critical products like pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and defense products to be sourced beyond domestic borders. One key area of concern – … Continue Reading

Serving and Receiving Legal Notices in the Context of COVID-19 – UK

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
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