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The COVID-19 pandemic has stirred a significant shift in the way businesses protect their trade secrets. With most communications and transactions becoming virtual, companies started optimizing the use of new technologies to better position themselves in the market. This has led to additional challenges and has opened more risks of trade secrets disputes.

The implementation of several amendments in employee benefit plans by the end of 2021 along with the new requirements for the coming year continue to bring regulatory changes in areas including welfare plan, flexible spending account (FSA), and hardship distribution. These pose new challenges among practitioners in complying with all the legal developments and addressing critical issues in this field.

Contract provisions regarding data privacy and security have become crucial because of the recent upsurge of cybersecurity threats and breaches. These risks have underscored the need for every business to implement strong and effective data management programs to avoid further financial and reputational losses associated with cyberattacks. However, the stream of new privacy laws and the varying jurisdictions have brought complexities to this effort.

The past year has brought significant developments in the antitrust class action context, leaving questions and issues over the certification process standards. Aside from the litigation challenges caused by the shifting rules, US courts are also reinforcing their probe of proposed classes making it increasingly difficult to obtain early class decisions.

The reduction of mergers and acquisitions (M&A)-related class actions and the state 1933 Act have driven a significant decline in securities class action filings over the last years. However, despite the decrease in the overall federal filings, special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs)-related cases have doubled, bringing newer litigation risks and additional ramifications in this category.

There are many types of cases that may constitute the filing of a bad faith claim. The varying jurisdictions surrounding this area of law also pose additional uncertainties making it harder for insurance companies to devise effective litigation tactics. Thus, it is of vital importance for practitioners to be in the know of the common red flags and pitfalls to avoid potential liability claims and other financial damages.

The growing popularity of cryptocurrency has greatly impacted today’s banking and financial transactions, stirring more questions over its regulation. Additional discussions also emerge when it comes to the government’s initiatives to secure consumer data and resolve financial risks without stifling digital innovation.

The rising competition among several industries including the healthcare and digital platforms has continuously challenged economic fairness and posed compliance hurdles for practitioners specifically under the Sherman Act. Some of the violations include price fixing, rigging contract bids, and allocating consumers between businesses that should be competing for them.

In this LIVE Webcast, a panel of thought leaders and professionals brought together by The Knowledge Group will provide and present an in-depth analysis of the fundamentals as well as recent developments in Implications of GEICO v. Whiteside on Bad Faith Litigation: A Comprehensive Analysis. Speakers will also present all important issues surrounding this significant topic. Join us for this Knowledge Group Webinar!

With the ever-changing regulatory trends involving patent infringement, lawyers should be competent in furnishing a sound damage analysis to mitigate risks and effectively respond to damage discovery. Reasonable royalties are by far the most common form of damages awarded among the primary remedies available in patent infringement cases. However, the implications of MLC International v. Micron Technology have left questions among patent litigators, particularly on the required disclosure of a royalty rate during fact discovery.

As the COVID-19 crisis stretches into its third year, brands and generic drug companies will likely see the impact of continued regulatory developments in the Hatch-Waxman space.