As trends and developments in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market continue to totter, deals and transactions are up for another bustle of activities. Although M&A activities in 2019 are lesser compared to the previous years, dealmakers must properly navigate lessons learned to ensure excellent deal results in 2020. Additionally, a seamless M&A transaction management is another essential factor to be carried out.
Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) is becoming an essential factor in workplace management. An inclusive corporate culture makes everyone feel valued, thus, boosting employee engagement and experience. D&I is also credited for improving corporate innovation and bottom line thru higher performing and more creative workforce.
There are two kinds of trials in the U.S. — bench trials and jury trials. Unless a party asks for a jury, civil cases that proceed to trial will most likely be tried without a jury. This is even more so now that courts are postponing jury trials to help stem the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
Well-developed policies and procedures often provide an advantage in handling complex government investigations. However, with the new legal developments shaping the landscape along with the implementation of remote procedures due to the pandemic, unique challenges and complexities have started to emerge.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continue to be the hot-button issue in environmental law, with increasing regulation at the state and federal level and tens of billions of dollars in litigation at stake. While much of the focus has deservedly been on evolving liability considerations, PFAS are also becoming subject to a wide array of mandatory reporting and notification requirements with major compliance and business implications.
As the volume of merger activities increases, regulators are also intensifying their crackdown on potential antitrust violations. Recognizing the insufficiency of traditional market share measures in revealing the potential competitive impact of a planned merger, governments and parties are now shifting to the assessment of purchasing decision processes instead. Customer surveys, carefully done, can provide a better way to understand consumer behavior and predict market outcomes post-merger.
The litigation funding landscape remains highly active as more legal and corporate companies turn to litigation finance in resolving disputes. Significantly, several risk issues were opened because of the absence of clear regulatory guidance for the effective use of litigation finance. The ongoing pandemic has also added to the complexity of this area.
Lawsuits against employers allegedly violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) when conducting employee background checks have been continuously increasing. One of the factors behind this significant shift includes the highly technical FCRA requirements that are oftentimes prone to violations.
The shift of administration has prompted sweeping changes in the U.S. environmental regulations. Several regulatory revamps with a significant focus on climate change, environmental justice, chemical regulation, and water regulation have already been noted at both state and federal levels. Similarly, heightened environmental inspections and enforcement are expected in the coming months. Thus, the need for regulated industries to keep themselves abreast of current and emerging developments. They must also implement thorough protocols and compliance programs to avoid legal liabilities.
Trade secrets are considered as one of the most valuable assets in any company and the need to effectively manage and protect these must be prioritized at all times. However, as companies continue to grapple with remote work arrangements, taking reasonable management and precautions for trade secrets has become more complex and challenging.
No-poach agreements have been in the crosshairs of antitrust regulators since the issuance of the Antitrust Guidance for Human Resource Professionals in 2016. In the said guidance, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) indicated their intent to criminally prosecute companies and employers that enforce no-poach agreements and other labor contracts which are considered illegal under antitrust laws. The agencies recently brought criminal indictments in keeping with their promise.
Depositions play a crucial role in insurance coverage disputes, especially in cases involving bad faith claims. However, taking or defending against bad faith claims in an insurance dispute can be tricky. Thus, the need for policyholders and insurers to develop an efficient deposition strategy.
Securities class action litigation have continuously skyrocketed over the past years. This trend is expected to grow in fiscal year 2020 as companies constantly engage in global expansions making securities markets more seemingly interconnected. With this, companies are encouraged to prepare for significant changes as well as potential risks and pitfalls. Being updated with the trends and recent court decisions to mitigate the possibility of setbacks is essentially recommended.
Securities class action litigation have continuously skyrocketed over the past years. This trend is expected to grow in fiscal year 2020 as companies constantly engage in global expansions making securities markets more seemingly interconnected. With this, companies are encouraged to prepare for significant changes as well as potential risks and pitfalls. Being updated with the trends and recent court decisions to mitigate the possibility of setbacks is essentially recommended.
Along with the increasing volume of commercial disputes is the emergence of various issues that continue to reshape the commercial law landscape. In this LIVE Webcast, seasoned litigators Reginald L. Snyder (Taylor English Duma LLP) and Steven Barber (Steptoe & Johnson LLP) will bring the audience to a road beyond the basics of commercial litigation.
