All Perspectives

Nissan North America Inc. and its financing arm forced New Jersey dealers into $20 million in predatory loans that financed an overabundance of inventory the car giant ordered them to carry amid corporate pressure to raise sales, according to a brief filed Tuesday in federal court.

The Trump administration updated its federal policy for developing self-driving cars, reinforcing safety guidelines and unifying federal agencies’ efforts while promising to ease any regulatory barriers to U.S. innovation and competitiveness in the space.

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling from last summer may have changed the trajectory of a high-profile pending commercial speech case. In National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra, the Court modified the traditional commercial speech tests.

Schiff Hardin LLP is representing an affiliate of Altaris Capital Partners LLC, a private investment firm focused on the healthcare industry, in its approximately $650 million pending acquisition of substantially all of 3M Company’s drug delivery business.

As federal tax incentives for wind and solar energy projects set to expire this year, project costs will increase, which is sure to impact the renewable energy market in 2020.

The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs, Inc. has changed its filing fees effective January 1, 2020.

In welcome news to most anyone who supervises, employs, credentials, or is a physician assistant, amendments to California Business and Professions Code Section 3500 et seq., effective January 1, 2020, significantly simplify the supervision requirements for PAs in California.

After a year plus of waiting on pins and needles, the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) imposed controls on its first “emerging technology” – software specially designed to automate the analysis of geospatial imagery.

Last week, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued two field assistance bulletins, FAB 2020-7 and FAB 2020-8, aimed at supporting the US workforce during the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s what you need to know about each.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — long used in consumer and industrial products — have recently been in the news and the subject of increased regulatory attention, resulting in proposed and implemented regulation on both the state and federal level.

Schiff Elects Three Attorneys to Partnership

In a surprise holiday present, the State Department finally brought the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) into the 21st century by releasing an Interim Final Rule adopting cloud computing encryption standards that the Commerce Department adopted in 2015. Well, better late than never.

New bipartisan legislation has been introduced to Congress that would authorize US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to seize imported merchandise that infringes design patents at the US border.

The Healthcare Group Purchasing Industry Initiative is providing guidance for practitioners involved in group purchasing activities in our member organizations and any part of the acute or long term care system.

The Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) launched tools in late November that will assist businesses with California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) compliance, by increasing consumer control over data on all DAA participating companies through simple tools.

In November, Google announced a plan to offer restricted data processing to ensure businesses can treat Google as a service provider under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

Additional Fed Liquidity Infusions

Arent Fox Partner Kay Georgi will present at the Canadian Institute’s US Export & Reexport Compliance For Canadian Operations Conference.

An Atlanta-based entrepreneur contends that retailer Target intentionally infringed on her trademark GARNISH AND GATHER for a meal-delivery service through its adoption and use of the mark GOOD & GATHER on an in-store food brand.

Employees who allege they were underpaid on the basis of their sex, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, are not required to first establish an Equal Pay Act claim but rather need only prove that the employer discriminated with respect to compensation because of sex.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

On December 19, 2019, EPA granted the first approvals for the use of crop protection products—nine biopesticides and one conventional pesticide—on hemp, providing a new set of crop protection tools for hemp farmers in time for the 2020 growing season. 

AT&T is facing another potential setback to its “5G Evolution” advertising campaign after the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau concluded that AT&T’s “5G E” claims are misleading to consumers. AT&T intends to appeal the NAD’s decision.

The $5 billion influencer industry is booming with an endless stream of fresh, aesthetically pleasing, and seemingly authentic figures.

Questioning your own witness while defending a deposition is a rare practice. A recent decision out of California’s Second Appellate District will require attorneys to consider doing so more often, especially in repeat cases involving warranty issues or toxic torts.