News

PRECEDENTIAL: PTAB Declines To Resolve RPI Dispute

By EsqSocial Corporation 30/12/20

In a recently designated precedential decision, the Patent Trials and Appeals Board (“PTAB”) considered challenges to claims covering autonomous robotic cleaning devices. SharkNinja Operating LLC v. iRobot Corp., IPR2020-00734, Paper 11 (PTAB. Oct. 6, 2020) (designated as precedential Dec.

What to Do When Commercial Leases End Up in Bankruptcy

By EsqSocial Corporation 30/12/20

The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing many businesses to close, leaving landlords in the lurch. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to shake up the nation’s economy. Long-standing companies such as JC Penney, J.

Simio, LLC v. FlexSim Software Products, Inc. (Fed. Cir. 2020)

By EsqSocial Corporation 30/12/20

This decision is bad.  Not an American Axle level of bad, but still quite far from good. Simio sued FlexSim in the District of Utah for alleged infringement of its U.S. Patent No. 8,156,468.  FlexSim moved for dismissal on the pleadings under 35 U.S.C.

The Impact of the $900 Billion Appropriations Act on Employers and Their Employees

By EsqSocial Corporation 30/12/20

Last week, Congress passed a $900 billion Appropriations Act.

Recent Developments in FINRA’s Award of Credit for Extraordinary Cooperation Offers Guidance to Member Firms

By EsqSocial Corporation 30/12/20

In 2020, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (FINRA) settled alleged rule violations with various large investment firms, including Merrill Lynch, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (CGMI), Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc.

ESG Disclosures: Guiding Principles and Best Practices for Investment Managers

By EsqSocial Corporation 30/12/20

Whether preparing or reviewing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosures for compliance with regulatory requirements in the EU, the United Kingdom (UK) or the United States (US), or for alignment with ESG best practices more broadly in response to investor demand, investment manager

Personal Data and the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement: UK gets special “third country” status for up to 6 months

By EsqSocial Corporation 30/12/20

In spite of the holiday period, few will have missed the fact that the UK and the EU concluded a Trade and Cooperation Agreement on 24 December 2020. The Agreement provides a framework under which trade will take place following expiry of the transition period on 31 December 2020....

Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act Signed into Law

By EsqSocial Corporation 30/12/20

The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (Act), which was signed into law by President Trump on December 18, 2020, amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Sarbanes-Oxley) and requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to identify reporting public companies using registered public a

Supplemental Arrangement Concerning Mutual Enforcement of Arbitral Awards between the Mainland and Hong Kong

By EsqSocial Corporation 30/12/20

On 27 November 2020, the Department of Justice of Hong Kong and the Supreme People’s Court of China signed the Supplemental Arrangement Concerning Mutual Enforcement of Arbitral Awards between the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the Supplemental Arrangement).

IRS provides welcome flexibility and clarification in final small business tax accounting regulations

By EsqSocial Corporation 30/12/20

On Wednesday, December 23, Treasury and the IRS released final regulations under sections 263A, 448, 460, and 471 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) to implement statutory changes made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the TCJA). The TCJA expanded the base of taxpayers qualifying for favorable small

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