Seyfarth Shaw LLP

On October 3, 2024, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued new guidance concerning the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) by updating and expanding on the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Reporting Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that Seyfarth's CTA Task Force has covered in the past. Key updates include clarifications on who can access and submit BOI, the use of third-party service providers, exemptions for certain entities, the creation and conversion of…

The Maine Attorney General’s Office recently announced that it has convened an 11-person working group of industry stakeholders to develop recommendations for legislation to establish an entity with rulemaking and enforcement authority “to ensure cyber-secure access to motor vehicle-generated data to owners and owner authorized independent repair facilities for maintenance, diagnostic and repair purposes.” The announcement follows an April 16, 2024 resolve by the Maine Legislature directing the Maine Attorney…

Tuesday, October 8, 20243:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Central1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Mountain12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Pacific About the Program While the ERISA legal landscape changes constantly, one thing is certain - California remains a harbinger of litigation trends soon to spread nationwide. From the statutes and laws under which ERISA cases are brought to novel venue shopping tactics, employers across the US…

As part of its annual exercise, the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) announced an increase to the maximum weekly Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) benefit, effective January 1, 2025, while contribution rates from employers and employees that fund the public program will remain the same. Additionally, on an issue of first impression, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) recently held that an employer does not need…

On September 4, 2024, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law an amendment to New York’s warranty reimbursement statute, N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 465, requiring manufacturers to compensate dealers for labor using the “reasonable” time allowances contained in third-party labor time guides “reasonably utilized” by dealers for customer-pay repairs. In so doing, New York is the second state to adopt such a statutory provision this year and joins…

Seyfarth Synopsis: Minnesota joins the growing number of states to adopt statewide legislation requiring employers to disclose starting salary ranges and other forms of compensation and benefits in postings for open positions.  The law becomes effective January 1, 2025 and applies to employers with 30 or more employees within the state. Beginning January 1, 2025, Minnesota employers are required to include the starting salary range and a general description of…

On 14 April 2024, the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited published conclusions to its consultation on the enhancement of climate-related disclosures under its environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) framework. With effect from 1 January 2025, a new set of rules mandating climate-related disclosures (the “New Requirements”) will be added to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Listing Rules”). The…

The rules governing the employment relationship are always changing. Laws creating new employer obligations, technology solutions making work more efficient and more complicated, and rules governing the resolution of disputes between employers and their workers are around every corner. Seyfarth’s Wage Hour Litigation Practice Group is excited to announce a new blog series, Wage and Hour Around the Corner, to help employers stay on the cutting edge of wage and…

Please note:  while we address certain country-specific updates, this Alert contains information regarding global requirements, policies, and procedures as they stand as of the date of publication. We highly recommend reviewing any global mobility inquiries on a case-by-case basis, including any consulate-specific or immigration authority resources, in “real-time” before traveling internationally. Please reach out to our Global Immigration & Mobility Team in advance of any international travel. Canada –  Visitor-to-Work…

In recent months, I’ve spoken to many HR professionals about all things employee relations or “ER.” What stood out was the challenging nature of the role of those in the ER. The role of ER has never been more valuable to Australian employers, whose workplaces have never been more regulated. Yes, compliance is a must, but meeting business objectives is also a must. ER is at the pointy end of…

After the Parole in Place Program (“Keeping Families Together”) went into effect on August 19, 2024, sixteen State Attorneys General filed a complaint against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) et. al. The complaint alleges that the program is unlawful and will cause irreparable harm to the states that filed the complaint. On August 26, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas administratively stayed DHS…

The rules governing the employment relationship are always changing. Laws creating new employer obligations, technology solutions making work more efficient and more complicated, and rules governing the resolution of disputes between employers and their workers are around every corner. Wage and Hour Around the Corner is a new blog series for employers, in-house lawyers, and HR, payroll, and compensation, that helps employers stay on the cutting edge of wage and…

Speakers – Kathleen McConnell, Gina Ferrari, and Vincent Smolczynski About the Program: Do you operate a website in California? Are you considering a cookies banner? Does your website terms compel arbitration? Then you need to know about the latest in California Privacy Litigation and Compliance.  Join us for an insightful webinar on navigating the complexities of CIPA (California Invasion of Privacy Act) compliance, focusing on website and cookie banner requirements. Our expert…

In an effort to introduce a fully digital immigration system, the UK Government has announced that Biometric Residence Permits (BRP), Biometric Residence Cards (BRC) and any other legacy paper documents with ink stamp or visa vignette will be phased out, and that as of January 1, 2025, they will no longer be in circulation. How individuals with a UK visa will be impacted: Easier ability to prove right to work…

As we discussed in our previous blog on non-competes (as well as other types of restraint of trade), the move to add regulation has been gaining momentum since Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced in August 2023 a Competition Review to examine competition laws, policies and institutions. Whilst the move to ban non-competes in Australia has been inspired by the U.S. Fair Trade Commission vote to ban non-competes, on 20 August…

Presenters: Daniel Hart, Daniel Whang, and Sierra Chinn-Liu Navigating the complexities of trade secret enforcement often involves more than just traditional litigation. Join us for a compelling webinar in our 2024 Trade Secrets Webinar Series, where our panel of Seyfarth attorneys will delve into the strategic advantages of using alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms to protect and enforce your trade secrets. Key Discussion Points: The various ADR methods available for trade…

The administrative challenge brought by the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and another trade association against the Combating Auto Retail Scams (“CARS”) Trade Regulation Rule, issued last year by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), will be heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on October 7, 2024. This case, together with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce-backed challenge to the FTC’s Non-Compete Rule, places the Fifth Circuit…

By Minh Vu, Kristina Launey and Susan Ryan Seyfarth Synopsis: The decline in ADA Title III lawsuits that began in 2022 comes to a halt in 2024 and California retakes its mantle of “national filing hotspot.” ADA Title III filings have decreased each year since 2022.  2024 changes the narrative with an uptick in filings, albeit a small one.  In 2021, we saw the highest mid-year total since we started…

By: Phillip J. Ebsworth and Brian B. Gillis Seyfarth Synopsis: The California Supreme Court held that PAGA does not apply to public entity employers. The California Supreme Court overturned the Court of Appeal and prior appellate court decisions to conclude that the PAGA statute, legislative history, and public policy support the conclusion public entity employers are not subject to PAGA actions for civil penalties. In doing so, the Supreme Court…

On Thursday, August 15, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Arizona Attorney General announced a $2.6 million settlement to resolve claims that Coulter Motor Company used deceptive online advertising to lure customers into its two Arizona dealerships; duped consumers into paying for unwanted “add-on” products; and engaged in discriminatory practices by charging Latino customers more in financing charges and for these “add-ons” than non-Latino white customers. The complaint, filed…

Beyond the 100 Mile Rule: Court of Appeal Affirms District Court’s Power to Compel Attendance of Distant Witnesses and Unveil Hidden Parties In Litigation | Consumer Class Defense Blog Skip to content

Yesterday, a third court weighed in on the FTC’s proposed ban on non-competes, set to go into effect on September 4, 2024. Judge Corrigan of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida granted the plaintiff Properties of the Villages, Inc.’s (“POV”) motion to stay the effective date of the rule and preliminarily enjoin its enforcement. Due to the looming effective date, the court opted to deliver…

Trademark lawyers are often asked: “What’s the difference between a trademark and a service mark?” In general, a trademark refers to a brand name used in connection with goods, while a service mark is one that is used in connection with the provision of services.  The services must be provided for the benefit of someone other than the mark owner. But the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) ruled in…

(August 14, 2024) - 220 individual Seyfarth attorneys were selected by their peers as leaders in their fields, covering 46 different practice areas, in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Lawyers from all 13 of Seyfarth’s US offices were honored. Two Seyfarth lawyers (William B. Hill, Jr. and Richard Morvillo) were each recognized in five separate practice areas. Three other attorneys (Jeffrey Berman, Douglas Mancino, and Gregory…

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs or confidentiality agreements) have come under fire in recent years due to concerns that they silence victims, conceal unlawful behaviour and prevent companies and regulators from understanding the full scope of systemic problems. These are all valid concerns. However, the part that often gets overlooked when discussing the use of NDAs is that there are good reasons why NDAs are commonly used. It is important to recognise…

In a significant development for H-1B visa hopefuls, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has completed a second lottery for the Fiscal Year 2025 H-1B cap. The H-1B program enables U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers for roles that typically require at least a bachelor’s degree in the specific specialty, or its equivalent. These specialty occupations span a wide range of industries. Why a Second Lottery? The second…

Earlier this year, we reported that the Illinois Senate passed Senate Bill 2979 with a vote of 46 to 13, and the Illinois House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 2979 with a vote 81 to 30. This bill addressed concerns arising from recent legal interpretations of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA,” 740 ILCS 14/ et seq.), particularly following the Illinois Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Cothron v. White Castle System Inc., in which the Court…

It is not often that the government has the opportunity to regulate and oversee an entirely brand new market; and, in the case of California, when it legalized recreational cannabis for adult-use, it decided to mandate involvement of labor unions in the state’s emerging cannabis industry, through implementation of a Labor Peace Agreement (“LPA”) requirement. Because this fundamental choice by the state has posed headaches and dilemmas for licensees, cannabis…

In an effort to introduce a fully digital immigration system, the UK Government has announced that Biometric Residence Permits (BRP) and Biometric Residence Cards (BRC) will be phased out, and that as of January 1, 2025, they will no longer be in circulation. To address some concerns for employees and our clients, we have created the following Fact Sheet: All UK BRP/BRC cards have an expiration date of December 31,…

This year’s Olympic Games have already been packed with compelling storylines.  These storylines include the somewhat controversial opening ceremony to Yusuf “hold my beer” Dikec winning hearts and the silver medal in pistol shooting, and Simone Biles clinching her tenth gold medal (with more possibly on the way).  Adding to the Olympic headlines, on August 4, USA’s Noah Lyles added to the Olympic headlines by edging past Kishane Thompson, from…

Seyfarth Synopsis: The California Supreme Court reaffirmed that arbitration agreements are on equal footing with other types of contracts. Therefore, a court should apply the same principles that apply to other contracts to determine whether the party seeking to enforce an arbitration agreement has waived its right to do so. Quach v. California Commerce Club, Inc. The Facts In 2018, following his termination, Peter Quach sued his former employer, California…

Please note:  while we address certain country-specific updates, this Alert contains information regarding global requirements, policies, and procedures as they stand as of the date of publication. We highly recommend reviewing any global mobility inquiries on a case-by-case basis, including any consulate-specific or immigration authority resources, in “real-time” before traveling internationally. Please reach out to our Global Mobility Team in advance of any international travel. Canada –  Express Entry and…

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) took effect on January 1, 2024 and some U.S. nonprofits and tax-exempt organizations are still debating how the CTA applies to them. This article provides newly-formed and existing nonprofits and tax-exempt organizations with a general overview of their CTA compliance obligations and exemptions. For information about the CTA compliance obligations and exemptions applicable to subsidiaries of tax-exempt organizations, please see Part 2: CTA Compliance for…

Into the Breach is the first law firm podcast exclusively devoted to reps and warranties insurance and the transactional risk markets. Hosted by Seyfarth partners Bryan M. O’Keefe and Gena B. Usenheimer, the hosts in their unique, buoyant style, interview leaders from the industry, and explore the latest developments, market trends, and news impacting RWI and transactional risk insurance. Follow us on:               Into the Breach Podcast - Episode 34: New Opportunities in…

Wednesday, August 7, 202412:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CDT10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. MDT9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. PDT About the Program Seyfarth’s Pioneers and Pathfinders virtual roundtable series has tackled critical topics intended to help our clients navigate the implications of generative AI and natural language processing models in the legal industry. Our first roundtable covered the risks and benefits of generative AI, the…

On June 27, 2024, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy’s  Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Board issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking public comments on proposed changes to the Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) on conformance to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) related to CAS 408 (Accounting for costs of compensated personal absence) and CAS 409 (Cost accounting standard depreciation of tangible capital assets). The CAS Board has provisionally…

Seyfarth Synopsis: EEOC Commissioner Keith Sonderling, a Republican who first joined the EEOC in 2020, has announced his departure from the Commission in August 2024. Sonderling’s tenure was marked by his significant contributions to discussions on artificial intelligence in employment, establishing him as a leading authority on the subject. His departure leaves the EEOC with a 3-1 Democratic majority, and so it does not alter the Commission’s current political balance.…

Sarah Silverman and her fellow author plaintiffs are fighting a judge’s recent order requiring them to disclose the prompts and outputs they used in preparation for filing their class action lawsuit against ChatGPT owner OpenAI. The judge is giving OpenAI until July 24 to respond to the plaintiffs’ argument that the material should be shielded as work product. The magistrate judge’s ruling is the latest in a series of setbacks…

About the Program: The first installment of this series will focus on key developments in labor management relations and address the following topics: What unions are prioritizing at the bargaining table and how recent contract settlements impacted industry standards 2023’s wave of high-profile strikes and what they signal for the industry in 2024 and beyond The impact of the Cemex decision on union organizing in these industries, and the practical…

A recent decision of the Illinois Motor Vehicle Board (the “Board”) reinforces why auto manufacturers need to ensure they have a proactive process in place to address the timely renewal of expiring dealer agreements. Based on the Board's recent decision, OEMs cannot and should not assume that the terms of an expired dealer agreement remain enforceable, particularly when the issue is being decided by a dealer board, as one OEM…