PRACTICAL GUIDE - How to organize your firm's Christmas lunch or dinner during COVID
1. Assumption of fact Katerine is a senior associate at the law firm of Knight & Lutford, based in Los Angeles, Dallas and Miami. The firm specializes in family law and has a total of 43 employees. All of them are lawyers. Katerine contacted John, the firm's senior partner, in order to arrange...
eVerythink PR Boutique - 24 December 2021
The Role of Insurance, Government and Pandemic Insurance
Insurance is a financial product which is based on social need. It does not serve just the interest of one, but that of many. From regulations through academic theory it is accepted and required that, “the business of insurance is to serve the public trust". I am thinking a lot about that con...
Megan Conison - 31 August 2021
Avoiding U.S. Class Action Lawsuits
The U.S. legal system is known around the world for draconian jury verdicts and court judgments assessed against corporations both foreign and domestic. Some of the more noteworthy cases have involved one of the more unusual aspects of U.S. law—a class action.  Corporate representatives ...
Kent J. Schmidt - 30 August 2021 United States of America
Looking after employees and their mental health during COVID-19
COVID-19 has turned a significant percentage of office workers into "remote workers" almost overnight. Many studies have shown the positive impact of home working but that may not be the reality here, in the face of an urgent crisis, where home working is applied wholesale to people who have not wor...
Andrew Litchfield, Amber Strickland - 15 August 2021
Anti-burnout #1: Recognising 12 steps to burnout
The last few weeks have been chaotic and alarming for pretty much everyone. Especially for medics and the vulnerable. Some groups are at high risk, but no-one is safe. COVID-19 does not discriminate. Even the young and healthy have been struck down.  And vast tracts of the world are locked dow...
Angus Lyon - 17 July 2021
Why half of Millennials are stressed most of the time?
--- The Global Millenial Survey 2020 conducted by Deloitte reflects the views of Millenials and Gen Zs, pointing out their values and beliefs as well as concerns. This year, the report includes data both pre-pandemic and during the COVID-19 crisis  Key findings regarding the impact of COVID-1...
TIL - 18 May 2021
Individual Rights in The Covid19 Era
--- It seems that certain rights had already lost their strength in the Covid19 era. Covid19 is by far the most important event that has happened worldwide in the modern era Many lives have been lost everywhere; economies are falling apart, and countries have been in lockdown for months. When ther...
Katiuska Moure - 01 April 2021
Your law firm without COVID. Find out how to prevent the spread of the virus in your office
--- Numerous international governments have published COVID-19 prevention measures for employers and employees to consider for the return to face-to-face office work The following are the most common internationally mandated measures for any firm to implement: - Assign a co-ordinator at the workp...
TIL - 26 February 2021
Millennial lawyers’ management in the times of Covid-19
--- Now more than ever, law firms need to engage in digitalizing their practice. Work from home is no longer an option, but a reality that both big and small entities have to deal with. The challenge is on a double level, both as far as the team management and as far as serving our clients is conc...
Iga Kurowska - 24 January 2021
Dispute Resolution in the Time of COVID-19
--- Dispute Resolution in the Time of COVID-19. A Hong Kong Lawyer's Perspective We live in interesting times.  While the legal community in Hong Kong have had a head start from lawyers in other parts of the world and have strived to minimise disruption in the times of COVID-19, these last tw...
Janie Wong - 23 January 2021 Hong Kong
How are the UK courts operating in the face of the new variant of COVID?
--- HM Courts & Tribunals Service has drawn up a short and medium term plan in response to COVID-19, outlining what has changed in the way courts and tribunals operate and work As they have been assuring in recent months, the courts and tribunals operate correctly and remain open for face-to-f...
TIL - 21 January 2021 United Kingdom
Employment Law Issues Concerning the Corona Vaccine
The introduction of compulsory vaccination for certain occupational groups, such as nursing staff, is currently the subject of controversial debate in Germany. The coronavirus vaccine also raises numerous questions from an employment law perspective.  No compulsory vaccination – that inc...
Inka Müller-Seubert - 19 January 2021 Germany
“Never let a good crisis go to waste”
“Never let a good crisis go to waste” is a famous quote from no less than Sir Winston Churchill.   He knew quite a bit about how to keep morale going in times of despair and ensure there was sufficient activity to ensure an acceptable end result, following a period of enforced...
Alistair Marshall - 10 January 2021
Violation of labour law during the COVID in the United States. Know the facts
The COVID pandemic has led to an increase in the number of labor-related lawsuits. In particular, there have been many labor violations since the pandemic hit the global economy. Jackson Lewis have developed a meter of labor violations filed in the United States, categorizing them by territorial sc...
TIL - 05 January 2021
Are the courts still open after the new lockdown in the UK? Find out what you can do away from home
Recently, the British government has decreed another lockdown, which will last until February. Many are asking whether the courts will remain open, and what activities they can carry out outside their homes. The courts are open for face-to-face hearings, ensuring that judges, lawyers, staff and all...
TIL - 05 January 2021 United Kingdom
Better Together
Never before has mental health and wellbeing been more centre stage for businesses than it is right now. We're working from home more, self-isolating, social distancing, balancing family responsibilities, and physically far away from loved ones. This impacts us all in different ways. There are many ...
Tyrone Jones - 04 January 2021
Developing the Post-COVID Lawyer of the 2020s
The COVID-19 pandemic has left an indelible mark on every major legal market in the world. For many of us, the experience of manging this disruption has been a difficult one at times. Yet most law firms have passed the test with flying colours, having fast-tracked the adoption of technology which i...
Pierre-Sébastien Thill - 02 January 2021
Will Innovation Be The Silver Lining Of 2020? Harnessing The Current Focus On Innovation
The current global health crisis is going to leave everyone with lasting memories, and for many not the kind we would want. The human impact has been huge and continues to grow. One consequence that is becoming clear is the scale of innovation that is happening in response to the pandemic, and part...
Jay Connolly - 31 December 2020
COVID-19: A Game Changer for the Legal Profession
The pandemic of COVID-19 has brought global economic activity to a virtual standstill. Even the legal services sector, normally considered a saviour during market recessions, has not been spared.  Due to lockdowns in most countries, dispute resolution practitioners and law firms are seein...
Arush Khanna - 28 December 2020
How secure are Zoom & Co? A comparison of different video-conferencing options
  The coronavirus pandemic has brought up a huge variety of different platforms people can use in order to connect to others during the times of social distancing and self-isolation – either for work meetings or for private online gatherings with friends and family. Needless to say, vide...
Christine Fuessel - 07 December 2020
New Stay Home order in California: Know how many ICU beds are available
This Thursday, December 3, the State of California has decided to issue an order of home confinement to its citizens, which will be effective 48 hours later in those regions that register less than 15% of the availability of the space destined for the ICU in the Hospitals. This order will be valid ...
Joe Goodman - 04 December 2020 United States of America
COVID-19: UPDATE ON MASKING PROTOCOL FOR COURTHOUSES
Further to the July 3, 2020, update regarding masking in courthouses, the All Courts Recovery Committee is now strongly recommending that non-medical masks be worn at all times in courtrooms, except when an individual is speaking.   This recommendation follows the recent update from the P...
TIL - 29 November 2020 Canada
Access to Justice Week 2020: Impacts of the Pandemic
Ontario’s The Action Group on Access to Justice (TAG) presents the fifth Access to Justice Week (A2J Week) from October 26 to 30. A series of awareness-building programs, held virtually, will focus on the impacts of COVID-19 on legal professions, the justice sector, public legal education, me...
TIL - 24 November 2020 Canada
The covid-19 outbreak. How are law firms coping?
On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to be a pandemic. This virus has rapidly spread to about 200 countries and territories and more than one-third of the world is now in lock-down. Lives and economies globally have been seriously disrupted, an...
Tahera Mandviwala - 22 November 2020
DWF and its economic recovery
DWF has announced signs of economic recovery as a result of its cuts. Its second quarter earnings (to 31 July) rose by 20% to £84.3m.  In this quarter, DWF reported a loss of £600,000, against £1.9 million of pre-tax profits in the same period last year. Even so, the firm de...
TIL - 14 November 2020
How U.S. Government assisted businesses in response to COVID-19
The federal government of the United States has launched various initiatives in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, in order to address the economic difficulties that many businesses – especially smaller ones - suffer as a consequence of the pandemic. Governmental initiatives include loan pr...
Christine Fuessel - 06 November 2020 United States of America
UK Government provides guidance on working safely, with 5 steps for businesses to consider as they reopen after coronavirus shutdown
As many businesses are soon to reopen again after they have been shut down temporarily due to the coronavirus lockdown in the UK, the government of the United Kingdom provides guidance on how to work safely and comply with legal obligations in terms of health and safety at the workplace.  Alth...
Christine Fuessel - 31 October 2020 United Kingdom
Can I go to the Permanent Court of Arbitration despite the COVID?
Because of the Pandemic many courts and tribunals closed their doors, maintaining the judicial and arbitration procedures by telematic and virtual means. This is the case of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, located in The Hague (Netherlands).  In this sense, the Permanent Court of Arbitrati...
TIL - 28 October 2020 Netherlands
Could a virtual Justice system become the norm?
Angela Savin, Partner in KPMG’s Legal Services Tax Disputes Practice, represented her client at the Supreme Court’s first remote case by video link last week in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Angela comments:  “A great deal of care went into ensuring everyone felt t...
Angela Savin - 25 October 2020
Human dignity in UK law
Law is now defining the coronavirus crisis in UK. The Coronavirus Act 2020 has Royal Assent granting the state extensive emergency powers. A Regulation has been adopted under existing law which includes powers of detention and the power to fine. Assemblies of more than two people are unlawful. We mu...
Jonathan Cooper - 16 October 2020 United Kingdom
The current situation of M&A in the Energy Sector
The Pandemic has affected most of the world's economies, especially that of the United States. Now, it is necessary to look at the evolution of the markets and it is important to observe the viability of a large part of the transactions. The Winston & Strawn LLP team is aware of the trends that ...
TIL - 12 September 2020 United States of America
Anti-burnout #2: Avoiding Covid Burnout
Feeling overloaded, out of control, or unrewarded? Or a bit out of touch with colleagues, sensing the unfairness of your situation, or being asked to do things that don't feel quite right? Welcome to Summer 2020 - worldwide lockdowns. None of us have been exempt from coronavirus and its effects. B...
Angus Lyon - 02 September 2020
Californa Lawyers Association creates a free online Q&A portal to help people affected by the pandemic
California Lawyers Association (CLA) and Legal Access Alameda announced a new partnership hosting a free online question and answer portal through the American Bar Association’s Free Legal Answers (FLA) platform. This platform will offer pro bono legal services to Northern Californians affecte...
TIL - 01 September 2020 United States of America
Practicing Law During Coronavirus
COVID-19 has caused a worldwide health pandemic of the sort that has not been experienced in over a century. As of this July, close to 15 million people have tested positive and over 600,000 deaths have been attributed to the virus worldwide. The danger posed by the virus caused entire countries aro...
Jeff Lieser - 25 August 2020
Baker McKenzie informs about the implications of COVID-19 for the future of Dispute Resolution
The outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in economic instability and uncertainty, which is likely to result in a growing number of disputes. International law firm Baker McKenzie provides the firm´s view on the types of disputes that will arise from the COVID-19 crisis o...
TIL - 19 August 2020
Wills Made on Video Calls Will Soon Be Possible - But Beware the Pitfalls
In the midst of a pandemic like the one we are experiencing, many people are rethinking their legacy and trying to make a will to avoid further problems. The confinement, the disease, the restrictions on mobility. All these events make this process more and more complicated, so video calls are becom...
Fiona Lawrence - 15 August 2020
BTI Consulting explains clients´ needs regarding RFPs
According to an article issued by BTI Consulting on the 15th of July 2020, after the beginning of the transition out of the COVID-19 pandemic, clients are now issuing RFPs (request for proposals), inviting small- and medium-size firms. In the US, legal decision makers are sending their RFPs to 9 &nd...
TIL - 12 August 2020
When will the lawyers from the big law firms return to their offices?
Because of the economic devastation caused by COVID-19, many companies have been forced to close offices, lay off staff and cut salaries. Many other firms have also chosen to cut partners' salaries. These include many UK law firms. Withers originally had 57 staff on leave and 21 have been brought b...
TIL - 07 August 2020 United Kingdom
4 Stone Buildings publishes fourth edition of ‘Litigation in the Time of Covid-19′
Commercial chancery barristers 4 Stone Buildings has published the fourth edition of its free-to-download e-book entitled “Litigation in the Time of Covid-19: Legal issues in commerce, finance and insolvency” (you can find attached in this article). The e-book contains extensive analysi...
TIL - 05 August 2020 United Kingdom
Shearman & Sterling announces new tool on global COVID-19 legislation
Shearman & Sterling has announced the launch of the COVID-19 Legislation Tool, an online resource that compiles the latest information on COVID-19 legislation worldwide. This Tool aims to help lawyers and companies stay up-to-date on thousands of legislative responses. The firm’s COVID-19...
TIL - 03 August 2020
Notable changes to the COVID-19 Guaranteed Loan Scheme for distressed businesses
High on the agenda of Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s supplementary budget speech on Wednesday 24 June was the need to support the economy as it gradually reopens as well as to get businesses moving again. Notably, Mboweni announced amendments to the COVID-19 guaranteed loan scheme that was in...
Jeff Buckland, Mahashini Govender, Kate Foster - 29 July 2020 South Africa
The Magic Circle law firms show a decline in profits
Three of the most recognized law firms in the UK: Freshfields, Allen & Overy and Linklaters (known as the ‘Magic Circle’) have announced a fall in profits for the year ending 20 April 2020, due to the unpredictable consequences of COVID-19. Freshfields revealed a net profit of &poun...
TIL - 29 July 2020
Helena Samaha (President and CEO of Lex Mundi): "Equisphere is about matching Lex Mundi’s capabilities exactly to a client’s requirements"
Helena Samaha, first female president in Lex Mundi´s history, comments on The Impact Lawyer´s questions regarding the association and its new launch Equisphere. Lex Mundi is the world´s largest law firm network, providing information to its members about developments in local and g...
Christine Fuessel - 21 July 2020
600 home proud offices for Houthoff during coronavirus crisis
We went from five offices to over 600 home offices. Fortunately the transition of the past months went smoothly for us. Our people are resourceful and quickly adapted to the new situation, but it wasn’t all fun. We all really missed the dynamics of working in our offices and being surrounded b...
Edward de Bock - 20 July 2020
Kevin Dolan, Senior Partner at McKinsey, speaks out about the relevance of inclusion and diversity in companies
Kevin Dolan, Senior Partner at the McKinsey & Company office in Chicago, responded to The Impact Lawyers´ questions in regards to the issue of inclusion and diversity in businesses. In May 2020, McKinsey published the third report of a series investigating the business case for diversity, ...
Christine Fuessel - 18 July 2020
Supporting The Legal Industry
The Legal industry, like many others, is today racing to come to terms with the implications of coronavirus. A range of impacts have been felt to date, including cases being put on hold, staffing concerns and critically, cash flow issues. With clients under pressure, bills aren’t being paid an...
Louis Young - 17 July 2020
Interview with Carla Rydholm about Lex Machina´s new COVID-19 App
Carla Rydholm, Director of Product Management at Lex Machina, responds to The Impact Lawyers´ questions regarding the new COVID-19 Impact Analyzer App they have launched in June in order to track the litigation impact of the COVID-19 crisis.   First of all, could you explain me a bi...
Christine Fuessel - 15 July 2020
Are larger law firms cutting their lawyers' salaries?
Due to the consequences produced by COVID-19, many large firms have implemented measures to maintain their sustainable economy. One of the most notorious measures is the reduction of salaries among lawyers.  In this case, Simmons & Simmons announced a 20% reduction in salaries as of July. ...
TIL - 06 July 2020
Survey: How has COVID-19 impacted the states and the lawyers?
The International Bar Association (IBA) has conducted a survey of a multitude of lawyers from various countries on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the activity of the political and judicial system in their countries. “Specifically, we inquired about invocation of emergency powers; the...
TIL - 03 July 2020
How British government is trying to recover the normality of its courts and tribunals?
The UK government has announced that it will take steps to ensure that COVID-19 protection measures are in place within the judicial facilities of courts and tribunals throughout the country.  The UK Minister of Justice has assured that they will work to install all the facilities necessary to...
TIL - 02 July 2020 United Kingdom
Suing China for the Virus: Why, Where, and How
When all this will be over, and perhaps even before, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) may find itself attacked by an enemy its mighty military power will not be able to stop, aggressive Western lawyers. According to a UK think tank’s report released this month, Beijing and the CCP must p...
Massimo Introvigne - 29 June 2020
Covid-19: Some clarification on withdrawal, cooling-off periods and conditions precedent in French property transactions
The French Law and Justice Department has recently provided some much-needed clarification on how the Health Emergency measures impact on property buyers’ right of withdrawal, the cooling-off period and on French property sales’ conditions precedent. Article 2 of Ordinance number 2020-3...
Fabien Cordiez - 29 June 2020 France
Measures to protect the National Health Services from coronavirus risk in prisons
As announced by the Ministry of Justice of the Government of the United Kingdom, some measures are implemented to protect the NHS (National Health Service) from coronavirus risk in prisons. One of the measures that form part of the national plan to protect the NHS from further pressure, and therefo...
Christine Fuessel - 27 June 2020 United Kingdom
No compensation when a flight is cancelled due to COVID-19
The COVID-19 outbreak has hit the air carriers particularly hard due to the containment measures of the public authorities, such as travel restrictions, lockdowns, and quarantine zones. The EU Commission has, therefore, issued an interpretative guideline to help with the interpretation of regulation...
Johanne Hansted, Ulla Fabricius, Anders Worsøe - 26 June 2020
How countries began to locate their citizens due to COVID-19
Due to the pandemic crisis, many countries have forced their inhabitants to confine themselves to their homes or to limit their movements as much as possible. To control these movements, they have launched apps or mobile software that, in many aspects, can concern the population because of the viola...
Álvaro Navarro - 23 June 2020
Report from Baker McKenzie and Oxford Economics shows findings about the Supply Chain Crisis produced by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Without any doubt, the outbreak of COVID-19 has irrevocably changed the global economic landscape. Leaders in every industry try to find solutions for the challenges the pandemic poses, trying to protect the stability and health of their workforce while adapting their business models and building re...
Christine Fuessel - 23 June 2020
The Prosperity Project: Canadian women protect themselves from the consequences of COVID-19
The Prosperity Project (TPP) is a non-profit organization created by Canadian women leaders to address the devastating impact of COVID-19 on society, especially on women's opportunities.  TPP's main objective is to help women who have been disadvantaged by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic....
TIL - 22 June 2020 Canada
UK Guidance regarding use of PPE during COVID-19 pandemic, and advice for employers
The availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a much discussed topic worldwide, and a big issue for many, given its shortage in most countries. In the United Kingdom, the lack of PPE is a problem that is very prevalent at the moment, posing a big challenge to the NHS (National Health Se...
Clyde & Co - 22 June 2020
COVID-19 job retention scheme in the UK, France and Germany
The COVID-19 crisis has led to much uncertainty regarding continuing pay for employees who are unable to work from home, as well as overall job security, in the face of employers’ financial uncertainty. UK Adding to the negative economic impact, on March 20, 2020, the U.K. government announc...
TIL - 22 June 2020
How New York City's government reacted to the pandemic?
On March 18, 2020, Executive Order 202.6 (or as revised) directed that all businesses and not-for-profit entities in New York State, shall utilize, to the maximum extent possible, any telecommuting or work from home procedures that they can safely utilize. It is directed that, no later than March 2...
TIL - 20 June 2020 United States of America
Coronavirus – is it force majeure?
Generally, force majeure is defined as an external and unexpected event which cannot be averted, and which prevent a contracting party from fulfilling its contractual obligations. The question is whether the coronavirus is force majeure – and what it means to the world of transport?  WHA...
Christian Schaap, Ulla Fabricius - 19 June 2020 Denmark
Special measures of the Mexican government with respect to COVID-19
Although different industry chambers and organizations have been requesting different incentives from the Mexican Ministry of Finance and Public Credit and from the Mexican Tax Administration Service (jointly referred to as the "Tax Authority") in light of the challenges posted by the COVID-19 pande...
Juan Carlos Vallés-Zavala, Luis Carbajo - 18 June 2020 Mexico
Lex Machina explains how COVID-19 pandemic has affected US federal district litigation through a new App
The renowned company Lex Machina has launched a new COVID-19 Impact Analyzer App (called "COVID App") on Tuesday to provide lawyers with analysis and information to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected judicial activity in the federal districts of the United States.  Specifically,...
Álvaro Navarro - 17 June 2020 United States of America
The “track and trace” of personal information amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, governments around the world have implemented a range of digital tracking, physical surveillance and censorship measures as a way to monitor, contain or mitigate the spread of the pandemic in their jurisdictions.   Countries including Austria, Singapore, Be...
Riette Engels-Van Zyl - 17 June 2020 South Africa
Precedence Favouring LandLords in India
In the backdrop of this  Pandemic,  business continuity has become a challenge with rising overheads and lack of revenue. Tenants by far are hit, as the Lockdown does not facilitate a shift in premises even if they desire with a concern of mitigating payment of rent till the crisis is over...
Prashanth Ram - 16 June 2020 India
The impacts of COVID-19 on the insurance sector
Many economic sectors are suffering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, social isolation is having a devastating effect on the insurance industry. New business in motor insurance, for example, is declining as people drive less due to social distancing. "We expect the financial impa...
Álvaro Navarro - 15 June 2020
European Commission approves Danish State guarantee for compensation of airline SAS
The European Commission (EC) has found that a Danish public guarantee of up to 137 million euros on a revolving credit facility in favour of the Scandinavian airline SAS is in line with the State Aid Rules of the European Union (EU). With this measure, Denmark tries to partly compensate the airline ...
Christine Fuessel - 15 June 2020 Denmark
Cyber ​​risks for lawyers in telework
The Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security offers guidance regarding telework in times of the COVID-19 pandemic.  CISA released an alert to encourage organizations to adopt a heightened state of cyber security when it comes to alternate work...
Christine Fuessel - 15 June 2020
Project Emerge by EY and Enablon aims to help companies safely navigate the transition back to the workplace amidst COVID-19
On the 4th of June, 2020, Ernst & Young Global Limited (EY) announced the launch of Project Emerge, working together with Wolters Kluwer´s Enablon, a global leader in Integrated Risk, Operational Risk and Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Management software. The aim of this collabora...
TIL - 15 June 2020
Homes will be the new offices? A new survey reveals that it may be a reality
The Kung Group has elaborated a survey entitled “How and When will America return to Work” that reveals relevant transformational remote work trends within the venture-backed companies due to the Covid-19. Relevant data shown in this survey are as follows:   70 percent of f...
TIL - 12 June 2020 United States of America
The beginning of the end; preparing for life (and work) after lockdown
It has become increasingly clear over the past few weeks that the world is not about to return to normal. With many months likely before an effective vaccine or treatment for Covid-19 will be available, governments and businesses, law firms included, need to identify a strategy for exiting the lockd...
Jo Ludlam, Julia Wilson - 12 June 2020
Amanda Pinto QC responds to The Impact Lawyers in regards to the effects of Covid-19 on the justice system in the UK
Amanda Pinto was appointed as Queen’s Counsel in 2006, elected as Chair of the Bar of England and Wales in 2020 and was Chair of the International Committee of the Bar Council 2015-2018. Despite of her undoubtedly busy schedule during the current Covid-19 crisis, she kindly took the time to re...
Christine Fuessel - 12 June 2020 United Kingdom
Income tax and donations tax relief for Public Benefit Organisations providing COVID-19 disaster relief
Income tax and donations tax relief measures have been made available for donors and qualifying Public Benefit Organisations (PBOs) established to assist with COVID-19 disaster relief efforts.   The tax relief includes:  1. An exemption from income tax on receipts and accruals of th...
Riette Engels-Van Zyl - 10 June 2020 South Africa
South African Competition Tribunal fines company for raising price of face masks due to COVID-19
Since the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 virus an international health emergency, the pharmaceutical sector around the world has increased the price of its products, especially face masks. Last week, the South African Competition Tribunal ruled that the price offered for face masks...
TIL - 09 June 2020 South Africa
COVID-19 Business Income Claims: How six insurance companies faced federal class actions in six different US states
In six US states, four different law firms – namely, DiCello Levitt Gutzler LLC, the Lanier Law Firm PC, Burns Bowen Bair LLP and Daniels & Tredennick – have launched six federal class action lawsuits against six insurer companies on Friday, the 17th of April 2020, in a coordinated a...
Christine Fuessel - 09 June 2020 United States of America
Consequences of covid-19 on contracts, transfers and signings in football
Regarding the expiration of current contracts and the beginning of future contracts, FIFA suggests that they should be extended or postponed, respectively, depending on the new expiry dates of the current season and the beginning of the following season. As for the suspension of contracts, FIFA sug...
Pedro Garcia Correia - 08 June 2020
Interview with Matthew Moore, Lead attorney of The Berman Law Group, who filed claims against the Chinese Government for being responsible of the COVID-19
What is the foundation of your claim presented against the Chinese government? Well, I don´t know if you aware of both of our claims, we have two lawsuits against China.  The first lawsuit that was filed on March 12th is a general claim against China for their cover-up and concealment o...
Christine Fuessel - 08 June 2020
OSHA standards and directives regarding the exposure to COVID-19
Although there is no specific standard of the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the United States Department of Labor) that is covering COVID-19, the following requirements may apply to preventing exposure of workers to the novel coronavirus. The most relevant standards include...
TIL - 08 June 2020 United States of America
Emergency changes to the Mental Health Act in the UK Coronavirus Act 2020
Facing the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of affected persons as well as mental health care providers, emergency changes have been made to the MHA (Mental Health Act, in the Coronavirus Act 2020), with the intention to reduce the number of psychiatric professionals required to complete the ...
Christine Fuessel - 04 June 2020 United Kingdom
FIFA covid-19 Guideline – Legal issues
Almost a few months ago the ball stopped rolling. The fight against COVID -19 is tough, arduous and it will take time to get things back to normal. A large number of activities are strongly affected, and football is one of them. With football practically paralyzed around the world, conflicts begin...
Juan I. Raskovsky - 04 June 2020
With Global Court Backlogs, Parties May Turn to Arbitration to Resolve Pandemic-Related Disputes
The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting stay-at-home orders by government agencies have drastically impacted court proceedings in the United States and abroad, most notably in Europe. This impact will be magnified over the coming months, especially in courts that were already experiencing backlogs a...
Susan Leader, Josh A. Rubin - 04 June 2020
Due care and diligence still the standard even during COVID-19?
It seems likely that the nationwide lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and the resultant remote working implemented by employers may increase the liability exposure of financial and professional services firms (i.e. conveyancers, asset managers, intermediaries and bankers). Generally, t...
Ayanda Nondwana - 04 June 2020 South Africa
How New South Wales (Australia) courts are resuming their activity
Australia Judicial System is trying to reopen their courts. New South Wales Supreme Court has resumed face-to-face civil hearings on 1 June 2020 and will be resumed criminal jury trials from 29 June 2020. "For the first time in living memory, personal appearances were essentially banned in our cour...
TIL - 03 June 2020 Australia
ABA provides resources for lawyers and law firms in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic
The American Bar Association (ABA) has published a number of helpful resources in order to support lawyers and law firms during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease, helping them to prepare for and respond to disasters in general and to COVID-19 in specific. During any kind of disaster, an...
Christine Fuessel - 02 June 2020 United States of America
How to conciliate the use of tracking technology with GDPR requirements in the context of the covid-19 outbreak
The exceptional health crisis that we are facing, leads many of us to compare the methods used in different regions of the world, particularly in Asia, to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, while regretting that some of them are not being fully implemented in our own country and more generally in ...
Ahmed Baladi - 02 June 2020
European Commission approves £50 billion UK “umbrella” scheme under the State aid in order to support the economy during the outbreak of COVID-19
The EC (European Commission) has approved an “umbrella” UK scheme with the aim to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as large corporates in the United Kingdom that have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The estimated budget of the “umbrella” s...
Christine Fuessel - 02 June 2020 United Kingdom
Sanitary measures announced by the Court of Justice of the European Union in order to host hearings
The Court of Justice of the European Union has announced the adoption of several sanitary measures to ensure that hearings can take place from the end of May and from the beginning of June. These measures have been applied in the Court of Justice and in the General Court and concern access to the i...
TIL - 01 June 2020
Companies will only survive by adjusting to the changing environments – how business rescue proceedings can add to our troubles
Many may link the title of this article to the philosophy as prescribed by Charles Darwin. Adjusting to external pressures is something that every company has to be aware of and be flexible to. They will be asking: what kind of corporate adjustments are necessitated by the outbreak of this pandemic?...
Gareth Cremen, Craig de Bruyn - 01 June 2020 South Africa
Federal Court of Australia provides Special Measures in Response to COVID-19
The Special Measure Note of the Federal Court of Australia, which was last updated on March 31st 2020, sets out arrangements for the continued operation of the Federal Court during the COVID-19 outbreak in Australia. The special measures information note takes effect from the date it is issued and r...
Christine Fuessel - 01 June 2020 Australia
How FIFA tried to address the COVID-19 crisis
The FIFA has published a guideline to address legal consequences due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. Due to COVID-19, football is facing a challenge never seen before in FIFA´s history: a mayor disruption at all levels of the sport, caused by the pandemic. In order to respond to the crisi...
Christine Fuessel - 01 June 2020
Guidance for employers About COVID-19 in UAE
UAE Ministerial Resolution with guidance for employers about COVID-19 Ministerial Resolution (NO. 279 of 2020), regarding precautionary measures in relation to COVID-19. The Resolution contains guidance for onshore based employers in relation to employment related measures that can be taken respond...
Christine Fuessel - 31 May 2020 United Arab Emirates
Workers with freedom of movement in the EU
The Commission has issued new practical advice to ensure that mobile workers within the EU, in particular those in critical occupations to fight the coronavirus pandemic, can reach their workplace. This includes but is not limited to those working in the health care and food sectors, and other essen...
TIL - 31 May 2020
Force-majeure during COVID lockdown in South Africa
The announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that South Africa has just entered a 21-day lockdown to mitigate the effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic will certainly disrupt our economy. Weddings and other events cannot continue, goods cannot be produced and delivered timeously, and many service...
Veronica Vurgarellis, Musa Zimu - 31 May 2020 South Africa
COVID-19. Dealing with Global Pandemic
Effective from March 25, 2020, a national lock-down has been imposed in India across the country for a period of 21 days. For the duration of the lock-down, all commercial and industrial establishments across sectors are to be closed except some exceptions as imposed by the Government...
Prashanth Ram - 31 May 2020 India
Support mitigating Unemployment Risks in Emergency in the UE
To buffer the impact the outbreak of the virus has on people´s livelihoods and the economy, the EC has adopted a comprehensive economic response to the pandemic. Full flexibility of the EU fiscal rules have been applied, State Aid rules have been revised, and a €37 billion Coronavirus Res...
Christine Fuessel - 31 May 2020
Guide with key considerations for investors in the event of nationalization in response to the COVID-19
Baker McKenzie publishes guide with key considerations for investors in the event of nationalization  In their guide titled “Preserve, Protect, Defend. Global Nationalization Risk: Practical Considerations for Investors”, global law firm Baker McKenzie explains why investors must t...
Baker Mckenzie - 30 May 2020
How New York became on pause
Governor Cuomo has put New York State on PAUSE: all non-essential workers are directed to work from home, and everyone is required to maintain a 6-foot distance from others in public.  On the website of the NY State, citizens can learn about their rights during the COVID-19 epidemic – fo...
Christine Fuessel - 30 May 2020 United States of America
Considerations for Re-opening Workplaces: Practical Guidance for Employers
There is little doubt that COVID-19 has transformed the way we work and how the traditional workplace is viewed.  In very short order, a large portion of the Canadian workforce was pulled out of office towers and commercial spaces and mobilized to work in remote settings.  As the gradual ...
Lisa Cabel - 30 May 2020
Interview with the Austrian Lawyer who filed a Lawsuit against the State of Tyrol, one of the European Hotspots of the Coronavirus Pandemic
The following interview was held by Christine Fuessel, editor of The Impact Lawyers Magazine, with Peter Kolba, founder and president of the “Verbraucherschutzverein” (an independent consumer’s protection agency that is aiming to offer consumers protection and advice).  ...
Christine Fuessel - 30 May 2020 Austria
A group of lawyers has published a complaint form to denounce the U.S. authorities based on all the inconsistencies and errors of the World Health Organization and other institutions
A group of U.S. lawyers has published on the SSBAmerica.com website a complaint form to denounce the U.S. authorities based on all the inconsistencies and errors of the World Health Organization and the health team advising the president of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious ...
Álvaro Navarro - 29 May 2020
Covid-19: Virus for Employees in India?
As a natural and unfortunate outcome of Covid-19 and related economic slow down, employers in India have started evaluating various options to manage costs.  The mandatory lockdown orders in entire India for at least 21 days, while the right decision, is likely to have a far-reaching impact on...
Vikram Shroff - 29 May 2020 India
CDC provides Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers guidance in order to plan, prepare and respond to the novel coronavirus. The interim guidance is based on the current knowledge about the coronavirus disease 2019, which is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The ou...
TIL - 28 May 2020 United States of America
At least 22 countries had requested access to the Exposure Notification API launched by Google and Apple
It has been a week since Google and Apple launched the Exposure Notification API (application programming interface) to notify the proximity of people infected by the COVID-19 virus. In recent days, 22 countries have announced that they will use this API to contain further spread of the pandemic. T...
TIL - 27 May 2020
How are the North American courts managing COVID 19?
Given the current circumstances the whole world is facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, North American law courts have implemented a series of measures in order to prevent the virus from spreading, including the suspension of jury trials, the cancellation of council meetings, the increased use of vi...
Christine Fuessel - 27 May 2020 United States of America
New temporary amendment approved by the European Council on air services
The Council has approved a temporary amendment to the rules on air services to support airlines and airports in the face of the sharp drop in air traffic due to the COVID-19. The Council also adopted an extension of the deadline for transposition of the fourth railway package's rail safety and inter...
TIL - 26 May 2020
Increasing number of Australian borrowers are forced to seek specialist lenders due to COVID-19 as traditional lenders turn them down
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, many traditional lenders in Australia apply stricter lending criteria, resulting in borrowers being unable to secure credit, and thus, increasingly seeking assistance of specialist lenders.  According to mortgage brokerage NonConformingLoans.com....
TIL - 26 May 2020
Covid 19 also in International Arbitral Institutions
The outbreak of Covid-19 is affecting litigation and arbitration in various ways, and the arbitration courts have implemented a series of measures, from use of remote hearings to court closures ICC -International Chamber of Commerce  All offices of the Secretariat of the ICC Court and...
TIL - 26 May 2020
How FIFA joined the fight against COVID-19
FIFA, the international governing body of football, and the World Health Organization (WHO) have teamed up to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) by launching a new awareness campaign led by world-renowned footballers, who are calling on all people around the world to follow five key steps to stop the...
TIL - World Health Organization - 26 May 2020
DigitalMaas launches Small Business Support package in Australia and New Zealand, offering their software for free during the coronavirus pandemic
The leading local marketing platform DigitalMaas announced the launch of a Small Business Support package on the 22nd of May 2020. Together with some of Australia and New Zealand´s most important technology companies, they provide a free version of their cloud-based local marketing software to...
Christine Fuessel - 26 May 2020 Australia
The European Council announces the adoption of SURE, temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency
On the 19th of May 2020, the European Council adopted SURE (Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency). The European Commission (EC) proposed this new temporary scheme, which allows for financial assistance of up to EUR 100 billion in the form of loans from the European Union to affecte...
TIL - 25 May 2020
Tips for coping with anxiety about COVID-19
Coping with anxiety and building resilience All of us have experienced a seismic change in the way we work and live. Overnight our lives have been completely turned upside down.  Human beings are creatures of habit, and disruption to our daily routines can cause anxiety - feelings of unease, w...
LawCare - 25 May 2020
Guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) to prevent COVID 19 in law firms
Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace The low-cost measures below will help prevent the spread of infections in your workplace, such as colds, flu and stomach bugs, and protect your customers, contractors and employees. Employers should start doing these things now, ...
TIL - 25 May 2020
Disaster plans and telecommuting issues in law firms in times of the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 crisis uncovers an issue that prior to the outbreak has been widely neglected by many law firms: having a solid disaster plan. However, given the current situation, as many law professionals are forced to work from their homes, the question on how to guarantee disaster recovery and busi...
TIL - 25 May 2020
U.S. Department of Labor publishes guidance on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
The U.S. Department of Labor´s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) adds to guidance for employers as well as workers by explaining some aspects of the FFCRA (Families First Coronavirus Response Act), like for example paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave benefits. They seek to provide...
TIL - 25 May 2020 United States of America
Volunteer attorneys provide online legal guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic
The American Bar Association (ABA) offers a web portal for those in need during the pandemic. The web program ABA Free Legal Answers is available for everyone who has to deal with legal questions in terms of housing, unemployment and other civil matters related to the coronavirus. It gives access to...
TIL - 25 May 2020 United States of America
OSHA has included new guidance for employers to determine whether employees have hired COVID-19 on the work
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued new guidance that requires employers covered by OSHA's recordkeeping standards to determine whether employees have hired COVID-19 while on the job. To "provide certainty to employers and workers," beginning May 26, 2020, ...
TIL - 22 May 2020 United States of America
Several Governments are trying to gradually reopen airspace routes. Australia is a good example of this
Once some countries believe they have stabilized the spread of COVID-19, they are planning to reopen their borders for air travel progressively. In this regard, China and South Korea have agreed to create a controlled corridor between Seoul and 10 Chinese regions, including Shanghai. Also, Estonia, ...
TIL - 21 May 2020
Guidelines of the European Data Protection Board inform about the processing of data concerning health for the purpose of scientific research in relation to COVID-19
The “Guidelines 03/2020 on the processing of data concerning health for the purpose of scientific research in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak” have been adopted by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) on April 21st 2020, with minor corrections made on April 30th.  The Gui...
Christine Fuessel - 05 May 2020
The Berman Law Group faces China with two lawsuits in relation to the novel Coronavirus COVID-19
The Berman Law Group, a renowned law firm based in the US state of Florida, filed a collective claim against the Chinese regimen driven by Xi Jinping for causing the current COVID-19 pandemic. The reason they are condemning Peking is that they state that the Chinese government knew that the novel co...
Christine Fuessel - 17 April 2020 Asia
Morgan Lewis advises in ventilator technology licensing agreement with Airon and GE Healthcare
The production of ventilators is a critical COVID-19 need, which Morgan Lewis is helping to address by guiding Airon Corp in their collaboration with GE Healthcare, as announced on the firm’s website on April 2nd 2020. Airon is a privately held company specializing in high-tech pneumatic life ...
Christine Fuessel - 08 April 2020
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