International Trade

Expert Analysis

• US Cos. With Foreign Affiliates Should Note OFAC Settlement

  

  A recent sanctions violation settlement between the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control and Stanley Black & Decker and its Chinese subsidiary sets out compliance commitments that U.S. companies with foreign affiliates should use as guidance, say Nevena Simidjiyska and Michelle Rosenberg of Fox Rothschild.

• Opinion

  How Lawyers Can Help Save The Planet

  

  Over a dozen major law firms have joined our effort to overcome the legal obstacles that states, cities and businesses face in fighting climate change. But more lawyers are needed, say Michael Gerrard of Columbia Law School and John Dernbach of Widener University Commonwealth Law School.

• Q&A

  A Chat With Gilead Sciences Legal Ops Leader Gary Tully

  

  In this monthly series, legal recruiting experts from Major Lindsey & Africa interview legal industry leaders about the increasingly competitive business environment. Here, Rod Osborne talks with Gary Tully, head of legal operations at Gilead Sciences.

• Opinion

  Oil Cartel Bill's Passage Is Long Overdue

  

  The No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act has been reintroduced in Congress, and the oil market conditions that spurred this needed legislation in 2000 are just as widespread today — but so are the inaccurate criticisms of this bill, says attorney Seth Bloom, who drafted the original version of NOPEC.

• Series

  Why I Became A Lawyer: Completing The Journey Home

  

  My mother's connection to her Native American heritage had a major influence on my career — my decision to enter the legal profession was driven by the desire to return to my tribal community and help it in any way I could, says Jason Hauter of Akin Gump.

• Gov't Contractors Fighting Suspensions Face Uphill Battle

  

  The recent dismissal of JBL System Solutions v. Williams in the Eastern District of Virginia highlights the inherent problems in challenging an agency decision and has potentially sweeping implications for government contractors subject to negative responsibility determinations, say Dismas Locaria and Emily Unnasch at Venable.

• What Fed. Circ. False Ad Ruling Means For Section 337 Claims

  

  Though the Federal Circuit's decision in Amarin v. U.S. International Trade Commission mandates careful drafting of Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act-related Section 337 claims under the Tariff Act, it arguably leaves the door open for creative litigants to raise claims for less common "unfair acts," say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

• Finding Allies In The Fight Against Counterfeits

  

  In the world of anti-counterfeiting and brand protection work, collaboration with competitors, customers and online marketplaces can be a smart way to stretch constrained budgets, say Lori Meddings and Li Zhu of Quarles & Brady.

• Series

  Judging A Book: Wood Reviews 'The Making Of A Justice'

  

  Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens' new book, "The Making of a Justice," is required reading for anyone interested in 20th and 21st century America, says Seventh Circuit Chief Judge Diane Wood.

• Foreign Banks Should Remain Wary Of US Sanctions Laws

  

  While major enforcement actions against foreign banks for U.S. sanctions violations have slowed down in the past few years, recent settlements against three foreign banks show that federal and state authorities are still enforcing sanctions laws — and the pace of enforcement will likely increase, say Andrew Zimmitti and Richard Hartunian of Manatt.

• Getting Out Of Legal Project Management Debt

  

  If a client does not demand the application of project management techniques at the start of a matter, or a law firm does not routinely apply them, it is highly likely that additional, avoidable work — legal project management debt — will materialize throughout the matter, says Anthony Widdop of Shearman & Sterling.

• Opinion

  NAFTA Update A Step Backward For US Investors

  

  Under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, U.S. investors would lose the robust international law protections and dispute resolution mechanisms that they have relied on for years in the North American Free Trade Agreement, say Ian Laird and Melissa Morris of Crowell & Moring.

• 6 Ways To Keep Your Jury From Zoning Out

  

  Science suggests that at least some jurors pay attention to less than 65% of the evidence during a trial due to "task-unrelated thoughts," but there are steps attorneys can take to present information in a more engaging, cognition-friendly fashion, say Dennis Stolle and Dennis Devine of Barnes & Thornburg.

• 5 Myths In Legal Crisis Communications

  

  Having worked at a boutique law firm, a crisis communications agency and in BigLaw, I have identified a number of common misconceptions across these disparate business models when it comes to crisis and litigation communications, says Robert Gemmill of Hogan Lovells.

• An Overview Of The Debate Over Litigation Finance Disclosure

  

  In light of a New York federal court's recent decision in Benitez v. Lopez, which joins a growing body of case law denying forced disclosure of commercial litigation finance, Stephanie Spangler of Norris McLaughlin and Dai Wai Chin Feman of Parabellum Capital break down the arguments commonly raised for and against disclosure.