Pennsylvania

Expert Analysis

• Key Issues States Face In The Wake Of Sports Bet Ruling

  

  While the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision this week removing the federal ban on sports betting may appear straightforward, the path toward regulating sports betting across the United States may be anything but simple, say attorneys with Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.

• New Medical Marijuana Challenges For Pa. Employers

  

  As access to medical marijuana in Pennsylvania continues to grow — to date, 22 dispensaries have opened throughout the state — employers face fresh concerns about the impact of legalization on their operations as well as their obligations under the law, say John McDonald and Melissa Ferrara of Reed Smith LLP.

• Opinion

  Why Won't Judicial Nominees Affirm Brown V. Board Of Ed?

  

  On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Brown v. Board of Education, recognizing a moral and legal truth that should be beyond question in American society. The refusal by some of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees to say whether they believe the case was decided correctly is indicative of the narrow-minded elitism they would bring to the bench, says professor Franita Tolson of the University of Southern California's Gould School of Law.

• The Lawyers' Guide To Cloud Computing

  

  In deciding whether cloud computing is right for the organization or firm, an attorney must consider cloud computing’s significant impact on the electronic discovery process, say Daniel Garrie, managing partner at Law & Forensics LLC, and David Cass, chief information security officer at IBM Cloud.

• Opinion

  Recovering Lawyers' Lost Position Of Independence

  

  In these politically divisive times, many ask whether our institutions and traditions can help us return to a greater consensus. In days long past, the legal profession could have been counted on to serve just such a function. But lawyers are now just as polarized as everyone else, says Samuel Samaro of Pashman Stein Walder Hayden PC.

• Lack Of Sameness Doomed INRatio Class Certification

  

  Last month a federal court in California declined a second attempt to certify a class action against the makers of handheld devices used to monitor blood clotting. The case demonstrates that when key questions of law or fact affect only some members of the putative class, but not all, class certification is not sustainable, says Michelle Yeary of Dechert LLP.

• 8 Reasons To Take A Fresh Look At Your Law Office Lease

  

  After moving into a new law office, tenants often file their signed leases away, figuring that the terms are set for a few years at least. However, leases can be very flexible instruments, and should be reviewed annually even if nothing seems amiss, says Tiffany Winne of Savills Studley Inc.

• A General Counsel's Tips For Succeeding As A New Associate

  

  Based on his experience as a BigLaw associate for six years and now as general counsel for a tech startup, Jason Idilbi of Passport Labs offers some best practices for newer associates — whether they are serving external clients or senior attorneys within their firms.

• Pay Attention To The Law And The Science Of Cannabidiol

  

  Many health claims have been made for cannabidiol, a substance derived from the cannabis plant. But producers and retailers of cannabidiol should understand that, while it may be permitted under some state laws, it remains illegal under federal law. They must also avoid claims of benefits that are unsubstantiated, say Brett Taylor and Amy Alderfer of Cozen O'Connor.

• Series

  State Tax After TCJA: Treatment Of International Income

  

  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made sweeping changes to the Internal Revenue Code. Its international tax provisions — including the transition tax, the foreign-source dividends received deduction, the tax on global intangible low-taxed income and others — have far-reaching implications for state tax systems that broadly conform to the IRC, and present significant compliance burdens for taxpayers, say attorneys with Eversheds Sutherland LLP.