Commercial
Merck’s Patent Loss a Cautionary Tale for In-House Attorneys
News
Merck & Co.’s loss of a $200 million jury verdict for patent infringement shows that companies with internal prosecution staff need to observe strict rules for external communications, according to Bloomberg Law.
With Its 2018 Tax Cut, Wells Fargo Could Pay Its $1 Billion Fine 3 Times and Still Have Cash to Spare
News
The Washington Post reports that the tax cut is expected to boost Wells Fargo’s profits by $3.7 billion, according to a Goldman Sachs report.
Term Royalty Interests Survive the Rule Against Perpetuities in Texas
News
The rule provides “that no interest within its scope is good unless it must vest, if at all, not later than twenty-one years after some life in being at the creation of the interest.”
Is Your Agreement Non-Exclusive in Name Only?
Insight
The facts of an exclusive arrangement are generally analyzed under the rule of reason, entailing a comparative analysis of the arrangement’s benefits and its possible competitive affects, according to Epstein Becker & Green.
Dual Language China Contracts: Don’t Get Fooled
Insight
No matter what the English language portion of your contract says, it behooves you to know exactly what the Chinese language portion says as well, writes Dan Harris.
Ward, Smith & Hill Helps Secure $502.6M Patent Infringement Win Against Apple
News
A jury has awarded internet security software company VirnetX $502.6 million, finding Apple Inc. willfully infringed on four patents used for VPN on Demand and Facetime in Apple products.
Best Practices: Uncover the Full Potential of CLM Implementation
Insight
It’s critical to start working with general counsel and other key stakeholders early when developing a business case. Having a holistic plan that ties benefits to stage and to stakeholder will keep the implementation on track.
‘Tax Case of the Millennium’ Hits High Court: A Primer
News
Bloomberg Law reports the case directly challenges the 1992 decision in Quill Corp. v. North Dakota, prohibiting states from imposing sales tax collection obligations on vendors lacking an in-state physical presence.
10 Common Contract Gotchas to Avoid
Insight
Business News Daily talked to business owners, attorneys and other experts to find out what common contract “gotchas” you should be on the lookout for.
Wells Fargo Faces $1 Billion Fine to Settle Loan Abuses
News
Reuters reports that Wells Fargo & Co. has been offered a penalty of $1 billion by regulators to resolve outstanding investigations related to auto insurance and mortgage lending abuses, the third-largest U.S. bank by assets said on Friday.
Median CEO Pay for the 100 Largest Companies Reaches Record $15.7 Million
News
The highest-paid CEO in this year’s study is Broadcom’s Hock Tan, with a 2017 compensation package valued at $103.2 million, The Washington Post reports.
Facebook Could Face Record Fine, Say Former FTC Officials
News
Facebook could face fines of $1 billion or more for the company’s mishaps with user data, says the former head of the FTC’s bureau of consumer protection.
The Storm After the Storm: Restoration Contracts
Insight
An article in Gray Reed & McGraw’s Texas Construction Law Blog offers some steps cleaning and restoration professionals can take in an effort to minimize the damage from a payment dispute with a client after a natural disaster.
PwC Faces Largest-Ever Auditor Malpractice Damages Verdict
News
The judge in the case has already ruled that PwC had been professionally negligent in not detecting the criminal fraud that led to the failure of Colonial Bank Group in 2009.
Target Pays $3.7M to Settle Lawsuit Over Racial Disparity in Use of Criminal Background Checks
News
As part of the settlement of the class-action complaint, independent consultants will recommend changes to Target’s current screening guidelines, The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
M&A 101: Key Concepts in Non-Disclosure Agreements
Insight
Not all information shared between a buyer and seller should be considered confidential, and NDAs define the boundaries of what shared information will be confidential, according to Faegre Baker Daniels.
Facebook Privacy Scandal Unleashes Nationwide ‘Litigation Swarm’
News
Damages could be substantial for shareholders, with one group of investors estimating that at least $50 billion in the company’s market capitalization has been wiped out as a result of the disclosure, Bloomberg Technology reports.
Webinar Recording Available on SEC Cybersecurity Guidance
On-Demand
Hunton & Williams LLP has posted an on-demand webinar discussing the Securities and Exchange Commission’s recently released cybersecurity guidance.
Energy Company’s Bankruptcy Generating Enron-Sized Legal Fees
News
Total fees for all the professionals probably will hit $1 billion, according to Energy Future Holdings General Counsel Andy Wright.
Blockchain Smart Contracts Need a New Kind of Due Diligence
News
An article by two Hogan Lovells lawyers and published by Lexology outlines some of the due diligence steps to take in the age of blockchain age of smart contracts.
