 | Investigation Initiated Into Use of First Sale Rule for Customs Valuation of US Imports
6 January 2009 - The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has requested written comments from interested parties as part of a Congressionally mandated review regarding use of the "first sale rule" for valuing US imports upon entry into the United States. While no public hearings will be held, the received statements may be used as part of a report that the ITC will prepare on the issue, as required by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the "Farm Bill"). Read >>
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 | The Race Discrimination Ordinance - Consultation on the Code of Practice
2 January 2009 - Subsequent to the publication of the draft Code of Practice on the Race Discrimination Legislation, the Equal Opportunities Commission has been undertaking a number of public and private sessions to consider such Code. We set out below certain of the most common questions raised and the EOC's response. Read >>
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| SEC Revises Oil and Gas Company Reporting Requirements Regarding Energy Reserves
2 January 2009 - On December 31, 2008, the US Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it approved the proposed revisions to oil and gas reserves reporting requirements. These new disclosure rules completely overhaul the existing reporting requirements and mark the first revisions to Rule 4-10 and Regulation S-X since the adoption of the original reporting requirements more than a quarter century ago. Read >>
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| Getting the Deal Through: Private Antitrust Litigation in 35 Jurisdictions Worldwide
January 2009 - Getting the Deal Through: Private Antitrust Litigation in 35 Jurisdictions Worldwide (Global Competition Review 2009) Read >>
Reprinted with permission from Global Competition Review |
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| 3-Month Delay in Extension of the "Black Out" Period
31 December 2008. As mentioned in the "Consultation Conclusions on Proposals in the 2008 Combined Consultation Paper" recently published by The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Stock Exchange"), the Stock Exchange has decided to amend the listing rules to extend the "black out" period. Read >>
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| US Federal Circuit Court Revives Venue Transfer Rule for Patent Defendants
30 December 2008 - On December 29, 2008, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals granted a writ of mandamus and vacated Judge T. John Ward's denial of a venue transfer motion brought by TS Tech USA Corporation (TS Tech) in a patent infringement case involving automobile seat headrests. The Federal Circuit's ruling revives the previously-believed futile venue transfer motion as an option for patent defendants in the Eastern District of Texas, and may well loosen that court's vise-grip on defendants sued in the Eastern District. Read >>
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| Extension of Reduced Fees and Tax on Property Sale
30 December 2008. The Cabinet of Thailand approved a one-year extension of reduced government fees and specific business tax (SBT) on the sale of immovable properties to energise Thailand's real estate sector. Read >>
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| Possible Impacts on Thai Stainless Steel Exporters
24 December 2008 - On 25 November 2008, India initiated an anti-dumping investigation on imported, cold rolled, flat stainless steel originating in or exported from several countries, including Thailand. India's concern is that domestic companies will suffer due to cheaper imported stainless steel flooding the domestic market. Read >>
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| FTC Challenges Consummated Drug Acquisition; Two Commissioners Suggest Sale to Firm Unconstrained by Reputation to Keep Prices Low Could Violate Section 7
23 December 2008 - Signs of aggressive new merger enforcement positions are evident in the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC's) challenge of the acquisition of a drug to treat a heart condition in premature babies. In Federal Trade Commission v. Ovation Pharmaceuticals, Inc., No. 08-cv-06379-JNE-JJG (D. Minn. Dec. 16, 2008), the FTC alleges that the acquisition, which has already been consummated, made Ovation the owner of the only two drugs currently approved to treat this condition. Read >>
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| The US Government Begins Solicitation of New Safe Harbors for the Federal Health Care Anti-Kickback Statute
22 December 2008 - On December 17, 2008, the government opened up its solicitation period for proposed modifications of safe harbors to the federal health care Anti-Kickback Statute, 42 U.S.C. 1320a-7b(b). The Anti-Kickback Statute provides for criminal, administrative, and civil penalties to individuals or entities who knowingly and willfully offer, pay, solicit, or receive remuneration in order to induce or reward business reimbursable under the federal health care programs. Read >>
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| Construction & Engineering Legal Update
19 December 2008 - We are pleased to attach issue 57 of the Construction & Engineering Legal Update, produced by the Construction and Engineering group in our London office, for December 2008. Read >>
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| Construction & Engineering: Legal Update
Issue 57, December 2008 - Going boldly where no Update has gone before, we start with an overview of legal issues in contracting in the Middle East, written by Raid Abu-Manneh, who we are delighted to welcome to the Construction & Engineering Group. Raid will be bringing us more insight into Middle East construction law in future issues. Read >>
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| Preparing for 2009 Proxy and Annual Report Season
18 December 2008 - As 2008 comes to a close, public companies with calendar year-ends should be planning their proxy statements and annual reports on Form 10-K. Set forth below are some issues to keep in mind when preparing these annual disclosures. Read >>
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| EU and UK Antitrust/Competition Group London : Daily Bulletin
18 December 2008 - EU - Phase I merger notifications published in the Official Journal; EU - State Aid; UK Competition; European Courts Read >>
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| EU and UK Antitrust/Competition Group London : Daily Bulletin
17 December 2008 - EU - Phase I merger notifications published in the Official Journal; EU - Phase II Cases; EU - State Aid; UK Competition; Competition: Member States; Competition: Non-EU Member States; European Courts; Communication/Post; Car Glass Read >>
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| The Road to Madrid
17 December 2008. Under the guidance of the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), preparations are underway for Thailand to join the Madrid Protocol relating to the Madrid Agreement concerning the International Registration of Marks ("Madrid Protocol"). Read >>
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| Insurance & Reinsurance Industry Group: Corporate Insurance & Regulatory Bulletin - London
December 2008 - Analysis Review into insurance comparison websites It is fair to say that insurance comparison websites have grown significantly as a distribution channel of personal lines insurance over the past couple of years. For example, in 2007, almost 25% of all private motor insurance was sold through an aggregator site. Read >>
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| Outsourcing: Ways to Cut Costs in Troubled Times
16 December 2008 - In these troubled economic times, many of you have identified an urgent need to find opportunities to reduce your costs. This Client Alert offers recommendations on ways to save money in your existing sourcing arrangements and by entering into new sourcing arrangements. Read >>
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| FCPA Watch: Siemens Agrees to Pay Record-Breaking US$800 Million for FCPA Violations
16 December 2008 - Siemens AG, Europe's largest engineering company, pleaded guilty on Monday, December 15, 2008, to violating the internal controls and books and records provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Siemens agreed to pay $450 million in criminal penalties, disgorge $350 million in tainted profits, and submit to a monitor for a period of four years to ensure FCPA compliance going forward. In resolving the matter, government officials applauded Siemens for its extraordinary efforts in cooperating with the investigation. Companies whose business affairs bring them within reach of the FCPA can take valuable lessons from this case. Read >>
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| Pensions Legal Update
December 2008 - Issue 136 Read >>
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