Due to an EU directive adopted last year, certain rules on corporate tax are changing with effect from 2019 – including the provisions on interest deduction due to “thin capitalisation.” Although the purpose of the directive was to defeat tax avoidance and tighten up the tax regulations, the new rules on interest deduction are actually becoming more of a blessing than a curse for businesses in Hungary.
Some important issues have been clarified at the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality & Safety’s first hearing, held in Adelaide on 18 January. The Commission has confirmed that Approved Providers need to make themselves available and cannot prevent witnesses from attending the Commission. The Commission will be issuing notices to produce or provide information soon and Approved Providers need to start preparing now.
Several key changes in employment law have taken place over the period from the end of last year to now, particularly with regard to the rights and obligations associated with casual employment and NES entitlements. Employers need to be aware of these changes and how they impact on their current workplace practices and policies.
Intellectual property rights such as trade-marks, patents, industrial design registrations are often the most important assets which a company owns. Richard Uditsky has a look at recent legislative amendments that owners would be prudent to take advantage of.
The federal government entered into a partial shutdown at midnight on Saturday, December 22, 2018. The implications of the ongoing shutdown are far-reaching, but its impact on the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) is of particular concern to members of FDA-regulated industries and those with a role in ensuring the public health. Thousands of FDA employees considered non-essential were furloughed and, consequently, routine regulatory and compliance activities at FDA were put on hold. On his Twitter account (@SGottliebFDA), Scott Gottlieb, M.D., Commissioner of the FDA (“Dr. Gottlieb”), has tweeted frequent updates regarding FDA operations. As he explained, FDA officials initially consulted with public health experts and other senior leaders regarding which FDA activities address threats to human life and safety and, thus, should continue during the shutdown.
On January 17, 2019, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and legislative leaders announced an agreement to raise New Jersey’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024. Under the agreement, and presuming enactment, effective July 1, 2019, the state’s minimum wage for most workers will increase from $8.85 to $10 an hour; thereafter, it will increase $1 an hour every January 1 until reaching $15 on January 1, 2024.
On January 9, 2019, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his plan to make New York City the first city in the country to mandate that private sector employers provide paid personal time (“PPT”) for their employees. Under the proposal, employers with five or more employees would be required to grant their employees 10 days of PPT to use for any purpose, including vacation, religious observance, bereavement, or simply to spend time with their families. It is unclear whether the proposed legislation would apply to only full-time workers, or whether, similar to the Earned Safe and Sick Time Act(“ESSTA”), it would include many part-time employees as well. The Mayor said he would work with the New York City Council to develop the legislation, and several Council members have already voiced their support for the proposal. …
Further to our update last year, Wills: 20,000 reasons why not to DIY, a recent Queensland case has again highlighted the importance of having a properly drafted Will. The case illustrates the fact that while informal Wills can be accepted by the Court, the potential stress, delays and significant extra cost of getting a Court to accept an informal Will could otherwise have been avoided by ensuring there was a valid properly drafted Will in place.
January 21, 2019 — The Superior Court dismissed this morning an application for an authorization to institute a class action against the City of Sainte-Adèle. The plaintiff was asking for a compensation of $3 million on behalf of the residents, alleging that the city had squandered public funds by conducting a 13-year judicial vendetta against two companies and two individuals.
The Court of Appeal has handed down another significant judgment on the topic of legal professional privilege. In WH Holding Ltd & Anor v E20 Stadium LLP[1], the Court clarified that litigation privilege does not extend to purely commercial communications within a company discussing proposals for settlement. The decision also addresses the Court’s approach to applications for inspection where a claim for privilege is challenged.
Welcome to ILN-terviews, a series of profiles of ILN member firm attorneys, designed to give a unique insight into the lawyers who make up our Network. For our latest interview, we chose ILN member, Alishan Naqvee of our member firm LexCounsel Law Offices in New Delhi, India. In one sentence, how would you describe your...… Continue Reading
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