There’s no quick fix for relationship development. But there ARE some quick things you can do today to advance either the first step in your relationship with someone or the next step. When you think of networking and relationship building as a series of smaller actions that you can take to help weave the fabric of stronger relationships, it stops feeling so overwhelming and starts feeling like something you can build into your everyday schedule. So whether you’ve got five minutes or an hour, you can strengthen your network today:
June 1, 2021
5 Quick Tips to Build Better Business Relationships
June 1, 2021
Defendant Aventis Pharma Awarded Over $17.2 Million in Attorneys’ Fees in False Claims Act Case
In a move that reminds us that successful defendants can—and should—seek attorneys’ fees in the right case, a magistrate judge in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit awarded pharmaceutical company Aventis Pharma SA (“Aventis”) attorneys’ fees in a False Claims Act (“FCA”) case brought by a competitor, Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Amphastar”). The FCA contains a fee-shifting component, permitting prevailing parties to recover attorneys’ fees from the opposing party—but the playing field is not equal. This fee-shifting provision entitles a prevailing plaintiff to an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, regardless of whether the government elects to intervene in the case. 31 U.S.C. § 3730(d)(1)-(2). A defendant, on the other hand, can only be awarded attorneys’ fees in cases in which the government has declined to intervene and where the defendant can show that the opposing party’s action was “clearly frivolous, clearly vexatious, or brought primarily for purposes of harassment.” 31 U.S.C. § 3730(d)(4).
May 30, 2021
The USA has imposed sanctions on Russian suppliers of medical devices and equipment
On March, 2021 the US Department of Commerce has imposed sanctions on Russian suppliers of medical devices and equipment due to suspicion of developing chemical weapons1.
9 Russian companies were included in sanction list
May 28, 2021
Illinois State Legislators Authorize Increased Wage Theft Penalties
On May 25, 2021, both houses of the Illinois General Assembly approved an amendment to the State’s Wage Payment and Collection Act (“the Act”). The change would require employers who violate the Act to pay damages of 5% of the amount of any underpayment of wages, compensation, or wage supplements for each month following the date of payment during which the amount(s) owed remain unpaid. This represents a 150% increase to the penalty, as the statutory rate before this amendment was 2%. The measure will take effect immediately upon signature by Governor J.B. Pritzker.
May 28, 2021
The Blueprint 2.0: California Moves Toward a Full Reopening
On May 21, 2021, consistent with Governor Newsom’s intention to fully reopen California by June 15, the California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”) released “Beyond the Blueprint for Industry and Business Sectors” (“Beyond the Blueprint”), outlining the state’s latest reopening guidelines and restrictions. Importantly, as reflected in the CDPH’s announcement, most employers (as discussed below) must still follow the more restrictive Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) (“ETS Standards”) (which we wrote about here), and therefore as a practical matter, most employers will be unable to lift masking and social distancing requirements for vaccinated employees absent revised regulations from Cal/OSHA.
ILN Today Post
May 28, 2021
Restaurants with unconfirmed bankruptcy plans may seek emergency dismissal of bankruptcy case to gain access to Restaurant Revitalization Funds
The Restaurant Revitalization Fund, which is a $28.6 billion federal fund for struggling restaurants that was established as part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan passed on March 6, appears to be having an unintended effect on bankrupt restaurants trying to apply while their bankruptcy cases are pending. We previously summarized the key terms of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and details regarding the portal and the initial applicants for the fund can be found here. Unlike the Paycheck Protection Program that provided loans throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (the RRF) offers substantial grants, not loans, to restaurants that have struggled for the past year, and restaurants may use the grants to pay for payroll expenses, mortgage payments, rent utilities, supplies, and food and beverage expenses, among other costs. Like the Paycheck Protection Program, however, funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, and companies that are currently in chapter 11 bankruptcy are not eligible for grants from the RRF unless the bankrupt company already has a confirmed plan of reorganization. Although companies in bankruptcy were not eligible for PPP loans for much of last year, the Small Business Administration recently revised its guidelines in April 2021 to provide the companies in chapter 11 bankruptcy are eligible for PPP loans if they have a confirmed reorganization plan. Read more…
ILN Today Post
May 28, 2021
FDA VQIP Portal Closing on May 31st U.S. Food Importers Should Apply Now!
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP) is a voluntary program offered by FDA for human and animal food importers that actively maintain a safe, transparent, and regulatory compliant supply chain. The VQIP application portal opened January 1, 2021, accepting importer applications for fiscal year 2022 program benefits beginning October 1, 2021, and will close May 31, 2021, at 11:59 pm EST. Applications can be submitted online via the FDA Industry Systems (FIS) webpage at https://www.access.fda.gov/.
ILN Today Post
May 28, 2021
Ahlawat & Associates – Award Announcement
Ahlawat & Associates have been recognized by India Business Law Journal (IBLJ) for our excellence in legal advice to startups, globally. IBLJ quotes that “The winning law firms in this area have shown their nuanced understanding of startup culture and know how to operate nimbly while offering competitive pricing.”
A&A’s startup legal team continues to assist start-up company’s to adhere to the regulatory compliances and skillfully draft appropriate contracts for them to maintain good working relationships with customers, vendors, employees and others while simultaneously protecting their intellectual property rights. We aim to revolutionize the approach taken by Startups, in a way that our clients seek our services at every step without having to worry about exorbitant legal costs.
The results of India Business Law Journal’s 2021 Indian Law Firm Awards could be accessed here.
May 27, 2021
New article 1360.1 will be implemented to the Russian Civil Code
The Draft Law № 912458-7 “On amendments to the part four of the Russian Civil Code”has passed through the third reading in the State Duma on 25 March 2021. The Draft Law implements article 1360.1 to part four of the Russian Civil Code.
According to the new article, under the conditions provided by an international treaty, the Government may allow to use a patented invention in generic medicines for production in the Russian territory for the purpose of subsequent export without the patentholder’s consent, with prior notification and compensation of the patentholder.
ILN Today Post
May 27, 2021
Chambers USA 2021 Recognizes RCCB Corporate/M&A & Private Equity Practice and Two Distinguished RCCB Lawyers Among Leaders
Philadelphia, PA – May 26, 2021
We are pleased to report that, for the first time, RCCB has been ranked as a leading law firm in the 2021 Chambers USA guide for our work in Corporate/M&A & Private Equity in Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds. RCCB is considerably smaller and younger than the other firms so ranked, making this recognition particularly meaningful. The Chambers USA guide, in existence since 1989, is considered to be the leading directory in the legal profession. Additionally, the guide recognizes highly-regarded Managing Partner John E. Royer, Jr., for the first time, for Corporate/M&A & Private Equity, and esteemed Partner David Gitlin returns to the guide for the 14th year as a top-ranked attorney in Corporate/M&A & Private Equity.
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