Consider writing about:
Expanded U.S. economic sanctions involving Cuba, as announced by the Trump administration this month; types of entities, industries, or individuals who are currently targeted by, or likely to be targeted by, the sanctions; compliance obligations and related risks for businesses; authority under which the Cuba sanctions are being imposed; how the Cuba sanctions compare to prior U.S. actions targeting Cuba and to other U.S. sanctions-related actions.
Related information:
Consider writing about:
The SECURE Data Act and the GUARD Financial Data Act; main focus of these congressional bills; how they compare to current state-level legislative trends or to previous congressional attempts to address data privacy issues; what the latest congressional measures could mean for consumer rights, for companies’ data-related obligations and related liability risks, and for state laws on data privacy; current status of the congressional bills, potential sticking points, and their prospects for passage; what interested parties should be watching for from Congress on this front.
Related information:
https://financialservices.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=411100
Consider writing about:
The SEC conflict minerals rule; the rule’s intent and history; to whom the rule applies; filing deadline and procedure; additional compliance guidance and points to keep in mind when preparing required reports involving the conflict minerals rule; how to correct any mistakes or oversights after the fact.
Related information:
https://www.sec.gov/rules-regulations/2012/08/conflict-minerals
Consider writing about:
A recent Chapter 15 filing by a cannabis company; what to know about the strategy the Cannabist Co. is using in a bid to access the U.S. bankruptcy system; challenges ahead for Cannabist; what else stands out to you about this bankruptcy filing, both in and of itself and for what it may portend for the overall cannabis industry’s options; alternative scenarios for cannabis-related companies that find themselves shut out of bankruptcy proceedings.
Consider writing about:
The closure of Spirit Airlines; factors leading to the budget airline’s bankruptcy filing; related challenges for the aviation industry as a whole; what Spirit’s demise means for its former competitors; how the budget airline sector, and the overall aviation industry, are faring this year; how airlines are responding to the energy crisis created by the U.S-Iran conflict; what airline passengers should know about their rights or options when an airline stops doing business.
Related information:
Consider writing about:
Debtor-in-possession financing; what it consists of; when it should (or should not) be used; pros and cons of this financing option when compared to other alternatives; what factors may determine whether or not a DIP loan will obtain the approval of a bankruptcy court; other potential roadblocks to securing DIP financing.
Consider writing about:
Trademark applications recently filed by pop star Taylor Swift; what to know about this legal avenue for potentially protecting one’s voice and likeness; likelihood of securing trademark protection for these purposes; how this type of IP protection would compare to other potential legal protections for a voice or likeness; how to think about multi-layered IP protections for a particular purpose; technological or legal trends or gaps that may be spurring evolving utilizations of trademark law.
Consider writing about:
Supplemental guidance issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on March 13; what the USPTO’s action means for design patent protection for digital works; efective date of the new guidance; how companies should be responding to this USPTO guidance to maximize the IP protections available to them.
Related information:
Consider writing about:
Noteworthy legal disputes involving the use of graffiti artists’ works. How have these cases evolved, in terms of claims, counter-arguments, outcomes, or other significant points? Have graffiti artists gained stronger rights over their works over the years? What should someone know before assuming that all or part of a graffiti work can be repurposed for commercial use downstream?