Navigating the Legal Landscape: Key Industry Updates (March 2024)
Last Updated: Mar 1, 2024
Pharmacy Company Walgreens Boots Appoints Chief Legal Officer from Ecolab
Walgreens Boots Alliance has appointed Lanesha Minnix as the company's Executive Vice President (EVP) and Global Chief Legal Officer. Minnix, who was previously the EVP, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary for Ecolab, will take on her new role with WBA on April 15.
Source: Global Legal Post
European Parliament Votes Through Controversial Patent Reforms
The European Parliament approved the contentious standard essential patent (SEP) regulation. This decision marks a significant step forward for the regulation introduced in April to enhance transparency and decrease litigation related to SEPs, despite strong opposition from major SEP holders like Ericsson, Nokia, Philips, and InterDigital, who criticized the proposals as "deeply flawed" through the coalition group IP Europe.
Source: Global Legal Post
UNHCR Warns that UK’s New Rwanda Arrangement Violates International Law
The UNHCR has reaffirmed its stance that the UK's Rwanda asylum transfer arrangement violates international law. This recent assessment updates a previous UNHCR analysis from June 2022, which concluded that the deal breaches international refugee law and fails to meet the required standards for asylum seeker transfers.
Source: Jurist
SLCC Brings Proceedings Against Two Solicitors
The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) initiated legal action against two solicitors who did not adhere to statutory information requests. One of the solicitors had previously faced contempt of court for a similar matter concerning a different complaint, although no penalty was imposed then.
Family Courts ‘No Longer Safe for Lawyers or Litigants’
A prominent family lawyer has cautioned that the family courts are now unsafe for both lawyers and litigants, with government proposals potentially exacerbating the issue. The Bar Council expressed worries about violence at Dolphin House in a letter to the Courts Service last November, following physical assaults on a solicitor and a barrister in separate incidents, as reported by The Irish Times.
Source: Irish Legal
SEC Goes After Bankrupt Terraform Labs' $166m 'Slush Fund' for Dentons
The U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission has objected to Terraform Labs hiring Dentons as its law firm or covering employee litigation expenses during bankruptcy, particularly targeting a $166 million retainer paid to Terraform's lawyers.
Source: Reuters
Germany Legalizes Cannabis, but Makes it Hard to Buy
The German parliament has approved a new legislation permitting the recreational consumption of cannabis. This law will enable individuals over 18 in Germany to possess significant quantities of cannabis, although purchasing the drug will be subject to stringent regulations.
Source: BBC
New EU Rules to Defend Critical Voices from Judicial Intimidation
This new law aims to safeguard individuals and organizations engaged in public interest issues like fundamental rights, anti-corruption efforts, democracy protection, and combating disinformation from baseless and abusive legal actions within the EU. The protection covers cross-border cases unless both parties are from the same EU country as the court or if the case solely concerns one member state.
Source: European Parliament
Exxon, Chevron asks US Supreme Court to Dismiss Ruling in Honolulu Climate Change Suit
Fossil fuel companies including Exxon, Chevron, and Sunoco petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that permitted Honolulu's lawsuit accusing the companies of deceiving the public regarding climate change risks to advance to trial, as stated by a legal representative for the companies.
Source: Reuters