On a semi-annual basis, KeyBank surveys over 750 owners and executives of “middle market” businesses across the US to see how they are viewing the current business environment and to learn what strategies they are deploying to achieve success over the next 12-months. The middle market, which is generally considered to include all companies between $10MM and $1 billion in annual revenues, represents about a third of private sector GDP in the US and is considered to be the center...

Patent practitioners have been curious as to whether any of the economic efficiencies announced and enacted by the federal government also have been implemented at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). For instance, when the Department of Government Efficiency was actively trying to find ways to cut government waste, how many, if any, changes were earmarked for the USPTO? It should be stated up front that the USPTO is funded by user fees and is considered one of the...

As the June 2026 deadline for transposing the EU Pay Transparency Directive (Directive (EU) 2023/970) draws closer, employers across the European Union are preparing for a significant shift in pay equity practices. The directive aims to strengthen the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value, and it introduces a harmonised set of transparency and reporting obligations that will apply to organisations across all EU member states. Quick Hits Employers across the EU are preparing for the June...

EIB Group President Nadia Calviño offcially opens the 2026 edition of the EIB Group Forum. Your Royal Highness, Monseigneur, ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues, Welcome to this year’s EIB Group Forum! It is such a pleasure to be in the company of so many friends, committed policymakers, business leaders, innovators, and civil society champions in this annual gathering in Luxembourg. Let me start by thanking the EIB Group’s teams that organised this great event. Like every year, they put a lot of effort and put their hearts into bringing such an impressive lineup of speakers – of thinkers...

Welcome to the latest edition of the Stephenson Harwood Data and Cyber Update, covering the key developments in data protection and cyber security law in February 2026. In data regulation news, the European Data Protection Board (“EDPB”) and the European Data Protection Supervisor (“EDPS”) issue a joint Opinion on the Digital Omnibus Regulation proposal; and the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) publishes its data protection complaints guidance. In cybersecurity news, Ofcom fast-tracks its decision on online safety proposals, as UK regulators...

With USCIS having now announced the FY 2027 H‑1B cap lottery registration dates, this is an opportune time to revisit the H‑1B registration process and highlight key considerations for employers as the registration period opens next month. As discussed in our January 2026 article on major policy changes affecting the FY 2027 H‑1B cap, this year’s registration cycle introduces significant new complexities, making early and strategic preparation more critical than ever for employers seeking to sponsor foreign national talent. FY 2027...