At the start of the new year, Germany’s Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection has taken twofold action by publishing two draft Acts intended to transpose, firstly, the Directive on certain aspects concerning contracts for the supply of digital content and digital services (2019/770/EU) and, secondly, the Directive as regards the better enforcement and modernisation of Union consumer protection rules (2019/2161/EU). Both drafts were passed by the Federal Government on 13 January 2021 and have now been presented to the Bundesrat for its comments....

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As Troutman Pepper previously reported, Nasdaq proposed listing rules in December that would have required all Nasdaq-listed companies to have at least two diverse directors (or explain why they didn’t) and to disclose board diversity statistics, subject to certain exceptions. Click here for their recent client alert on the initial proposal. Although the proposed rules have been widely lauded as a step forward in bringing diversity to the corporate boardroom, there has been some vocal criticism of the proposal. In...

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ESG values ​​have rekindled sustainability in various sectors of the economy and promise to influence companies’ daily lives directly. Do you really know what this acronym means? Good environmental, social and corporate governance practices are on the rise in the economy and have triggered a movement of change in companies worldwide. New generations have an almost intrinsic concern with issues such as the environment and a positive impact. In the last decades, this mentality has gained breadth with the UN Sustainable...

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As with each subsector under the umbrella of real estate, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) has been varied, creating opportunities and challenges that seem likely to continue throughout the year ahead. Within the various property sectors owned by REITs, performance has reflected the current conditions of those sectors in general. In sectors such as hospitality, retail and office, all heavily affected by social distancing and shutdowns, REIT performance has suffered. However, these...

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This article is part of Portolano Cavallo’s “INFORM@ Life Sciences” Newsletter. Click here to subscribe. | Healthcare services provided remotely are officially a part of the National Healthcare Service (“NHS”), now that the State-Regions Conference has approved the document entitled “National guidelines for the provision of telemedicine services,” drafted by the Ministry of Health (hereinafter the “Guidelines”). Henceforth, the Guidelines shall serve as the national reference for provision of telemedicine services, with this updated version replacing the previous guidelines of 2014. Italian regions...

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The investment climate is changing.  The reflation trade has gained traction.  Bond yields rose sharply, and curves steepened.  The dollar value of the negative-yielding bonds in the world fell from a peak last December of around $18.4 trillion to $12.6 trillion, the least since last July. Commodity prices continue to move higher.  The CRB Index rose nearly 9.5% in February and brings the gain to almost 32% since the end of October.  Equities rallied strongly in the first half of...

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It’s cliche, but we have to ask. Is this the new normal? In this week’s global freight updates, we’ve got hidden post-Brexit costs, shippers on the prowl for boxes, the current state of ocean freight – in pictures, CMA CGM branching out, and plunging air cargo rates. According to The Loadstar, EU consumers are starting to become “more reluctant to order UK brands due to longer transit times and additional costs linked to duty and VAT.” Despite attempts to avoid disruptions, the uncertainty...

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President Joe Biden was sworn into office on January 20, 2021. As with any incoming administration, new policies will be pursued while those of the previous administration are furthered, abandoned, or undone. The federal government is an enormous bureaucracy with several layers and, therefore, converting policies into quantifiable results takes months or even years. Early indicators of policies' prioritization, implementation, or their likelihood of success can provide a head start to regulated businesses scanning the horizon. It is in...

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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) urges employers to take advantage of the newly-extended employee retention credit, designed to make it easier for businesses that, despite challenges posed by COVID-19, choose to keep their employees on the payroll. The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, enacted December 27, 2020, made a number of changes to the employee retention tax credits previously made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), including modifying and extending...

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