By EY China tops the latest Renewable energy country attractiveness index(RECAI) for the third time consecutively, with the US and Germany overtaking India, which falls from second to fourth position. The UK and the Netherlands are notable climbers (to positions seventh and ninth respectively), while Taiwan re-enters the bi-annual top 40 ranking. The 51st issue of the RECAI highlights the trend for rising protectionism across the renewable energy sector. India’s 2022 solar power target looks increasingly over-ambitious amid investor concerns, in response...

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By Mathilde Defarges and Sally A. Painter, with Jeremiah J. Baronberg “The miracle of the relationship between the United States and France is that we have never lost this special bond deeply rooted not only in our history, but also in our flesh. - President Macron in his speech to U.S. Congress, April 25, 2018 The French-American alliance was on theatrical display last week in Washington, DC, as President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte were fêted during an official U.S. state visit at the...

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DS-Concept, a global provider of trade finance solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises, has changed its name to Tradewind. The firm, a recognized leader in international export factoring, decided on the change in order to illustrate its prominent role in financing cross-border transactions, which resemble trade winds on the globe. Like the conductive climate its namesake’s currents provide for trade, Tradewind propels commerce worldwide, with its network of more than 20 offices on 4 continents. Along with its growing presence in...

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Last week saw the conclusion of our European roadshow of exclusive events, held to honour the National Winners and Ones to Watch in the 2017/18 European Business Awards.  Throughout January to April, we’ve held events in London, Dublin, Berlin, Brussels (joint event for Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), Stockholm (joint event for Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland), Milan, Paris and finishing in Athens with an event at the British Ambassador’s Residence last week.  The celebrated companies were chosen by a panel of independent judges...

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By Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.   On April 17, 2018, at the request of both sides of United States v. Microsoft Corp., the U.S. Supreme Court remanded and dismissed one of the most closely watched privacy cases of the last several years just a few weeks after oral argument.   What engendered this highly unusual action? Last month, President Trump signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, which contained a little-debated section entitled the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act....

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By Thompson Hine Key Notes: The Supreme Court decided April 24 that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) can invalidate patents without violating the U.S. Constitution. The Court also decided on April 24, in a separate case, that the PTAB must issue a decision on the validity of every patent claim that is challenged. In light of these decisions, a PTAB challenge may now be a more useful and cost-effective option for companies that are (a) paying a royalty...

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By Tim Marshall | Adam Hartley | DLA Piper  The countdown is on to the implementation of the GDPR on 25 May 2018. With less than one month to go, many employers will be finalising their preparation for the changes the new law will bring to data protection in the workplace.  For those employers finalising their preparations, it may be time to check in to ensure that you remain on track and on target. But for those organisations who are only just turning...

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 Vistra, one of the world’s leading providers of international incorporations, trust, fiduciary, private office and fund administration services, today announced it has entered an agreement to acquire Radius, a specialist US-based provider of international expansion services. Vistra is acquiring Radius from the private equity firm Hg. The transaction doubles Vistra’s International Expansion Services (IES) business, making it a market leader in IES services, including the number one market position in the USA. Vistra’s IES business helps clients navigate expansion into...

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By Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati On April 26, 2018, the International Trade Commission (ITC) published its long-awaited amendments to its Rules of General Application, Adjudication, and Enforcement. The amendments address a host of issues including the splitting or severance of investigations, early resolution on potentially dispositive issues, subpoena practice, and other procedures intended to address concerns about investigations conducted under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. Section 1337). The ITC first published proposed amendments on September 24, 2015,...

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