By Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati In early January 2018, security researchers released their findings about vulnerabilities affecting almost all computer chips that could allow a hacker to access data stored in the memory of the chips. Dubbed "Spectre" and "Meltdown," the vulnerabilities have caused significant alarm among security researchers and have become a top priority for chief information officers (CIOs) and chief information security officers (CISOs) to address. For lawyers and executives who manage risk for their companies, below is...

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By Vulcan Consulting BREXIT   EU27 clarifies stance for Brexit transition period EU member states have opted to support tougher conditions for the UK in any post-Brexit transition deal. The agreed updated directives for the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier will demand London to meet stricter terms on immigration, fishing rights and external trade. Both sides are in favour of transition deal to smooth the Brexit process and the UK had agreed that it would be a ‘’stand still’’ process...

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By the Institute of International Education (IIE) Female scholars in the European Union are welcome to apply for the Women Enhancing Technology (WeTech®) Juniper Europe Internship and Scholarship. Through WeTech, Juniper Networks invests in building the global pipeline of women in STEM by providing scholarships to female STEM students in Europe. This is the first time the WeTech Juniper Internship and Scholarship will be open to every country in the European Union. IIE and Juniper will award paid internship opportunities and scholarship...

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By William R. Rhodes - President & CEO, William R. Rhodes Global Advisors, LLC  President Donald Trump’s new tax legislation is adding rocket fuel to the U.S. equity market. And excesses have spread well beyond stocks. There’s a bubble in Bitcoin and other crypto-currencies, art prices are soaring, and valuations for collectibles like fast cars, as well as real estate, are becoming ever more staggering. But a fear of missing out on the boom means that investors are paying little...

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By EY EY announces the launch of the EY Geostrategic Business Group aimed at actively working with organizations and institutions globally to understand the business implications of the geopolitical landscape and help them navigate it, manage existing global operations and identify new business opportunities. By bringing together a global network of EY professionals with deep country-level experience in supporting businesses and governments with Teneo Intelligence’s geopolitical advisory competencies, the group combines strategic advice with implementation and execution capabilities. It provides insightful...

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By Blue Star Strategies New presence will serve clients in Paris and Brussels, act as Transatlantic bridge Blue Star Strategies, LLC is launching a new office in Europe—Blue Star Strategies SAS—serving clients in Paris, France and Brussels, Belgium with its partners Mathilde Defarges and Etienne Bodard. Ms. Defarges, who has served as a senior advisor to the firm, will become President of Blue Star Strategies SAS, expanding the firm’s government and public affairs presence in the heart of Europe.   Blue Star Strategies...

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By Mark H. Moore | RPJ Partners Software licensors routinely require written agreements which prohibit the “reverse engineering” of the software being licensed. The U. S. Circuit Court for the Fourth Circuit has issued an important decision which broadly defines the term “reverse engineering” of software to include the analysis of the licensed software to “learn how it works” in order to “recreate its functionality” in a competing product. The appellate court refused to adopt the alternative definition proposed by the...

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By Daniella McGuigan | London | Ogeltree Deakins On 19 December 2017, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) proposed a draft plan for enforcement action in relation to The Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap Information) Regulations 2017. Consultation on the proposal is due to close on 2 February 2018. Daniella McGuigan of Ogletree Deakins’ London office is part of a working party representing the views of employers within the consultation process. The regulations indicate that it would be an “unlawful...

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By Hector Galeano | Jorge R. Lopez | Littler As it signaled in late 2017,1 the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s investigative arm) began 2018 with an increased emphasis on targeting employers and unauthorized employees through worksite enforcement action. Employers are now seeing the reported orders come to fruition and should expect more actions going forward.2 On January 10, 2018, HSI targeted 98 retail operations in nationwide worksite raids occurring in 17 states and Washington D.C. Such activity will...

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By Maurice Phelan | +353 1 614 5083  |mphelanmhc.ie |  Mason, Hayes & Curran We review some key developments in the area of litigation and dispute resolution in Ireland during 2017. The Law Society of Ireland v the Motor Insurer’s Bureau of Ireland This case is a reminder of the importance of drafting agreements in a clear and unambiguous manner. Where ambiguity exists in an agreement, Irish courts will look at the agreement as a whole taking into account the context...

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