Member News

Portolano Cavallo | Preliminary guidance on the requirements and provisions of the MDR applicable to legacy devices

This article is part of Portolano Cavallo’s “INFORM@Life Sciences” Newsletter. Click here to subscribe The devices known as “legacy devices” should be subject to the application of only some of the provisions and requirements set forth by the MDR, as better clarified and identified by the Medical Device Coordination Group report issued on October 21, 2021 (“MDCG 2021-25”). That report offers preliminary and non-binding guidance for stakeholders until specific guidelines are issued at a later date. Definition of legacy devices A medical device is...

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Member News

Vulcan Insight | Fighting deforestation: Making the European Green Deal a reality

On Wednesday, the European Commission unveiled three new initiatives it views as necessary to making its European Green Deal a “reality”. Included in its proposals are new rules aimed at curbing EU-driven deforestation. Speaking in relation to these proposals Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans emphasised the need for Europe to “take responsibility to act at home as well as abroad”, adding the Commission’s deforestation regulation “answers citizens’ calls to minimise the European contribution to deforestation”. Similarly, Commissioner...

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Chapter News

IMF | Sharing the Gains of Automation: The Role of Fiscal Policy

Careful calibration of spending and tax policies can reduce inequality caused by automation. For many observers, automation has been responsible for both strong economic growth and rising inequality in many countries in recent decades. Automation raises productivity, but it can exacerbate inequality. This is because it replaces low-skilled workers and helps owners of capital earn bigger monopoly rents. And with the advent of next-level automation in the form of robots, the challenge is more pressing than ever. 'Fiscal policy instruments can reduce...

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Member News

EACCNY President, James Rosener, honored by American Society of the French Legion of Honor 2021 Medal for Distinguished Achievement

Original Press Release Here New York (Nov. 17) – James D. Rosener was honored yesterday (Nov. 16) by the American Society of the French Legion of Honor with its 2021 Medal for Distinguished Achievement. The award ceremony was conducted at a reception held at The Links Club in Manhattan. Mr. Rosener is the President and founding member of the European American Chamber of Commerce New York . He also chairs the American Battle Monuments Foundation, serves as Director of the Chambre...

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Chapter News

ECB Speech | A digital euro for tomorrow’s payments

Introductory remarks by Fabio Panetta, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the ECON Committee of the European Parliament | Madam Chair, honourable members of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, Thank you for inviting me to report on the investigation phase of the digital euro project, which we started in October. I am happy to finally meet at least some of you in person, once again. Our interactions started a year ago when we published the Eurosystem...

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Member News

AICEP | Portuguese exports up 10.3%, imports up 17.5% in September

"In September 2021, exports and imports of goods recorded nominal year-on-year growth rates of +10.3% and +17.5%, respectively," Statistics Portugal (INE) announced. The exports of goods increased 10.3% YoY, and imports rose 17.5% YoY this September. In the cumulative period from January to September 2021, Portuguese companies exported 20.1% and imported 18.1% more compared to last year. Statistics Portugal (INE) announced. “In September 2021, exports and imports of goods recorded nominal year-on-year growth rates of +10.3% and +17.5%, respectively (+16.9% and...

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Brexit News, Chapter News

Speech by John Bruton | Why is Brexit so hard to Finalize?

Speech by John Bruton, former Taoiseach at the Henley School in the Renaissance Hotel Brussels on Tuesday 16th November at 10am | ARTICLE 16 IS NO SILVER BULLET FOR THE UK One of the puzzles in the stand off over the Northern Ireland  Protocol is that of discerning what the UK really wants. The stakes are high, and the effects of failure immediate. The UK talks about invoking Article 16 of the Protocol. That article allows for a temporary suspension of the application...

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Member News

Cozen O’Connor | Employment Authorization Policy for Nonimmigrant Dependent Spouses

On November 10, 2021, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reached a settlement in a landmark case, which provided structural changes for nonimmigrant H-4 and L-2 spouses seeking employment authorization. On November 12, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued policy guidance to address the outcome of this historic settlement agreement. USCIS has highlighted the following major policy changes: Automatic Extension of Existing Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) The new policy provides that certain H-4, E, or L-2 dependent spouses qualify for...

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Member News

Noerr | Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and copyright law

NFTs: disruption or speculation? At the latest since NFTs worth more than USD 2.5 billion were traded in the first half of 2021 and numerous participants — including start-ups, large corporations, artists and sports teams and leagues — entered the extremely dynamic market, questions have arisen regarding the legal classification of NFTs. Therefore, the following overview aims to introduce the topic and its the legal aspects with a particular focus on copyright issues. Background Tokenisation of assets on a blockchain In concrete...

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Member News

Sika to acquire MBCC Group to accelerate its growth strategy and reinforce its position as sustainability champion in the global construction industry

November 11, 2021 | Zugerstrasse 50, 6341 Baar, Switzerland | MBCC Group is one of the most recognized companies in construction chemicals worldwide with sales of approximately CHF 2.9 billion (EUR 2.7 billion) Enterprise value of CHF 5.5 billion represents a 11.5x EV/pro forma 2022E EBITDA multiple with expected annual synergies of CHF 160 – 180 million bringing the multiple down to 8.5x EV/EBITDA Transaction is highly complementary across almost all of Sika’s core technologies, applications, and solutions Acquisition...

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