Member News

aicep Portugal Global | Government, Google sign MoU to foster recovery, digital transition

The government and Google Portugal signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at fostering economic recovery and accelerating the country's digital transition. Portugal’s government and Google Portugal on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at fostering economic recovery and accelerating the country’s digital transition, with digital skills and employability the main areas envisaged in the document. “Google Portugal today reinforced its commitment to the Government and the Portuguese to support the digital transition and offer the tools and training that will...

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Member News

Thompson Hine | DoD Issues Updates to Grant and Cooperative Agreement Regulations

Key Notes: New DoDGARs final rules are effective October 19, 2020. In general, the final rules seek to update, standardize, and clarify the DoDGARs for the benefit of both DoD administrators and award recipients. The final rules are intended to implement government-wide guidance on administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements. Background Over the past few years, the federal government, through the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”), has significantly rewritten its guidance concerning grants and cooperative agreements (referred to as...

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Member News

Stephenson Harwood | LIBOR transition – what drafting should I use in my new facility?

There has never been any doubt that the task of shifting the loans market away from LIBOR onto alternative “risk-free” benchmark rates (“RFRs”) is a monumental one.  However, over the past month we have seen a number of the pieces of the transition jigsaw start to fall into place and momentum is building apace.  In particular, the Working Group on Sterling Risk-Free Reference Rates (the “Sterling Working Group”) has published a number of key statements and recommendations, and the...

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Brexit News, Chapter News

Press statement by Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič following the third meeting of the EU-UK Joint Committee

Statement by Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič | 28 September 2020 | Brussels Good afternoon everyone! We have just concluded our third meeting of the Joint Committee on the implementation and application of the Withdrawal Agreement. Our main message was on the much-needed acceleration of the implementation work to prepare for the 1st January 2021 and on the need to ensure a full, timely and effective implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement. Much work remains to be done before the transition period ends in...

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Brexit News, Chapter News

ESMA updates statements on the impact of Brexit on MIFID II/MIFIR and the benchmarks regulation

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, has updated two statements on its approach to the application of key provisions of MiFID II/MiFIR and the Benchmark Regulation (BMR). The Impact of Brexit on MiFID II/MiFIR The Impact of Brexit on the BMR Today’s statements update previous ones issued in March 2019 and October 2019 reflecting ESMA’s approach, should the UK have left the EU under a no-deal Brexit. However, as the Withdrawal Agreement entered into force on 1...

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Brexit News, Chapter News

Withdrawal Agreement: European Commission sends letter of formal notice to the United Kingdom for breach of its obligations

The European Commission has today sent the United Kingdom a letter of formal notice for breaching its obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement. This marks the beginning of a formal infringement process against the United Kingdom. It has one month to reply to today's letter. Article 5 of the Withdrawal Agreement states that the European Union and the United Kingdom must take all appropriate measures to ensure the fulfilment of the obligations arising from the Withdrawal Agreement, and that they must...

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COVID-19 News, Member News

Offit Kurman | DOL Changes and Clarifies COVID-19 Sick and Family Leave Federal Regulations

On September 11, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) promulgated revisions and clarifications to its April 1 regulations interpreting the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”).  That Act, applicable to most employers with under 500 employees, provides paid sick leave of up to 80 hours and two weeks of unpaid time off followed by 10 weeks at partial pay to workers who can’t work because their child’s school or daycare provider has closed.  The DOL stated that the changes...

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Member News

Faegre Drinker | Employment-Based Immigration Updates: The October Visa Bulletin and Public Charge Rule

On the eve of the U.S. government’s new fiscal year, immigration developments continue to cascade. The U.S. Department of State published its October Visa Bulletin, which showed notable advancements for most employment-based visa categories. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services confirmed it will use the “Dates for Filing” chart, which will allow certain applicants to apply for their green cards earlier in the process. For FY 2021, the State Department anticipates record-breaking employment-based visa numbers. At the same time, the U.S....

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Chapter News

ECB publishes statement of compliance of €STR with IOSCO Principles for Financial Benchmarks

Statement explaining how ECB administers €STR Compliance of the ECB with IOSCO Principles, and therefore with international best practice, in its administration of €STR Independent assurance by external auditor The European Central Bank (ECB) today published its statement of compliance with the Principles for Financial Benchmarks developed by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). This statement shows how the ECB complies with these principles, and therefore with international best practice, in its administration of the €STR. The statement...

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Chapter News

EU Competitiveness Council (Research and innovation), 29 September 2020

Main results The Council adopted general approaches regarding the draft regulation establishing Horizon Europe, the EU's framework programme for research and innovation for the years 2021-2027, and the draft decision establishing the specific programme implementing Horizon Europe. Today’s agreement is an important step forward towards final adoption of Horizon Europe. We now need to make sure with the European Parliament and the Commission that our forward-looking EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation can enter into force in the beginning of...

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