Member News

5 HR aspects to consider when expanding operations to Europe

Doing business in the world’s largest single market area simply makes sense. But foreign companies need to be prepared for Europe’s varied HR rules and regulations. There’s a lot to gain from establishing operations in Europe, particularly the European Union, with its reduced trade barriers, lower business costs and increased efficiency as you sell your goods and services to a 500 million-consumer market. But the EU’s lack of border bureaucracy and harmonisation of company law doesn’t extend to all aspects...

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Chapter News, News

Parliament seals ban on throwaway plastics by 2021

On Wednesday, Parliament approved a new law banning single-use plastic items such as plates, cutlery, straws and cotton buds sticks. 560 MEPs voted in favour of the agreement with EU ministers, 35 against and 28 abstained. The following products will be banned in the EU by 2021: Single-use plastic cutlery (forks, knives, spoons and chopsticks) Single-use plastic plates Plastic straws Cotton bud sticks made of plastic Plastic balloon sticks Oxo-degradable plastics and food containers and expanded polystyrene cups New recycling target and...

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Brexit News, Chapter News, News, Uncategorized

How Might a New Way Forward be Uncovered, if the Existing Deal is not Accepted?

by John Bruton Avoiding a No Deal Brexit is going to require a radical change in the way the House of Commons makes decisions. Now that the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with the EU has been rejected twice by the House of Commons, MPs must now turn to discovering what alternative approach might find find actually support. Only then can to UK engage meaningfully with the EU. This process must be completed by 10 April, the date of a possible special meeting of...

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Member News

Tax Reform Update: Cost Segregation and New Interest Limitation Rules

Cost segregation has long benefited taxpayers with increased cash flow and long-term net present value benefits by reclassifying building or improvement costs to property with shorter tax lives, such as personal property or land improvement property. We discussed cost segregation benefits in light of tax reform in a prior issue of For the Record (see Cost Segregation Benefits from the Recent Tax Reform Act). In this tax reform update, we discuss how cost segregation continues to add value in light of recent changes...

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Member News

500 Spanish entrepreneurs will get loans to focus on inclusion, poverty and the environment

The European Investment Fund (EIF) and MicroBank have signed a social entrepreneurship guarantee agreement in Spain supported by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the core of the Investment Plan for Europe. This financing agreement was also made under the EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI). This guarantee agreement allows MicroBank to launch a new product, targeting 500 start-up and developing social enterprises across Spain over the next 2 and a half years. Under this EU backed program, Spanish...

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Chapter News, News

European Parliament approves new copyright rules for the internet

●Internet platforms are liable for content that users upload ●Some uploaded material, such as memes or GIFs, now specifically excluded from directive ●Hyperlinks to news articles, accompanied by “individual words or very short extracts”, can be shared freely ●Journalists must get a share of any copyright-related revenue obtained by their news publisher ●Start-up platforms subject to lighter obligations Creatives and news publishers will be empowered to negotiate with internet giants thanks to new copyright rules which also contain safeguards on freedom of expression. MEPs adopted...

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Chapter News, News, Uncategorized

European Commission appoints Mr. David O’Sullivan as Special Adviser to the President on EU-US relations

The European Commission has today decided to appoint David O'Sullivan, former EU Ambassador to the United States of America, as Special Adviser to President Jean-Claude Juncker on EU-U.S. relations. In this capacity, he will advise the President on strategy and priorities in relations with the U.S. Mr O'Sullivan was the Ambassador of the European Union to the United States from 2014 to 2019. Previously, he was the Chief Operating Officer of the European External Action Service (EEAS), in charge of its establishment at the...

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Member News

Structuring Cross-Border Venture Investments Under The CFIUS Pilot Program

By Daniel R. Sieck & Gregory C. Dorris | Pepper Hamilton| March, 3rd, 2019 U.S. technology companies raising funds from foreign investors should carefully consider whether the proposed financing transaction can be structured to avoid falling within the purview of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which now has jurisdiction to review certain financing transactions pursuant to interim rules under the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA). In particular, FIRRMA expanded the jurisdiction of CFIUS through...

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Chapter News, News

Antitrust: Commission fines Nike €12.5 million for restricting cross-border sales of merchandising products

The European Commission has fined Nike €12.5 million for banning traders from selling licensed merchandise to other countries within the EEA. This restriction concerned merchandising products of some of Europe's best-known football clubs and federations, for which Nike held the licence. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: "Football fans often cherish branded products from their favourite teams, such as jerseys or scarves. Nike prevented many of its licensees from selling these branded products in a different country...

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Brexit News, Chapter News, News

Brexit preparedness: EU completes preparations for possible “no-deal” scenario on 12 April

As it is increasingly likely that the United Kingdom will leave the European Union without a deal on 12 April, the European Commission has today completed its “no-deal” preparations. At the same time, it continues supporting administrations in their own preparations and urges all EU citizens and businesses to continue informing themselves about the consequences of a possible “no-deal” scenario and to complete their no-deal preparedness. This follows the European Council (Article 50) conclusions last week calling for work to...

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