By Osborne Clarke If you’re looking to test a new market or grow more gradually without committing to a permanent headcount in a country, there are a number of options to consider. A query we often receive is whether someone can be hired as an independent contractor rather than an employee. This may well be an option, but there are tax and employment status risks that need to be reviewed. Each jurisdiction has different tests to determine whether someone is genuinely...

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By Patrick O’Brien and Jorge Lopez | Litter   On October 23, 2017, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) rescinded policy guidelines in effect since April 2004 regarding requests for the extension of certain nonimmigrant visas (i.e., visa petitions filed using Form I-129).  Previously, an adjudicator’s determination that a non-U.S. citizen met the eligibility requirements for granting a nonimmigrant visa was given deference in subsequent requests for a visa extension where the parties (petitioner and beneficiary) and the underlying facts and...

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By Jaroslav Tajbr | jaroslav.tajbrnoerr.com |Senior Associate | Noerr The General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) is a new regulation that will apply from 25th May 2018. It brings into being new legal institutions in order to provide more protection for the personal data rights of individuals in the European Union. Data protection is further interpreted by Article 29 Data Protection Working Party (“WP 29”). Its purpose is to provide expert advice, promote consistent application, give opinions to the European Commission, and...

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By Stout Stout announces the opening of two offices in Switzerland. Located in Geneva and Lausanne, Stout’s first Europe-based offices provide cross-border transaction coverage for Switzerland and the market regions of Western Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In conjunction with this announcement, Stout welcomes two investment banking veterans as Managing Directors to lead the offices. Stephane Oury will head the Geneva office, and Christophe Lapaque will head the Lausanne office. Together they have more than 30 years’ experience in international...

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By Andrew C. Collins  | BANNOCKBURN Global Forex LLC  Quite a week in currency markets – let’s hit the highlights. Bank of England raises rates a quarter point to 0.5% but signals that will be the last hike for a while. GBP gets crushed. FOMC leaves rates unchanged – market still expects a hike at the December meeting, the last of 2017. Dollar performs quite well overall, equity markets extend their broad-based rally. President Trump nominates Jerome Powell to replace...

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By Orrick PitchBook ranks Orrick #1 in European venture capital for the third quarter of 2017. This is the seventh quarter in a row that Orrick has ranked #1 for VC in Europe. Globally, the firm ranked #3 and as the most active law firm for exits. Orrick counsels more than 1,600 high growth companies and 100 VC firms. In 2016, Orrick completed over 330 transactions across 35 countries valued at $5 billion in VC financings. Over the past three years,...

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By DLA Piper   DLA Piper's global Finance & Projects practice has today launched Finance Rules of the World, a knowledge site for clients, which summarizes key legal questions and answers to be considered when initially looking at financing or investing in particular jurisdictions. The free and easy-to-use site can be accessed online via PC, iPad or smartphone and lets users compare regimes across more than 35 jurisdictions in EMEA, Asia Pacific and the US. Its topics include the rules and market...

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By Frances Rayer | Cozen O'Connor U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that beginning October 2, 2017, all I-140-based adjustment of status applicants will be required to appear for an in-person interview at a local USCIS office. All individuals who filed I-140-based adjustment of status (I-485) applications on or after March 6, 2017, will now be interviewed before a final decision is made to grant permanent residence. This includes family members of the principal applicant, although the interview may be...

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