Chapter News, News

Mario Draghi, President of the ECB: The Euro is Irreversible

Below is a transcript of a report on the outcome of today’s meeting of the Governing Council, which was attended by the President of the Eurogroup, Prime Minister Juncker, and by the Commission Vice-President, Mr Rehn. Based on our regular economic and monetary analyses, the ECB decided to keep the key ECB interest rates unchanged. Owing to high energy prices and increases in indirect taxes in some euro area countries, inflation rates are expected to remain above 2% throughout 2012,...

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Chapter News, News

German-American Friendship Month

The German-American Friendship Month offers a wide variety of lectures, wine tasting, Kasperltheater (puppet theater), exhibitions- and, of course, don't forget the German beer and food! Get together at the annual Steuben Parade and Central Park Oktoberfest on September 15. For detailed information on the events, please visit: www.GermanParadeNYC.org/store 2012 German-American Friendship Month Events: STEUBEN: THE NEW YORK YEARS Thursday, September 6 at 7 p.m. Fraunces Tavern, 54 Pearl Street, NYC Erick-Kurz-Memorial-Lecture, sponsored by the Steuben Society of America. Much is known about Baron...

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Chapter News, News

FINRA Launches Pilot Program for Large Arbitration Cases

WASHINGTON — The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced today the launch of a pilot program specifically designed for large arbitration cases involving claims of $10 million or more. The program enables parties to customize the administrative process to better suit special needs of a larger case and allows them to bypass certain FINRA arbitration rules. Participation in the pilot program, which began today, is voluntary and open to all cases; but in order to be eligible, all parties...

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Chapter News, News

EU Newsbrief: President Barroso: Overcoming the Crisis by Strengthening Europe

Speaking at the Alpbach Economic Symposium in Austria today, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso emphasized further integration and strengthening of the European Union as the key to overcoming the euro crisis. He announced that on September 12th, the European Commission will outline proposals for a European banking union. "This is the next concrete and immediate deliverable of our vision to generate confidence in the future of the Euro area," explained President Barroso. "This is action now - even if...

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Member News, News

Pepper Hamilton LLP has acquired Freeh Group International Solutions, LLC

EACCNY Founding member Pepper Hamilton LLP is pleased to announce that The Hon. Louis J. Freeh and the lawyers of Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP have joined Pepper Hamilton LLP and Pepper Hamilton LLP has acquired Freeh Group International Solutions, LLC. This transaction creates a new model for delivering efficient, timely, cost-effective solutions to complex problems for clients around the world. The lawyers of Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP are joining Pepper Hamilton, and Louis J. Freeh is joining Pepper's Executive...

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Member News, News

McCormick & O’Brien LLP is pleased to announce that Scott D. Smith has joined the Firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice as a Partner

Scott D. Smith joins McCormick & O'Brien LLP's Commercial Litigation Practice as a Partner. Mr. Smith’s practice involves a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, including complex business litigation, contractual disputes, business fraud, and business separations. Mr. Smith has experience in all phases of litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, in federal district, bankruptcy and state courts throughout New York. He has represented a broad spectrum of clients, both as plaintiffs and defendants, in cases involving breach...

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Member News, News

Libor Manipulation: Litigation and Related Issues

The London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR“) is currently in the news due to a rate manipulation scandal that erupted in the UK.  The scandal looks likely to have an impact on a variety of financial entities. As matters stand, lawyers are dealing with a steady stream of queries about the potential investor impact and class actions in the US are apparently being progressed.  In addition, regulators in both the US and the UK are currently investigating the manipulation, a parliamentary enquiry is underway,...

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Member News, News

Investment Funds Update from MH&C – August 2012

EACC New York Member Mason Hayes + Curran provided us with a number of updates around UCITS and the AIFMD: I) UCITS IV Update: Requirements for SMICs The Central Bank has issued correspondence regarding the adoption of UCITS IV by self-managed investment companies. The adoption timeline previously set out by the Central Bank for such entities had been suspended pending clarification from it. Read More II. UCITS: Proposals for UCITS V and VI Published The European Commission has issued proposals for UCITS...

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Member News, News

EU Council approves EMIR

The EU Council formally approved the Regulation on OTC derivatives, central counterparties and trade repositories, which the European Parliament had already adopted at first reading on 29 March 2012. The Regulation, which is also known as the European Market Infrastructure Regulation or EMIR, will enter into force shortly after its forthcoming publication in the Official Journal of the EU. EMIR will radically change the OTC derivatives landscape. Market participants will have to review and, in many cases, adapt their current...

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Member News, News

Resale of software licences now allowed in EU

With its groundbreaking judgment of 3 July 2012, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has decided that the resale of software licences is allowed in spite of contractual prohibitions. The German company UsedSoft GmbH sells "second-hand" licences for Oracle standard software, i.e. licences acquired by UsedSoft from Oracle licensees. After purchasing the second-hand licence, customers of UsedSoft can download the software from Oracle's website. Oracle objected to this resale of its software licences (inter alia because Oracle's...

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