On March 3, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) unexpectedly announced that it will temporarily suspend its premium processing service for all H-1B petitions received on or after April 3, 2017. The premium processing program allows a petitioner to receive a decision on its case within 15 calendar days upon payment of an additional government filing fee to USCIS. Because the April 3, 2017 start date for the suspension is also the first filing day for quota-subject petitions (generally...

Convenience stores (c-stores) have expanded their food service offerings with an eye towards boosting profitability. In doing so, they are going head-to-head with traditional restaurant players and find themselves dealing with trends such as increased operating costs, fuel price volatility, and technology innovations. Findings from AlixPartners’ 2016 North American convenience store consumer study point to the need for c-stores to master four imperatives to succeed in this space and sharpen their competitive edge. Read the full article here Compliments of AlixPartners -...

The FX market continues to wait for more detail on Trump’s economic proposals, which may well be outlined more clearly by the end of the month.  There was no significant new detail supplied in his February 28th speech to Congress. Regardless of the timing of the Trump proposals, March will have an important Fed meeting and potentially impactful European political developments, discussed in more detail below.The USD was little changed in February as the market awaited news from Trump,...

I’m often asked how to determine cultural fit during an interview. My answer partially depends on how you define culture. If you want to determine whether a candidate will be successful in your physical work environment, you can ask a candidate to describe the work environment or culture in which he believes he’s the most productive. If you want to determine whether s/he will fit in with a particular team or work well with a certain manager, you can...

Utilizing this form of financing enables companies to grow quickly without using their own funds and does not dilute equity. EACCNY member Prestige Capital provided us with a video outlining these financing models.     Compliments of Presitge Capital - a member of the EACCNY

A friend emailed me a link to a YouTube video with Mendelssohn Violin Concerto E Minor. He is a great fan of classical music, and he had noticed that we today have not only many women playing in the symphony orchestras, but also quite a few female solo performers. His point to me was that women could make a career if they want to. What he did not know was that it is only after introducing ‘blind auditions’ that women...

Littler’s Cindy-Ann Thomas and Gene Ryu are joined by client-guest Enidio Magel to discuss the first days of the Trump administration. The three address the effects of the fiery and divisive debates that made their way into workplaces across the country during our most recent election season, and explore the arising diversity challenges. Compliments of Littler - a member of the EACCNY  

PARIS – March 1, 2017 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, expanded its international presence today by opening an office in Paris, France. Ogletree Deakins’ Paris office broadens the firm’s European footprint, which includes Berlin and London, and is the firm’s third office to open in 2017. Ogletree Deakins opens in Paris with a team of 11 attorneys and legal staff, including partners Karine Audouze and Jean-Marc Albiol. Audouze will serve...