Telecommunications

Expert Analysis

• A Gov't Contractor's Road Map To Biden Cybersecurity Order

  

  Following President Joe Biden's recent executive order to improve U.S. cybersecurity, Justin Chiarodo and Sharon Klein at Blank Rome highlight how four key elements will particularly affect government contractors and their suppliers, and what contractors should expect as they prepare to operate in a new compliance environment.

• A Biz Strategy Model To Improve Lateral Atty Hiring Diversity

  

  Quantitative comparison tools commonly used by companies in evaluating merger targets will allow law firms to assess lateral hire candidates in a demographically neutral manner, help remove bias from the hiring process and bring real diversity to the legal profession, says Thomas Latino at Florida State University.

• How Curbs On Russia And Belarus Trade Will Affect Tech Cos.

  

  Attorneys at Kirkland examine how the Biden administration's newly authorized Russian sanctions, restrictions on dealings with companies in Belarus and other likely measures will affect the technology sector and how companies should respond to the changes.

• Smaller Firms Need Employee Wellness Programs, Too

  

  As we emerge from the pandemic, small and midsize firms — which offer an ideal setting for companywide connection — should follow in the footsteps of larger organizations and heed the American Bar Association’s recommendations by adopting well-being initiatives and appointing a chief wellness officer, says Janine Pollack at Calcaterra Pollack.

• Opinion

  Antitrust Reform Should Focus On Targeted Solutions

  

  Antitrust law can and should be updated to reflect the needs of our modern economic landscape by addressing specific areas where meaningful problems exist, but some proposals, like the call to overturn the consumer welfare standard, go too far, says Trace Mitchell at NetChoice.

• How Ad Disputes Between Cos. Fuel Consumer Class Actions

  

  Whether companies are bringing or defending claims of false advertising against competitors, they should recognize and anticipate the additional legal risk that may accrue from follow-on consumer actions, says Ross Weiner at Risk Settlements.

• What Semiconductor Shortage Means For Patent Drafting

  

  Since a critical shortage in the global supply of semiconductors could lead to an increase in U.S. capacity, semiconductor-related patent owners should consider directing more patent claims to manufacturing processes, manufacturing tools and intermediate structures, say Darren Smith and David Ben-Meir at Norton Rose.

• Opinion

  CFAA And The High Court's Fight Against Overcriminalization

  

  When confronted with a notoriously broad and somewhat out-of-date statute like the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, it is important for the judiciary to continue to protect defendants from prosecutors' tortured or extreme readings of these criminal laws — and that's what the U.S. Supreme Court did this month in Van Buren v. U.S., say Harry Sandick and Jacob Chefitz at Patterson Belknap.

• Warnings And Guideposts From EU Sanctions Blocking Case

  

  An advocate general's recent opinion in Bank Melli Iran v. Telekom Deutschland, a European Union sanctions blocking case, highlights serious new international regulatory compliance risks but also presents helpful guidance for navigating conflicting EU and U.S. rules, say Thomas Grant at Cambridge University and Scott Kieff at George Washington University.

• Stop Networking, Start Relationship Marketing

  

  USA 500 Clubs' Joe Chatham offers four tips for lawyers to get started with relationship marketing — an approach to business development that prioritizes authentic connections — and explains why it may be more helpful than traditional networking post-pandemic.

• 7th Circ. Decision Highlights Difficulties Of 'No Harm' Cases

  

  The Seventh Circuit's recent decision in Markakos v. Medicredit showcases the judiciary's struggle with whether it is usurping Congress' authority by questioning statutory penalties for "no harm" consumer protection violations, and highlights the need to resolve a growing circuit split on this issue, says Jason Stiehl at Loeb & Loeb.

• What Attorneys Should Know About Fee Deferral

  

  Milestone Consulting’s John Bair explores contingency-fee structuring considerations for attorneys, laying out the advantages — such as tax benefits and income control — as well as caveats and investment options.

• Predictions On Pandemic's Lasting Impact On Legal Education

  

  The pandemic accelerated the pace of technological change for legal education, and some of the changes to how law school courses are taught and on-campus interviews are conducted may be here to stay, says Leonard Baynes at the University of Houston.

• Lawyer Perfectionism Is A Disease We Can Control

  

  The pursuit of perfection that is prevalent among lawyers can lead to depression, anxiety and other mental health impacts, but new attorneys and industry leaders alike can take four steps to treat this malady, says Liam Montgomery at Williams & Connolly.

• Opinion

  Gov't Must Resolve Uncertainty Over 'Twilight' Cell Towers

  

  The Federal Communications Commission and Native American tribes are in disagreement over what to do with so-called twilight cell towers that predate environmental and historical preservation regulation, and the Biden administration should address this question as soon as possible, says Bozana Lundberg at Thompson Hine.