Latest Blog Posts

• Blog: Intellectual Property & Technology
  Date: November 05, 2019 Title: Cleaning Up With Trade Secrets Under California’s Right to Know Act
  Summary: Companies who make cleaning products sold in California should take note of a new law coming into effect on January 1, 2020, especially if their products are made from proprietary formulas or include ingredient mixtures that may qualify as company trade secrets....
• Blog: Labor & Employment
  Date: November 05, 2019 Title: Equal Pay and Barbie Dolls
  Summary: Last week, I had the honor of speaking on a panel at the national First Chair Equal Pay Summit in Chicago, attended by prominent women from top law firms and companies in the U.S. (and some delightful and progressive men). I was equally amazed by the incredible dedication of this group to equality in pay and opportunity for women and the fact that the conference was necessary in the first place....
• Blog: Data Privacy & Cybersecurity
  Date: November 01, 2019 Title: Legislative Alert: California Expands Definition of Personal Information
  Summary: On October 11, 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 1130, which amends The Information Practices Act of 1977, as well as California Civil Code §§ 1798.29, 1798.81.5 and 1798.82. The bill expands the definition of “personal information” under the California data breach notification statutes applicable to businesses and to government agencies....
• Blog: Intellectual Property & Technology
  Date: October 29, 2019 Title: Players v. Haters: Ninth Circuit Says Creativity a Matter of Fact in Taylor Swift Copyright Suit
  Summary: Taylor Swift fans might need to calm down after yesterday’s decision out of the Ninth Circuit. In 2017, two songwriters sued Taylor Swift over the chorus of her hit song “Shake It Off,” alleging her song infringed the copyrighted lyrics in their song “Playas Gon’ Play,” released in 2001....
• Blog: Data Privacy & Cybersecurity
  Date: October 29, 2019 Title: Keeping the Creeps Off Your Computer: Tips to Avoid Scareware & Scare Scams
  Summary: Halloween is a great time to masquerade as your favorite supernatural or otherworldly character, generating harmless screams and candy. Not so harmless is the fear that scammers create by pretending to know something about you or your cyber system in order to scare you into sending them money. ...
• Blog: Labor & Employment
  Date: October 25, 2019 Title: Amendments to the California Consumer Privacy Act Signed Into Law
  Summary: As we near the January 1, 2020 effective date of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the California legislature has passed seven amendments to the expansive privacy statute: AB 25, 874, 1130, 1146, 1202, 1355, and 1564. Notably, the amendments alleviate some business concerns by expanding a business’ ability to verify consumer requests under the CCPA. ...
• Blog: Labor & Employment
  Date: October 25, 2019 Title: Three Takeaways from the DOL Proposed Rule on Tipped Employees
  Summary: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that attempts to eliminate confusion regarding the tip credit, while also implementing the changes mandated by Congress when it passed the Tip Income Protection Act. ...
• Blog: Labor & Employment
  Date: October 23, 2019 Title: Florida Raises State Minimum Wage By a Dime
  Summary: Florida recently announced the new minimum wage for overtime eligible workers in the state. Each year on September 30 The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity adjusts the state’s minimum wage based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index for the South Region of the United States. The new minimum wage becomes effective on January 1, 2020....
• Blog: Labor & Employment
  Date: October 18, 2019 Title: Four Employment Policy Pitfalls for Multi-Jurisdiction Businesses to Avoid
  Summary: In today’s society, where businesses are increasingly operated remotely and employees are spread across the country, employers need to be aware that laws governing their employment-related issues can vary greatly from state to state. Employers operating in multiple jurisdictions should be careful of implementing broad or generalized policies, and should know when to enlist the help of a professional to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws....
• Blog: Intellectual Property & Technology
  Date: October 17, 2019 Title: I Can’t Get Sued for Posting a Picture of Myself on Social Media… Can I?
  Summary: The rise of social media has presented the courts with a seemingly never ending slew of counterintuitive, but probably valid claims. For example, the pop star Justin Bieber recently posted an image on his social media of himself and a friend in the backseat of a car. The photo, of course, was taken by a paparazzo undoubtedly lying in wait for just the right opportunity to snap the angst-ridden star. The photographer has now filed suit for copyright infringement against Mr. Bieber....