There’s no question that we’ll continue to see informative, up-to-date legal perspectives on the dire, tragic situation unfolding in Ukraine. For now, we have some updates on sanctions imposed by the U.S. government. Alongside that, our legal community touched on how art is used to launder money, what’s going on with MLB and the ongoing tension between state legislation and the lack of federal legislation regarding cannabis.
Michelle’s Picks
Department of Treasury Releases Study on Money Laundering Risks in Art and NFTs
NFTs have become increasingly popular, as well as many individual’s reservations about them. A recent study assessed the “various risks of the high-value art market based on its propensities for money laundering and illicit financing,” and Keith Barnett and Carlin McCrory are here to talk about it. The duo author a highly informative and interesting piece that discusses the study and the ways art is used to launder money. A really interesting read, and written very well. Available at Troutman Pepper’s Regulatory Oversight.
Bottom of the Ninth
If you’re a baseball fan, this one’s for you. Rene Ruiz reports on MLB’s owner-imposed lockout that has prevented MLB players from heading to Spring Training. Ruiz then zooms out from this topic to explore the idea of unions and the relationships between employers and employees. It’s a great example of how to apply a specific scenario to a larger idea in your industry, and again, a really insightful take and explanation on this lockout. Available at Stearns Weaver Miller’s BeLabor the Point.
Commerce Department Issues New Export Controls on Russia in Response to the Invasion of Ukraine
With the atrocious tragedies taking place in Eastern Europe right now, the global responses are constantly updating. As of February 24, the United States has imposed a package of sanctions, effective immediately, which will affect Russian exports. Eric McClafferty and Robert Slack provide a helpful post on these updates and how U.S. companies that export goods to Russia should respond and what they should be aware of. Available at Kelley Drye & Warren’s Trade and Manufacturing Monitor.
Alec’s Picks
While CBD is Widely Available, Registering Marks for Ingestibles with CBD is Not
The tension between U.S. federal laws regarding cannabis and its legalization in many states is an endlessly fascinating legal subject. Robert Horowitz takes a look at a subject related to this strange legal situation as he dives into two recent attempts to register trademarks for ingestible products containing CBD. An insightful post on a fascinating topic, Horowitz dives straight into the details of these cases and draws some conclusions that may be helpful for those who are considering pursuing similar action. Available at BakerHostetler’s IP Intelligence.
Perishable food items in home meal deliveries often exceed recommended temperatures
The popularity of home meal kit delivery services skyrocketed during the pandemic. If you order from one of these services or have ever considered it, you’ll want to read this post from Marler Clark’s Food Safety News. As always, the blog’s News Desk provides timely information to consumers in a well-sourced and well-written post. As someone who does a lot of cooking, I’ve become a regular reader of Food Safety News. As a consumer, I’m always thankful for their coverage which looks at issues that impact us all, yet may not get much media coverage elsewhere. After reading this, I’m feeling pretty solid in my decision to keep on grocery shopping the old fashioned way.
Will There Ever Be Microchips?
Legal blogs exist in part to showcase the kind of expertise you and your firm possess. Within the first paragraph of his post, Jeffrey Soble links to five previous blog posts written by himself and his colleagues at Foley & Lardner. This very effectively demonstrates the depth of knowledge he and the firm have on the topic of the supply chain. Not only that, it gives readers a great way to read up on relevant background information while staying on the firm site, a win-win. The insights Soble provides on the microchip shortage are laudable on their own merits, but his use of links throughout the entirety of the article deserves recognition and praise. Available at Dashboard Insights.