Corporate & Commercial

February 21, 2020

At the intersection of insurance and technology, insurtech companies are flourishing. According to a recent report by CB Insights, companies in the insurtech sector raised approximately $6.35 billion in private funding in 314 deals in 2019, globally. 2019 accounted for approximately 33.9% of all investments to date in insurtech companies. Private capital raises by property and casualty-focused insurtech companies comprised 63% of deals in 2019, while private capital raises for life and health insurance…

Canna Law Blog™

Real Estate Development in California: Join us February 26 in L.A.!

By Canna Law Blog

February 21, 2020

Developers of cannabis projects in California want to turn projects around as quickly and cheaply as possible, and are frequently frustrated by the amount of time, money, and effort required for the entitlement process. On Wednesday, February 26, a panel of real estate development experts will explain the entitlement process in California at a LACBA panel moderated by our own Julie Hamill. Julie will be joined by: Amy Freilich, Partner at Armbruster Goldsmith &…

Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest

SEC Proposes to Modernize Infrastructure for NMS Securities Market Data

By Susan Light, Michael T. Foley & Timothy D. Kertland

February 21, 2020

On February 14, the Securities and Exchange Commission proposed to modernize the infrastructure for the collection, consolidation and dissemination of market data for exchange-listed national market system (NMS) securities, including by expanding the content of included NMS market data and introducing a decentralized consolidation model with competing data consolidators.…

Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest

FINRA Requests Comment on Enhancements to the Continuing Education Program for Securities Industry Professionals

By Susan Light, Michael T. Foley & Timothy D. Kertland

February 21, 2020

On February 18, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued a regulatory notice seeking comment on a proposal to implement recommendations of the Securities Industry/Regulatory Council on Continuing Education, enhancing the continuing education requirements for securities industry professionals.…

Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest

ESMA Consults on Third-Country Reporting Under MiFID II and MiFIR

By John Ahern, Carolyn H. Jackson, Nathaniel Lalone & Neil Robson

February 21, 2020

On January 31, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a consultation paper (the CP) containing draft technical standards on the reporting requirements for third-country firms who provide investment services and activities in the European Union (EU) under the revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) and the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFIR).…

Blockchain and the Law

EU Commission’s “A European strategy for data” Includes Blockchain Shout-Out

By Jeffrey Neuburger

February 21, 2020

On February 19, 2020, the European Commission (Commission) released a communication entitled “A European strategy for data”. It lays out a vision for a “European data space” and a plan – through legislation, technical standards and public-private initiatives – for the EU to become a future leader in data and to create a more permissive data economy. For a more in-depth summary, see our New Media and Technology Law Blog. One interesting…

Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest

European Commission Consults on MiFID II and MiFIR Review

By John Ahern, Carolyn H. Jackson, Nathaniel Lalone & Neil Robson

February 21, 2020

On February 17, the European Commission (EC) launched a public consultation on the review of the revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) and the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFIR) regulatory framework (together, the Framework). The EC’s consultation is divided into three sections. In the first section, the EC aims to gather views and feedback from all stakeholders on the experience of the first two years of the Framework. In particular, the EC asks…

Latham.London

UK Government Releases Details of New ‘Online Harms’ Regime for Online Platforms

By Latham & Watkins

February 21, 2020

Update confirms the introduction of an active “duty of care” and a dedicated regulator, as part of a comprehensive new online regulatory regime. By Alain Traill, Rachael Astin, Gail E. Crawford, and Patrick Mitchell Following a wave of commentary from industry, the social sector, and other organisations, on 11 February 2020 the UK government set out preliminary details of a new regulatory regime to govern content posted on online platforms. The details were…

The Blockchain Monitor

Blockchain 50 Published, Exchanges Expand Services, Enforcement Actions by SEC, CFTC and International Tax Authorities, Hacks Drive Losses

By Joanna F. Wasick, Jordan R. Silversmith & Brian P. Bartish

February 21, 2020

In this issue: • Forbes Publishes Blockchain 50, Cryptocurrency Exchanges Expand Services • SEC Settles Charges Involving ICO, CFTC Takes Action Against Crypto Investment Firm • Dutch Tax Authorities Make Arrests, IRS Summit to Address Cryptocurrencies • Manipulation, Hacks and System Errors Lead to Losses for Cryptocurrency Users and Exchanges Forbes Publishes Blockchain 50, Cryptocurrency Exchanges Expand Services By: Joanna F. Wasick This week, Forbes published its second annual Blockchain 50 list, recognizing the 50…

Truck & Bus Accident Lawyer Blog

Training Delays for Entry-Level Truck Drivers Poses Risks

By Bryan M. Roberts

February 21, 2020

Although it had planned to institute universal training standards for entry-level truck drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced that it will be delaying the training requirements for two years. The Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) guidelines were intended to take effect on February 7, 2020, but the compliance date has been pushed back to February 7, 2022. According to the FMCSA, the delay will help establish important IT infrastructure that will…