Remerge reverted branch

As the UK and the European Union (EU) move forward with negotiations of their post-Brexit relationship, there are uncertain consequences, challenges and opportunities facing business with ties to the UK.The exact date and time of departure is still uncertain because it depends upon when the UK Government triggers the exit procedure under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. Now that a new Prime Minister has been elected, this process will soon begin.  However, there will still be a two-year disengagement period during which current EU legislation will apply.We offer the below comprehensive perspectives regarding Brexit implications for international business in the following areas:Trade with the UKData TransfersIntellectual PropertyInvestment ManagementEnvironment & EnergyInsuranceTrade with the UK When contemplating the UK’s future trade relationships with its trading partners, there is perhaps some comfort in knowing that for the foreseeable future, EU laws take … [Read more...] about Early Post-Brexit Considerations for International Business

The long and contentious presidential campaign is over.  So, now what?  What does President-elect Trump’s victory mean for employers?If this election cycle is any indication, predictions offer no guarantee of future results. Therefore, unless and until some official action is taken, employers should abide by all their current legal obligations. The Nuts and Bolts of Change — How Can the New Administration Take Action?Administrative Rules/Regulations:  If an agency rule has already been published in the Federal Register and is effective, the incoming administration’s options for repeal or modification of those rules are limited. Agencies must provide a notice and comment period ahead of repealing any rules or regulations. Moreover, even if agencies successfully effectuated complete reversals or repeals of effective rules, courts can approach such actions with skepticism (e.g., agency actions like this can be challenged as arbitrary and … [Read more...] about Post-Election HR Strategies for 2017 and Beyond: What Will Happen When the Smoke Clears?

It is undisputed that the practice of breastfeeding must be promoted and protected. Since the ability to breastfeed is unique to the female gender, a woman who opts to breastfeed may be subjected to adverse treatment in a workplace, something her male colleague would never face. An employer’s failure or refusal to accommodate a nursing employee’s breastfeeding needs may give rise to a discrimination complaint. A case in point is Flatt v. Canada (Attorney General), where the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) grappled with issues stemming from the difficulties of balancing motherhood and career. Having concluded that breastfeeding is a personal choice and not a legal obligation, the FCA resolved that discrimination on that basis is rooted in family status and not sex.  In Flatt, Laura Marie Flatt worked full time with the Spectrum Management Operations Branch of Industry Canada, which supervises and manages the radio frequency spectrum in Canada. In September 2007, September … [Read more...] about Breastfeeding and the duty to accommodate

The past couple of decades have witnessed drastic changes in how legal services are provided. We now see law offices in traditional settings, such as tall buildings with elevators, and also in supermarkets, warehouse stores and even cafes—as seen in the recently established Toronto cafe Lawyers & Lattes Legal Café. It begs the question: Where are legal services heading? I am a baby boomer, meaning I was nourished with the images of a lawyer through television from the 1950s and ’60s. One of my heroes was Perry Mason. His desk was Spartan. No computer. His able assistant, Della Street, sat in on his client interviews with a steno pad in hand. And Mason always wore a blackish suit. I presume it was blackish, my presumption being based partially on the fact that my television screen was in black and white. I will add that his weekly adversary, District Attorney Hamilton Burger, generally wore a gray suit. Again, I can only guess from what I saw through the lens of my … [Read more...] about Lawyers, lattes and other delectables: How legal services are evolving

The past couple of decades have witnessed drastic changes in how legal services are provided. We now see law offices in traditional settings, such as tall buildings with elevators, and also in supermarkets, warehouse stores and even cafes—as seen in the recently established Toronto cafe Lawyers & Lattes Legal Café. It begs the question: Where are legal services heading? I am a baby boomer, meaning I was nourished with the images of a lawyer through television from the 1950s and ’60s. One of my heroes was Perry Mason. His desk was Spartan. No computer. His able assistant, Della Street, sat in on his client interviews with a steno pad in hand. And Mason always wore a blackish suit. I presume it was blackish, my presumption being based partially on the fact that my television screen was in black and white. I will add that his weekly adversary, District Attorney Hamilton Burger, generally wore a gray suit. Again, I can only guess from what I saw through the lens of my … [Read more...] about What’s brewing: Legal services are changing from conference room to cafe