News Type: Articles

Brandy Alonzo-Mayland writes in Law360 about a lesson for consumer brands emerging from the proposed class action over Costco’s rotisserie chicken: complying with labeling regulations may not be enough to avoid litigation. As consumers scrutinize advertised claims like “natural,” “healthy” and “no preservatives,” Brandy explains why companies should consider not only whether individual statements are accurate, but also what their packaging, advertising, websites, social media and other marketing materials communicate as a whole. Her takeaway is a practical one: evaluate product claims through two distinct lenses, regulatory compliance and litigation risk, before they reach consumers rather than after a demand letter or class action complaint arrives.

Darrell Gay (with an assist from summer associate Natalia Palacino Camargo ) raises an issue that many employers may not have on their radar yet: how to respond when employees object to using AI on religious grounds. In an article for HR Legal & Compliance Excellence, Darrell explains how existing religious accommodation laws—including the Supreme Court’s Groff v. DeJoy standard—may apply as AI becomes more deeply integrated into the workplace, while offering practical guidance for evaluating requests, training managers, and reducing legal risk. It’s a timely look at the intersection of emerging technology and established employment law, and a valuable resource for employers navigating AI adoption.

California is reshaping the regulatory landscape for vehicle service contract (VSC) providers, with the California Department of Insurance taking a significantly more aggressive enforcement approach that extends well beyond traditional licensing issues. In their article for Providers & Administrators, Mark Robinson and Elizabeth Gates examine how recent CDI actions are raising compliance expectations across claims handling, administrator oversight, consumer disclosures and operational controls, and what providers and administrators should do now to help mitigate regulatory risk. Their analysis underscores why proactive compliance and early involvement of experienced regulatory counsel are becoming increasingly important as California’s enforcement environment continues to evolve.

As regulated firms begin implementing the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA), understanding the Act’s new information-sharing framework is becoming increasingly important. In a new co-authored article for inCOMPLIANCE, Ruth Paley and Nigel Kirby, Director, Intelligence and Nominated Officer at Lloyds Banking Group, offer practical guidance on how regulated firms can use ECCTA’s statutory gateway to help prevent, detect and investigate economic crime while implementing appropriate governance, data protection safeguards and operational processes. They also explain why, when used effectively, these powers can strengthen collaboration across the regulated sector and improve the collective response to financial crime.

Aaron Plesset and Marc Jacobs tackle a growing litigation trend that businesses can no longer afford to overlook in their article just published by the Daily Journal. As Aaron and Marc explain, plaintiffs are increasingly combining website accessibility claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act with alleged violations of California’s Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), transforming what was once a relatively straightforward compliance issue into a far more consequential source of legal and financial risk. Their analysis explores why businesses with brick-and-mortar locations and customer-facing websites are especially vulnerable, how the convergence of ADA, Unruh Act, and CIPA claims is reshaping litigation and settlement strategy, and why proactive oversight of website accessibility, tracking technologies, and privacy practices has become an essential part of enterprise risk management.

Harry Dimoulis explores the strategic implications of parallel civil and criminal proceedings in an article for the Law Society Gazette. Examining the High Court’s decision to adjourn the securities trial in Aabar Holdings SARL v Glencore plc, Harry explains why the sequencing of civil claims and criminal enforcement actions is far more than a procedural issue. As he notes, the order in which those proceedings unfold can fundamentally influence litigation strategy, disclosure, witness management, settlement dynamics, and the commercial balance of a dispute. His analysis also highlights the importance of developing a coordinated strategy from the outset when civil, regulatory, and criminal exposure arises from the same underlying conduct.

Amanda Monroe’s recent article for the Daily Journal examines why mandatory service charges have become one of the hospitality industry’s fastest-growing sources of legal risk. Amid intensifying litigation and regulatory scrutiny, Amanda explains that compliance depends on far more than carefully drafted contracts. Consistent terminology, transparent disclosures, standardized documentation, and effective employee training are all essential to reducing exposure under California’s evolving legal framework.

John Gibson and Alice Mills examine one of the latest developments in English sanctions law in their new Law360 article, “Why Tonzip Is Notable in English Sanctions Law Development.” Analyzing the Court of Appeal’s decision in Tonzip Maritime v. 2Rivers, they explain how the ruling confirms that, where a contract allocates the risk of sanctions exposure, the relevant question may be whether there is a real and objectively reasonable risk of sanctions consequences—not only whether a sanctions breach has been established. Their analysis explores how English courts continue to emphasize practical influence, economic reality, and evidence over formal corporate structures when assessing ownership and control, while offering practical guidance on drafting sanctions clauses and documenting risk-based commercial decisions.

John Gibson addresses one of the most significant developments in English sanctions law in an article just published by New Law Journal. Examining a series of landmark decisions, John explains how the English courts have adopted a commercially realistic, evidence-based approach to assessing ownership and control for sanctions purposes, providing important guidance for businesses navigating sanctions risk in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment. His analysis highlights why practical influence and commercial reality, rather than formal corporate structures alone, now play a central role in sanctions assessments.

Akshay Sewlikar and Patrick Lloyd have authored a new article for LawInSport tackling a question with real stakes for any club under Premier League scrutiny: does relegation put a club beyond the reach of PL sanctions? Drawing on the recent Leicester City Commission and Appeal Board decisions, Akshay and Patrick show why the answer is no, examining the Premier League’s continuing jurisdiction over relegated clubs, its power to recommend points deductions to the EFL, and a notably less deferential standard of appellate review on questions of law. Their takeaway is one every club, owner, and adviser should note: with the PL and EFL increasingly acting in concert on financial sustainability, relegation no longer offers a way out.