Perkins Coie

Washington State Implements Major Programs To Reach Climate Goals

Two climate-related regulatory programs affecting business and industry in Washington state took effect on January 1, 2023.

New Legislation Affects Antitrust Venue and Foreign Subsidy Disclosures 

President Biden signed into law H.R. 2617, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 on December 29, 2022.

2023 Updates to HSR and Interlocking Directorate Thresholds

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced its annual adjustments to the pre-merger notification thresholds under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the HSR Act) and interlocking directorate thresholds under Section 8 of the Clayton Act.

New Minimum Wage Laws in Washington State Effective January 1

Multiple new laws took effect in Washington at the beginning of the year, including several that increased the minimum wage in various locations across the state.

Oregon Finalizes New Regulations To Implement Psilocybin Services Act

Oregon became the first state to offer controlled use of psilocybin to the public on January 1, 2023.

A New Generation of Legal Issues Part 1:
The Latest Chapter in Copyrightability of AI-Generated Works

From artificial intelligence (AI) tools that can generate highly sophisticated art, music, and conversation to technology capable of recreating Elvis on the big screen, a recent explosion and maturing of generative AI technologies is disrupting all forms of content. 

Washington Legislature Considers Land Use Law Changes To Facilitate Affordable Housing Development

The Washington State Legislature kicked off its 2023 Legislative Session on Monday, January 9, 2023.

FCC Takes Steps To Combat Digital Discrimination

Equal access to high-quality, affordable broadband internet service has never been more critical, particularly as Americans increasingly rely on broadband for everything from work and education to healthcare and entertainment.

EU Takes Step Toward Approval of EU-US Data Privacy Framework

As U.S.-based companies await a decision by the European Union (EU) regarding data transfers, the European process for approving the EU-U.S. data privacy framework has progressed a step.

Washington Court Reaffirms Appraisal as Remedy for Shareholders Challenging a Merger

In an unpublished decision issued on January 3, 2023, Division I of the Washington Court of Appeals strongly reaffirmed Washington law providing that, absent a showing of fraudulent corporate conduct or certain procedural irregularities, appraisal is the exclusive remedy for a shareholder of a Washington corporation seeking to challenge a corporate merger transaction.

2023 Illinois Employment Law Changes

Illinois employers will face a host of new requirements in 2023.

PFAS and Food Packaging: The State of Regulation

In the absence of comprehensive federal legislation, states have started to regulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging. This Update provides an overview of the current regulatory landscape.