Perkins Coie

Recent Settlement Highlights Cybersecurity Whistleblower Risk for Government Contractors

The U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative, announced last October, is designed to leverage existing whistleblower incentives for employees, or other persons with inside knowledge, to identify lapses in federal contractors'; cybersecurity and privacy practices.

Illinois Expands Bereavement Leave

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 3120 into law on June 9, 2022. The law significantly amends the state’s Child Bereavement Leave Act, now named the Family Bereavement Leave Act (FBLA).

NLRB and FTC Jointly Issue MOU on Information Sharing, Training, and Outreach

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), on July 19, 2022, jointly issued a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding information sharing, cross-agency training, and outreach of common regulatory interests.

BOEM Announces First Regional Environmental Analysis of Offshore Renewable Energy

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published its notice of intent (NOI) on Friday, July 15, 2022, to prepare a programmatic environmental review to analyze the potential impacts of wind energy development activities in the New York Bight (NY Bight)—offshore New York and New Jersey.

CAC Seeks Public Comment on China’s New Personal Privacy Contract

The Cyberspace Administration of China, the country’s internet watchdog, began collecting feedback on the draft provisions with respect to the release of its Standard Contract for Outbound Cross-border Transfer of Personal Information, which includes guidelines for the use of the Standard Contract for data processors, on June 30, 2022.

DOJ Procurement Collusion Strike Force Revs Up in 2022

Continuing its prolific run of indictments, guilty pleas, and convictions, on July 13, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice Procurement Collusion Strike Force secured a guilty plea from a Texas military contractor for conspiring to rig bids on $17.5 million in government contracts.

Just Short of a Rule: Washington State’s Recommendations on PFAS Cleanup Levels

The Washington State Department of Ecology recently released a focus sheet that provides the department's recommended soil and groundwater cleanup levels for a group of chemical compounds known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

California Expands Energy Commission’s Jurisdiction to Bolster Clean Energy Development

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 205 into law on June 30, 2022. This legislative effort significantly expands the California Energy Commission (CEC)’s jurisdiction and encourages the development of new clean energy projects.

So, What Is Sustainable Investing Anyway?

Sustainable investing is a big and growing business. It’s also widely misunderstood.

DC Circuit Affirms Exemption for Certain Commercial Non-Telemarketing Calls

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit’s recent denial of a petition to review the Federal Communications Commission’s commercial non-telemarketing robocall rules ensures that consumers will continue to receive calls for important services, such as prescription refill reminders, power outage updates, and data security breach notifications.

Antitrust Challenge to McDonald’s No-Poach Restriction Evaluated Under the Rule of Reason

A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has held that an antitrust challenge to a “hiring restriction [that] prevented” plaintiff employees “from taking a better-paying position with a rival McDonald’s outlet” must be evaluated under the full rule of reason.

California River Watch v. Vacaville: “A Better Considered Position” Under RCRA

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, on July 1, 2022, took the extraordinary step of reversing its prior decision in California River Watch v. City of Vacaville.