On August 16, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (“D.C. Circuit Court”) affirmed a decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to deny class certification In re Rail Freight Surcharge Antitrust Litig., No. 18-7010 (D.C. Cir. August 16, 2019). The case involved a putative […]
Globalization, increased consolidation in many key industries, the rising dominance of technology giants like Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google, and the rapid advance of new technologies have transformed our economy in the 21st century. During the past several months, members of Congress, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and a number of […]
On August 5, 2019, President Trump ratcheted up the sanctions on Venezuela.1 On that occasion, he issued an Executive Order (“E.O.”) blocking all property and property interests of the Government of Venezuela and authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to designate companies as SDNs if they provide material support or provide goods or services to […]
As many of you are aware, in 2016 the District of Columbia passed the Universal Paid Leave Act (“Act”), one of the most liberal paid leave laws in the country. The Act created a paid leave system funded by employers (including non-profits) for those employees employed in the District. It provides an employee with eight […]
Corporate compliance programs – formal corporate policies, practices, and procedures designed to ensure compliance with applicable legal requirements – have long been recognized as an important management tool for nonprofit associations as well as for-profit companies to avoid or to mitigate civil and/or criminal liability. An effective corporate compliance program is especially important in the […]
On January 1, 2019, DC’s new tax-exempt renewal rules went into effect. Under these new rules, non-profits who have received tax-exempt status from DC are required to reapply for tax exemption every five (5) years. Many DC non-profits have already received a “Notice of Upcoming Exemption Expiration” from the DC Office of Tax and Revenue (the “OTR”) […]
Update: GKG Law's Tom Wilcox will testify on behalf of the National Grain and Feed Association at the Surface Transportation Board's oversight hearing on railroad demurrage and accessorial charges on May 22 in Washington, DC. The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has scheduled a public oversight hearing on May 22, 2019, to receive information from railroads, shippers, […]
Two years ago, on behalf of the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (the NCBFAA), GKG Law worked with the US Coast Guard (USCG) to challenge the attempts of the ocean carriers that would have required NVOCCs and shippers to provide a Verified Gross Mass (VGM) Certificate to the carriers in advance of tendering […]
In some industries and professions, certain employers have complained that competitors are unfairly stealing their skilled blue collar and professional employees. These employers contend that it hurts business and raises costs when they spend time and effort training employees only to have those employees offered a job with a competitor. The competitor usually offers the […]
On January 28, 2018, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) designated Petroleos De Venezuela, S.A. ("PDVSA") as a Specially Designated National ("SDN") pursuant to Executive Order (“E.O.”) 13850 for operating in the oil sector of the Venezuelan economy. In addition, the definitions of “Government of Venezuela” in E.O.s 12692, […]