Gavi the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) is a public-private partnership that was created as an alliance between the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation among others, to provide vital vaccines to children in the poorest countries of the world.1 Since its inception, Gavi has helped immunize more than 580 million…
Category: Blog Articles
The Rise of Behavioral Health Startups
There has been a boom in the behavioral health industry, evidenced by the steep increase in the number of behavioral health startups founded in the past two years.1 Currently, there are 326 companies and 534 investors registered as mental health startups on AngelList.2 Innovation in the behavioral health space matters because in the United States,…
Investment Opportunities in Mexico’s Denationalized Energy Industry
In December 2013, Mexico passed Constitutional amendments to reopen its energy industry after decades of protectionism and stagnation.1 Ernst & Young estimated in 2014 that total investments in Mexico with objectives to increase production, to improve the midstream network, and to promote energy sustainability would cost between US$35 billion and US$100 billion over a…
President Trump’s Potential Changes to NAFTA
In January 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed into law.1 The agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, was created to facilitate free trade across the North American countries by eliminating tariffs and making it easier for companies to move from the U.S. to Mexico.2 The agreement was controversial during…
SPAC: The Mechanics of a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (Part IV of IV)
Editor’s Note: This blog series is presented in four parts.1 In this fourth edition, the author presents an analysis of the reality of SPAC performance, and its causes. Given the potential advantages to parties involved in a SPAC transaction, it becomes necessary to consider whether these advantages translate into an actual benefit in the real…
Tax Uncertainty for Businesses After the Regulatory Freeze
President Trump’s new executive leadership is likely to bring increasing uncertainty for businesses in the area of tax law as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) struggles to make sense of the reach and intent of some of the President’s recent orders on federal rulemaking. In one of his first major acts after taking office, President…
Conflict Minerals: A Noble Cause, a Controversial Solution, and an Uncertain Future – Part III
In previous installments of this multi-part series, I discussed the historical context that was the impetus for Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act as well as the mechanics of the final rule promulgated by the SEC.1 In this installment, I will lay out the current state of the law. Prior to Rule 13p-1 becoming effective…
Supreme Court Blow to Internet Based Transmission Startups
Contrary to popular belief, Copyright law’s main objective is not to protect the economic interest of copyright holders.1 Instead, the primary purpose of copyright law is to promote the expansion and dissemination of the “useful Arts.”2 The Supreme Court’s realist decision in ABC, Inc. v. Aero muddles the goal of Copyright by placing profits over…
The Potential Whiplash of Bandimere
In the last week of 2016, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) received some news that spoiled its New Year’s celebrations. On December 27, 2016, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals held that the SEC’s procedure for appointing its administrative law judges (ALJs) is unconstitutional.1 The 10th Circuit’s holding in Bandimere v. SEC not…
The Potential Repeal of the Johnson Amendment
Part I: The Johnson Amendment’s History and Controversy The “Johnson Amendment” is the nickname for a provision in the U.S. Tax Code that places limitations on the activities of organizations seeking tax exemption. 26 U.S.C. § 501(a) provides that some organizations shall be exempt from taxation.1 Section 501(c)(3) provides the general requirements that, to be…