On July 11 of this year, the Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice Antitrust Division, Makan Delrahim, announced a new policy to incentivize criminal antitrust compliance.1 Prior to this announcement, the only avenue for culpable antitrust violators to avoid trial or a guilty plea was to be the first company in their cartel…
Tag: Regulatory
Insurance! What Is It Good For? Misplaced Liability for California’s Wildfires
It is no secret that California has consistently suffered some of the worst wildfires in United States history.1 Blazes in 2017 caused more than $10 billion in damages, the most in the state’s history.2 The fires, which exist everywhere from Santa Barbara and Malibu to Napa and, most recently, the City of Paradise, destroy houses,…
Change is in the Air at the S.E.C.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (S.E.C.) is about to undergo a significant change under President Donald J. Trump. On Monday, November 14, 2016, Mary Jo White announced her plan to step down from her post as the 31st Chair of the S.E.C. Not long after her announcement, then-President-elect Trump nominated Wall Street lawyer…
The Significance and the Uncertainties of the Rise of the Contingent Workforce.
On-demand or ‘gig’ economy is characterized by Apps like Uber have marked a trend in the way workers are employed. Increasing trend of flexible work arrangements may have been caused by various reasons: reducing business costs, enhanced technology, and flexibility. Job security has become a concern for even many employees. 1 Recent studies show that…
$1.35 million “Supercookie” Slap to Verizon Wireless
Someone is watching your every move on the web and you do not even know it. If you think you are safe simply by deleting browser cookies and history, think again; there are many other sneaky ways your movements continue to be tracked. Generally, cookies are installed to enhance and personalize consumers’ Internet experience. A…
The Future of Bitcoins?
Bitcoin, digital currency, is a first Web-based payment system that charges no or minimal fees for a transaction. Several advantages are associated with Bitcoin and offers a viable alternative to existing currencies. Bitcoin reduces transaction costs (Marc Andreessen, Why Bitcoin Matters. (Jan. 1, 2014), http://dealbook.nytimes .com/2014/01/21/why bitcoin Matters.)) Bitcoins is decentralized in nature and provides…
Stock Markets Move Towards Sidelining Shareholders
As the dust settles on Alibaba’s IPO, the single largest initial public offering to date, experts have turned their attention to a less-celebrated aspect: the relative lack of shareholder control in firm operations. Alibaba listed on the NYSE, an unexpected choice over the Hong Kong Stock Exchange1 Although every Alibaba share technically has equal rights,…
Uber Altering Approach Towards Regulators
Uber, the smartphone-based ridesharing service long known for operating in the face of unknown legal consequences while daring regulators to bring legal action,1 may be adopting a new approach. Instead of facing regulators with defiance, the company has started to push for new laws that would bring its services into a clearer status of legality.2 …
Transfer Pricing and Tax Consequences
The United States has the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world. 1 Hence it is no surprise that corporations may try to avoid recognizing income in order to avoid paying taxes on that income. One of the ways a multinational corporation can achieve this result is by manipulating their transfer prices with foreign affiliated…
Citi Faces (a Very Minor) Slap on the Wrist
In response to the financial crisis of 2007-2008, Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Act to bolster financial regulations and monitor Wall Street behavior. Included in the Act were amendments to Rule 506 of the Securities Act of 1933.1 Rule 506 is part of the Regulation D exemption, which allows issuers to raise capital for private offerings….