Practices

Revamping Northern Ireland’s Alcohol Licensing: New Recommendations Seek to Boost Pub Sector and Curb Anti-Competitive Practices

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Belfast, Northern Ireland – A comprehensive independent study undertaken by the University of Stirling has discovered significant challenges with Northern Ireland’s current alcohol licensing framework, suggesting it favors existing businesses and hinders competition. Commissioned by tStormont’s Department for Communities, the report highlights several “deep-seated problems” in the current system, affecting its design, operation, and enforcement. The review proposes sweeping changes aimed at liberalizing the licensing process. One of the more pivotal recommendations includes preventing existing businesses, such as pubs, from objecting to new license applications, a practice that has been criticized for stifling new entrants … Read more

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP Announces Class Action Lawsuit Against Integral Ad Science for Alleged Misleading Business Practices

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Radnor, Pa. – Legal professionals from Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP have announced the initiation of a class action lawsuit against Integral Ad Science Holding Corp. (IAS), filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. This legal action represents investors who acquired shares in IAS during the period from March 2, 2023, to February 27, 2024. These proceedings are critical for investors involved, with a leading plaintiff deadline set for March 31, 2025. The lawsuit centers on allegations that IAS, a firm listed under NASDAQ, misled investors by … Read more

President Trump Orders Temporary Halt on Enforcement of U.S. Foreign Bribery Laws, Stirring Debate on Global Business Practices

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WASHINGTON — In a significant shift in U.S. policy, President Donald Trump this week issued an executive order to temporarily halt enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), a law that has been instrumental in fighting corruption globally by prohibiting American firms and their foreign affiliates from bribing foreign officials to gain business advantages. Critics of the FCPA, including Trump, have argued that the law impedes U.S. businesses by putting them at a disadvantage in international markets where bribery is often seen as a customary practice. During the signing at the Oval Office, Trump … Read more

Missouri Supreme Court Reviews Legal Fee Practices, Evaluates Attorney Discipline in Bifurcation Cases

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Supreme Court recently scrutinized the practices of two attorneys who partnered with an Arizona-based attorney financing firm, challenging their methods in offering bankruptcy services through unusual fee arrangements. The cases, held on Feb. 11, spotlight broader concerns about transparency and potential exploitation in legal billing practices. The first case reviewed Jennifer Benedict Raines, an Independence-based solo practitioner specializing in bankruptcy, family law, and personal injury. Represented by Anthony Rupp of Foulston Siefkin, Raines faced questions over her collaboration with Fresh Start Funding, which provides financial services to law firms … Read more