A law firm is predicting there will be an increase in “aggressive enforcement tactics” across the world… News Corp. replaces general counsel… Reed Smith appoints new global head of diversity and inclusion… Taylor Swift threatens IP legal action against guitar teacher…
Aggressive enforcement of corruption laws expected says law firm
Hogan Lovells has published its annual Global Bribery and Corruption Review and is predicting that there will be an increase in “aggressive enforcement tactics” across the world. Among the areas that the law firm is expecting to see more activity are; scrutiny of hiring practices by major banks and multinational corporations; and Africa and emerging markets coming under the spotlight with increased efforts to combat a reported spike in bribery in Africa in particular. The report also highlights the likelihood of regulators in the US bypassing courts in favour of using administrational procedures.
News Corp. replaces general counsel
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. has promoted David Pitofsky to the role of general counsel and chief compliance officer with immediate effect. The former deputy GC replaces Gerson Zweifach. Pitofsky was previously a partner at Goodwin Procter and joined Murdoch’s empire in 2013. Zweifach has been GC during a period of transition for News Corp. during which the film maker 21st Century Fox was separated from the firm; he remains GC and CCO at the movie company.
Reed Smith appoints new global head of diversity and inclusion
Deborah Broyles has been appointed director of global diversity & inclusion. Broyles is a partner in the firm’s San Francisco office but this role means she will oversee the drive for diversity throughout the firm’s 25 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Taylor Swift threatens IP legal action against guitar teacher
Intellectual property and trademark infringement has always been part of the entertainment world but the internet has opened up a whole new way for stars’ brands to be compromised. The man who taught singer Taylor Swift to play the guitar was recently featured in the New York daily News and the teacher, Ronnie Cremer, seized on a marketing opportunity by registering the domain name itaughttaylorswift.com but it attracted the attention of Swift’s legal team. Cremer was told by lawyers for TAS Rights Management that “The Domain Name and your use of the Domain Name are highly likely to dilute, and to tarnish, the famous Taylor Swift trademark.” He was given three days to relinquish its use. The website now interestingly connects to a newspaper article detailing the story.
