SEC Announces Proposed Rules Allowing Shareholder Access to Company Proxy Materials
On May 20, 2009, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced proposed new rules that would, under certain circumstances, require companies to include in their proxy materials nominations for election as directors submitted by eligible shareholders.
For more information, read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Corporate Finance and Securities Client Service Group on May 21, 2009.
Supreme Court Narrows Federal Superfund Liability
In a very recent two-part CERCLA decision favorable to the industry, the U.S. Supreme Court on May 4, 2009: (1) narrowed the category of companies who are liable as “arrangers” for disposal under CERCLA; and (2) broadened a liable company’s “divisibility” defense to CERCLA’s presumptive “joint and several” liability.
For more information, read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Environmental Client Service Group on May 7, 2009.
H1N1 Flu Concerns: Workplace Privacy and Employee Illnesses
In the wake of the H1N1 Flu outbreak (initially named “swine flu”), many employers will be asked to balance employee privacy rights with public and company health concerns. We have recently issued a client alert that offers a brief checklist of guidelines that may help balance the privacy interests of potentially infected workers and the health interests of co-workers and the public.
For more information, read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Labor and Employment Client Service Group and its Pandemic Preparedness Team on May 1, 2009.
H1N1 Virus: Employees in Mexico
In light of the current H1N1 virus outbreak events around the globe, the Mexico Practice of Bryan Cave has prepared a list of issues and recommendations to be taken into consideration by our firm’s clients and friends with employees in Mexico, so as to avoid any improper or unlawful employer conduct under Mexican labor laws.
For more information, read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Labor and Employment Client Service Group and its Pandemic Preparedness Team on May 4, 2009.
New Case Clarifies Copyright Protection for Handbooks, Manuals and Training Materials
Although the copyright term “literary works” tends to conjure images of Hemingway and Faulkner, most companies have a different — and often more valuable — set of “literary works”, including training manuals, employee handbooks, how-to booklets, customer pamphlets and the like. Some are in printed form; others are available at the company’s website. Indeed, some companies are in the business of creating such materials — and this spring, a hotly litigated dispute between two such companies has shed new light on the scope of protection for this special category of literary works.
For more information, read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Intellectual Property Client Service Group on April 30, 2009.