Secretary of State for Justice, Chris Grayling, has today announced a package of judicial review reforms targeting “weak, frivolous and unmeritorious cases, which congest the courts and cause delays.” Most of the proposals that were set out in the consultation on the reform of Judicial Review (the “Consultation“) are to be implemented, despite the majority… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Legislation & Political Law Compliance
Subscribe to Legislation & Political Law Compliance RSS FeedSenate Energy Committee Schedules Forums on Natural Gas
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has announced it will hold a series of roundtable forums on natural gas issues in May. Each of the three forums, which follow a February Committee hearing on natural gas challenges and opportunities, will focus on specific policy issues facing the country’s growing natural gas resources.
Shale gas exploration: European Commission launches stakeholder Consultation
The European Commission is completing a Consultation on the need for additional regulation of unconventional fossil fuel (e.g., shale gas) exploration and development in Europe. The Consultation period ends on 23 March 2013 and results will be made available on the Commission’s website and at a stakeholders’ meeting to be held by the Commission in… Continue Reading
Congressional tax reformers propose far-reaching tax changes for derivatives and other financial products
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) has proposed to tax derivatives on an annual mark-to-market basis with ordinary gain or loss treatment. This far-reaching proposal is the centerpiece of a series of tax changes for financial products set forth in a discussion draft released on January 24 as part of Chairman Camp’s… Continue Reading
Review of issues for 2013
The following is a summary of some of the key issues Congress and the Administration will be debating in 2013. Please contact us with any questions. We are happy to provide further analysis as well as insight into other areas of interest. Agriculture: Tom Vilsack is expected to stay on as Secretary of Agriculture…. Continue Reading
Update on “Fiscal Cliff” Talks
President Obama and congressional Republican leaders continue to negotiate in an effort to pass legislation by year-end that would defer the “fiscal cliff” of higher tax rates and spending cuts scheduled to occur beginning January 1, 2013. To date, these negotiations have produced little if any progress. President Barack Obama remains insistent that any deal… Continue Reading
Update on “Fiscal Cliff” Negotiations
Congressional leaders and the White House are currently working to come up with solutions to the fiscal train wreck set to take place at the end of this year. Democrats and Republicans are looking at options to develop a “grand bargain” — including raising taxes and cutting spending. If the “grand bargain” fails once again… Continue Reading
Minimal Leadership Changes Anticipated in the 113th Congress
Last week’s elections saw relatively minor changes to Republican and Democratic majorities in the House and Senate in their respective chambers. Democrats realized a net gain of two seats in the Senate, as Independent Senator-elect Angus King of Maine is expected to caucus with Democrats, giving them a 55 to 45 majority. Republicans maintained their majority… Continue Reading
Sequestration Would Curtail Government Spending
If Congress does act before January 1, 2013, mandatory spending cuts will take affect that could have a devastating impact across many domestic and defense programs. The Budget Control Act of 2011 established caps on discretionary funding that are estimated to reduce federal deficits by a total of at least $2.1 trillion over the next ten… Continue Reading
Senate Commerce Committee’s Probe of Fortune 500 Corporate Cybersecurity is Unprecedented; Responses Requested Oct. 19
Each of the 500 largest businesses in America has been asked by the Senate Commerce Committee to describe how it deals with cybersecurity, demonstrating that government’s focus on cybersecurity is not going away despite stalled legislative efforts. On 19 September, Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) sent an unprecedented letter to the chief executives of the 500 largest companies… Continue Reading
Congress Takes First Steps Toward Tax Reform
U.S. businesses and foreign multinationals with U.S. tax obligations should be on alert that the elements of a major U.S. tax reform legislative package are already being developed within the U.S. Congress, the Obama Administration, and in interest groups and think tanks in Washington. The final make-up of this tax reform package — to be… Continue Reading
Corporate Executives Impacted by FEC Regulations
This is the first in a series on election law and federal political fundraising. Corporations and their executives, officers and directors are prohibited by the Federal Election Campaign Act from facilitating the making of contributions to federal candidates or political committees. Facilitation means not only making direct contributions to candidates but also using corporate resources… Continue Reading
Breaking decisions from the Supreme Court: Term in review
On Tuesday afternoon, three of Hogan Lovells’ Appellate practice partners will provide an analysis of some of the key decisions that will impact businesses as the Supreme Court concludes its current term. Neal Katyal, former Acting Solicitor General of the United States and Appellate practice Co-Director, Cate Stetson, Co-Director of our Appellate practice; and Chris… Continue Reading
U.S. tax reform: elements of reform already being developed by Congress
U.S. businesses and foreign multinationals with U.S. tax obligations should be on alert that the elements of a major U.S. tax reform legislative package are already in development within the U.S. Congress, the Obama Administration, and in interest groups and think tanks in Washington. The make-up of this tax reform package – to be debated… Continue Reading
Regulators Clarify Key Swap-Related Dodd-Frank Definitions
In a long-awaited decision, federal commodity and securities regulators approved final rules providing definitions for several key terms under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. In particular, the CFTC voted 4-1 and the SEC voted unanimously to adopt rules defining “swap dealer,” “security-based swap dealer,” “major swap participant,” “major security-based swap participant,” and “eligible… Continue Reading
Government Turns Up the Heat on the Oil Markets
This week saw a couple of major developments concerning the oil markets. On Tuesday, President Obama announced his intention to seek additional resources and legal authority for federal authorities to limit speculation and curb manipulation in the crude and refined products markets. Separately, on Thursday, the Southern District of New York issued an order approving a… Continue Reading
Political Activity in the Age of the Super PAC
In the aftermath of Citizens United v. The Federal Election Commission, and related legal developments, corporations have more freedom to engage in the election process. In Citizens United, a divided Court ruled that corporations may make unlimited independent expenditures to persuade voters to support or oppose particular federal candidates as long as the expenditures are… Continue Reading
Welcome to HL Focus on Regulation
Hello and welcome to the Hogan Lovells Focus on Regulation. We are delighted to introduce you to our government regulatory blog. In an increasingly complex global market, it’s more important than ever to understand, anticipate, and quickly respond to a wide range of regulatory challenges. Our goal is to use this blog to bring you… Continue Reading