The next chapter of our AI momentum
Today, Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai shared some changes with Google DeepMind teams.
New Digital Authentication Process for the Mexican Institute of Social Security
Quick Hits The Mexican Tax Authority’s tax electronic signature (e.firma) will now be the only digital credential for ALL employer procedures before the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS). Employers have until October 14, 2026, to update their credentials. The agreement (ACDO.AS2.HCT.160726/3.P.DIR) is the result of a transition process intended to digitalize all IMSS processes. Main Modifications and Procedures The implementation of this agreement represents that the e.firma will be…
Building resilience: how energy prices boost home efficiency
5 August 2026By Desislava Rusinova and Marco WeisslerHigh energy prices have sparked new interest in energy-related renovations and non-fossil heating systems. This blog post argues that such investments cushion the impact of energy shocks on the building and construction sector.When energy prices skyrocket, that often comes as a heavy blow to the real estate and construction sector. Construction and building maintenance costs rise, and mortgages often become harder to arrange…
Seyfarth Expands Seattle Labor & Employment Capabilities with Partner Meg Burnham and Six Other Lawyers
August 4, 2026 – Seyfarth Shaw LLP has significantly boosted its Seattle Labor & Employment practice with the addition of partner Meg Burnham and six other lawyers, building on the firm's recent additions of leading employment litigators Kathryn (Katie) Rosen and Devin Smith. Burnham is being joined in Seyfarth’s Seattle Labor & Employment practice by senior counsel Scott Prange and Darrah Hinton, counsel Rebecca Lynch, and associates Katie Gould, Kathleen…
What the DOJ’s Religious Freedom Guidance Means for Private Employers
Quick Hits The DOJ recently published guidance that clarifies legal protections for religious beliefs and practices in the federal workplace, consistent with recent executive orders and decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Constitution, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) protect religious expression and practices by individuals and organizations. The new guidance is directed to federal agencies,…
Data centre regulation in Alberta
Alberta has emerged as one of Canada’s most proactive jurisdictions for the development of large‑scale data centres, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence (AI). Through a combination of targeted legislation, intergovernmental coordination, and policy direction to energy regulators, the province has adopted a regulatory approach that departs in important respects from the traditional treatment of large industrial electricity loads. Key takeaways for proponents Alberta is modernizing its regulatory framework to accelerate…
Can Investors Make a Profit by Saving Bats?
In a 2022 agreement, an international coalition of countries set a daunting goal: to come up with an additional $700 billion per year to address biodiversity loss. These funds are needed to stave off extinctions of about one million species and preserve nature’s benefits to humanity, including food, medicine, clean water, and protection from floods and other hazards. “Biodiversity is fundamental to human well-being, a healthy planet, and economic prosperity…
California OSHA Standards Board Releases Updated Draft Workplace Violence Prevention Regulation
Quick Hits On July 22, 2026, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board released a revised draft workplace violence prevention regulation that clarifies and narrows employer-provided transportation to only include “employer-provided transportation under the employer’s control.” The revised draft regulation no longer includes the previous exception to “Threat of Violence” that provided “The employer is not responsible for texts, electronic messages, or personal social media that are not brought…
Data centre regulation in British Columbia – Competing for a limited supply
British Columbia recently introduced legislative amendments that will restrict the electrical capacity available for new data centre projects within the Province. As of Feb. 1, 2026, the allocation of new electrical capacity for data centre purposes in British Columbia is subject to system-wide aggregate limits that are allocated under a competitive process administered by the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro). As outlined below, these limits are both…
The SCO and Financial Security
The Islamic Republic of Iran, for instance, is subject to the most extensive American financial and trade sanctions of any country. In 2025 and 2026, these were compounded by military campaigns. Earlier attempts to resolve the accumulated burden of problems through multilateral diplomacy came to nothing. Although Iran withstood the military strikes, it remains, to a considerable extent, in a state of economic isolation. The absence of normal financial links…
Pay Transparency Compliance Underway Across the EU
Quick Hits To date, only five countries in the EU have fully implemented the rules outlined in the EU’s pay transparency directive. The remaining EU countries are working toward implementing the directive, but have not done so yet, although the deadline for implementation has passed. The deadline for member states to transpose EU Pay Transparency Directive 2023/970 into national law was June 7, 2026. Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, and Slovakia…
Data centre regulation in Ontario
In Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, the development and connection process for data centres is driven by Ontario-specific electricity rules and institutions. Grid access and connection obligations are governed primarily by the Electricity Act, 1998,1 the Ontario Energy Board’s (OEB) Transmission System Code2 (TSC) and Distribution System Code3 (DSC), and the Independent Electricity System Operator’s (IESO) connection approval and market participation requirements. Recent policy initiatives, such as Bill 40, signal increasing scrutiny…
Webinar – Decoding Data Privacy: Vendor Contracting at the Intersection of Employment and Commercial Litigation
Thursday, August 6, 20262:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Central12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Mountain11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Pacific About the Decoding Data Privacy Series Data privacy and cybersecurity have become critical business risks for companies as they increasingly rely on technology to collect, store, monitor, and manage employee and customer information. From biometric data, workplace monitoring tools, marketing-based communication systems and connected tracking technologies, and AI-enabled…
Data centre regulation in Québec: From honeyed promise to iron control
Since 2016, Québec has actively positioned itself as a prime destination for data centres, leveraging its abundant renewable energy, competitive electricity rates, and ambition to strengthen digital sovereignty. Supported by a government-owned utility that controls electricity generation, transmission and distribution, the province offered a compelling value proposition: low-cost power and a naturally cold climate that reduces cooling costs. This strategy has been successful. The number of data centres has grown…
Between Impression and Experience: Can Generative AI Move Beyond Affect?
To understand why Rancière’s vision of politics and the power of sensory impression takes on particular urgency in the age of generative AI, it is necessary to distinguish between two levels of impression. The philosophical foundations for their distinction were laid by Jean-François Lyotard and Jacques Derrida. Lyotard, developing Kant’s analytics of the sublime, insisted that it is an experience that fundamentally exceeds the capacity for representation and comprehension. In…
One step closer to harmonization: CIRO’s proposed Incorporated Approved Person Compensation model
The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) has published rule amendments to harmonize advisor compensation (the Amendments). Following CIRO’s 2024 position paper that consulted on three potential regulatory approaches to allow payment of advisor compensation to advisor-owned corporations for all CIRO-regulated dealer members (Dealers), the Amendments propose to adopt the Incorporated Approved Person compensation option. In a material shift from the 2024 proposals, under the proposed Amendments, both ancillary activities and…
USCIS Advances TPS Terminations as Litigation Continues: Employers Must Weigh Competing Risks
The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) landscape continues to evolve rapidly. On July 29, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued updated guidance for Haiti and Syria stating that TPS and associated employment authorization have terminated effective July 27, 2026. USCIS also instructed employers to reverify employment authorization for affected TPS beneficiaries from Haiti, Syria, and Yemen. On July 30, 2026, USCIS issued updated guidance for Ethiopia and Burma (Myanmar).The…
AI in Canadian health care: From pilots to real-world implementation
Artificial intelligence has entered a new phase in Canadian health care. BLG recently hosted health care leaders, hospital representatives, technology companies, and industry stakeholders at its Artificial Intelligence in Canadian Health Care Symposium in Toronto. Discussions throughout the symposium revealed a clear shift in how health care organizations are thinking about AI. A year ago, many conversations focused on experimentation and use cases. As of 2026, attention is increasingly turning…
McCarthy v. Bison Transport: Ontario court upholds just cause dismissal
In McCarthy v. Bison Transport Inc., 2026 ONSC 3729, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice upheld a termination for just cause arising from an employee’s second failed drug test. The decision highlights the importance of clear workplace policies, consistent enforcement, and the limits of the duty to accommodate in the absence of an actual or perceived substance-dependency disability. Key takeaways for employers on just cause dismissal McCarthy v. Bison Transport…
Seyfarth Represents Torq Consulting in Combination with Sendero Consulting
July 31, 2026 – Seyfarth Shaw LLP represented Torq Consulting in its combination with Sendero Consulting, bringing together two Dallas-based, founder-led consulting firms with complementary strengths in digital transformation, data analytics, and AI-enabled business solutions. The combination creates a larger platform positioned to help clients navigate increasingly complex business and technology challenges while preserving the entrepreneurial culture and client-first approach that have driven the success of both organizations. The transaction…
SCC confirms: You have a constitutional right to judicial review on all issues
In Democracy Watch v. Canada (Attorney General), the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed that the Constitution guarantees the availability of a legality review for all aspects of an administrative decision. Privative clauses purporting to oust the courts from this supervisory role are unconstitutional. The Supreme Court held that general political oversight of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner (the Commissioner) by Parliament does not provide an adequate alternative remedy…
Click carefully: Canadian Securities Administrators Staff Notice on cybersecurity practices
The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) published Staff Notice 33-322 – Review of Registered Firms’ Cybersecurity Practices and Additional Guidance (the Staff Notice) on July 15, 2026, following a focused review of 73 registered firms’ cybersecurity practices. The message is not especially surprising: cybersecurity is a core business risk, and registered firms are expected to have practical, documented and regularly refreshed controls that fit their size, complexity and operations. Practical takeaways Right-size your…
Complexity – The tax no one sends you an invoice for
The hidden cost of complexity is eroding your performance Growth often brings hidden complexity that quietly erodes margins, slows decision-making and increases costs without ever appearing as a line on the P&L. This article explores the difference between necessary and unnecessary complexity, why it matters, and how leaders can identify the hidden tax affecting organisational performance before it becomes a strategic problem. Reading time: 6 minutes Complexity is the largest…
Germany’s Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Regional Labor Court Rules on Workplace Eavesdropping
Quick Hits A claim for damages based on termination-related fault may arise only if the employer’s serious breach of contract would have justified extraordinary termination without notice. An employer may be liable for misconduct among coworkers only if the employee acted as the employer’s vicarious agent, for example as a supervisor with authority to issue instructions, or if the conduct had a close factual connection to assigned job duties. Furthermore,…
Cross-examining receivers, monitors and trustees in Alberta insolvency proceedings: An exceptional remedy
Court-appointed receivers, monitors and trustees play a central role in Canadian insolvency proceedings. As officers of the court, they are expected to act independently and impartially, and in accordance with their statutory and court-ordered duties. Given this role, a recurring question in Alberta insolvency practice is whether parties may cross-examine a court officer on the contents of a report. There is a clear general principle in Alberta: receivers, monitors and…
From well to pump: how fuel prices are formed
31 July 2026By Friderike Kuik, Eliza Lis, Christiane Nickel and Mario Porqueddu[1]Retail fuel prices have surged in 2026 following the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East, driving up euro area energy inflation. In this blog, we examine the factors that drive fuel price dynamics at the pump. Rising oil prices amid the conflict in the Middle East have put the public spotlight back on fuel costs and their…
Experience the magic of Kosovo from anywhere with Street View
Google Maps brings Street View to Kosovo, offering a virtual tour of its vibrant cities, UNESCO World Heritage site, and natural beauty.
Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Reform and the Politics of the Great Steppe
Kazakhstan’s recent constitutional reform takes place within a broader process that goes beyond institutional reorganisation. International commentary has focused largely on the redistribution of political powers and state restructuring. Yet these debates often overlook another aspect: the reform's role in redefining Kazakhstan's historical narrative. Since independence in 1991, Kazakhstan has faced a challenge common to many post-Soviet countries: how to construct a national narrative capable of connecting a modern republic…
D.C. Circuit Ruling Offers Key Lessons for Employers on Multiemployer Pension Liability
Quick Hits The D.C. Circuit’s July 2026 ruling in Trustees of the IAM National Pension Fund v. M&K Employee Solutions affirmed most of an $11.4 million withdrawal liability judgment against affiliated employee-leasing entities while reversing a $1.6 million delinquent contributions judgment because the pension fund failed to establish the full four-factor single-employer test beyond common ownership. Business owners participating in multiemployer pension plans face potential personal liability under the MPPAA’s…
Smoot-Hawley revived: a never-before-used Depression-era law is invoked against Canadian trade
“Anyone, anyone?” Mr. Lorensax, the Economics Teacher On July 20, 2026, the president of the United States signed three proclamations covering motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages and dairy, imposing additional 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods said to account for roughly US$20 billion in annual imports. Although there is some question about exactly how many of the listed products Canada exports into the United States, and how much, if we…
Introducing Gemini Robotics ER 2
Gemini Robotics ER 2 is a step change in video understanding, tool orchestration, and multi-robot collaboration for robotic applications.
Fads, Outbreaks, and Health Policy
Howie and Harlan discuss health headlines including the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak; a recent FDA decision allowing pharmacies to compound certain peptides; and a concerning report from Medicare trustees on the program’s financial future. They also dive into the health habits they’re changing this year and a new feature from ChatGPT allowing users to connect medical records and health data to the platform. Show Notes: Healthy Habits Health & Veritas: Ezekiel…
German Labor Court Rejects Nonbinary Applicant’s AGG Claim as Abuse of Rights
Quick Hits The ArbG Berlin found that a nonbinary person’s employment application was not genuinely aimed at obtaining the position and therefore dismissed the subsequent compensation claim as an abuse of rights. Whether a disadvantage had occurred remained open because the court dismissed the claim on the basis of abuse of rights. Protection of nonbinary persons against discrimination remains unaffected. The Case—Binary Job Posting and Rejection With an Incorrect Salutation…
The clean economy ITC labour requirements: How they work, new CRA guidance and some residual issues
NOTE: For a print-friendly version of this document that includes visuals and tables, please download and print the .pdf file. Canada’s clean economy investment tax credits (ITCs) constitute a major tax policy expenditure supporting Canada’s efforts to achieve a net-carbon-zero economy by 2050. These ITCs, which are explained and summarized here, are often a critical element in the financial viability of many carbon capture, energy generation, battery storage and other…
Sixty years on, the ball that won England the World Cup gives up its secrets
The ball's journey to its casing at the National Football Museum is just as fascinating as the final it was used in. After England's 4-2 win in front of some 97,000 spectators, Helmut Haller – who had scored the opening goal – carried it back to Germany, claiming tradition entitled the first scorer to keep it. It stayed there for 30 years, until a consortium of the Mirror Group, Virgin,…
New Jersey High Court Holds State False Claims Act Amendment Applies Retroactively
Quick Hits The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that the 2023 Opposition Amendment, which permitted the state attorney general to more easily effectuate NJFCA lawsuits based on public disclosures, applied retroactively to pending cases. The court held that the Opposition Amendment was a procedural change that applied retroactively because it altered only how the state attorney general could overcome the NJFCA’s “public disclosure bar” (a doctrine that precludes actions by…
What CIRO is doing: Enforcement report for 2025-2026
On July 22, 2026, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) released its enforcement report for the 2026 fiscal year, from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026 (the Report), which can be found here. The Report covers enforcement activities and priorities for both investment and mutual fund dealers over the past year and notes that most integration priorities have now been completed. CIRO “continues to modernize its regulatory approach by…
Brain cancer Achilles heel revealed in the hours after surgery
Scientists in Britain and Spain have discovered critical windows after glioblastoma surgery when the brain’s defences falter, creating a rare chance to deliver powerful treatments exactly where needed. If doctors time treatment within two narrow postoperative windows identified by the researchers, existing lipid nanoparticle medicines - already approved and routinely used in oncology hospitals today - could be redeployed to deliver early, precision‑targeted therapy to the brain. The studies, published…
New antimicrobials could help tackle deadly drug-resistant infections
Scientists at Imperial College London and The University of Manchester have developed a promising new way to create safer and more effective treatments for life-threatening fungal infections.The research, published today in Nature, describes a new family of antifungal agents, which - when tested in mice - are more potent and less toxic than existing treatments.A growing threatFungal diseases are an escalating global health threat, becoming harder to treat as resistance…
New Jersey Bans Sale of Sensitive Data and Creates Public Registry for Data Brokers and Collectors
Quick Hits On June 30, 2026, New Jersey Governor Sherrill signed legislation that bans the sale of sensitive consumer data by nearly all individuals and entities, with limited exceptions for HIPAA-covered entities and Gramm-Leach-Bliley-covered financial institutions. Violators of the sensitive data sale ban face civil penalties of $50,000 for each record sold, offered for sale, or licensed. Data brokers and data collectors must register with the New Jersey Division of…
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- …
- 179
- Go to the next page