Quick Hits The Allegheny County Board of Health is reviewing amendments to a proposed paid parental leave ordinance issued in May 2026 that would shorten the length of paid leave from eighteen to twelve weeks and revise employer eligibility from all employers to those with fifteen or more employees. The Board will vote on whether to approve the paid parental leave policy as amended on September 28, 2026. In May…
The federal government’s proposed Productivity Mega Deduction (PMD) may have significant implications for Canada’s mining sector, particularly for companies that rely on flow-through share financings. (See the latest article “Canada proposes new Productivity Mega Deduction”.) While much of the discussion surrounding the PMD has focused on immediate expensing of capital property, the draft legislation also introduces 100 per cent deduction for qualifying Canadian development expenses (CDE), which can be renounced…
This commentary was originally published in Fortune. The views expressed are the authors’ own.Washington and Silicon Valley have found a new fight to pick over artificial intelligence in “pacing,” or the deliberate throttling of frontier model development until safety, alignment, and society at large can catch up. To its detractors, pacing is unilateral disarmament in the race with China. To its champions, pacing is the only responsible path for a…
Q5 has welcomed Susie Mogg as an Associate Partner in Australia. Susie has spent more than 25 years working with leaders and organisations, helping people reach their potential and organisations get the best from their people. Reading time: 3 minutes Q5 has welcomed Susie Mogg as Associate Partner in Australia, bringing more than 25 years’ experience across leadership, talent and executive development. Susie joins Q5 following a career spanning consulting…
On September 16, 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), along with Representatives Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), and Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), introduced the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act, proposed federal legislation that would significantly restrict common management services organization (MSO) and “friendly physician” structures used in physician practice arrangements. According to a press release issued by Representative Ocasio-Cortez, the proposed legislation would:…
Quick Hits In Joyner v. Frontier Airlines, the Tenth Circuit reversed a district court’s ruling that customer service agents at a Denver airport were transportation workers exempt from federal arbitration law. The Tenth Circuit found the lower court had improperly relied on the work the named plaintiffs had actually performed, rather than what a typical class member did. The case hinged on whether the employees regularly handled passengers’ bags and…
As of September 2026, Microsoft has signed a new AI Safety and Privacy Standard (the Standard) that establishes detailed contractual protections for certain AI products used in U.S. schools. The Standard does not presently give Canadian school boards a right to those protections, but it indicates what Microsoft has accepted as contractually feasible for educational AI. American school boards can use the Standard to: seek equivalent protections from Microsoft and…
24 September 2026By Klodiana Istrefi, Florens Odendahl, and Giulia SestieriSpeeches and interviews given by policymakers between ECB Governing Council meetings can move financial markets just as much as the monetary policy decisions themselves. This blog shows how they can also help measure the effects of monetary policy on euro area inflation and unemployment.The formal policy announcement that follows each Governing Council meeting – held approximately every six weeks – is…
Quick Hits An employer may request that the employee disclose which job offers the employee received from Germany’s Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) or Jobcenter. The employer does not have an independently enforceable right to information about applications and their outcomes. The right to information under Section 242 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB)) extends only as far as the employer needs information to trigger the employee’s…
Even if the Republic of Serbia is unlikely to be admitted to the European Union soon, as an island surrounded by the European Union and NATO, it must stick to the European path in order to avoid the interruption of Western investments and the introduction of a visa regime. That would cause additional revolt and would serve as an essential internal trump card for the further destabilisation of the government…
Growth Concentrates in Data Centers and Industrial While Office Recovery Continues Seyfarth’s real estate team provides a bird's-eye view of the current state of commercial real estate throughout the country—highlighting which markets and major asset types are active, slowing down, or experiencing shifts. Seyfarth’s Take: What to Know ✔ Opportunities: AI continues to drive commercial real estate demand, particularly in Boston and San Francisco, where technology investment is supporting data…
Quick Hits On August 11, 2026, the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District granted mandamus relief in State of Missouri ex rel. Waddell v. Atkins and ordered a trial court to vacate an order compelling arbitration. The court held that a case relates to a sexual misconduct dispute when the asserted causes of action arise from alleged sexual assault or harassment, and that the EFAA invalidates a predispute…
A new test to identify cells collected from urine and vaginal fluid could help rule out womb and other cancers in most women who experience bleeding after the menopause, find University of Manchester researchers.Their study published in Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women's Health on 22/09/26 say the test could potentially reduce the need for invasive hospital investigations, easing anxiety during what can be a distressing time for many women.The research…
Seyfarth Synopsis: Recent litigation is reshaping the No Surprises Act (NSA) federal Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) landscape in ways that matter directly to group health plan sponsors and their claims administrators. While the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury (the “Departments”) have finalized operational rules for the federal IDR process (the “Final Rule”), the more significant story may be the litigation over who can enforce…
Quick Hits Noncompliance with the DEI anti-discrimination clause at FAR 52.222-90 can result in debarment or suspension, a sanction on par with fraud, bribery, and antitrust violations as grounds for a governmentwide exclusion from federal contracting. The FAR Council proposed a rule on September 18, 2026, that would stamp the three-tier enforcement structure of the DEI clause into the FAR: contract-level remedies (cancellation, termination, or ineligibility), governmentwide exclusion (debarment or…
Dr Lukas Hughes-Noehrer Dr Lukas Hughes-Noehrer: Manchester Digital Health Living LabWearable devices can monitor vital signs such as heart rate, activity and sleep, providing clinicians with valuable data to inform on-going patient care. The NHS 10 Year Health Plan identifies them as one of its “5 Big Bets” for transforming healthcare, but their use across the health service remains patchy, with benefits not reaching all communities equally. Through his fellowship,…
Hungary’s foreign policy has changed dramatically. The sovereigntist approach has been replaced by federalist thinking, under the cover of which Budapest is fully merging with the European mainstream, which in a global sense is being marginalised and is becoming increasingly dangerously aggressive. In this way, the Hungarian government is narrowing its own foreign-policy room for manoeuvre, which is currently most visibly reflected in the development of Hungarian-Russian relations, writes Gábor…
UK insurers have spent years transforming their technology. But as AI accelerates change across the sector, the next constraint on performance may not be technology at all. It may be the organisation itself. Download our latest insurance point of view to explore why workforce capability and operating model design are becoming critical to growth, productivity and successful transformation. Reading time: 4 minutes Insurance has always been an industry built around…
The University of Manchester has appointed internationally recognised creative technologist Andrew Melchior as an Honorary Professor in the Department of Computer Science.The three-year appointment will support research, teaching and knowledge exchange at the intersection of artificial intelligence, creative practice, copyright and digital provenance. It builds on a collaboration initiated through Creative Manchester, beginning with Melchior’s two-day visit to the University in May 2026.An artist, composer and creative technologist, Melchior has…
New Delhi Summit demonstrated that expansion has not deprived BRICS of its ability to find common ground, and that African interests are increasingly becoming part of the group’s collective agenda. The heightened representation of Africa within BRICS sends a powerful signal: African states are eager to help shape a new, non-Western-centric global architecture and are ready to advance their own development agendas. The New Delhi summit was attended by the…
At this year’s Future of Media Technology Conference, leaders from across digital media, news and publishing came together to explore the strategies, technologies and ideas shaping the future of the industry. Across the discussions, five themes stood out: 1. The industry continues to double down on relationships – and independent creators are raising the bar The shift away from reach alone is well underway. The challenge now is turning audiences…
Michelle Dyson CB, Alzheimer’s Society Chief Executive Officer, said: “Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, but it is not an inevitable part of ageing. Nearly half (45%) of dementia cases worldwide could be prevented or delayed by addressing health and lifestyle factors, throughout our lives, like high blood pressure.“If we can identify people early enough, we can significantly improve their brain health and help put the brakes on dementia. The…
As it happens, we are the first generations of people simultaneously capable of engineering a genuine apocalypse and of averting it, perhaps at the very last moment. It seems to me that one of the reasons for the current, rather lamentable, state of affairs in the world owes much to humanity’s lack of experience in handling the power that has fallen into its hands. Historically, cosmogony has, on the whole,…
Quick Hits The executive order directs the secretaries of state, labor, and homeland security to consider whether an employer conducted layoffs within the prior year or plans future layoffs affecting similarly situated U.S. workers when adjudicating H-1B-related filings. Employers could see additional scrutiny at multiple points in the H-1B process, including DOL Labor Condition Application (LCA) review, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) petition adjudication, consular visa issuance, and admission…
Quick Hits The Second Circuit amended its July 2026 decision, clarifying that the decision was not meant to establish that a heightened motive requirement exists for failure-to-accommodate cases. The court clarified that employees need not prove discriminatory animus against religion to substantiate their claims, but they must show that the denial was motivated by a desire to avoid the accommodation. The case, Bergin v. New York State Unified Court System,…
“You do not get what you want. You get what you negotiate.” Though these words by American businessman Harvey Mackay are mostly meant to be provocative, they’re not too far off from capturing what it’s like to navigate the business world today. Whether it’s a higher salary, a better deal, or the right to give a key presentation—getting ahead often requires thoughtful and skillful negotiation. Kellogg faculty offer insight and research-backed…
The UK Financial Conduct Authority, ("FCA"), has issued its first dedicated Handbook guidance on the application of the Conduct Rules and fitness and propriety framework to non-financial misconduct. The guidance applies across banks and non-banks. A separate rule change expands the scope of the Conduct Rules for non-bank firms. Both took effect on September 1, 2026. For U.S.-headquartered financial services organizations, a concern reported through a global hotline or investigated…
Quick Hits On 8 September 2026, the Court of Appeal held that TUPE Regulation 4(2)(a) must be read in light of the EU Acquired Rights Directive, whose purpose is to protect and ensure the continuity of employee rights upon a change of employer. TUPE is legislation that exists to benefit employees. It does not enable third parties to pursue transferees (in this case, Active Young People Limited) for the transferors’…
On July 2, 2026, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) published its updated Guidance on the Common Reporting Standard (Updated CRS Guidance). The Updated CRS Guidance includes: Long-awaited changes addressing the legislative amendments to Part XIX of the Income Tax Act (CRS) relating to the amendments to the Common Reporting Standard set out in the Standard for Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information in Tax Matters, as amended and approved by…
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia represents an emerging form of cross-regional security cooperation amid growing geopolitical uncertainty. Despite their differing regional security environments and perceptions of threat, the three states have a sufficient convergence of security interests to institutionalise defence cooperation. This commentary argues that the agreement should not be viewed primarily as the creation of a new military bloc, but as an effort…
On September 17, 2026, the Valdai Club hosted a presentation in Moscow of the report titled "Brazil-Russia Cooperation: Strategic Guidelines for Overcoming Structural Constraints." Discussion moderator Oleg Barabanov noted that the report outlines the achievements of the dynamically developing Brazilian-Russian relationship—at both bilateral and multilateral levels—and sets out future objectives. He described the document not merely as a theoretical study but as a practical text offering feasible, realistic solutions. Co-author…
Quick Hits The average UK employment tribunal claim now takes nearly sixty weeks from receipt to disposal, with some hearings listed for 2029. Explosion of AI useage is likely a key factor. Even though hearings may be delayed for a year or more, employers may want to gather and preserve key documents and other evidence up front. The AI Effect Many commentators in the United Kingdom cite the recent widespread…
Just after midnight on Aug. 22, 2026, the United States began collecting 50 per cent duties on approximately US$20 billion (C$27.6 billion) worth of Canadian goods under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (the Tariff Act). Our earlier insight examined this Depression-era provision after the underlying proclamations were signed in July. Within hours, Prime Minister Carney made an announcement that Canada would match the U.S. duties “dollar for dollar.” On…
Becoming a school principal is not an obvious path to take out of business school. How does the role draw on the skills of an MBA?Principals have enormous management and leadership responsibilities, especially in Chicago, where individual schools have more autonomy than in many other districts. In my first job as an elementary school principal, I had a budget of $4 million and 35 educators I was responsible for evaluating—as…
Howie and Harlan are joined by Omar Lateef, CEO of Chicago’s Rush University System for Health, to discuss balancing the financial pressures facing hospitals with commitments to patient care, community health, and research—and why healthcare leaders will need to rethink traditional models of care. Howie examines how proposed changes to student and exchange visitor visas could affect international researchers and physicians; Harlan discusses proposed changes to Medicare payment for remote…
A federal district court in Massachusetts has temporarily postponed the effective date of a DHS rule that would have replaced the longstanding “duration of status” (D/S) admission framework for F, J, and I nonimmigrants with fixed periods of admission. The rule was scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026, but the court issued a preliminary injunction preventing DHS from implementing it while litigation continues. As a result, F-1 students,…
Quick Hits On September 14, 2026, Cal/OSHA released a discussion draft of a proposed rule that would require covered hospitals to screen individuals and their personal items at all unrestricted entrances, not just the specific entrances identified in AB 2975, with an exception for the ambulance entrance. Screening personnel would need at least eight hours of initial training covering an expanded curriculum, annual refresher training, and additional training when specified…
Under British Columbia's Residential Tenancy Act, rent increases are regulated. In most cases, landlords may only increase rent once every 12 months and only by the annual allowable amount set by the province, which in 2026 is 2.3 per cent. However, once a tenant vacates a rental unit, the current regime generally permits a landlord to set a new rent for the incoming tenant, including at market rates. Bill M-218,…
With less than a month before the first round on October 4, Brazil’s presidential race has tightened into a genuine dogfight. Polling released in the first half of September shows current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva leading every first-round scenario, with Senator Flávio Bolsonaro consolidating a solid second place. The real drama, however, lies in the almost certain second round on October 25: virtually all polling institutes place Lula…
September 16, 2026 - Seyfarth Shaw LLP has further boosted its Labor & Employment practice and trial capabilities with the move of veteran trial lawyer, employment litigator and counselor Carmen Cole to the firm as a partner based in its Los Angeles (Century City) office. Cole offers more than 20 years of experience representing employers in complex employment litigation, workplace disputes and investigations, executive mobility, compliance counseling, and business strategy. She…