Shipping Vehicles and The IMDG Code

U.S. shippers of electric and hybrid vehicles that do not understand and abide by their IMDG compliance obligations risk severe consequences. U.S. shippers/exporters of new and used electric and hybrid vehicles face complex compliance issues when shipping aboard oceangoing vessels, not least of which is the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (“IMDG Code”). Sometimes, carriers

The Difference Between B-1 and H-1B Visas

$9.9 Million Settlement: An Expensive Lesson in B-1 Visa Limitations

Introduction In a recent development, L&T Technology Services (LTTS), an India-based company with U.S. offices, has agreed to pay over $9.9 million to settle allegations of visa fraud. The company was accused by the U.S. Department of Justice of underpaying visa fees by acquiring cheaper B-1 visas instead of the more expensive H-1B visas, which

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Are Smart Contracts Legal Contracts?

If you have been following the news around Web3 lately, you may have heard of smart contracts. They are used in a wide variety of decentralized digital transactions, including NFT sales, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), and decentralized applications (dApps). Because smart contracts can relieve some of the hassle involved with traditional contracts, many businesses are

export enforcement

Breaking News: U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary of Export Enforcement Clarifies Its Policy on Voluntary Self-Disclosure and Disclosures Concerning Others

On April 18, 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce (“DOC”) Assistant Secretary of Export Enforcement released a report clarifying the DOC’s policy on Voluntary Self-Disclosure (“VSD”) and Disclosures Concerning Others (“DCO”).  Addressing first its policy on VSD, the new policy sought to further incentivize the submission of VSDs when industry or academia uncover “significant” possible

Immigration Litigation, How and Why it Works. 

REGISTER HERE  In this webinar, Harris Sliwoski attorneys Akshat Divatia, Tom Oster, and Jack Scrantom, will discuss the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) as a tool for seeking relief in Federal Courts against US immigration authorities. US immigration authorities have become increasingly unreasonable, and both temporary and permanent immigrant visa petitioners and beneficiaries regularly face a

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Harris Sliwoski’s Litigation Team Defeats Motion to Compel Arbitration

On the heels of this post I wrote last month about the importance of how an arbitration clause is drafted, especially in the international context, I’m happy to report my colleagues recently defeated a motion to compel arbitration based on an incomplete provision. The Arbitration Provision in Question Our client (plaintiff) entered into a contract

Harris Sliwoski’s Immigration Litigation Team Successfully Resolves Federal Court Case Against U.S. Government

We’re thrilled to share that we recently achieved a favorable settlement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the district of Alaska in an Administrative Procedure Act (APA) claim against the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for one of my law firm’s employment-based immigration clients. USCIS had

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What Are Smart Contracts on Blockchain?

If you’ve paid any attention at all to news about Web3, the metaverse, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), or cryptocurrency, you’ve probably heard of smart contracts. You’re also probably intrigued by how they work from a legal perspective and what they could mean for the future of your business. Smart contracts are a foundational element of Web3,

breaking news

Breaking News | Declaratory Statement Obtained

Breaking News | Harris Sliwoski attorneys Robert Kossick and Frederic Rocafort successfully obtained a declaratory statement for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) on behalf of one of the firm’s clients, clarifying a statutory ambiguity regarding tobacco licensing requirements. As a result, our client now has the legal certainty that their planned

to Europe

WTCU Hosted Event: Why Spain is Your Bridge to Europe

Discover the secrets to expanding your business into Europe via Spain! Join us on April 25, 2023, at 10:30 AM at World Trade Center Utah headquarters for an exclusive discussion with industry experts from international law firms Monereo Meyer Abogados (Spain) and Harris Sliwoski (US), and Red Points, the fastest-growing revenue recovery company in the