Strikes have flooded the news headlines for the past years, as thirty-three significant strikes occurred in 2023, with an estimated 462,000 workers engaged in those strikes. (Chris Isidore, CNN). Boeing was unable to escape the strike fever in 2024, as workers demanded a 40% raise in wages and the reinstatement of pension benefits. (Niraj Chokshi, New York Times). Due to the massive impact the strike had on the company, Boeing and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (the “Union”) announced a negotiated proposal (“Proposed Deal”) subject to voting on October 23rd, 2024. (IAM District 751). Ultimately, the Proposed Deal was rejected by a 64% vote. (IAM District 751). This article discusses the key elements of the Proposed Deal and how it sheds light on the greater narrative of Boeing’s fragile state of dwindling finances, reputation, and relationship with its workers.
Read MoreOn March 6, 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) passed a final rule requiring applicants to include climate-related disclosures within their registration statements and annual reports. (Deloitte). This rule includes initial public offerings (“IPOs”) and will go into effect for annual reports ending on December 31, 2025. Id. ESG reporting is a system that provides key information to stakeholders about business operations which relate to the “environmental, social and governance (ESG) areas of the business.” (Tom Krantz & Alexandra Jonker, IBM). This post discusses what ESG reporting is and why it is relevant, how companies have approached reporting on ESG matters, and the positives and negatives of ESG reporting.
Read MoreCompanies should brace for turbulence as the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS” or “Service”) zeroes in on dishonest corporate jet tax breaks. The IRS disclosed internal training materials under the Freedom of Information Act that outline key data points auditors will focus on during their new corporate jet auditing campaign, which was announced early in 2024. (Erin Schilling, Bloomberg). Funded by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”), the corporate jet auditing campaign is part of the IRS’s Strategic Operating Plan which seeks to further the Service’s objective of expanding tax compliance enforcement to ultrawealthy individuals, corporations, and complex partnerships. (Erin Schilling, Bloomberg; Erin Slowey, Bloomberg; Daniel Werfel, Department of the Treasury; IRS). This article dives into why the IRS is implementing more audits on the use of corporate jets, how deductions could affect a company’s bottom line, and how this new focus will impact companies and the US moving forward.
Read MoreCapital One began its acquisition of Discover Financial Services (“Discover”) for $35 billion, a merger that must clear Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) guidelines as well as garner Department of Justice (“DOJ”), Federal Reserve and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) approval. (Evan Weinberger & Justin Wise, Bloomberg). On September 17, 2024, these entities announced certain new merger policies, signaling heightened scrutiny of the potential acquisition. Id. These government agencies are reviewing the deal to ensure that the merger is not only compliant with regulations but can tangibly benefit consumers. Id. This article examines the history and legal challenges of the merger, the new merger policies announced, and the consequences of the merger’s success or failure.
Read MoreWith the internet’s proliferation and widespread adoption in the 1990s, very few could foresee the dominant force that Google would become. Google launched in 1998 among a crowded market of internet search engines, such as Excite, Yahoo, and Lycos. (Charles Rose, SEO Mechanic). Over the following twenty-six years, Google grew_ into one of the most preeminent U.S. companies, controlling approximately 90% of the global internet search engine market. (Statcounter). Google’s dominance in various markets has attracted the ire of state and federal governments, lawmakers, and regulators, leading them to pursue antitrust actions against Google. (U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee; Office of Public Affairs: DOJ). One of these actions recently came to a head on August 3, 2024, when the District Court for the District of Columbia (“Court”) ruled that Google illegally operated a monopoly in search engine services and text advertising. (Rohan Goswami et al., CNBC). The impact on Google and other stakeholders remains uncertain, but it has the potential to re-shape the streams of revenue for Google and other technology companies, as well as influence how consumers use technology. Regardless of the political environment, the government and regulators are likely to press ahead with efforts to curb the anti-competitive behavior of technology companies that has grown over the years. The following centers on the Court’s examination of the three principal issues and explores potential implications for Google, consumers and other technology companies.
Read MoreThe most watched show of the season might be the drawn-out roller coaster of negotiations between Paramount and Skydance. The two entities entered into negotiations to merge in April 2024. (Benjamin Mullin et al., New York Times). However, the parties have run into roadblocks, including shareholder interest issues and other prospective buyers. Id. On June 11, 2024, Paramount’s majority shareholder rejected a previous deal (the “June 2024 Deal”), but by July 3, the parties renewed efforts to make the relationship work. Id. This post reviews the current situation Paramount finds itself in, its desperate attempts at corporate marriage, why previous negotiations have fallen flat, and what the newest rendition of a deal includes.
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