Featured Stories
Ropes and Gray: Teva Pharmaceuticals Completes Acquisition of Novel Neuroscience Assets From BioXcel Therapeutics
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Oct. 28 -- Ropes and Gray, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Teva Pharmaceuticals Completes Acquisition of Novel Neuroscience Assets from BioXcel Therapeutics
October 27, 2026
Ropes & Gray represented Teva Pharmaceuticals in its acquisition of certain neuroscience assets from BioXcel Therapeutics. The completed transaction was announced on October 27.
Teva acquired the assets out of BioXcel's Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Under the agreement, Teva acquired worldwide rights to dexmedetomidine sublingual film -- a novel, orally dissolving formulation currently
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, Oct. 28 -- Ropes and Gray, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Teva Pharmaceuticals Completes Acquisition of Novel Neuroscience Assets from BioXcel Therapeutics
October 27, 2026
Ropes & Gray represented Teva Pharmaceuticals in its acquisition of certain neuroscience assets from BioXcel Therapeutics. The completed transaction was announced on October 27.
Teva acquired the assets out of BioXcel's Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Under the agreement, Teva acquired worldwide rights to dexmedetomidine sublingual film -- a novel, orally dissolving formulation currentlyunder FDA review for at-home use in the acute treatment of agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar I or II disorder in adults -- for an upfront payment of $57.5 million and up to an additional $67.5 million in contingent payments tied to FDA approval timing and sales milestones.
The asset includes IGALMI (dexmedetomidine sublingual film), which is currently approved for in-clinic acute treatment of agitation associated with schizophrenia and bipolar I or II disorder in adults, and BXCL501. If approved, BXCL501 could become the first FDA-approved at-home treatment for this condition.
The Ropes & Gray team included mergers & acquisitions counsel Kelly Finn and partner Chris Comeau, life sciences licensing partner Abby Gregor, business restructuring partners Rachel Strickland and Andrew Mordkoff, and health care partner Jamie Darch.
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URL: Teva Pharmaceuticals
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Original text here: https://www.ropesgray.com/en/news-and-events/news/2026/10/teva-pharmaceuticals-completes-acquisition-of-novel-neuroscience-assets-from-bioxcel-therapeutics
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
K&L Gates Advises Vingroup on Alstom Agreement for 200 Hanoi Metro Trainsets
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Oct. 28 -- K&L Gates, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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K&L Gates Advises Vingroup on Alstom Agreement for 200 Hanoi Metro Trainsets
27 October 2026
K&L Gates is supporting Vingroup's development of new metro lines in Hanoi, a major urban rail initiative with a reported investment value of approximately US$35 billion (VND 900 trillion). The project represents a significant step in Vingroup's development of its rail business and Vietnam's broader efforts to build domestic capabilities in advanced rail technologies. Most recently, K&L Gates advised
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PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Oct. 28 -- K&L Gates, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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K&L Gates Advises Vingroup on Alstom Agreement for 200 Hanoi Metro Trainsets
27 October 2026
K&L Gates is supporting Vingroup's development of new metro lines in Hanoi, a major urban rail initiative with a reported investment value of approximately US$35 billion (VND 900 trillion). The project represents a significant step in Vingroup's development of its rail business and Vietnam's broader efforts to build domestic capabilities in advanced rail technologies. Most recently, K&L Gates advisedVingroup on its landmark agreement with Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, for 200 Metropolis metro trainsets and an associated technology license to advance Vietnam's urban rail expansion.
Under the agreements, Alstom will design, manufacture, and supply up to 83 five-car Metropolis trainsets for the new metro lines in Hanoi and provide a technology license to support the assembly by Vingroup of the remaining trainsets in Vietnam.
The partnership combines Alstom's global rail expertise with Vingroup's industrial capabilities and long-term infrastructure vision, supporting both the expansion of Hanoi's metro network and the development of local rail capabilities in Vietnam. The agreement also reflects the growing strategic cooperation between Vietnam and France in infrastructure, innovation and sustainable development.
The K&L Gates team was led by Singapore partner Duc T. Nguyen and Melbourne partner Matthew Osborne and included lawyers from the firm's Corporate and Finance practices, including Sydney partner Rob White, Melbourne partner Rachelle Downie and lawyer Maryam Ahmed, and Singapore counsel Eric Yong and legal executive Dat Le.
Nguyen said: "We are proud to be assisting Vingroup on this landmark transaction. This matter is notable not only for its scale, but also for its broader strategic significance. By combining the supply of advanced metro trainsets with technology licensing and local train assembly capabilities, the agreement supports the development of Vietnam's urban rail sector and the growth of advanced rail technologies. As part of Vingroup's broader programme for five new metro lines in Hanoi, the project represents an important step in the continued expansion of Vietnam's transportation infrastructure and reflects Vingroup's long-term commitment to innovation, industrial development and nation-building infrastructure."
Osborne added: "This transaction brings together world-class rail technology and local industrial capability to support the next phase of Vietnam's transportation development ambitions. We are pleased to provide Vingroup with ongoing support on this strategically significant project."
This transaction further highlights K&L Gates' experience advising sponsors, developers, investors, and technology providers on complex transportation and infrastructure projects across Southeast Asia and around the world.
K&L Gates' Corporate practice is one of the most substantial in the legal industry, with hundreds of lawyers in offices across the globe providing clients with practical legal solutions in the structuring, financing, and completion of domestic, international, and cross-border transactions.
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This press release is issued by K&L Gates Straits Law LLC, a Singapore law firm with full Singapore law and representation capacity, and to whom any Singapore law queries should be addressed. K&L Gates Straits Law is the Singapore office of K&L Gates, a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located in five continents. The firm represents leading multinational corporations growth and middle-market companies, capital markets participants and entrepreneurs in every major industry group as well as public sector entities, educational institutions, philanthropic organizations and individuals.
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URL: Vingroup
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Original text here: https://www.klgates.com/KL-Gates-Advises-Vingroup-on-Alstom-Agreement-for-200-Hanoi-Metro-Trainsets-10-27-2026
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Jenn Geetter discusses AI legal liability risks for health systems with Modern Healthcare
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 28 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- McDermott Will and Emery, a law firm, posted the following news release:
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Jenn Geetter discusses AI legal liability risks for health systems with Modern Healthcare
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In a recent Modern Healthcare article, Jenn Geetter discusses the growing legal liability risks facing health systems as they expand their use of artificial intelligence, including the exposure created by "shadow AI."
Jenn explains that liability for AI-related clinical errors turns on the same factors that apply to other technologies, such as whether the tool performed
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 28 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- McDermott Will and Emery, a law firm, posted the following news release:
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Jenn Geetter discusses AI legal liability risks for health systems with Modern Healthcare
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In a recent Modern Healthcare article, Jenn Geetter discusses the growing legal liability risks facing health systems as they expand their use of artificial intelligence, including the exposure created by "shadow AI."
Jenn explains that liability for AI-related clinical errors turns on the same factors that apply to other technologies, such as whether the tool performedas intended and within its specifications, and on fact-intensive questions about whether the problem was the tool or how it was used. She also stresses that vetting a tool isn't enough, and that health systems need a post-deployment risk strategy that includes monitoring the tool for signs of degradation and confirming it is trained on the right data.
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Original text here: https://www.mcdermottlaw.com/news/jenn-geetter-discusses-ai-legal-liability-risks-for-health-systems-with-modern-healthcare/
Hughes Hubbard: Jeremy Paner Discusses Legal Risks of Russian Diesel Shipments With Financial Times
NEW YORK, Oct. 28 -- Hughes Hubbard and Reed, a law firm, issued the following news:
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October 27, 2026
Jeremy Paner Discusses Legal Risks of Russian Diesel Shipments with Financial Times
Russian diesel shipments raise legal questions as sanctioned vessels head to U.S. ports.
Highlights
* Three tankers, including vessels sanctioned by the EU, UK and Canada, carrying Russian diesel are headed to U.S. ports.
* OFAC issued a general license authorizing imports of Russian diesel into the United States.
* Paner says the arrival of tankers sanctioned by the EU, UK and Canada would be "highly
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Oct. 28 -- Hughes Hubbard and Reed, a law firm, issued the following news:
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October 27, 2026
Jeremy Paner Discusses Legal Risks of Russian Diesel Shipments with Financial Times
Russian diesel shipments raise legal questions as sanctioned vessels head to U.S. ports.
Highlights
* Three tankers, including vessels sanctioned by the EU, UK and Canada, carrying Russian diesel are headed to U.S. ports.
* OFAC issued a general license authorizing imports of Russian diesel into the United States.
* Paner says the arrival of tankers sanctioned by the EU, UK and Canada would be "highlyproblematic" because of the interconnected economies and financial systems.
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Jeremy Paner spoke with the Financial Times about the legal risks surrounding Russian diesel shipments as sanctioned vessels prepare to arrive at U.S. ports.
The article reports that three tankers carrying Russian diesel are scheduled to arrive at U.S. ports, including one vessel sanctioned by U.S., UK and EU authorities and another sanctioned by the UK, EU and Canada. The shipments are the first licensed by U.S. authorities under President Donald Trump's recent arrangement with Putin to authorize Russian diesel shipments.
Paner said Congress is understandably concerned about the temporary license issued to allow imports of Russian diesel but noted that the president had the legal authority to issue it.
Addressing the potential arrival of a tanker sanctioned by the EU, UK and Canada, Paner said it would be "highly problematic as those economies and financial systems are closely interwoven into the maritime and port sectors in the U.S."
Read the article (https://www.ft.com/content/d847744f-cfa5-4dc5-bdd2-faeee0b584f7?syn-25a6b1a6=1).
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Featured Lawyers
Jeremy P. Paner
Partner
Locations
Washington, D.C.
jeremy.paner@hugheshubbard.com
202/721-4614
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Original text here: https://www.hugheshubbard.com/news-insights/insights/jeremy-paner-discusses-legal-risks-of-russian-diesel-shipments-with-financial-times
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Former Maryland Department of the Environment Chief of Staff Scott F. Goldman Joins Baker Donelson in Baltimore
MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Oct. 28 -- Baker Donelson, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Former Maryland Department of the Environment Chief of Staff Scott F. Goldman Joins Baker Donelson in Baltimore
October 27, 2026
Scott F. Goldman, former chief of staff of Maryland's Department of the Environment and a veteran attorney with more than 16 years of experience in environmental regulation, government, public policy, and national security law, has joined Baker Donelson in the Firm's Government Solutions and Public Funding Group.
"Scott is widely respected throughout Maryland's government,
... Show Full Article
MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Oct. 28 -- Baker Donelson, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Former Maryland Department of the Environment Chief of Staff Scott F. Goldman Joins Baker Donelson in Baltimore
October 27, 2026
Scott F. Goldman, former chief of staff of Maryland's Department of the Environment and a veteran attorney with more than 16 years of experience in environmental regulation, government, public policy, and national security law, has joined Baker Donelson in the Firm's Government Solutions and Public Funding Group.
"Scott is widely respected throughout Maryland's government,environmental, and regulatory communities," said Jennifer L. Curry, managing shareholder of Baker Donelson's Baltimore office. "His experience serving as chief of staff to the Maryland Secretary of the Environment, combined with his deep understanding of regulatory, public policy, and governmental affairs, will bring tremendous value to our clients. We are thrilled to welcome him to Baker Donelson."
Throughout his career, Mr. Goldman has worked with government agencies, military organizations, policymakers, non-profits, and private-sector stakeholders on complex legal, operational, and strategic matters. His experience provides clients with a practical understanding of the regulatory and governmental processes that shape critical business and policy decisions.
"I am excited to join Baker Donelson and become part of a team known for its commitment to client service and practical problem-solving," said Mr. Goldman. "My career has been focused on helping people and organizations navigate complex legal, regulatory, and public policy challenges, and I look forward to working with clients across a wide range of industries to address their most pressing issues and opportunities."
Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Mr. Goldman served as chief of staff for the Maryland Department of the Environment, where he advised the Maryland Secretary of the Environment on high-profile regulatory, enforcement, permitting, and policy matters. In that role, he worked closely with executive branch leadership, legislators, regulators, industry stakeholders, and community organizations on environmental initiatives, infrastructure projects, legislative priorities, and complex negotiations.
In addition to his government experience, Mr. Goldman has served for more than 15 years as an Army Judge Advocate, advising military leaders on intelligence operations, international law, military justice, administrative matters, labor and employment issues, contracts, and fiscal law. His military experience includes deployment to Afghanistan, and he currently serves as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.
"Scott brings a unique combination of regulatory, public policy, and leadership experience that will be a tremendous asset to our clients and our team," said Wendy Huff Ellard, leader of Baker Donelson's Government Solutions and Public Funding Group and co-leader of the Disaster Recovery and Government Services Team. "His firsthand understanding of how government agencies operate and approach complex policy and regulatory issues will help clients navigate challenges and opportunities in an increasingly complex environment."
Mr. Goldman earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Vanderbilt Law Review, and received his B.A. from Harvard College.
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Original text here: https://www.bakerdonelson.com/former-maryland-department-of-the-environment-chief-of-staff-scott-f-goldman-joins-baker-donelson-in-baltimore
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Fisher Phillips Issues Insight: Two Federal Courts Dismiss AI and Keyword Hiring Bias Claims - 5 Steps for Employers
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 28 -- Fisher Phillips, a law firm, issued the following Insight:
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Two Federal Courts Dismiss AI and Keyword Hiring Bias Claims: 5 Steps for Employers
Oct 27, 2026
Two federal courts recently issued favorable decisions rejecting claims of AI hiring bias that will require future applicants to support similar allegations with specific facts that tie employers' actions to the alleged discrimination. The decisions out of Michigan and Alabama provide a useful defense playbook, but employers should still proceed with caution when using AI-powered screening technologies
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 28 -- Fisher Phillips, a law firm, issued the following Insight:
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Two Federal Courts Dismiss AI and Keyword Hiring Bias Claims: 5 Steps for Employers
Oct 27, 2026
Two federal courts recently issued favorable decisions rejecting claims of AI hiring bias that will require future applicants to support similar allegations with specific facts that tie employers' actions to the alleged discrimination. The decisions out of Michigan and Alabama provide a useful defense playbook, but employers should still proceed with caution when using AI-powered screening technologiesand processes. What are the five things employers should do after reviewing these two latest decisions?
* Want to learn more? Register for our complimentary webinar, Testing and Managing AI Bias in Employment Decisions, on November 17 by clicking here.
Sirius XM Escapes AI Discrimination Allegations
First, a Michigan federal court dismissed a proposed hiring discrimination class action against satellite radio provider Sirius XM on September 30.
* Arshon Harper, an African American male applicant, alleged that he applied to approximately 150 positions but that Sirius rejected all but one of his applications before the interview stage - and that he was not hired for the position for which he interviewed.
* Harper alleged that Sirius used iCIMS's applicant tracking system (ATS) and AI or machine learning to screen candidates and that the technology screened him out because of his race. He claimed that education, work history, and ZIP codes operated as racial proxies. You can read more about his allegations in our August 2025 Insight.
* Judge Terrence Berg dismissed the claim, ruling that Harper's complaint failed to point to direct evidence sufficient to demonstrate intentional discrimination.
* Harper pointed to his personal rejection rate, coupled with Sirius's alleged ability to collect and use demographic data through its ATS, as proof that Sirius XM could plausibly have used racial characteristics to discriminate against him. However, the court noted "data collection is not the same thing as data discrimination," and held that Harper's repeated rejections and the collection of data were insufficient to establish claims under a disparate impact or disparate treatment theory.
Assurant Defeats Keyword Screening Bias Claims
The very next day, an Alabama federal court dismissed a similar hiring bias lawsuit against Assurant.
* Vanessa Knight-Bell, an African American woman over the age of 40, filed an EEOC charge and later a lawsuit alleging that the insurance company's AI-powered hiring tools screened out all 21 of her applications because of her race and age.
* Assurant denied using AI to filter resumes, and instead described a system where managers used keyword searches to cull the hundreds of applications for the posting down to a reasonable number.
* Judge Harold Mooty found that Knight-Bell adequately identified a specific practice that could have supported a claim (employer-selected keywords determining which applications received further review). But he also found that her complaint didn't supply any actual search term or other facts making it plausible - not merely possible - that the identified practice disproportionately excluded members of her protected class.
* Knight-Bell tried to fill that gap by citing academic literature about inherent bias in machine learning models. But the court noted that her complaint actually targeted a human manager's selection of search terms that allegedly produced a discriminatory outcome, not AI.
* Her intentional race discrimination claim failed because she did not allege that anyone at Assurant knew her race when screening her applications.
* As for her age claim, the court followed 11th Circuit precedent holding that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act's (ADEA's) disparate impact provision does not cover job applicants.
* Her disparate treatment theory also fell short because the complaint lacked factual allegations connecting her age to Assurant's rejection of her applications.
What Do the Decisions Hold in Common?
Both decisions apply familiar discrimination pleading requirements to allegations about relatively new hiring technology.
* Repeated rejection alone does not establish group bias. An applicant facing a number of unsuccessful applications does not automatically show that an employer's screening practice disproportionately excludes a protected group.
* Possible bias needs a factual connection to the employer's process. Allegations that technology could potentially use discriminatory proxies did not establish that the challenged practice is biased.
* Intentional discrimination and disparate impact remain distinct. A treatment claim requires facts supporting discriminatory intent, whereas an impact claim concerns a hiring practice's disproportionate effects without requiring that intent.
What 5 Steps Should Employers Consider Taking?
The decisions suggest you consider the following practical steps:
1. Identify what your hiring system actually does. Work with recruiting staff and vendors to document and understand enabled features, screening criteria, and identify when human review is needed.
2. Review human-selected criteria. Examine whether search terms and screening requirements are tailored to the specific position. Human discretion does not categorically remove a practice from disparate impact scrutiny, so it would be prudent to be prepared with the appropriate documentation if an issue arises.
3. Audit hiring data and investigate any disparities. Even if no law requires it, you should consider conducting a bias audit of your hiring tools and processes. An audit can help you spot and correct potential disparities before they turn into a discrimination charge or lawsuit. Even if it finds no issues, that result can help strengthen your defense if a claim comes later. To best protect the findings and any follow-up discussions, conduct the audit at the direction of counsel under attorney-client privilege. Fisher Phillips' AI Fairness and Bias Audit Solutions can help you assess your tools and data under privilege.
4. Anticipate state and/or federal discrimination charges from applicants. Be prepared to explain how you screened each applicant and maintain all recruiting records in accordance with all applicable recordkeeping obligations.
5. Assess early defenses with counsel. If an applicant files a lawsuit, promptly examine whether the complaint connects the challenged practice to discrimination. In these two cases, neither plaintiff adequately connected the alleged conduct to the relevant form of discrimination.
* Want to learn more? Register for our complimentary webinar, Testing and Managing AI Bias in Employment Decisions, on November 17 by clicking here.
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Related People
Matthew Costello
Associate
mcostello@fisherphillips.com
858/964-1594
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Usama Kahf, CIPP/US
Partner
ukahf@fisherphillips.com
949/798-2118
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David J. Walton, AIGP, CIPP/US
Partner
dwalton@fisherphillips.com
610/230-6105
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Original text here: https://www.fisherphillips.com/en/insights/insights/two-federal-courts-dismiss-ai-and-keyword-hiring-bias-claims
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Akerman Represented Iconic Brand Nathan's Famous in Its Acquisition by Smithfield Foods Which Was Completed on October 26, 2026
MIAMI, Florida, Oct. 28 -- Akerman, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Akerman Represented Iconic Brand Nathan's Famous in Its Acquisition by Smithfield Foods Which Was Completed on October 26, 2026
October 27, 2026
Akerman announced the closing of the acquisition of its client Nathan's Famous, Inc. (Nasdaq: NATH) by Smithfield Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq: SFD), for $102 in cash per outstanding share, representing an enterprise value of approximately $450 million. As previously announced, Akerman represented Nathan's Famous, Inc. in the transaction.
The Akerman team advising Nathan's
... Show Full Article
MIAMI, Florida, Oct. 28 -- Akerman, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Akerman Represented Iconic Brand Nathan's Famous in Its Acquisition by Smithfield Foods Which Was Completed on October 26, 2026
October 27, 2026
Akerman announced the closing of the acquisition of its client Nathan's Famous, Inc. (Nasdaq: NATH) by Smithfield Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq: SFD), for $102 in cash per outstanding share, representing an enterprise value of approximately $450 million. As previously announced, Akerman represented Nathan's Famous, Inc. in the transaction.
The Akerman team advising Nathan'sFamous was led by Corporate Partners Wayne Wald, Chair, Restaurant Sector Team, and Palash Pandya, Co-Deputy Chair, Corporate Practice Group, and included key support from:
* Melissa Koch, Chair, Technology Transactions Practice; Partner, Corporate Practice Group
* Jerry Reichelscheimer, Chair, Retail Leasing and Development Practice
* William Sullivan, Chair, Federal Tax Practice; Deputy Chair, Tax Practice Group
* Sarah DeFranco, Partner, Labor and Employment Practice Group
* James Macpherson, Partner, Corporate Practice Group
* Gabriel Marinaro, Partner, Tax Practice Group
* Felicia Leborgne Nowels, Partner, Government Strategies Practice Group
* Austin Ownbey, Partner, Corporate Practice Group
* Tammy Mercer, Partner, Litigation Practice Group
* Amanda Pooler, Partner, Litigation Practice Group
* Samual Mann, Partner, Litigation Practice Group
* Dahlia Awad, Associate, Government Strategies Practice Group
* Charles Filips, Associate, Tax Practice Group
* Chelsy Lutz, Associate, Tax Practice Group
* Annie Nosich, Associate, Corporate Practice Group
* Amanda Rementeria, Associate, Corporate Practice Group
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About Akerman
Founded in 1920, Akerman is an Am Law 100 firm recognized by Vault among the nation's most prestigious law firms. The firm has more than 700 lawyers and business professionals throughout the United States.
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URL: Nathan's Famous
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Original text here: https://www.akerman.com/en/firm/newsroom/akerman-represented-iconic-brand-nathans-famous-in-its-acquisition-by-smithfield-foods-which-was-completed-on-october-26-2026.html
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
