Featured Stories
Ogletree Deakins Expands Chicago Office with Three Attorneys, Including Shareholder Christina Wernick
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 26 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Ogletree Deakins, a law firm, posted the following news release:
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Ogletree Deakins Expands Chicago Office with Three Attorneys, Including Shareholder Christina Wernick
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CHICAGO - October 26, 2026 - Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to welcome three attorneys from Laner Muchin Ltd. to the firm's Chicago office: Christina Wernick as a shareholder, Megan Wilkes as of counsel, and Emily Chramiec as an associate.
Christina Wernick is a labor and employment attorney with
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 26 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Ogletree Deakins, a law firm, posted the following news release:
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Ogletree Deakins Expands Chicago Office with Three Attorneys, Including Shareholder Christina Wernick
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CHICAGO - October 26, 2026 - Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to welcome three attorneys from Laner Muchin Ltd. to the firm's Chicago office: Christina Wernick as a shareholder, Megan Wilkes as of counsel, and Emily Chramiec as an associate.
Christina Wernick is a labor and employment attorney withmore than 20 years of legal experience whose practice focuses on traditional labor and prevailing wage laws, including a particular emphasis on the construction industry. She advises and counsels management on collective bargaining negotiations, grievance and arbitration proceedings, and jurisdictional disputes, and she represents companies in multiemployer bargaining and in federal and state courts. Wernick also advises on due diligence for unionized asset and stock transactions, including bargaining effects and mitigation of withdrawal liability.
In addition, Wernick counsels hotels and restaurants, nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and other public entities navigating labor issues across different legal frameworks. She was recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America(r) guide for Employment Law - Management and included as a Notable Leader in Employment and Labor Law by Crain's Chicago Business in 2023. Wernick earned her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law and her B.A., cum laude, from The Ohio State University.
"Christina, Megan, and Emily each add experience that our Chicago clients will benefit from right away," said Jennifer Colvin, office managing shareholder in Chicago. "Collectively, they provide business leaders with a broad range of labor and employment support, handling everything from collective bargaining and prevailing wage matters to discrimination claims, which complements our team nicely and strengthens our service offering for employers across Illinois."
"Employers need labor counsel who understands the realities of running their business, not just the impact of the law," Wernick said. "Throughout my career, I've focused my practice on giving that kind of practical, hands-on guidance, whether at the bargaining table, on site, working through a labor dispute, or in the middle of a deal. My clients' projects and workforces have never stopped at the Illinois border, and Ogletree Deakins' national platform and deep labor bench create a tremendous opportunity to build on that work and continue delivering responsive, business-focused advice. I'm excited to join the firm alongside Megan and Emily, whose versatile skill sets will make an immediate impact for the team and our clients."
Megan Wilkes has more than 12 years of experience representing management in grievance actions and prevailing wage matters. She interprets and negotiates collective bargaining agreements, including project labor agreements, analyzes jurisdictional disputes, and handles ERISA audit and collection actions. She also defends employers in civil litigation, including employment discrimination and retaliation claims. She earned her J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and her B.A. from DePaul University.
Emily Chramiec handles a wide variety of labor and employment law matters, with a focus on discrimination. She earned her J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law with a certificate in labor and employment law and her B.A. from Loyola University Chicago. While in law school, she was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society and a student editor for the Employee Rights & Employment Policy Journal, and she received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Employment Discrimination.
The Chicago team continues to grow strategically, as the office has added 11 lawyers this year already. This reflects a larger growth strategy at Ogletree Deakins, which welcomed more than 30 shareholders to the firm in 2026 across its international footprint.
With more than 1,200 attorneys in 62 offices worldwide, Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management. We handle all types of employment-related legal matters, including traditional labor and employment, workplace safety, employee benefits, and business immigration matters. Guided by our Client Pledge, we focus on understanding clients' business and objectives, collaborating and anticipating needs, harnessing technology and innovation, communicating effectively, and providing quality representation with exceptional value. www.ogletree.com
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Original text here: https://ogletree.com/media-center/press-releases/2026-10-26/ogletree-deakins-expands-chicago-office-with-three-attorneys-including-shareholder-christina-wernick
Kirkland Advises Think & Learn (BYJU'S) Creditors on Global Settlement with Aakash and Manipal
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 26 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, posted the following news release:
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Kirkland Advises Think & Learn (BYJU'S) Creditors on Global Settlement with Aakash and Manipal
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Kirkland & Ellis advised GLAS Trust Company LLC (GLAS), which represents the lenders under a US$1.2 billion Term Loan B guaranteed by Think & Learn Private Limited (Think & Learn), the parent company of BYJU'S, on a global settlement with Aakash Educational Services Limited (Aakash) and the Manipal Group. GLAS holds approximately 99.2% of the voting share of Think & Learn's
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 26 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, posted the following news release:
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Kirkland Advises Think & Learn (BYJU'S) Creditors on Global Settlement with Aakash and Manipal
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Kirkland & Ellis advised GLAS Trust Company LLC (GLAS), which represents the lenders under a US$1.2 billion Term Loan B guaranteed by Think & Learn Private Limited (Think & Learn), the parent company of BYJU'S, on a global settlement with Aakash Educational Services Limited (Aakash) and the Manipal Group. GLAS holds approximately 99.2% of the voting share of Think & Learn'sCommittee of Creditors.
Aakash is one of India's leading test-preparation businesses, preparing students for the country's national medical and engineering entrance examinations. Founded in 1988, Aakash has grown from a single center into a nationwide network of more than 400 centers.
The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Bengaluru, approved the settlement on September 28, 2026 in Think & Learn's corporate insolvency resolution process. The settlement concludes more than a year of contested proceedings before the NCLT, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal and the Supreme Court of India. Kirkland led the creditors' strategy throughout the proceedings, working with Indian counsel, and negotiated the settlement.
Under the settlement, Think & Learn's shareholding in Aakash will increase from approximately 13.72% to 32%. Think & Learn will also receive governance, information, pre-emptive and exit rights to protect the value of the shareholding.
The transaction reflects the breadth and depth of Kirkland's work in India. Beyond corporate and transactional matters, Kirkland has developed hands-on, practical experience of contested litigation, restructuring and insolvency in India, working alongside Indian counsel on some of the market's most significant situations. That experience informs how Kirkland advises clients on structuring and documenting their investments and financings in India, including the protections they will need in a downside scenario.
The Kirkland team included restructuring lawyers Wei-Yang Lim, Anthony Wijaya, Su Yi Yeoh, Hamish Hatrick, Lynn Pang, Patrick Nash and Luka Knezevic; corporate lawyers Pierre Arsenault, Yawen Li and Du Yulin; and litigation lawyer Wilfred Ho.
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Original text here: https://www.kirkland.com/news/press-release/2026/10/kirkland-advises-think-learn-byjuscreditors-on-global-settlement-with-aakash-and-manipal
Digital Infrastructure Finance Lawyer Sahar Kamali Joins Kirkland & Ellis
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 26 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, posted the following news release:
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Digital Infrastructure Finance Lawyer Sahar Kamali Joins Kirkland & Ellis
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Kirkland & Ellis announced today that Sahar Kamali has joined the Firm as a partner in the Debt Finance Practice Group.
"Sahar's extensive experience leading innovative and large-scale data center financings makes her a terrific addition to Kirkland and reinforces our commitment to maintaining the premier platform for complex digital infrastructure matters," said Jon A. Ballis, Chairman of
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 26 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, posted the following news release:
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Digital Infrastructure Finance Lawyer Sahar Kamali Joins Kirkland & Ellis
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Kirkland & Ellis announced today that Sahar Kamali has joined the Firm as a partner in the Debt Finance Practice Group.
"Sahar's extensive experience leading innovative and large-scale data center financings makes her a terrific addition to Kirkland and reinforces our commitment to maintaining the premier platform for complex digital infrastructure matters," said Jon A. Ballis, Chairman ofKirkland's Executive Committee.
Ms. Kamali joins from Blue Owl, where she was vice president of the digital infrastructure platform. She advised on high-profile capital markets executions, including some of the largest and most complex construction financings in the data center space over the past several years across the U.S. and internationally. She also has extensive capital markets experience ranging from data center project financings to stabilized data center financings. Prior to joining Blue Owl, Ms. Kamali was a debt finance attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
"Sahar's unique perspective as both a client and service provider will further strengthen our team handling sophisticated financings across digital infrastructure transactions," said Melissa Hutson, Kirkland partner in the Debt Finance Practice Group and member of the Firm's Executive Committee.
"Kirkland's leading real assets practice has impressed me as I have collaborated with them over the last year," said Ms. Kamali. "I look forward to bringing my experience and industry network in the digital infrastructure space to the platform, which is second to none."
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Original text here: https://www.kirkland.com/news/press-release/2026/10/digital-infrastructure-finance-lawyer-sahar-kamali-joins-kirkland-ellis
Kirkland Advises Bain Capital in Connection with HealthSpan's Acquisition of Surgery Partners for $5.7 Billion
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 26 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, posted the following news release:
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Kirkland Advises Bain Capital in Connection with HealthSpan's Acquisition of Surgery Partners for $5.7 Billion
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Kirkland & Ellis is advising Bain Capital on a definitive agreement in which it will roll over its shares in Surgery Partners Inc. (Nasdaq: SGRY) as HealthSpan Partners, a contractual affiliate and supporting organization of U.S.-based Bon Secours Mercy Health, agreed to acquire Surgery Partners in an all-cash transaction with an enterprise value of approximately
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 26 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, posted the following news release:
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Kirkland Advises Bain Capital in Connection with HealthSpan's Acquisition of Surgery Partners for $5.7 Billion
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Kirkland & Ellis is advising Bain Capital on a definitive agreement in which it will roll over its shares in Surgery Partners Inc. (Nasdaq: SGRY) as HealthSpan Partners, a contractual affiliate and supporting organization of U.S.-based Bon Secours Mercy Health, agreed to acquire Surgery Partners in an all-cash transaction with an enterprise value of approximately$5.7 billion. Affiliates of Bain Capital agreed to roll over their shares in Surgery Partners in exchange for equity interests in the acquiring entity and will remain a significant partner in Surgery Partners. Bain Capital is currently the largest shareholder of Surgery Partners, collectively owning approximately 39% of its outstanding shares.
The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, subject to the approval of Surgery Partners shareholders, the receipt of regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. Bain Capital has entered into a voting and support agreement in which it agreed to vote all of its Surgery Partners shares in favor of the transaction and governing the rollover of its existing equity interests in Surgery Partners at closing.
The Kirkland team included corporate lawyers Chris Elder, Sarkis Jebejian, Benjamin Vizvary, Andrew Norwich and Matthew O'Brien; capital markets lawyers Josh Korff, Julia Danforth and Katherine Shaia; tax lawyers Mike Carew and Christine Lehman; healthcare lawyers Dennis Williams and Will Richmond; and antitrust & competition lawyer Mike Thorpe.
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Original text here: https://www.kirkland.com/news/press-release/2026/10/kirkland-advises-bain-capital-in-connection-with-healthspans-acquisition-of-surgery-partners
Gottschall in FundFire: The SEC Found Some Fake ADVs. Scores More are Lurking
DALLAS, Texas, Oct. 26 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Haynes Boone, a law firm, posted the following news:
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Gottschall in FundFire: The SEC Found Some Fake ADVs. Scores More are Lurking
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A FundFire investigation uncovered a pattern of potentially fraudulent Form ADV filings and examined how bad actors may use regulatory disclosures to lend legitimacy to investment scams.
Haynes Boone Partner Kurt Gottschall spoke with the publication about the challenges regulators face in identifying false filings, how public regulatory disclosures can create an appearance of legitimacy and the potential
... Show Full Article
DALLAS, Texas, Oct. 26 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Haynes Boone, a law firm, posted the following news:
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Gottschall in FundFire: The SEC Found Some Fake ADVs. Scores More are Lurking
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A FundFire investigation uncovered a pattern of potentially fraudulent Form ADV filings and examined how bad actors may use regulatory disclosures to lend legitimacy to investment scams.
Haynes Boone Partner Kurt Gottschall spoke with the publication about the challenges regulators face in identifying false filings, how public regulatory disclosures can create an appearance of legitimacy and the potentialneed for additional safeguards to address gaps in the filing process.
Read an excerpt below.
"In this age of electronic filings, fraudsters are becoming more brazen about filing entirely false documents," said Kurt Gottschall, a partner at Haynes Boone who was director of the SEC's regional office in Denver, where the agency filed its 38 lawsuits. "In a lot of fraudulent schemes, having some document on file publicly with a government agency can give you an air of legitimacy and unfortunately for the government, it's a little bit like whack-a-mole trying to root out these filings." ...
"We may be approaching a world where the SEC has to crack down and put more controls in place on some sort of review before the ERA gets uploaded to the IAPD," said Gottschall, who also served as an assistant director in the enforcement division's asset management unit prior to leaving the SEC in 2022. "You're seeing bad actors exploiting essentially a potential control gap in the system."
Read the full FundFire article here.
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Original text here: https://www.haynesboone.com/news/articles/gottschall-in-fundfire-the-sec-found-some-fake-advs-scores-more-are-lurking
Goodwin Advises High Liner Foods on Agreement to Be Acquired by Umios in All-Cash Transaction
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Oct. 26 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Goodwin, a law firm, posted the following news release:
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Goodwin Advises High Liner Foods on Agreement to Be Acquired by Umios in All-Cash Transaction
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The Public M&A team advised High Liner Foods Incorporated (TSX: HLF), a leading North American processor and marketer of value-added frozen seafood, on its definitive arrangement agreement to be acquired by Umios, one of the world's largest seafood and marine-protein companies, in an all-cash transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, a newly formed, wholly owned subsidiary
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Oct. 26 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Goodwin, a law firm, posted the following news release:
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Goodwin Advises High Liner Foods on Agreement to Be Acquired by Umios in All-Cash Transaction
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The Public M&A team advised High Liner Foods Incorporated (TSX: HLF), a leading North American processor and marketer of value-added frozen seafood, on its definitive arrangement agreement to be acquired by Umios, one of the world's largest seafood and marine-protein companies, in an all-cash transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, a newly formed, wholly owned subsidiaryof Umios will acquire all of High Liner Foods' issued and outstanding common shares for C$27.00 per share in cash through a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Companies Act (Nova Scotia). The transaction, which was unanimously approved by High Liner Foods' Board of Directors following the unanimous recommendation of a Special Committee of independent directors, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, subject to shareholder, court, and regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The acquisition will establish High Liner Foods as the core platform for Umios' North American business, with its headquarters remaining in Nova Scotia.
High Liner Foods Incorporated is a leading North American processor and marketer of value-added frozen seafood. High Liner Foods' retail branded products are sold throughout the United States and Canada under the High Liner, Sea Cuisine, Mrs. Paul's, Van de Kamp's, Fisher Boy, C. Wirthy, Mirabel and Catch of the Day labels, and are available in most grocery and club stores. The Company also sells branded products to restaurants and institutions under the High Liner, Mirabel, Icelandic Seafood and FPI labels and is a major supplier of private-label value-added seafood products to North American food retailers and foodservice distributors. High Liner Foods is a publicly traded Canadian company, trading under the symbol HLF on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
The Goodwin team was led by Blake Liggio, Eryn Mathews, Nathalie Dabrowski, Kristen McCarthy and Keelin Fitzsimons.
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Original text here: https://www.goodwinlaw.com/en/news-and-events/news/2026/10/announcements-privateequity-ma-goodwin-advises-high-liner-foods-acquired-by-umios
Goodwin Advises DPE on Acquisition Financing for FOGTEC
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Oct. 26 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Goodwin, a law firm, posted the following news release:
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Goodwin Advises DPE on Acquisition Financing for FOGTEC
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Goodwin advised DPE Deutsche Private Equity (DPE) in connection with the acquisition financing for a DPE-managed fund's acquisition of a majority stake in FOGTEC Brandschutz GmbH (FOGTEC).
The transaction involved the acquisition of a majority stake from the founding shareholders and M Cap Finance Mittelstandsfonds. FOGTEC's existing management team retains a significant stake and continues to lead the business.
Founded
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Oct. 26 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Goodwin, a law firm, posted the following news release:
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Goodwin Advises DPE on Acquisition Financing for FOGTEC
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Goodwin advised DPE Deutsche Private Equity (DPE) in connection with the acquisition financing for a DPE-managed fund's acquisition of a majority stake in FOGTEC Brandschutz GmbH (FOGTEC).
The transaction involved the acquisition of a majority stake from the founding shareholders and M Cap Finance Mittelstandsfonds. FOGTEC's existing management team retains a significant stake and continues to lead the business.
Foundedin 1997 and headquartered in Cologne, Germany, FOGTEC develops and supplies high-pressure water mist fire protection systems for buildings, industrial facilities, data centres, tunnels, railway stations, and rolling stock. Its offering covers system components, sensors, and controls as well as engineering, installation, maintenance, and spare parts. FOGTEC employs approximately 255 people and holds 102 registered patents.
DPE will support FOGTEC's development through the expansion of its international presence, the growth of its service, and spare parts business and further investment in research, development, and approvals. Selective acquisitions are intended to complement organic growth.
DPE is a private equity investment firm focused on mid-sized businesses in the DACH region. Founded in 2007, it invests across Business Services, Energy & Environment, Healthcare, Industrial Technology, and Software & IT Services and manages approximately EUR3 billion of assets.
The Goodwin deal team consisted of Winfried Carli, Folko Moroni, Daniel Wagner, Laura Sollacher, and Jacob Bohmer (all Private Equity/Finance, Munich).
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Original text here: https://www.goodwinlaw.com/en/news-and-events/news/2026/10/announcements-privateequity-goodwin-advises-dpe-acquisition-financing-fogtec
Fisher Phillips Issues Insight: Massachusetts High Court Makes It Harder to Win Injunctions in Trade Secret Cases - 4 Takeaways for Employers
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 24 -- Fisher Phillips, a law firm, issued the following Insight:
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Massachusetts High Court Makes it Harder to Win Injunctions in Trade Secret Cases: 4 Takeaways for Employers
Oct 23, 2026
Massachusetts employers trying to stop former employees from launching a competing business should no longer assume that having a strong trade secrets claim will automatically allow them to also secure a court injunction. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court just ruled in Daikin Applied Americas Inc. v. Russo that employers seeking a preliminary injunction must separately demonstrate
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 24 -- Fisher Phillips, a law firm, issued the following Insight:
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Massachusetts High Court Makes it Harder to Win Injunctions in Trade Secret Cases: 4 Takeaways for Employers
Oct 23, 2026
Massachusetts employers trying to stop former employees from launching a competing business should no longer assume that having a strong trade secrets claim will automatically allow them to also secure a court injunction. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court just ruled in Daikin Applied Americas Inc. v. Russo that employers seeking a preliminary injunction must separately demonstrate"irreparable harm" sufficient to win a court order that will stop someone from using or sharing your trade secrets. What happened in this case, and what are the four key takeaways from the October 14 decision?
The Dispute
Daikin, a commercial HVAC company with offices in Massachusetts, alleged that two former employees took confidential information and used it to contact Daikin's customers and start a competing business. Daikin sued them and requested a preliminary injunction from the court, asking for a one-year non-solicitation restriction. The lower court denied the injunction request, finding that Daikin had not demonstrated the requisite "irreparable harm" sufficient to earn the court order. In an October 14 ruling, the SJC agreed.
The Holding: Irreparable Harm Requires Its Own Showing
In Massachusetts, like many states, a party must show the following to receive a preliminary injunction:
* it is likely to succeed on the merits;
* it will suffer irreparable harm without an injunction; and
* the risk of "irreparable harm" to the moving party outweighs the harm to the nonmoving party.
Daikin argued that the irreparable harm element was presumed because it had shown a likelihood of success on its trade secrets claims. The SJC rejected this shortcut, explaining that "presuming, rather than demonstrating, irreparable harm" departs from traditional principles of equity. The court aligned Massachusetts with the US Supreme Court's approach in patent and copyright cases and with federal appeals courts that have refused to presume harm in trade secret cases. It also distanced itself from several Massachusetts federal court decisions that had applied such a presumption.
It distinguished between economic losses (like lost sales and service contracts) which are generally fixable with money damages, and non-monetary injuries that warrant an injunction. Economic harm may be irreparable where the challenged conduct threatens the company's goodwill or the very existence of a business, but Daikin did not establish such circumstances.
Four Practical Takeaways for Employers
What should employers take from this ruling?
1. Establish the Threatened Harm, Not Just the Misappropriation
Employers seeking a preliminary injunction must show not only that someone took confidential information, but also that the resulting harm cannot be remedied through monetary damages. Before seeking an injunction, you should work with your FP counsel to document why monetary relief is inadequate.
2. Tailor the Requested Injunction to the Risk
An injunction protecting confidential information serves a different purpose than one restricting a former employee's ability to solicit customers. You should not ask for too much - a narrow request is more likely to be granted than a broad non-solicitation injunction.
3. Review Restrictive Covenants Before Employees Depart
You should review existing restrictive covenants and ensure they are protected by the agreements you have in place. If the agreements are not protective, you should consider rolling out tailored non-solicitation or non-competition agreements. You should keep in mind that all Massachusetts non-competition agreements require careful review and coordination with your FP counsel.
4. Act Quickly to Investigate Misappropriation and Preserve Evidence
When you suspect that departing employees may have taken confidential information, a quick response will help protect your data. Act quickly to identify the confidential information, preserve relevant records, and document business risks.
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Related People
Gabriel S. Gladstone
Of Counsel
ggladstone@fisherphillips.com
617/532-6932
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Raissa Lima
Associate
rlima@fisherphillips.com
617/722-0044
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Original text here: https://www.fisherphillips.com/en/insights/insights/massachusetts-high-court-makes-it-harder-to-win-injunctions-in-trade-secret-cases
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Fisher Phillips Issues Insight: Employer Cheat Sheet for 2026 Midterm Election Season
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 24 -- Fisher Phillips, a law firm, issued the following Insight:
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Employer Cheat Sheet for 2026 Midterm Election Season
Oct 23, 2026
Here's a handy cheat sheet that summarizes some key points from our Employer FAQs and Insight on navigating employee speech this election season.
Make sure to check out the full series to understand your rights and responsibilities.
Check out our full Election Season Resource Hub (https://www.fisherphillips.com/en/capabilities/resources/election-season-resource-hub) to review all of our offerings and practical resources.
If you
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 24 -- Fisher Phillips, a law firm, issued the following Insight:
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Employer Cheat Sheet for 2026 Midterm Election Season
Oct 23, 2026
Here's a handy cheat sheet that summarizes some key points from our Employer FAQs and Insight on navigating employee speech this election season.
Make sure to check out the full series to understand your rights and responsibilities.
Check out our full Election Season Resource Hub (https://www.fisherphillips.com/en/capabilities/resources/election-season-resource-hub) to review all of our offerings and practical resources.
If youhave questions, contact your Fisher Phillips attorney, the authors of this Insight, or any attorney in our Government Relations Practice Group.
Make sure to sign up for Fisher Phillips Insights to stay up to speed on the latest developments.
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Related People
Leanne Lane Coyle
Associate
lcoyle@fisherphillips.com
610/230-6121
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Joshua D. Nadreau
Regional Managing Partner and Vice Chair, Labor Relations Group
jnadreau@fisherphillips.com
617/722-0044
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Original text here: https://www.fisherphillips.com/en/insights/insights/employer-cheat-sheet-for-2026-midterm-election-season
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Fisher Phillips Issues Insight: EEOC Cuts Response Deadlines in Half - 4-Step Action Plan for Employers
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 24 -- Fisher Phillips, a law firm, issued the following Insight:
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EEOC Cuts Response Deadlines in Half: A 4-Step Action Plan for Employers
Oct 23, 2026
Employers responding to federal workplace discrimination charges may have a lot less time to prepare their defense now - and missing the deadline could come with serious consequences. Although the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has traditionally given employers 30 days to submit a position statement, we're seeing reports that the agency recently started requiring responses in just 15 days, with little
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 24 -- Fisher Phillips, a law firm, issued the following Insight:
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EEOC Cuts Response Deadlines in Half: A 4-Step Action Plan for Employers
Oct 23, 2026
Employers responding to federal workplace discrimination charges may have a lot less time to prepare their defense now - and missing the deadline could come with serious consequences. Although the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has traditionally given employers 30 days to submit a position statement, we're seeing reports that the agency recently started requiring responses in just 15 days, with littleflexibility for extensions. Even more concerning, some employers have reportedly received unfavorable determinations shortly after missing these tight deadlines. The EEOC, however, hasn't issued any guidance on this significant shift, so how can employers manage the new process? Here's our four-step guide.
Past Practices at the EEOC
Employers have historically had 30 days to respond to an EEOC charge of discrimination by submitting a position statement explaining their side of the story. The EEOC also routinely granted extensions, so long as employers made a request in writing explaining why it was necessary. Employers commonly received an additional 30 days.
A New Approach
A 15-day response deadline halves the time employers have to investigate allegations, gather documents, interview witnesses, and prepare a meaningful response. Employers seeking extensions are also experiencing greater resistance, with some EEOC field offices denying requests altogether and others granting only limited extensions of no more than 7 to 10 days.
Notably, the EEOC has yet to publicly announce its new approach. In fact, guidance on the EEOC's webpage continues to advise employers that the deadline to submit a position statement is generally 30 days. But based on our attorneys' recent encounters with the agency, and as confirmed by Bloomberg Law, the EEOC is enforcing its new 15-day response deadline in many of its field offices nationwide.
The consequences of missing a shorter deadline can be significant. In some instances, EEOC offices have issued "probable cause" findings to employers who did not submit position statements by the new, shorter deadline - with many of these adverse determinations being issued on day 16.
* Key Takeaway: Although agency practices may differ by office and investigation, the message for employers is clear: Don't assume you'll have 30 days to respond to an EEOC charge or that the agency will give you more time if you need it.
Your 4-Step Action Plan
The EEOC's apparent shift toward shorter response periods means employers may need to move faster than ever when a discrimination charge arrives. Here are four steps you should consider taking now to be prepared for a potential charge:
1. Get Your Records in Order Before Receiving a Charge
One of the first challenges is gathering the documents needed to investigate the allegations and prepare a response. That process becomes much harder when you're working against a 15-day deadline. Make sure personnel records, relevant HR documents, disciplinary records, and communications with supervisors are organized and readily available to those responsible for responding to a charge. The less time your team spends tracking down documents, the more time it will have to focus on the substance of the response.
2. Make Sure HR and Supervisors Know to Act Swiftly
Responding to an EEOC charge often requires input from multiple people, including HR staff and supervisors who may have firsthand knowledge of the allegations. Remind these employees that such requests are a priority. Delays in gathering documents, scheduling interviews, or responding to counsel's questions can quickly eat up an already short response period. It may also help to identify in advance who will coordinate the company's response so that important requests don't get lost in the shuffle.
3. Contact Employment Counsel Right Away
Legal counsel can help speed up the process by assessing the allegations, coordinating the investigation, preparing a response, and determining whether to request an extension.
4. Request an Extension Early, But Don't Count on Getting One
Although extensions are becoming harder to obtain, employers should still consider requesting additional time when necessary. In our experience, EEOC investigators are more likely to grant extensions, even under the recent approach, if the request is prompt.
If you need more time, make the request early, explain why the additional time is necessary, and work with counsel to confirm the applicable deadline. Most importantly, continue preparing the response while the request is pending rather than assuming the extension will be granted.
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Related People
Sheila M. Abron
Partner
sabron@fisherphillips.com
803/740-7676
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Zinnia Khan
Associate
zkhan@fisherphillips.com
617/904-7442
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Original text here: https://www.fisherphillips.com/en/insights/insights/eeoc-cuts-response-deadlines-in-half
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Cooley: Lycia Therapeutics Announces Upsized $317.5 Million IPO
PALO ALTO, California, Oct. 24 -- Cooley, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Lycia Therapeutics Announces Upsized $317.5 Million IPO
San Diego October 22, 2026
Cooley advised the underwriters of Lycia Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics designed to degrade disease-causing extracellular proteins, in connection with Lycia Therapeutics' upsized $317.5 million initial public offering (IPO).
Lycia Therapeutics issued 17,640,000 shares of common stock at a price to the public of $18 per share, with
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PALO ALTO, California, Oct. 24 -- Cooley, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Lycia Therapeutics Announces Upsized $317.5 Million IPO
San Diego October 22, 2026
Cooley advised the underwriters of Lycia Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics designed to degrade disease-causing extracellular proteins, in connection with Lycia Therapeutics' upsized $317.5 million initial public offering (IPO).
Lycia Therapeutics issued 17,640,000 shares of common stock at a price to the public of $18 per share, witha 30-day option for the underwriters to purchase up to an additional 2,646,000 shares. Lycia's common stock will begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on October 23, 2026, under the ticker symbol LYCA.
Jefferies, TD Cowen, Evercore ISI and Guggenheim Securities are acting as joint bookrunning managers for the offering.
LifeSci Capital is acting as a passive bookrunning manager for the offering.
Partners Charlie Kim, Denny Won, Kristin VanderPas and David Peinsipp led the Cooley team advising the underwriters.
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About Cooley LLP
Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters, and high-stakes litigation.
Cooley has nearly 1,400 lawyers across 19 offices in the United States, Asia and Europe, and a total workforce of more than 3,000 people.
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URL: Lycia Therapeutics
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Original text here: https://www.cooley.com/news/coverage/2026/2026-10-22-lycia-therapeutics-announces-upsized-317-million-ipo
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Baker Donelson Secures Dismissal of All Claims Against Former and Current UVA Health Leaders in Federal RICO Lawsuit
MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Oct. 24 -- Baker Donelson, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Baker Donelson Secures Dismissal of All Claims Against Former and Current UVA Health Leaders in Federal RICO Lawsuit
October 23, 2026
Baker Donelson successfully represented Dr. K. Craig Kent, former Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Virginia (UVA) Health System; Dr. Melina Kibbe, former Dean of the UVA School of Medicine and Chief Health Affairs Officer; Dr. Wendy Horton, former Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer of
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MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Oct. 24 -- Baker Donelson, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Baker Donelson Secures Dismissal of All Claims Against Former and Current UVA Health Leaders in Federal RICO Lawsuit
October 23, 2026
Baker Donelson successfully represented Dr. K. Craig Kent, former Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Virginia (UVA) Health System; Dr. Melina Kibbe, former Dean of the UVA School of Medicine and Chief Health Affairs Officer; Dr. Wendy Horton, former Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer ofthe UVA Medical Center; and Dr. Allan Tsung, current Chair of the UVA Department of Surgery, in obtaining dismissal of all claims asserted against them in a federal lawsuit pending in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia that was filed by four current and former physicians affiliated with UVA Health.
In an October 21, 2026, memorandum opinion and order, the court dismissed the plaintiffs' Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) claims against Drs. Kent, Kibbe, Horton, and Tsung, holding that the plaintiffs failed to establish statutory standing and plead any RICO predicate acts.
The court also dismissed the RICO claims against two other former UVA physicians and the UVA Physicians Group, and all claims against the University of Virginia after determining that the university is immune from suit. Only two retaliation claims against UVA Physicians Group remain pending.
The court's ruling followed extensive briefing and jurisdictional discovery.
In a joint statement, Drs. Kent, Kibbe, and Horton said, "We are pleased by the court's decision and proud that our team led UVA Health - an organization with more than 18,000 employees and 1,200 physicians - over a period of many years, with integrity and proven success."
"We appreciate the court's careful consideration of the issues presented and the court's dismissal of all claims against our clients," said Sean B. O'Connell, managing shareholder of Baker Donelson's Washington, D.C., office. "This ruling represents a significant outcome for Drs. Kent, Kibbe, Horton, and Tsung," added John S. Ghose, special counsel in Baker Donelson's Atlanta, Georgia office.
The Baker Donelson team representing Drs. Kent, Kibbe, Horton, and Tsung was led by shareholder Sean B. O'Connell (Washington, D.C.), special counsel John S. Ghose (Atlanta, Georgia), and included associate Bethany R. Carroll (Atlanta, Georgia).
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Original text here: https://www.bakerdonelson.com/baker-donelson-secures-dismissal-of-all-claims-against-former-and-current-uva-health-leaders-in-federal-rico-lawsuit
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Akerman Represents Craft Work Capital in Acquisition of Muschlitz Excavating and Stealth Clearing & Demolition
MIAMI, Florida, Oct. 24 -- Akerman, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Akerman Represents Craft Work Capital in Acquisition of Muschlitz Excavating and Stealth Clearing & Demolition
October 23, 2026
Akerman represented Craft Work Capital, a private equity firm focused on specialty contracting firms, in its acquisition of Alpha Infrastructure, a civil and site development platform headquartered in Bath, Pa., whose operating companies include Muschlitz Excavating and Stealth Clearing & Demolition.
Founded in 1990, Muschlitz Excavating provides site development services to commercial,
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MIAMI, Florida, Oct. 24 -- Akerman, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Akerman Represents Craft Work Capital in Acquisition of Muschlitz Excavating and Stealth Clearing & Demolition
October 23, 2026
Akerman represented Craft Work Capital, a private equity firm focused on specialty contracting firms, in its acquisition of Alpha Infrastructure, a civil and site development platform headquartered in Bath, Pa., whose operating companies include Muschlitz Excavating and Stealth Clearing & Demolition.
Founded in 1990, Muschlitz Excavating provides site development services to commercial,industrial, and institutional clients across the Lehigh Valley, including mass earthwork, utility installation, grading, and paving. Stealth Clearing & Demolition provides demolition, land clearing, site remediation, and material recycling services across the region. The acquisition marks Craft Work Capital's first platform investment in civil and site development.
The Akerman team representing Craft Work Capital was led by Matthew O. Hendy, Partner, Corporate Practice Group, and E. Paul Quinn, Co-Chair, Corporate Practice Group, and included key support across the firm's national platform from:
* Thomas J. Kearney, Chair, Data Privacy and Security Practice
* Robyn D. Neely, Chair, Environment and Natural Resources Practice
* William Sullivan, Deputy Chair, Tax Practice Group
* Peter A. Chiabotti, Partner, Intellectual Property Practice Group
* Gabriel S. Marinaro, Partner, Tax Practice Group
* Felicia Leborgne Nowels, Partner, Government Strategies Practice Group
* Bryan L. Reese, Partner, Corporate Practice Group
* Paul J. Russo, Partner, Real Estate Practice Group
* Scott T. Silverman, Partner, Labor and Employment Practice Group
* Andrew Bayer, Associate, Corporate Practice Group
* Matthew D. Emery, Associate, Corporate Practice Group
* Charles A. Filips, Associate, Tax Practice Group
* Andrew J. Kim, Associate, Corporate Practice Group
* Santiago Lopez, Associate, Real Estate Practice Group
* Nicolas V. Maetta, Associate, Corporate Practice Group
* Amanda P. Weinick, Associate, Tax 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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Original text here: https://www.akerman.com/en/firm/newsroom/akerman-represents-craft-work-capital-in-acquisition-of-muschlitz-excavating-and-stealth-clearing-and-demolition.html
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
A&O Shearman: Luxembourg Issues Europe's First DLT-native Benchmark Bond
LONDON, England, Oct. 24 -- A&O Shearman, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Luxembourg issues Europe's first DLT-native benchmark bond
Oct 23, 2026
We have advised Spuerkeess in connection with Luxembourg's EUR1.7 billion DLT-native sovereign benchmark bond, one of the first issuances of its kind in Europe.
The landmark ten-year transaction represents a major step in the development of digital capital markets in Luxembourg and Europe, demonstrating how distributed ledger technology (DLT) infrastructure can be deployed at scale for sovereign financing while operating within an established
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LONDON, England, Oct. 24 -- A&O Shearman, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Luxembourg issues Europe's first DLT-native benchmark bond
Oct 23, 2026
We have advised Spuerkeess in connection with Luxembourg's EUR1.7 billion DLT-native sovereign benchmark bond, one of the first issuances of its kind in Europe.
The landmark ten-year transaction represents a major step in the development of digital capital markets in Luxembourg and Europe, demonstrating how distributed ledger technology (DLT) infrastructure can be deployed at scale for sovereign financing while operating within an establishedinstitutional and regulatory framework. The bond is Eurosystem collateral eligible and allows for an international distribution.
The bond was issued via LuxCSD's D7 DLT platform, with Spuerkeess acting as joint lead manager, issuing agent and paying agent.
A&O Shearman's Luxembourg team was led by Frank Mausen, Philippe Noeltner and Enrico Dalle Mulle.
"This transaction is an important milestone for Luxembourg and for the development of digital capital markets in Europe. The issuance of a sovereign benchmark bond natively on DLT demonstrates that technological innovation can be accommodated within an established legal and regulatory framework, while retaining the characteristics and protections expected by institutional market participants." Frank Mausen
"What is particularly significant about this transaction is the way in which DLT has been integrated into existing capital markets infrastructure rather than developing as a parallel ecosystem. Combining native DLT issuance with a regulated CSD environment, conventional international distribution and Eurosystem collateral eligibility is an important step towards making tokenized securities part of mainstream capital markets." Philippe Noeltner
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URL: Spuerkeess
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Original text here: https://www.aoshearman.com/en/news/luxembourg-issues-europes-first-dlt-native-benchmark-bond
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
