International Law

Insider Trading Targeted in Europe, As Ex-Airbus CEO’s Case Shows

Historically, insider trading of securities hasn’t been enforced nearly as aggressively in Europe as it is in the U.S. But that is changing, as news that the former chief executive officer of Airbus has been charged today with insider trading in France demonstrates. Gustav Humbert, 58, was released on about…

Jul 2, 2008 8:01 PM CDT

US Court Tells Swiss Bank UBS to Reveal Customer Names

In a reportedly unprecedented court order, a federal judge in Miami has ordered Swiss-based UBS AG to reveal the names of U.S. residents who have been using secret accounts to avoid paying American income tax. “Federal prosecutors have accused UBS of helping American clients hide $20 billion overseas in secret…

Jul 1, 2008 11:15 PM CDT

More eBay Suits Expected Over Sales of Fake Luxury Goods

Lawyers representing eBay are likely to be busy with additional lawsuits over sales of fake luxury goods after a $63 million ruling by a French court this week holding the Internet auctioneer liable for online sales conducted by users of its site. “I expect this ruling to encourage a number…

Jul 1, 2008 10:18 PM CDT

DOJ Seeks Rare Federal Court Ruling Forcing UBS to Name Names

Updated: The Department of Justice is trying to get an unprecedented federal court order requiring a Switzerland bank to turn over the names of wealthy U.S. residents who maintained secret accounts there to evade income tax here. If the DOJ’s filing against Swiss-based UBS AG in federal court in Miami…

Jul 1, 2008 5:35 PM CDT

Chinese Lawyers Barred from Dinner With U.S. Congressmen

At least three Chinese human-rights lawyers were put under house arrest before a scheduled dinner on Sunday with two members of the U.S. Congress. Chinese police took two lawyers from their homes and barred them from returning to Beijing, and prevented another from leaving his apartment complex, the Washington Post…

Jul 1, 2008 3:34 PM CDT

Leaders in Vienna Seek Consensus; Rate Country Effectiveness on Rule of Law

Even Vienna, a major European capital that counts plenty of diplomatic meetings, treaty conferences and academic gatherings in its history, probably has never seen something quite like the World Justice Forum set to convene this week in the ancient city along the Danube. That’s because the forum appears to be…

Jul 1, 2008 3:28 PM CDT

ABA President Calls for Mugabe to Restore Rule of Law

Against a backdrop of increasingly violent contention that has led Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II to rescind the knighthood of Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, the president of the ABA today sent a letter (PDF) to Mugabe. It calls for Mugabe to put an end to “state-sponsored violence and intimidation of lawyers”…

Jun 30, 2008 10:35 PM CDT

Want the Gov’t to Read Legal Docs? Travel Abroad With a Laptop

It may come as a surprise to a number of lawyers, but the government can legally read what’s on a foreign traveler’s laptop. So, like other individuals frequenting the international airways, attorneys would be well-advised to leave their personal computers at home unless they’re clean of any documents they might…

Jun 30, 2008 8:08 PM CDT

Willkie Forms Alliance With UK’s Dickson Minto

New York-based Willkie Farr & Gallagher is forming a strategic alliance with the U.K.’s Dickson Minto, a corporate boutique known for its private equity expertise. Together, the two firms can each help the other expand their business abroad, although both will continue to operate independently of each other, reports Legal…

Jun 30, 2008 7:42 PM CDT

5 Iraq Appeals Judges Escape Bomb Blasts at 5 Homes Today

Just days after the chief judge of one of Baghdad’s two appeals courts was assassinated as he was driving home, five more judges in the same Iraq appeals court escaped serious injury in five bombings at their homes today. “All five bombs in different neighborhoods detonated but failed to kill…

Jun 30, 2008 3:41 PM CDT

Another Top Cop is Murdered in Mexico

In a murder that apparently may relate to the assassination last month of another top Mexican police official at his Mexico City home, a senior police official and a bodyguard were gunned down as they ate lunch yesterday in Mexico City. Three other bodyguards and several civilians were wounded in…

Jun 27, 2008 5:38 PM CDT

High-Profile Murder Verdict Given to Press Before Judge Reads It

In an unusual gaffe, the press was given copies of the 74-page verdict in a high-profile Irish murder trial by a court official today before the judge even had a chance to read it in court. “Mr. Justice Gillen had not even sat down at Belfast Crown Court when photocopies…

Jun 27, 2008 4:05 PM CDT

ICANN OKs Internet ‘Land Grab’ for New Domain Names

In what one news outlet termed a “big bang” revision of the 25-year-old international system of registering Internet domain names, and another termed a “land grab,” the Web’s main oversight agency today approved a number of sweeping changes. Among them: As many as new 5,000 address extensions will be available…

Jun 26, 2008 6:51 PM CDT

Madonna Consults Top UK Lawyer re Possible Divorce

The seven-year itch has apparently struck pop singer Madonna, who is reportedly consulting with a top United Kingdom matrimonial lawyer for legal advice about a possible divorce from her husband of seven years, Guy Ritchie, 39. Attorney Fiona Shackleton, 52, who successfully represented ex-Beatle Paul McCartney in his divorce from…

Jun 26, 2008 4:31 PM CDT

Would-Be Partner’s $12M Suit Says Law Firm Discriminates Against Women

A would-be partner’s suit against one of Canada’s top-tier law firms doesn’t just claim that McCarthy Tetrault discriminated against her because of her gender. It contends that the firm systemically discriminates against other women lawyers, too. But the Ontario-based firm, which has already paid Diane LaCalamita about $200,000 in severance,…

Jun 25, 2008 3:00 PM CDT