super lawyers

Griffen Thorne Named a California Rising Star

We are pleased to announce that Griffen Thorne has been named a 2023 Super Lawyers California Rising Star. Griffen has been a Rising Star three years straight. Super Lawyers is a research-driven, peer influenced rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Attorneys are selected from

International trademark litigation

International Aspects of Trademark Infringement Litigation

Introduction In today’s global marketplace, businesses face numerous challenges when it comes to protecting their trademarks on an international scale. Trademark infringement litigation is an option when a person or business is infringing your trademark rights in another country. These cases involving international dimensions can be complex, encompassing jurisdictional issues, cross-border enforcement, and a secondary

Two Business people Analyzing Document

Which Industries Can Benefit From Smart Contracts?

With Web3 on the horizon and digital transformation in the air, blockchain technologies like smart contracts are becoming more common in business processes. Every company should be asking how can you incorporate these technologies into your business model. For context, a smart contract is a self-enforcing piece of code that exists on a blockchain and

International arbitration

A Primer on Investor-State Arbitration

Introduction Per Investopedia, foreign direct investment occurs Foreign direct investment occurs when an individual or a company acquires “an ownership stake in a foreign company or project made by an investor, company, or government from another country. Post-pandemic, foreign direct investment is again on a growth track, and as with other trending industries or growth

Web3 Lawyers

Is Web3 Dead? Not From Where We are Sitting

Even with some high-profile enforcement actions and general mayhem in the blockchain industry (see here and here), many founders continue to build their projects, gain traction in the market, and receive funding. We know this because we speak with many such entrepreneurs every week. Below is an excerpt from an email I recently sent to

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

What Are Smart Contracts on Blockchain? 

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

HB logo on gray background

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