In a significant liability ruling, a High Court judge has found BHP legally responsible for the 2015 collapse of the Fundão Dam in Brazil. The disaster caused 19 fatalities and released millions of cubic meters of mining waste. Mrs. Justice O’Farrell determined that the risk of the dam’s failure was foreseeable and that the evidence of its instability was overwhelming.
The judge ruled that BHP, through its UK and Australian entities, is strictly liable under Brazilian environmental law as a polluter. She also decided that the claims from over 620,000 claimants are not time-barred. While a claim under Brazilian corporate law was dismissed, the court affirmed the standing of many local authorities involved in the suit. A subsequent trial...
The pharmaceutical company Merck has entered an agreement to acquire the biotech firm Cidara Therapeutics for approximately $9.2 billion. Legal counsel for the transaction involves Gibson Dunn & Crutcher advising Merck, while Cooley is representing Cidara.
The acquisition is contingent upon a majority of Cidara's shareholders tendering their shares and meeting other regulatory conditions, including antitrust approval. It is projected to be finalized in the first quarter of the upcoming year. A key asset in the deal is CD388, Cidara's developmental treatment for preventing influenza.
This is not the first collaboration between these firms; Gibson Dunn has previously counseled Merck on other acquisitions, and Cooley has handled prior...
The law firm Akin will close its Singapore office, consolidating its Asian presence within its Hong Kong hub. This decision will affect eight lawyers at the Singapore location, which is scheduled to wind down operations in the second quarter of 2026. The firm stated it remains dedicated to serving clients in the region through its global network.
Olivia Chung, the office’s sole partner, is expected to relocate to New York. Other lawyers within the Singapore team have been offered the opportunity to remain with the firm by transferring to other offices. Akin initially established its Singapore outpost in 2012, the same year it launched in Hong Kong, where it currently employs fourteen lawyers.
This closure follows a broader trend of...
The law firm Withers has expanded its newly created United States art and advisory team in New York with two new hires. Frank Lord joins the practice as senior counsel, and Sarina Taylor becomes an associate. They will work within a group led by Mari-Claudia Jiménez, a former Sotheby's executive who joined the firm recently.
Frank Lord brings over twenty years of experience in art law, having operated his own practice and previously worked at Herrick Feinstein. His work involves advising collectors, museums, and auction houses on transactions, loans, and disputes. He has facilitated private sales to major institutions and managed numerous auction sales internationally. Mari-Claudia Jiménez highlighted his doctoral background in art...
Sirva Worldwide has appointed Lauren Aste as its chief legal officer, taking over the position from general counsel Jeff Margolis. Aste joins the global relocation services company from the business travel firm CWT, where she also held the chief legal officer role. She brings over twenty years of experience in legal and compliance leadership to Sirva.
Chief Executive Officer Carlyn Taylor stated that Aste's extensive legal and strategic skills would be instrumental in advancing the company's objectives, which include technology innovation and global operational excellence. Taylor further expressed confidence that Aste would significantly influence the firm's growth strategy and international expansion.
Aste comes to Sirva after an...
A team of law firms is advising on the acquisition of Filtration Group by Parker Hannifin. Jones Day is serving as the primary legal counsel for Parker Hannifin, with Eversheds Sutherland providing European legal advice. Paul Hastings is representing Filtration Group and its owner, Madison Industries.
The transaction values the filtration technology business at $9.25 billion. Parker Hannifin expects to fund the purchase through a combination of new debt and available cash, with the deal's completion projected within six to twelve months. The acquiring company estimates that the merger will yield significant cost synergies, projected to reach approximately $220 million before taxes within three years after closing.
The law firm McDermott Will & Emery is exploring a potential restructuring that would allow private equity investment, a novel concept for a U.S. law firm. This model would separate the firm into a traditional partnership owned by lawyers and a separate managed services organization, or MSO, which could be owned by outside investors. The lawyer-owned firm would then purchase administrative services from the MSO. Such a structure is designed to comply with American Bar Association rules that prohibit non-lawyers from owning stakes in law firms.
Ira Coleman, the firm's chair, characterized the discussions as very preliminary, stating the firm was listening to new ideas as part of its strategy to attract top talent. This MSO framework...
Woodman's Immaculate Maple Syrup Studio has released WoodPecker 1.0, a new step sequencer capable of independently controlling four different instruments. The software, available as a standalone application and a plugin for macOS and iOS systems, combines four individual sequencers within one interface.
Each sequencer supports up to 64 steps with four distinct variations, allowing for a total of 256 steps per channel. The unit can direct each sequencer to a separate MIDI channel. It offers extensive per-step parameter control, including velocity, random note probability with scale limitation, and nine ratcheting patterns. Operational features include multiple start triggers, various tempo sources, and MIDI V2 support for higher...
Laila Charani, the wife of billionaire Ned Nwoko, has publicly accused her co-wife, actress Regina Daniels, of serious misconduct. In a social media post, Charani alleged that Daniels introduced her to drug use six years ago, a situation that nearly ended her marriage until her husband intervened.
Charani defended Nwoko, stating he strongly disapproves of alcohol and drugs. She further accused Daniels of distributing substances to household staff and even to her own younger sister. The model also expressed that she does not trust Daniels around her daughters unsupervised, leveling additional allegations of inappropriate behavior.
The public accusation stems from an apparent dispute over financial support, which Charani firmly denied...
