The Japanese Fair Trade Commission (the JFTC) has adopted new rules that should streamline Japan's review process for both domestic and global transactions. The new rules will end the JFTC's practice of holding "preconsultations" with companies pursuing mergers or acquisitions that would impact competition in Japan. The JFTC adopted the new rules on June 14, 2011, and they will become effective on July 1, 2011.

Economist's emphasis on empirical evidence and economic theory stands in contrast to outgoing Commissioner Rosch's more litigation-oriented approach.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s revised and restated interim policy release answers questions regarding the use of electronic media to satisfy participant-level fee disclosure requirements.

If you report a significant data breach to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), you may face a follow-up investigation and possible enforcement action.

On December 7, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) used its authority under Section 211A of the Federal Power Act to direct Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to submit a revised Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) that, according to the Commission, will provide "comparable transmission service that is not unduly discriminatory or preferential."

On March 17, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the Commission) issued an order denying rehearing of Order No. 743, in which the Commission had directed the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to modify its definition of "bulk electric system," which serves to identify those entities subject to mandatory Reliability Standards.

On September 20, FERC granted Idaho Wind Partners 1, LLC’s (Idaho Wind’s) petition for declaratory order concerning an Idaho Power Company (Idaho Power) tariff provision providing for curtailments of energy from qualifying facilities (QFs).

The FERC recently approved a one-year extension for utilities to prepare to implement the new definition of the "bulk electric system".

On September 15, 2011, FERC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) proposing to eliminate the semiannual storage reporting requirements for interstate and intrastate natural gas companies.

In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued on September 20, 2012, FERC proposed to approve the Northeast Power Coordinating Council’s (NPCC’s) Regional Reliability Standard on Underfrequency Load Shedding (UFLS).

On March 17, 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) issued an order affirming a notice of penalty filed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) regarding an alleged violation of Reliability Standard FAC-003-1 Requirement R2 (Annual Plan for Vegetation Management) by the Turlock Irrigation District (Turlock).

On June 30, 2011, NERC filed its remaining responses to FERC’s recent questions on the expected scope of bulk-power system facilities considered Critical Assets under the proposed CIP-002-4 Reliability Standard.

On November 29 and 30, 2011, FERC hosted a technical conference to explore the progress made on addressing concerns raised at the February 8, 2011 Reliability Technical Conference.

This is the first of a series of trend reports tailored for our clients and friends to help companies stay a step ahead of legal issues that may affect their businesses.

Operations have been suspended through September 21 due to security concerns, and suspension may continue into the following week.

After years of debating the need for patent reform, Congress has acted. Today, the Senate passed the House version of the "America Invents Act" (the Act). The bill will now go to the President, who is expected to sign it into law almost immediately.

Earlier today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its much-anticipated opinion in "Microsoft Corp. v. i4i L.P."

Both the federal and state governments have promulgated new laws designed to ensure that companies are taking serious steps to protect the privacy of personal data.