On May 10, 2016, new immigration regulations went into effect with respect to foreign national students working in the US.  Specifically, the regulations expand opportunities for the extension of post-completion work authorization (optional practical training, or “OPT”) for students who complete a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) degree.  These opportunities will require additional reporting requirements and other responsibilities for employers and the F-1 student employees prior to, during and following STEM OPT employment.

A new “spear-phishing” scheme is active that targets employees, including Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), in an attempt to obtain employee personal information and other data.

Imagine your child or spouse is suffering from an illness with few effective treatment options, such as a rare pediatric cancer or autoimmune disease. Meanwhile, a team of doctors and researchers has been steadily working to unlock the mysteries of this disease for years, in an ongoing effort to identify better solutions for patients.  The team has just published promising results from a recent study in a respected medical journal. The study involved so-called “off-label use” of a prescription drug for these patients, i.e. administering a drug already approved by FDA, on the market, and prescribed by doctors for a related but different medical condition. 

As a three-time former general counsel, Washington D.C. team member Jim Higham brings a strategic mindset and results-oriented approach to his work. However, a lifetime of fascinating experiences from living abroad - learning about new cultures and honing essential “survival skills” along the way - has also shaped Jim’s perspective, informing his work on behalf of Outside GC clients. Jim’s story is interesting, and in many respects, one-of-a-kind.

Over the past decade or so, there’s been a changing of the guard in the legal services industry. As businesses of all sizes have grown more mindful of the bottom line, traditional legal models are revealing their limitations – both in terms of cost and efficiency – opening the door to innovative solutions designed to meet a growing need.

Being the chief financial officer of a growth-stage company means having a hand in nearly every operational function. In addition to running the finance department, the CFO works with other members of the management team on virtually all of the company’s key activities and decisions. When the company does not have an in-house general counsel, the CFO is typically asked to manage the company’s legal affairs, too.

On July 1, 2015, the Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law (“MESTL”) went into effect, requiring all private sector employers to provide all employees working primarily in Massachusetts with up to 40 hours of sick leave per benefit year. We strongly recommend that all employers with employees working in Massachusetts review their paid time off policies, as well as the handbooks and other documentation in which they reside, in order to ensure proper compliance.