Welcome to ABL Insights! ABL Insights is a quarterly newsletter for ABL Members and their respective clients that provides industry insights that span across the globe. The purpose of this newsletter is to further ABL's goal of sharing legal industry related information that can be absorbed and utilized by ABL Members and their clients. In this first edition of ABL Insights, our mini theme is "working virtually" - where we cover various multifaceted issues existent within the world's modern day working environment. This includes the following articles: Mediation and Covid-19 by Read McCaffrey. Read - a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers & co-founder of the Rasco Klock Mediation Group - provides a detailed discussion on how to effectively navigate the mediation process during a global pandemic. Identifying Arbitration Issues During Covid-19 - a comprehensive "checklist" to identify the multitude of issues to consider in arbitration proceedings that have been impacted by the inability - in certain circumstances - to appear in-person due to the Covid-19 crisis. Smile, You're on Zoom - a general list of best practices in conducting or engaging in meetings through Zoom.
CONTENTS Highlights of This Issue Webinars Mediation and COVID 19 Identifying Arbitration Issues During a Pandemic Smile, You're On Zoom In Other News Financial Statement Adjustments News & Notes
vol. 1, issue 1 - SEPTEMBER, 2020
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FROM THE PRESIDENT Highlights of This Issue Mark E. Ruddy
ABL INSIGHTS
Looking Ahead: US Presidential Election Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EDT / UTC-4)
ABL is hosting a free webinar on “US Presidental Election”. In a lead up to the US Presidential Election, ABL will host a free webinar whereby established, experienced speakers will delve into the complexities and issues surrounding the US election in general. For speakers, ABL is pleased to have each of Patrick McCarty and Joseph Klock.
Patrick McCarty has over 25 years of experience working on financial services issues in various regulatory agencies and political groups in Washington, DC, and New York, NY, including the US Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, where he was the Senior Professional Staff Member working on Dodd-Frank financial reform issues, as well as other issues concerning the derivatives industry. He has also held senior positions with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Managed Funds Association, the House Banking and Financial Services Committee, as well as four federal banking agencies and other private sector organizations. He received a BA in Economics from the University of Virginia, and a JD from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. Joseph Klock has negotiated acquisitions and mergers, counseled families on the re-structuring of family enterprises and investment portfolios, advised corporate CEOs on corporate and personal matters, and has also litigated cases through every court level in Florida, including two successful arguments in the Supreme Court of the United States that resulted in President Bush succeeding in his bid for the White House in 2000. He has previously served as a board member of a public company and on its audit and litigation review committees, as well as advising domestic and international, for-profit and not for profit, boards of directors. He received his BA from the La Salle University, and a JD from the University of Miami School of Law.
WEBINARS
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WEBINAR RECORDING AVAILABLE | ABL hosted a free webinar on “Covid-19 in International Commercial Relations & LATAM as an Investment Opportunity”. The webinar was organized in collaboration with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Milan and the AICE – Italian Foreign Trade Association. Speakers included ABL lawyers from Buenos Aires, Lima, Madrid, Milan, Montevideo, New York and San Francisco and addressed timely topics relating to corporate issues, contracts and force majeure, government programs and the CARES ACT, examples of recent client business pursuits, E-commerce, export of goods and investment opportunities and incentives in Latin America and elsewhere.
GO TO WEBINAR RECORDING
The corona virus pandemic restrictions have caused alternative dispute resolutions attempted in Mediation to increase and remote or digital Mediation (TeleMediation) will likely continue long after the pandemic restrictions have been lifted. COVID19 has wreaked havoc with judicial dockets and arbitration schedules. Both judicial and arbitral proceedings require, to some extent, ‘face to face’ confrontations. Mediation proceedings do not – and in-person Mediation sessions versus remote Mediation may actually detract from the efficiency and success of the Mediation efforts. Other than a very brief session with the parties together at the outset, the Mediation procedure involves the Mediator meeting one on one with each party as he or she attempts to convey positions and assist in the realistic recognition of the strengths and weaknesses of a party’s claim or defense. It is actually more efficient for this procedure to occur via tele-conference as opposed to conference room ‘hopping’. The advantages of ‘on-line/digital’ Mediation include: a)The entire process may be completed in less time and more efficiently as the Mediator is able to move from ‘screen to screen’ as opposed to various conference rooms. b)The time and costs of travel will be eliminated c)The psychological angst of being on the opponents’ turf or having to deal with the opposition in a hallway or adjoining ‘waiting room’, while often more imagined than real, is eliminated d)The parties, whether in their own offices or their home, will be more relaxed, more focused and, in my opinion, more willing to find a resolution surrounded by their familiar world with no distraction as they await the Mediator’s next appearance on the screen. Curiously, the devastating pandemic has forged a recognition that Mediation is not only well suited to occur remotely but in fact should occur remotely regardless of the restrictions. Judicial courts obviously will always welcome the use of Mediation and, hopefully, an increased and more efficient Mediation process occurring remotely will result in a higher percentage of amicable dispute resolutions thus further relieving overburdened Judicial dockets. Likewise, disputes destined for arbitration by virtue of a dispute resolution clause, be it institutional or ad hoc, may also be more efficiently resolved in Mediation. Some may argue that complex issues requiring ICSID or UNCITRAL arbitration cannot be resolved by Mediation. This notion is inaccurate and most likely inspired by the overwhelming costs of these types of arbitration and the threatened loss of those revenues should the parties seek Mediation – and the savings and conveniences of remote mediation. However, all of the foregoing involves ‘instructive’ Mediation which hopefully will lead to a resolution of the dispute prior to entering into arbitration or the filing of suit. This all now leads to a greater acceptance of Binding Mediation – a dispute resolution concept built into the transactional documents. Binding Mediation is not often chosen as a method of alternative dispute resolution.Moreover, it is not often even included in a dispute resolution contract provision as an option. With the advent and popularity of TeleMediation it seems inevitable that Binding Mediation will also become more popular. Consider the scenario of a finality of dispute resolution without an option of appeal or other challenge, without the vagaries of a Jury (or on what side of the proverbial bed his Honor may have arisen on any given morning), without the potential prejudices built into an arbitration panel (the claimant selects an arbitrator, the respondent picks an arbitrator and those two arbitrators then select a third arbitrator –and the sparks fly), and without the disruptive expenditure of vast amounts of energy, time and money. In order to attract the parties in today’s sophisticated business environment the quality and experience of the Mediator must be extremely high. Contrary to some belief,the most effective Mediators are trial lawyers with in-depth experience in the handling of claims and defenses, the trial and arbitration of these disputes and the negotiation of an amicable settlement when possible. Mediation does not occur in the court room or the arbitral tribunal. Assuming then the involvement of a seasoned Mediator, in today’s environment as well as well into tomorrow, the most effective and efficient dispute resolution will be achieved through virtual/remote Binding Mediation. By Read McCaffrey Read is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Martindale-Hubble pre-eminent A/V rating and Senior Counsel to Rasco Klock Perez & Nieto w
MEDIATION AND COVID 19
Likewise, disputes destined for arbitration by virtue of a dispute resolution clause, be it institutional or ad hoc, may also be more efficiently resolved in Mediation. Some may argue that complex issues requiring ICSID or UNCITRAL arbitration cannot be resolved by Mediation. This notion is inaccurate and most likely inspired by the overwhelming costs of these types of arbitration and the threatened loss of those revenues should the parties seek Mediation – and the savings and conveniences of remote mediation. However, all of the foregoing involves ‘instructive’ Mediation which hopefully will lead to a resolution of the dispute prior to entering into arbitration or the filing of suit. This all now leads to a greater acceptance of Binding Mediation – a dispute resolution concept built into the transactional documents. Binding Mediation is not often chosen as a method of alternative dispute resolution.Moreover, it is not often even included in a dispute resolution contract provision as an option. With the advent and popularity of TeleMediation it seems inevitable that Binding Mediation will also become more popular. Consider the scenario of a finality of dispute resolution without an option of appeal or other challenge, without the vagaries of a Jury (or on what side of the proverbial bed his Honor may have arisen on any given morning), without the potential prejudices built into an arbitration panel (the claimant selects an arbitrator, the respondent picks an arbitrator and those two arbitrators then select a third arbitrator –and the sparks fly), and without the disruptive expenditure of vast amounts of energy, time and money. In order to attract the parties in today’s sophisticated business environment the quality and experience of the Mediator must be extremely high. Contrary to some belief,the most effective Mediators are trial lawyers with in-depth experience in the handling of claims and defenses, the trial and arbitration of these disputes and the negotiation of an amicable settlement when possible. Mediation does not occur in the court room or the arbitral tribunal. Assuming then the involvement of a seasoned Mediator, in today’s environment as well as well into tomorrow, the most effective and efficient dispute resolution will be achieved through virtual/remote Binding Mediation. By Read McCaffrey Read MCCaffrey is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and for more than forty years has been involved in Commercial Dispute Resolution as first chair of bench and jury trials in Federal and State Courts throughout the United States as well as lead or co-lead Arbitration counsel before international tribunals in Paris and The Hague and, more often, in negotiations or mediations involving international parties striving to amicably resolve business disputes. In 2017 he was again declared Pre-eminent A/V rated attorney by Martindale Hubble, the highest peer rating available for legal abilities and ethical standards. His practice continues to focus on International Dispute Resolution, Risk Assessment and Asset Recovery.
IDENTIFYING ARBITRATION ISSUES DURING COVID-19
The aim of this Checklist is to identify issues unique to arbitration proceedings during a pandemic, including the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis. Should the crisis persist for some time, it may not be possible to hold hearings in which all participants (that is, parties, their counsel, the tribunal, witnesses, experts and any other third parties, such as translators and stenographers) can appear in-person in the same room. Many cases that had hearings scheduled to take place in 2020 are being rescheduled as remote hearings using video conferencing facilities. While the use of video conferencing is not new in international arbitration proceedings, proceedings conducted entirely remotely, with each participant in separate locations, presents unique challenges. Choosing between in-person hearings, hybrid solutions, delaying proceedings, or remote hearings only At the outset parties and the tribunal will need to consider whether to: Proceed with in-person hearings, perhaps in some limited way, such as only for the merits hearing, with other applications and hearings being dealt with by way of a remote hearing or on paper only. Proceed with hybrid solutions, such as where the tribunal is one place together and counsel for each side are together with their clients. Delay proceedings entirely. Hold only remote hearings. Factors to consider include: Meeting and travel restrictions at location of arbitral hearings. Travel restrictions in home country of participants to arbitration proceedings. Cost implications of delaying proceedings. Factors relevant to enforcement in delaying proceedings and thereby delaying award. Complexity of taking evidence by way of remote hearings. Respective parties’ technology capabilities. Selection of arbitrators Once an arbitration has commenced, unless identified in the arbitration agreement itself, the tribunal must be selected. The first two
steps in appointing an arbitrator are usually to: Make a list of arbitrators. Arrange any pre-appointment interviews. Choosing an arbitrator Where the parties anticipate remote hearings during the life of the case, the pool of potential arbitrators does not need to be influenced by the locality of the arbitrator, although issues such as differing time zones and language variation should be considered. The freedom to choose from a worldwide pool of arbitrators is clearly advantageous in terms of arbitrator experience. Where the parties anticipate a mixture of remote and in-person hearings, the arbitrator’s current location will clearly play a part in whether such in-person hearings are possible. Pre-appointment interviews In cases where pre-appointment interviews are arranged, it is generally accepted that counsel and potential arbitrators should not discuss the merits of the dispute. However, it is considered acceptable to ask the arbitrator about: The anticipated timetable and estimated timing and length of hearings. The arbitrator’s previous experience as an arbitrator. Whether the arbitrator feels competent to determine the parties’ dispute. The availability of the arbitrator. Counsel may wish to address these issues with COVID-19 in mind to ask the arbitrator about: The use of video conferencing for hearings, including any previous experience of using video conferencing platforms for hearings. The arbitrator’s previous experience with taking oral evidence by remote video conferencing. The arbitrator’s general competence with electronic platforms. The possible increase in availability of the arbitrator where hearings are to take place only remotely. Where parties have agreed that all oral evidence will be taken remotely, this may be uncontroversial. If the parties disagree on the need for in-person hearings, these types of questions could be seen as indirect questioning to “sound out” the arbitrator on a disputed issue, which would be considered improper. Ensuring due process Under most national laws, the parties to an arbitration have the opportunity to put their case to the arbitral tribunal and the arbitral tribunal should allow the introduction of pertinent and material evidence. Additionally, arbitral tribunals must ensure that the procedures adopted operate impartially between the parties and do not unduly advantage one party over the other.
In-person hearings Depending on location, the parties and tribunal may agree to an in-person hearing. Issues to consider include: Transportation of participants and tribunal to and from hearing venue. Restrictions at the hearing venue, such as need for temperature checks, face masks and gloves. Hearing room size to allow parties to maintain appropriate distance from one another. Food and beverage facilities. Adequate supply of hand sanitisers. Procedure if a party is taken ill or is required to self-isolate. Whether, and if so, how often, participants should receive COVID-19 diagnostic testing. Remote arbitration hearings Confidentiality and data protection The parties should explore the level of encryption offered by the virtual platform. Parties should generally choose an enterprise-driven product that offers the highest level of encryption for cases where privacy and confidentiality are important concerns. If the case is administered by an institution, parties should explore whether using the institution as the host for remote hearings confers the benefit of the institution’s cybersecurity infrastructure, including enterprise monitoring systems for potential hackers. Platform choice The platform chosen should have the following capabilities: Protections for the confidentiality of the proceedings. High resolution audio-visual abilities. Ability to enable private meetings of subgroups, including: the tribunal; and each counsel and client. Some institutions offer their own online platforms, for example, the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce and ICSID. Video-conferencing platforms such as Skype, WebEx, GoToMeeting, BlueJeans, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom are also being used. Parties should consider whether to use a neutral third party to operate the online platform to deal with technical issues allowing the parties to focus on the hearing itself. Documents Parties should consider using electronic hearing bundles and online document management systems, which may be provided by a neutral third party or as part of an arbitral institution’s service. The use of PDF electronic bundles can slow down hearings considerably. The parties can address this to some extent by including only essential documents in the bundles or providing a core bundle and by using bookmarks and hyperlinks to key documents.
This article is provided by Practical Law, a division of Thomson Reuters and an affiliate of Westlaw. Practical Law provides trusted, up-to-date legal know-how across all major practice areas to help attorneys deliver accurte answers quickly and confidently.
Preparation It is best practice to conduct a test session with all participants before the hearing. The test session should enable each participant to practise all activities that participants would undertake during the hearing. Counsel who examine witnesses should conduct a short, mock examination, including presenting exhibits and dealing with objections by opposing counsel. The test session should use generic questions and documents rather than those related to the real factual or legal issues. Counsel may wish to use a mock script.
smile, you're on
With meetings moving to a virtual format, now is the perfect time to brush up on your video conference skills. Here are some quick tips that will help you look your best on Zoom, when presenting on a panel or attending a virtual meeting.
PICK THE RIGHT BACKGROUND - Don't let your background upstage you. Tidy and neutral is best to limit distractions. A neutral background wall is preferred, but sitting in front of a piece of art or console table with a lamp and some flowers on it can work well too. VIRTUAL BACKGROUNDS - If you feel like a change of scene, or tidying up your living room is low on the agenda, then a Zoom virtual background can be the perfect solution. But keep in mind that there's a downside as well. You will have to sit very still. Any movement can result in distracting pixalation and fringe effects around your face and body. DRESS THE PART - We have all gotten comfortable working from home and dressing accordingly, but try not to take it down more than one level from your normal office attire. At least from the waist up :-) QUIET SURROUNDINGS - Log in from a quiet space where you won't be disturbed. Phone and computer microphones pick up a lot of noise, so pay attention to background sounds such as appliances, pets, traffic and other noises. Inform your family that you're in a meeting so they don't interrupt you. AM I ON MUTE - Keeping your device on mute when you are not speaking is good call etiquette. Zoom has a feature that lets you unmute yourself while holding down the space bar. EYE CONTACT - To make it look like you're looking at the person you're speaking with, look at your camera, not the centre of your screen! RAISE YOUR DEVICE - There's nothing more disconcerting than looking up someone's nose on a video call. Prop your device on a few thick books to raise your your camera to your eye level.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) seeks to expose past corruption in Mexico as the economy shrinks to Great Depression levels and Covid-19 deaths continue to climb. Recently, AMLO proposed the possibility of a popular referendum to decide if five past presidents should be charged with corruption. If the Supreme Court deems it constitutional, the National Electoral Institute will organize the referendum on former presidents Enrique Peña Nieto, Felipe Calderón, Vicente Fox, Ernesto Zedillo, and Carlos Salinas. The move would be unprecedented in Mexico and, coming ahead of the country’s 2021 midterm elections, could have political consequences.
in other news
Latin America's economy will contract by approximately 9.4% in 2020, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Mexico, Argentina, and Peru are likely to see double-digit declines in growth this year, making it the worst economic downturn in the region since WWII. Still, the IMF projects that the region will see a recovery of 3.7% growth in 2021. Many countries have tried to mitigate the impacts of Covid-19, but the pandemic continues to rage through the region. Brazil's confirmed death toll from Covid-19 currently stands at approximately 120,000, and Mexico's is at about 64,000.
"In Other News" is provided by Jack Devine, former chief of worldwide operations for the Central Intelligence Agency and co-founder of The Arkin Group, a New York based international risk consulting and intelligence firm. More information on The Arkin Group may be found at https://thearkingroup.com
Iran’s nuclear chief announced this week that the country is building a new facility for production of advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges near its Natanz nuclear site. The facility would replace one that was damaged in a July fire that Iran claims was the result of sabotage. This latest announcement is one of a string of incidents and information releases indicating that Iran is repeatedly violating its commitments under a nuclear deal signed in 2015 with the US, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the UK in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. Warning shots were fired at the disputed India-China border in the Himalayas, marking the first reported violation in decades of a long-held no-firearm protocol at the Line of Actual Control (an agreed, de facto demarcation between the two countries). Though there were no casualties, this was an alarming escalation, especially in light of weeks of attempts by both sides to reach a diplomatic resolution after a June border confrontation between the Chinese and Indian armies killed at least 20. Since the fatal June incident, India and China have flooded the area with reinforcements, artillery, tanks, and aircraft, while simultaneously pursuing a diplomatic solution. Mali’s president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was ousted in a military mutiny after months of anti-government demonstrations over corruption, economic mismanagement, growing insecurity, and allegations of electoral malfeasance. The U.S. has expressed concern that an increasingly unstable Mali could become a hub for violent extremists throughout the region. A prior coup, in 2012, led to a rebellion that allowed militant jihadist groups to expand throughout large parts of the country. Mali’s West African neighbors (particularly Burkina Faso and Niger, which have also been subject to increasing militant attacks) fear that Mali could once again be forced to cede territory to militants and are seeking to mitigate the risk that those forces grow unchecked at their borders.
Regulators Issue Cautions for COVID-19 Financial Statement Adjustments
Will EBITDAC (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and coronavirus) fly? In 2013 and again in 2016, the Audit & Accounting Alert covered the ongoing challenge presented by the proliferation of non-IFRS and non-GAAP financial presentations. These are recastings of profitability that have been adjusted to remove items that the preparers consider out of the ordinary with regard to a company’s normal operations. The justification is that readers will not view the company in the proper light because of distortion caused by an unusual occurrence. If such actions were objectively taken, the expectation would be that some cases would increase profitability while others would decrease profitability. In reality, a 2018 study by the America Accounting Association showed that adjustments increasing earnings were routinely included while adjustments that would decrease earnings were excluded. Or to put it in today’s vernacular of “fake news,” they might be called “fake earnings.” The same study noted that about 90% of companies on the S&P 500 index used at least one non-GAAP measure in earnings releases. Efforts have been made over the years by the regulators to rein in such profit manipulation. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with Regulation G in 2003 and subsequent updates established rules governing non-GAAP financial measures. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued Guidelines on Alternative Financial Measures (APM) in 2015, followed by various Questions & Answers for the European Union.
The latest challenge has risen in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. ESMA, in a statement issued May 20, 2020, warned companies against manipulating financial statements to disguise the impact of COVID-19 on profitability. The SEC had earlier, on March 25, 2020, published disclosure guidance for addressing the unforeseen pandemic. Despite the prior releases that specifically addressed alternative financial measures, the potential magnitude of COVID-19 dictated renewed attention and clarification in the judgement of the regulators. The March, 2020 SEC Staff Disclosure Guidance, while not a formal rule, is designed to steer companies in the right direction, to avoid subsequent questions from the agency. In the April, 2020 Audit & Accounting Alert, asset impairment and going concern were described as areas requiring renewed attention and assessment from the unique perspective of the pandemic. The SEC Guidance offers ten bullet points with questions delving into all aspects a company’s operation and standing that COVID-19 may affect. Considering near and long-term impacts, issues are raised as to future revenue demand, access to capital, financial, material, and human resources, as well as supply chain and distribution channels, determination of fair value and asset impairment, limitations imposed such as by remote work arrangements on operations, reporting systems and controls, and changing travel and border restrictions. The SEC Guidance recognizes that during the COVID-19 term, accurate GAAP financial measurements may be more difficult to determine and require more time to ascertain than usual. In such instances, non-GAAP financial measures may be used to reconcile to preliminary GAAP results that include either one or a range of reasonable estimated provisional GAAP results. While this presentation may be acceptable for earnings releases, for formal filings of financial statements, reconciliations must be to actual GAAP with no provisional estimates. Also, the release should “highlight why management finds the measure or metric useful and how it helps investors assess the impact of COVID-19 on the company’s financial position and results of operations.” The Guidance emphasizes that non-GAAP measures are not solely to be used to cast the company in a more favorable light, but to inform investors of how the COVID-19 impact has been determined. The ESMA May, 2020 Statement was issued in anticipation of the half-yearly filings by companies in coming months. The Statement and a related April, 2020, ESMA Q & A, like the SEC Guidance, expresses caution with reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic, and emphasizes the importance of transparency in explaining and justifying how financial measures are devised and used. Though half-year filing disclosures are typically more condensed than in annual filings, the exceptional nature of the COVID-19 impact is likely to require a fuller description of the situation at hand. Special attention should be given to going concern and other underlying risks and uncertainties.
This article was contributed by our partner alliance Integra International, an interactive association of CPAs, CAs and Business Advisors. Founded in 1994, Integra International now has offices in almost every major business center of the world. For more information, see their website at: https://www.integra-international.net
Stating that COVID-19 has had such an overall pervasive impact on issuer profit or loss statements, ESMA fears that separating out COVID-19 amounts when reporting will distort a company’s results. Instead, ESMA strongly recommends explaining the details of the impact in the disclosures, leaving the profit or loss statement intact as a whole. Where alternative financial measures are used, either within or outside of the financial statements, they are to follow previous ESMA guidance parameters. The types of COVID-19 related matters that could possibly find justification for separate reporting would need to be specifically quantifiable, such as the cost of personal protective equipment or modifications to workspace required to provide social distancing. On the other hand, an area of likely significant impact, lost revenue, would not be appropriate for adjustment, since the attempt at quantifying an estimated amount would be speculative at best. However, a component increasing revenue that may be specifically quantifiable, subject to governmental examination, relates to loan forgiveness authorized under a United States Payroll Protection Program (PPP) or Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES). Care (no pun intended) will need to be taken to properly disclose such forgiveness, to determine when recognizable, and whether there should be separate reporting or not. Responding to emerging financial measure modifications that are being used by some entities, the European Leveraged Finance Association (ELFA), a professional trade association decried the so-called use of EBITDAC (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and coronavirus) as an inappropriate measure for debt capacity. ELFA called instead for maintenance of the popular EBITDA measure instead.
news and notes
ABL London member, Druces LLP, has been added to the Chambers & Partners Directory of London law firms in the field of "Private Wealth" law. Mona Bhide, ABL Director and Managing Partner of Dave & Girish & C° (Mumbai), has been named in IFLR1000 Women Leaders 2020 as one of India's leading female transactional lawyers. R.Amaral Advogados (Fortaleza) is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Congratulations and keep up the good work! ABL Bucharest member, Ionescu si Sava, has been recognised in the latest Legal 500 rankings in the area of Dispute Resolution. Singh & Associates (New Delhi) has been ranked as Tier-1 in Trademarks & Copyright and Tier-2 in Patent practice areas by Asian Legal Business 2020 IP Rankings. Manoj K Singh, Partner of Singh & Associates (New Delhi) talks about how his firm became an established name in the legal industry. Read interview. Warners Solicitors (Kent) has achieved top rankings in the 2020 edition of the Chambers High Net Worth guide. Webinar Recording "Covid-19 in International Commercial Relations" is now available . GO TO RECORDING Rasco Klock Perez & Nieto (Miami)/New York) launches the "Rasco Klock Mediation Group". Click here to see the profiles of the attorneys involved in the Mediation Group. The firm is also proud to announce the Global Sports Law Group (GSLG) initiative, an international partnership that seeks to offer athletes and sports organizations an all-encompassing legal service group, that can address the clients' specific Sports Law needs across areas of expertise and jurisdictions.
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