ABOUT THIS BLOG

Our EmTech Law Blog provides timely legal and business information on issues impacting companies developing or investing in new technologies, new companies, and new ideas.

FTC Investigation of Twitter for Alleged Privacy Violations Reinforces Need for Strong Privacy Policies and Practices

August 18, 2020
Posted By: Ashleigh H. Krick

On August 3, 2020, Twitter disclosed in a regulatory filing that it is under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for allegations that the company used user phone numbers and email addresses for targeted advertising in violation of a 2011 Consent Agreement. Twitter estimates that it could face $150 to $250 million in losses due to legal fees and enforcement penalties resulting from this matter. …

Justine M. Kasznica – Emerging Technologies Attorney

August 13, 2020
Posted By: Justine M. Kasznica

This is one in a series of profiles featuring members of Babst Calland’s Emerging Technologies team of attorneys who provide business and legal representation on matters impacting companies developing or investing in new technologies and businesses.

Read more. 

$27 Million Available for Zero-Emission Trucks in California

August 11, 2020
Posted By: Gina N. Falaschi

Significant funding will soon be available in California to support the expansion of zero-emission trucks in the heaviest weight class that has previously relied on diesel engine technologies.  On August 18, 2020, California will start to parcel out $27 million in funding from the Volkswagen (VW) Environmental Mitigation Trust program to replace higher polluting trucks with zero-emission vehicles.

The VW Environmental Mitigation Trust provides about $423 million for California to mitigate the excess nitrogen oxide emissions caused by VW’s use of emissions defeat devices in certain of its diesel passenger vehicles.  …

Emerging Technologies in a Time of Pandemic – Part III

July 23, 2020
Posted By: Justine M. Kasznica

Can Technology Help Us Return to Work? 

Coronavirus restrictions are both easing and tightening in cities around the country, and a nationwide return to work seems further off than it did a month ago. But it is never too early to plan ahead. As the United States looks to safely return to work, offices are preparing for a radical shift, accelerating a need for emerging technologies to address challenges in the workplace. …

From Idea to Invention to Intellectual Property: What Startups and Innovators Need to Know

June 16, 2020
Posted By: Carl Ronald

On Thursday, June 11, 2020, Attorneys Justine Kasznica and Carl Ronald joined the Scott Institute’s Jay Whitacre and Anna Siefken for an informative discussion, “From Idea to Invention to Intellectual Property: What Startups and Innovators Need to Know.”  To view this discussion, click here.

Client Spotlight: Congratulations, Astrobotic!

June 12, 2020
Posted By: Justine Kasznica

Today, we are thrilled to celebrate with Astrobotic Technology, Inc., a Pittsburgh-based space robotics and lunar transportation and logistics company, on receiving a $199.5 NASA award to send the NASA Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) to the lunar surface in 2023 to search for water-ice. Not only is this a historically significant mission, as it is the first “resource-mapping” mission of its kind, this is an amazing achievement for a company that that has worked tirelessly for 13 years to prove a new commercial space market. …

Emerging Technologies in a Time of Pandemic – Part II

June 10, 2020
Posted By: Justine M. Kasznica

Regulatory Challenges to Fully Utilizing Existing Technology

On May 1st, Amazon Prime premiered Upload, the story of a software engineer whose consciousness is transferred to the cloud after his fully autonomous vehicle (AV) rear-ends another car. The accident takes place in 2033. By then, the show imagines, vehicles that drive themselves will be the default. We won’t spoil the ending. But, in the fictional 2033 only 13 years from now—the public is astounded when the vehicle is involved in a wreck. …

Emerging Technologies in a Time of Pandemic – Part I

May 20, 2020
Posted By: Gina N. Falaschi

Opportunities: Leveraging Technology to Meet New Demands

Most of the world is staying home,  but businesses must still pay their bills.  In late April the federal government estimated the U.S. economy contracted by 4.8 percent in the first quarter of 2020, mostly due to the Coronavirus pandemic.  Because the real economic consequences  of social distancing  occurred in April, future numbers will likely be as bleak, if not worse. …

Dealmakers: Managing Through Uncertainty

May 19, 2020
Posted By: Christian A. Farmakis

The COVID-19 crisis has revealed numerous legal issues that entrepreneurs and business leaders hadn’t faced before. Christian Farmakis, chairman of Babst Calland explains what c-suite executives should be thinking about, including giving a new level of scrutiny to contracts.

Click here to listen. 

Babst Calland Lands 2024 Space Mission Legal Work for Astrobotic

May 11, 2020
Posted By: Justine M. Kasznica

Firm to Develop Legal/Commercial Framework for Payload Service for NASA’s Artemis Human Landing System

Babst Calland today announced that under a recently announced NASA award, Astrobotic Technologies, Inc. (Astrobotic) has selected the firm to develop what could become the first-of-its-kind blueprint for commercial payload delivery to space for the Artemis human missions as well as future human-crewed space missions.

Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic will be developing the commercial payload service for Dynetics (a Leidos subsidiary), one of three prime contractors (alongside SpaceX and Blue Origin) selected by NASA to design and build a commercial Human Landing System (HLS) and compete to build a privately-developed system to take the first woman and next man to the lunar surface in 2024 as part of the NASA Artemis program. …

How established companies can secure game-changing innovations

April 28, 2020
Posted By: Justine M. Kasznica

There is global consensus that large companies across various sectors need to innovate, be agile and anticipate new technologies, new markets and new demand cycles to stay competitive.

“We are seeing a paradigmatic shift among large companies,” says Justine M. Kasznica, a shareholder at Babst Calland. “Not only are these companies seeking to attract a diverse and innovative workforce, they are pursuing business-optimizing innovation and solutions, which are often found outside their walls.”

Smart Business spoke with Kasznica about how established companies are finding and taking control of technologies that set them up for a bright future. …

A. A. Moore Capito – Corporate Attorney

April 17, 2020
Posted By: A. A. Moore Capito

This is the third in a series of profiles featuring members of Babst Calland’s Emerging Technologies team of attorneys who provide business and legal representation on matters impacting companies developing or investing in new technologies and businesses.

Moore Capito has been following the existing and new stimulus programs currently being offered. This is a time-sensitive opportunity to consider how these programs may apply to your business. …

Julie R. Domike – Environmental Attorney

February 26, 2020
Posted By: Julie R. Domike

This is the second in a series of profiles featuring members of Babst Calland’s Emerging Technologies team of attorneys who provide business and legal representation on matters impacting companies developing or investing in new technologies and businesses. We hope you enjoy meeting and getting to know our team.

Read More. 

Treasury Issues Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States Review Rules

February 18, 2020
Posted By: Justine M. Kasznica

On January 17, 2020, the Treasury Department’s Office of Investment Security (Treasury) released two final rules requiring some foreign entities acquiring an interest in a US business with a national security nexus (Transaction Rule)[1] or real estate near air or sea ports or near US military installations (Real Estate Rule or, collectively, Rules)[2] to be approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) before the transaction can be completed.  …

Artificial Intelligence is Transforming the Legal Industry

January 31, 2020
Posted By: Christian A. Farmakis

Artificial intelligence (AI) is adding efficiencies and transforming businesses everywhere, and legal practices are no exception.

General counsels who are hiring lawyers need to understand that this technology is available now, so they can make sure their lawyers are leveraging the latest technology tools. AI can increase speed, increase efficiency and lower costs for clients—if the law firm has the right tools, but more importantly knows how to use those tools. …

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