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| Corporate Spotlight |  |  |
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- BP admits criminal liability in 2010 spill in Gulf
BP has reached a plea agreement in which it admits criminal liability for the explosion and oil spill at its Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, settling charges including manslaughter and obstruction of justice for $4.5 billion. BP pleaded guilty to 12 felonies and two misdemeanors. Three BP employees could be sentenced to prison if convicted of charges made under a separate criminal complaint by the Justice Department. Houston Chronicle
(11/15), The Telegraph (London) (tiered subscription model)
(11/15), The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
(11/15)     
- SEC's investigation of rating agencies finds compliance issues
The Securities and Exchange Commission released its findings from an examination of credit rating agencies performed earlier this year. The SEC said some of the agencies failed to disclose changes to their ratings methodology and did not follow their own policies when it came to downgrading securities in a timely manner. Reuters
(11/15)
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- CEOs fret over "fiscal cliff," but consumers don't, exec says
In addressing businesses' reaction to the "fiscal cliff," Wells Fargo Chief Financial Officer Tim Sloan said at an investor conference, "There's no question that the uncertainty creates some sort of a pall on the overall economic growth and therefore on our business." Consumer spending, however, continues to rise, in part as a result of the housing recovery, he said. Reuters
(11/14)
| Legislative Dispatch | | |
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| Employment Focus | | |
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- Sandy causes a spike in U.S. jobless claims
Disruption brought by Superstorm Sandy drove first-time unemployment claims to a seasonally adjusted 439,000, the most since April 2011, the Labor Department says. The 78,000 increase was the biggest one-week jump since Hurricane Katrina, in 2005. Sandy's effects could reduce economic growth this quarter as much as a half percentage point, economists said. Reuters
(11/15), MarketWatch
(11/15)
| Supreme Court and Federal Court Watch | | |
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- Feds allege fraudulent business opportunities, file charges
The government has filed charges against several businesses accused of offering the public fraudulent business opportunities. "In an attempt to lure wary consumers, fraudsters have crafted business opportunity schemes that promise what appear to be more realistic returns backed up by false success stories," according to acting Associate Attorney General Tony West. The Blog of Legal Times
(11/15)
| Professional and Business Development | | |
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- 3 ways to establish your leadership creds
If you want to be seen as a leader in your organization no matter your title or position, make sure you have a thorough knowledge of the business, support your colleagues' success and focus on contributing to the bottom line, Erika Andersen writes. "In my experience, most bosses want to reward employees who are making the boss' life easier," she writes. Forbes
(11/14)
- Facebook launches job-search app
Facebook has released an online job-search application that it says will feature more than 1.7 million job openings from partners such as Monster and BranchOut. "By allowing job seekers to view and share job openings based on personalized criteria, like location and industry, the Social Jobs Application builds on our broader effort to help people use social media to find jobs in the U.S.," Facebook's Marne Levine said in a statement. Bloomberg Businessweek
(11/14)
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Free Friday Has a (Trade) Secret
What do recent convictions, new legislative proposals, and the Second Circuit's decision in United States v. Aleynikov mean for the Economic Espionage Act? Find out at the free on-demand Web segment Trade Secret Update, taken from Intellectual Property Law Institute 2012.
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London Investment Company Act Equity Procedures 2012
The Forum for U.S. Securities Lawyers in London has recently launched the London Equity Procedures 2012, which include a menu of procedures and considerations to be used by issuers in the London market taking advantage of the Section 3(c)(7) exemption under the Investment Company Act of 1940 for equity securities. Learn more at this Nov. 20 audio briefing.
| Lawyer Life | | |
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- Quito, Ecuador, revels in its restored beauty
Travelers are once again visiting Quito, Ecuador, after the city cleaned itself up and brought its rich history back into the world's eye, this feature says. This UNESCO-designated World Heritage City has vibrant cuisine and many museums, art galleries and grand cathedrals. Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model)
(11/11)
- Chef puts a gourmet twist on Thanksgiving Day leftovers
Whipping up the perfect meal for a Thanksgiving Day feast may be chef Marc Murphy's main priority next week, but the owner of the Landmarc and Ditch Plains restaurants in New York says experimenting with the leftovers is what really gets him excited. Murphy has used leftover turkey, gravy and mashed potatoes to create shepherd's pie, croquettes and tortas in years past. "The leftover doesn't have to have a starring role -- it can play a supporting role in a dish and you're bringing in other elements from your pantry to make it shine," Murphy said. The Wall Street Journal
(11/14)
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | One thing I am convinced more and more is true and that is this: The only way to be truly happy is to make others happy. When you realize that and take advantage of the fact, everything is made perfect."
--William Carlos Williams,
American poet and physician
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