The European Union’s fight against money laundering and terrorist financing has entered a new phase. What was once characterised by fragmented national supervision and uneven enforcement is steadily giving way to a more centralised, data-driven and legally disciplined framework. Two recent developments illustrate this shift with particular clarity: the finalisation of the Regulatory Technical Stan…
Member Publications
The 5th Tenancy Law Inflation Relief Act came into force on 1 January 2026. With the new package, the legislator is intervening deeply in the market.
An overview of the most important changes for residential leases that are subject in whole or in part to the Tenancy Law Act (MRG):
INFLATION LIMIT:
If inflation exceeds the 3% mark within two years, only half of the excess may be passed on to tena…
H-1B Cap Season is quickly approaching. Registration for this year’s lottery will open in March 2026. If you are interested in sponsoring your employee(s) in this year’s lottery, please contact SKO to have their case reviewed for eligibility.
WHAT IS H-1B STATUS?
H-1B is a widely used professional work visa available to noncitizens for employment in the U.S. H-1B requires employer sponsorship.…
The Health Information Privacy Reform Act (HIPRA) proposed by Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) on November 4th, 2025, is best read as a preview of the future of health-data regulation, even if it does not become law. If passed, HIPRA would extend “medical-grade” privacy, security, and breach obligations to a wide swath of consumer-focused digital health companies, such as smartwatches, wearables, healt…
The White House recently issued an Executive Order designating illicit fentanyl and its chemical precursors as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), marking a strategic shift in the United States’ approach to the fentanyl crisis. This designation places the issue on the same conceptual level as the proliferation of nuclear and biological weapons, enabling the use of intelligence, financial, and non-p…
The Dutch Secretary of State for Finance has published an updated version of the Fund Decree initially issued in November 2024, providing further clarity on the Dutch tax classification rules applicable to Dutch and equivalent foreign limited partnerships that may qualify as a contractual fund for joint account (“fonds voor gemene rekening,” or “FGR”) (the “Fund Decree”).
Background
Effective 1 J…
Australia’s federal privacy regulator, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), will be undertaking its first ever compliance sweep. This sweep will assess whether businesses’ privacy policies are sufficiently transparent about how they handle personal information collected from individuals in face-to-face settings.
Why is the OAIC doing this?
As noted by the Privacy Com…
Kochhar & Co. is pleased to present its IP Spotlight, sharing important updates, key developments, and practical insights on Intellectual Property. This publication has been compiled to keep you abreast of the latest trends and evolving issues in Indian Patent Law.
Click here to read the full article.…
Rapid Uptake of AI in Litigation
The dramatic development of AI capabilities has enthusiastically been taken up by lawyers in pleadings and submissions to courts. But that development and the utilization of AI in these contexts has been far from perfect. So much so that this growth comes as an “existential threat” to the justice system, warns Chief Justice Stephen Gaegler of the High Court of Aust…
Summary
Local content is the added value brought to the Kenyan economy through procuring locally available services, goods, supplies and work force.
The Objectives of The Bill
To provide a framework for regulation of local content by prescribing minimum local content quotas in various sectors:
To promote the local industry and sourcing of locally produced goods and services
To boost the g…