Hardware and Semiconductors
The proliferation of technology has resulted in a rapid expansion of both the hardware and semiconductor industries over the last decade. Semiconductors and electrical hardware form the backbone of most innovative technologies. For companies involved in these sectors, it is critical to have the counsel of experienced lawyers who are well versed with this technology in addition to the complex legal issues in this industry.
Our lawyers counsel clients through the full product life cycle starting with intellectual property counseling in the early stages of product development and continuing through the manufacturing, sale, and distribution of products.
Our experienced hardware and semiconductor lawyers provide advice regarding:
- Product development and intellectual property protection
- Regulatory and product compliance across jurisdictions
- Drafting and negotiating development, license, manufacturing, resale, distribution, and commercial agreements
- Intellectual property litigation
- Competition issues
- Product recalls and epidemic failures
On 30 January 2024, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a final rule (Final Rule) increasing the premium processing fee from US$2,500 to US$2,805, increasing filing fees for I-129 and I-140 employment-based petitions, and imposing a new Asylum Program Fee for each Form I-129 and I-140 filed by employers.
On 3 April 2024, the US Securities and Exchange Commission announced the first settlement with a stand-alone registered investment adviser for, among other things, failures to maintain and preserve certain electronic communications.
On 22 December 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted amendments (the final rule) to Rule 206(4)-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the Advisers Act) to modernize the regulation of investment adviser advertising and solicitation practices.
On 7 March 2024, the Illinois Pollution Control Board proposed amendments to its Ground Water Quality regulations, which would set standards for selected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances compounds at or near their levels of detection and would result in some of the most stringent standards in the country.