Civil Law

A New Milestone in China’s Rule-Based Opening-Up and Trade-Related IP Governance-A Brief Analysis on 2025 Revision of China’s Foreign Trade Law

I. Introduction

On December 27, 2025, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China promulgated the newly revised Foreign Trade Law, which will take effect on March 1, 2026 (the “2025 FTL”). This legislative act marks a pivotal moment in China’s legal framework governing its economic interactions with the world. Since its initial enactment in 1994, China’s Foreign Trade Law (the “FTL”) has served as the fundamental statute regulating China’s import and export activities, … Read the rest

Civil Law

Fifth Circuit Finds Evidence That One of Defendants Attorneys Slept During His Capital Murder Trial Insufficient to Prove Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

It’s often said that the ineffective assistance of counsel test is so tough to satisfy that even evidence that a defendant’s attorney slept during trial is insufficient to satisfy the standard. The latest example is Alvarez v. Guerrero, 2025 WL 3719047 (5th Cir. 2025).

In Alvarez, “Juan Carlos Alvarez was sentenced to death for the murders of Michael Aguirre and Jose Varela.” He later appealed, claiming that one of his two trial counsel slept during trial.

A majority … Read the rest

Civil Law

Anyone surprised that cybersecurity professionals are charged with ransomware business?

ComputerWorld.com reported that “Two cybersecurity professionals charged with running a ransomware operation have pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct, delay, or affect commerce through extortion.”  The January 2, 2026 report entitled “US cybersecurity experts plead guilty to attacking US companies with ransomware” (https://www.computerworld.com/article/4112402/us-cybersecurity-experts-plead-guilty-to-attacking-us-companies-with-ransomware.html) included these comments:

They will be sentenced on March 12, 2026, the US Department of Justice announced this week.

Ryan Goldberg and Kevin Martin were charged with using the BlackCat ransomware against multiple victims in the US … Read the rest

Civil Law

Shameless Plug − CLE Webinar on the Best and Worst Drug/Medical Device and Vaccine Decisions of 2025

As 2025 came to an end, we presented our loyal readers with our annual review of our ten worst decisions of the past year and our ten best decisions of the past year.

Now, in the new year, as we do each year, we’re pleased to announce that four (we hope) of your bloggers – Bexis, Steven Boranian, Stephen McConnell, and Lisa Baird – will be presenting a free 90-minute CLE webinar on “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: The … Read the rest

Civil Law

A Study on Lloyd’s Syndicate Litigation Standing: Cross-Border Perspectives and Chinese Practice

In the international insurance market, a syndicate is Lloyd’s operational unit for conducting insurance business. It is financially supported by one or more Lloyd’s members and routinely managed by a specialist Managing Agent. These Lloyd’s members are the actual insurers of the relevant insurance policies.

Section 8(1) of the English Lloyd’s Act 1982 provides that:

“An underwriting member shall be a party to a contract of insurance underwritten at Lloyd’s only if it is underwritten with several liability, each underwriting … Read the rest

Civil Law

FCC bans Chinese drones!

WashingtonPost.com reported that “The Federal Communications Commission has banned the sale of new models of foreign drones, including widely used Chinese DJI aircraft, citing concerns they pose a national security threat and could undermine U.S. drone production.”  The December 23, 2025 article entitled “FCC bans new DJI Chinese drones, citing national security

“ (https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/12/23/dji-drone-fcc-ban-national-security/) included these comments:

The ban adds DJI to the FCC’s “Covered List” — a designation that blocks authorization of new equipment — effectively preventing U.S. consumers … Read the rest

Civil Law

Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis guidelines: dogs and cats

Antimicrobials are often used at the time of surgery and it’s widely accepted that there is tremendous overuse in human and veterinary medicine. Antimicrobial prophylaxis indicated in some surgical patients to reduce the risk of surgical site infection, but a large percentage of use is unnecessary and is based on habit or fear (and antibiotics are often used to make the surgeon or owner feel better).

Clinical guidelines are an advancement in care, and the field of guideline development has … Read the rest