On Monday, November 2, Visa announced its plans to acquire its former European Unit, Visa Europe Ltd., for as much as $23.3 billion.1 The main objectives of the deal are to increase Visa’s international reach and to compete with MasterCard, its main competitor, who is already integrated in Europe.2 The two companies were previously one…
Category: Blog Articles
Do Social Impact Bonds Still Have Promise?
The government’s new experimental program seeks to encourage investors to finance social programs in a manner similar to they way they finance a business venture. These new “Pay for Success” programs, also known as social impact bonds, encourage private sector investors to finance social programs they believe will be successful. If the program achieves measurable…
Concepcion, a Procedural Hurdle for DraftKings and FanDuel Class Action Plaintiffs (Part II)
The Daily Fantasy Sports (“DFS”) industry continues to be the center of attention for media pundits, state and federal lawmakers, and high-profile lawyers. Since my last blog post explaining the DraftKings’ data leak that sparked the initial wave of scrutiny of DFS1, major American sports leagues have made efforts to distance themselves from the industry,2…
Time to Reconsider: Why It Is Finally Time for an Online Sales Tax
Though a relatively new method of commerce, online shopping has rapidly become a vital way for consumers to purchase goods. Online shopping provides buyers with a wider range of options than traditional brick-and-mortar stores, all obtained from the comfort of their own homes. Furthermore, prices of items purchased online are often cheaper due in part…
O’Bannon Upheld on Appeal, Kind Of
Minor NCAA rule infractions occur frequently in college athletics.1 These minor violations generally consist of athletes, coaches and universities violating one of many NCAA regulations. Such violations include coaches holding practice for more hours than the NCAA allows or sending too many text messages to prospective recruits.2 Though some rules may seem arbitrary, the NCAA…
Will Information Security Roles Help Women Enter the Corporate Boardroom?
Earlier this year, two major financial institutions appointed women to serve on their Board of Directors based on their cybersecurity expertise. Linda Mills was elected to the board of American Insurance Group in July of 2015, and was also added to the board’s technology committee.1 Before AIG, Mills spent more than a decade at security…
Securing the Glass House: Apple, Encryption, and the Fight Over Backdoors (Part II)
The conversation the previous blog post in this series discussed shows no signs of abating, although recent news suggests evolution with respect to the government’s position on backdoor access. Within the past three and a half weeks, it has come to light that the Obama administration, as suggested by James Comey, the current director of…
Easy Money? The Pitfalls of an Untested Regulation A+
The entrepreneurial community has been abuzz recently over the potential of the new Regulation A+. Finalized by the SEC pursuant to the JOBS Act and effective since June 2015, this update to the existing Regulation A exemption allows companies to seek out liquidity by offering equity to an unprecedented base of investors – the unaccredited.1….
Women and Minority-Owned Businesses Grow Rapidly But Lag Behind in Revenue Shares
Throughout the decades, women and minorities have made considerable advancements in entrepreneurship and ownership in a variety of business ventures.1 Amongst all ethnicities, women-owned businesses are growing more quickly than male-owned businesses.2 However, their revenue shares lag vastly in comparison to that of their male or non-minority counterparts.3 According to research by the Pew Research…
Bargaining Power with the NFL Franchise Tag (Part 2)
The first part of this two-part blog post explained the NFL’s Franchise Tag and the limitations it places on players to maximize their earnings over the course of their career. The second part will explain how uniquely situated players may be able to use the Franchise Tag to their advantage. Uniquely situated players may use…