Commercial Law International

Banking, Labour, Litigation
Geys Wins, Geys Wins, Geys Wins: Investment Banker Wins Case Against SocGen

By Ainsley Brown on April 3, 2010

By: Ainsley Brown The investment banker who turned down €7.9 million in severance to sue for over €10 million has won his case against the French bank Société Générale (SocGen). The banker in question, Mr. Raphael Geys, was the head of SocGen’s London based European fixed income financial sales division until 2007 when he was given the sack. Mr. Geys… Continue reading "Geys Wins, Geys Wins, Geys Wins: Investment Banker Wins Case Against SocGen"
Banking, Commercial, debt, Finance, Government Policy, Investment, Real Estate, Regulation
Community banks taking major hit as U.S. Commercial Real Estate value drops

By Ainsley Brown on March 31, 2010

By: Eran D. Grossman, Esq. More problems are on the horizon between government regulators and local U.S. banks (smaller, regional and/or community banks) over how to handle falling commercial property values. Currently, banks are holding roughly $1.9 billion in commercial real estate loans, which equals about a quarter of all outstanding loans, according to Moody’s. The values of such loans… Continue reading "Community banks taking major hit as U.S. Commercial Real Estate value drops"
Banking, Brand Management, Investment, Mergers and Aquisitions, Mining, Natural Resources
Judge Delivers Hammer Blow To JP Morgan Down Under

By Ainsley Brown on March 25, 2010

By: Ainsley Brown Judge David Hammerschlag – German for hammer blow – does just that, delivers a hammer blow to the investment bank JP Morgan. In the case of JP Morgan Australia Limited v. Consolidated Minerals Limited, Judge Hammer Blow , sorry I just couldn’t resist, I mean Judge Hammerschlag has ruled that the fees the bank charged Consolidated Minerals… Continue reading "Judge Delivers Hammer Blow To JP Morgan Down Under"
Brand Management, Consumer Goods, E-Commerce, Intellectual Property, Litigation
European Court of Justice Rules in Google v LVMH

By Ainsley Brown on March 23, 2010

By: Omar Ha- Redeye and posted on Slaw on March 23, 2010. Luxury good maker Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH), who produces Moet & Chandon champagne and Dior perfume, claimed that Google’s advertising polices violated their trademark. The practice in question was the use of key words related to brand names by counterfeiters, who would then link to online stores. Based on… Continue reading "European Court of Justice Rules in Google v LVMH"
Banking, Crime, E-Commerce, Ethics, Litigation
Bank In the US Agrees To Settle Drug Cartel Money Laundering Case

By Ainsley Brown on March 22, 2010

By: Ainsley Brown Wachovia bank has agreed to pay $160 million to US authorities in order to settle charges brought against it. The bank was accused by the US Justice Department and banking regulators of not having sufficient controls in place to prevent Mexican drug cartels from laundering millions of dollars through the bank using exchange houses –casas de cambio… Continue reading "Bank In the US Agrees To Settle Drug Cartel Money Laundering Case"
Banking, Labour
Banker Turns Down €7.9 Million And Sues For €10 Million Plus

By Ainsley Brown on March 17, 2010

By: Ainsley Brown What’s a few million euros between friends, right? SocGen – Sociètè Gènèrale – one of France’s oldest and most respected banks is being sued in the English High Court by one of its former managing directors. Raphael Geys, the investment banker in question, was until November 2007 when his employment was terminated a managing director at SocGen… Continue reading "Banker Turns Down €7.9 Million And Sues For €10 Million Plus"
Agriculture, Crime, Government, Government Policy, Human Rights, International, Litigation, SADC, Treaty
White Zimbabwean Farmers To Get Justice In South Africa

By Ainsley Brown on March 15, 2010

By: Ainsley Brown Four white farmers who had their farms unlawfully seized under the regime of President Robert Mugabe are to seek by all accounts gain compensation in South Africa. A South African court has ruled recently that the farmers have the right to seek out and seize Zimbabwean government property in South Africa. The North Gauteng High Court ruled… Continue reading "White Zimbabwean Farmers To Get Justice In South Africa"
Banking, Brand Management, Corporate, Corporate Governance, Diversity, Ethics, Government Policy, Human Rights, Litigation
Two AIG Subsidiaries Agree To Settle Racial Discrimination Case

By Ainsley Brown on March 8, 2010

By: Ainsley Brown This forms part of the Middle Passage Law Series on Law Is Cool. American International Group, better know by its acronym AIG, it seems these days can rarely catch a break. It just seems negative news follows negative news for this company. This time the negative news for this too big to fail company – deeply wounded… Continue reading "Two AIG Subsidiaries Agree To Settle Racial Discrimination Case"
Economy, Government Policy, International, Trade, Treaty, WTO
EU and Vietnam Open Formal Trade Talks

By Ainsley Brown on March 2, 2010

By: Ainsley Brown The European Union (EU) and Vietnam have now officially stated free trade talks after Karel De Gucht, the EU Trade Commissioner, met with the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Nguyen Tan Dung in Hanoi. The talks come after the successful conclusion of the 2 year in the making deal signed with South Korea in October of last year. This… Continue reading "EU and Vietnam Open Formal Trade Talks"
Legal Reform, Litigation, Regulation
Philip K. Howard Speaks About Reforming The US Legal System

By Ainsley Brown on March 1, 2010

By: Ainsley Brown I was sent this video by my cousin Kia and I thought it worthwhile to share it here on Commercial Law International. It is a lecture given by Phillip K. Howard, the author of The Death of Common Sense, and founder of the not-for-profit Common Good. As taken from its website: “Common Good is a non-profit, non-partisan… Continue reading "Philip K. Howard Speaks About Reforming The US Legal System"