Privacy, a Price Paid for Technology? "The difference between Technology and Slavery is that slaves are well aware that they are not free." - Naseem Nicholas Taleb A study conducted in July 2016 revealed that a significant number of people agreed to the terms of service of a fake…
Read moreFIDIC in the Middle East - The Must Knows for Industry Players The UAE industry has seldom been ignorant to internationally set standards- that in more than one ways. Originally established as an organization by three founding countries Belgium, France, and Switzerland- today FIDIC, which is an abbreviation…
Read moreThe Essence of Financial Crimes 'Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud." Sophocles On a bright morning in March 2009, Bernard Mardoff pleaded guilty to defrauding his clients of sixty-five (65) billion dollars in one of the largest Ponzi schemes the world has witnessed. The former chairman of Bernard L. Mardoff Investment…
Read moreThe Fine(d) Blend of Bitcoins and Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) 'There are three eras of currency: commodity based, politically based, and now, math based.' - Chris Dixon Let’s keep it simple! Cadberry sells chocolates to its distributors worldwide by a distribution contract signed between Cadberry and its agents. In turn, distributors…
Read moreUS Sanctions - An Overview Part II of II STA has been one of the few Middle East law firms that have been advising clients on compliance with OFAC regime, the direct and indirect applicability of various OFAC sanctions besides other bodies such as United Nations, to name a few.…
Read moreEnvironment Global Guide - UAE 1. Environmental Regulatory Framework What are the key pieces of environmental legislation and the regulatory authorities? Numerous federal and local laws have been enacted in the UAE to protect the integrity of the country’s environmental laws and regulations. Federal Law Number 24 of 1999 for the…
Read morePost-Closing Transactional vs Ongoing Enterprise Due-Diligence “Diligence is the mother of good fortune.” - Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra Introduction In July 2016, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) stated that it’s review of 12 initial public offerings (10 of which were small and mid-sized companies), found incredibly poor due…
Read moreAircraft Mortgages (Part II of III) “99% of everything done in the world, good or bad, is done to pay a mortgage. Perhaps the world would be a better place if everyone rented.” Thank You for Smoking (2005) - Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart) Due to the primarily finance driven the…
Read moreAircraft Mortgages STA's team of aviation lawyers discuss the technical aspects surrounding aircraft financing, mortgages, governing law and court precedents under global context. An economy's financial markets are critical to its overall development. Banking systems and stock markets enhance growth and development, the principal factor in poverty reduction.…
Read moreThe Fueling of MLM through Bitcoin Pragya Gianani; Shahed Abdul-Dayem; and Faraz Salat discuss the legal aspects surrounding multi-level marketing and usage of bitcoins. Any entrepreneur will tell you that the success or failure of a startup, business idea, or product depends on demand. Supply and demand are the…
Read moreUnmanned Aerial Vehicles – Dealing with Drones - Global Overview From the printing press to the atomic bomb, humankind reveals an inclination to innovate first and plan later. It is a simple truth that technology develops faster and further than law. Cars and hi-tech smartphones are everyday examples of techniques…
Read moreDry Cleaning Your Genes ‘The good thing about science is that it’s true whether or not you believe in it’ - Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson During the early eighties, the member states of European Union recognized the importance of Biotechnology. Whilst the United States had long held a dominating position,…
Read moreIf you do not buy the coffee I sell, I shall forbid you from buying coffee anywhere else… Many years ago, a Superman flick had the bad guy delineating monopoly in a trade as coffee mafia. Today, sophisticated legal developments recognize these practices as unfair trade practices. But the…
Read moreThere is a severe need for consistency in the market dealing with publicly traded securities as rapid advancements in the legal diaspora can add unwitting complexity to the requirements of the debtors. If the contracts between borrowers and lenders do not outline distinct covenants which comply with the local laws…
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