Metals Manufacturing and Fabrications
Future growth for the mining and metals sector is rooted in expanded production, with operational efficiency and cost optimization being key drivers of success.
To that end, companies must maintain innovative but streamlined operations, ensure compliance with strict regulations, and source quality and cost effective materials across the globe. Legal challenges facing businesses in this sector include transactional, project finance and project development, litigation, labor and employment, and antitrust.
Thought Leadership
On 23 April 2024, the US Department of Labor announced a Final Rule raising the minimum salary and annual compensation thresholds to qualify for the executive, administrative, or professional exemptions from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
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.
Many investment advisers and other financial institutions rely on the Department of Labor’s QPAM Exemption when providing services to, and transacting with, employer-sponsored retirement plans, individual retirement accounts, and certain commingled investment vehicles that have retirement investors.
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.