Faegre Drinker

Each year, The American Lawyer Industry Awards honor “the best of the best across all of what the profession holds dear.” We are proud to share that Faegre Drinker’s Sandra Grannum has been named a “Best Mentor” finalist for her dedication to guiding and supporting others! Recognizing the value of associate development and how it amplifies the firm’s potential, Sandy is passionate about providing training and hands-on experience to associates. She continuously spends time with associates and empowers young legal professionals to move the needle, fostering growth for the next generation of legal leaders. Congratulations, Sandy!

With a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, knowing the latest updates is crucial for companies in the biopharma and medical devices sectors. But, because this space is constantly changing, it can be challenging to keep up. Enter the “Biopharma and Medical Devices Briefing,” created to help companies operating in these spaces stay on top of critical developments. In this inaugural edition, authors Lana Lyapustina, Mollie Sitkowski and Chase Heltzel discuss several updates, including the: • use of real-world evidence to support regulatory decisions for medicines • guidance for developers of medical devices for treatment of opioid use disorder • FDA’s recently published new clinical pharmacology guidance for investigational drugs

The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 — also known as MoCRA — is transforming the cosmetics industry with new regulations around safety, labeling, and reporting. Staying compliant is critical as these changes take effect, with some rules already active and others rolling out by the end of 2024. In their article for the Hennepin County Bar Association titled "Monitoring the Makeup Aisle," Nury Yoo, Emily Dodane and Kadeejah Jade Kelly-Previl, Esq. offer essential insights into MoCRA's impact.

Ready to gain unparalleled insights into M&A trends and strategies? Don’t miss Faegre Drinker’s 19th annual M&A Conference on Tuesday, September 17, in Minneapolis! This in-person event is your opportunity to hear from nationally recognized leaders in strategic and private equity M&A, finance, tax, law, accounting and investment banking. Gain relevant and timely insights on current deal activity, valuations, global M&A in a world of uncertainty and much more. Secure your spot today for #MinneMAC24 and connect with top industry professionals!

Michigan courts have routinely applied the learned intermediary doctrine in product liability cases involving prescription medical products for decades. Under the doctrine, a manufacturer’s duty to warn runs not to a plaintiff but to the plaintiff’s prescribing physician. However, a Michigan federal court recently expressed doubt about the doctrine’s applicability and certified a question to the Michigan Supreme Court. The answer, if the court accepts the question, should be clear — yes, Michigan applies the learned intermediary doctrine. You can learn more in this post for our “Faegre Drinker on Products” blog by Eric Friedman, Nicole Berwick and Jackie McDonnell.

In an interview by 1851 Franchise for their "Top Franchise Legal Players" series, Brian Schnell discussed how franchisors can protect their brand and avoid legal mistakes. “Too many franchisors (especially emerging franchisors) primarily rely on the franchise agreement that gives them the right to unilaterally make system change and requires the franchisee to make the change (often regardless of cost and frequency), rather than strategically considering options, relying on data and getting franchisee input — franchisees want to be heard — and then knowing how to effectively communicate change,” he said.

“This is not just a business, this is a profession, and we are called to ensure access to justice. It’s what has driven me to do what I do.” These are the words of Faegre Drinker’s James Volling, who has been honored by the American Bar Association with a 2024 “Pro Bono Publico Award” — the ABA’s highest pro bono recognition. Jim is recognized for his sustained service and leadership throughout his career, including his work focused largely on three areas: children, post-conviction representation, and prisoner reentry. His colleagues refer to him as a “true pro bono hero,” and note that he leads by “selfless example.” Congratulations, Jim! Check out the ABA’s recently released video, which speaks to the depth and far-reaching impact of his pro bono work ⬇

After winning the general election, the new UK government has started to focus on implementing its manifesto pledges. The King’s Speech — which took place on July 17, 2024 — sets out the legislative agenda for the new government. This alert, by Alex Denny, Emma Vennesson, Charlotte M. and Emily Evans, details two pieces of proposed employment legislation announced in the speech.

Following a long-awaited decision out of Texas, the FTC’s noncompete rule has been set aside nationwide and will not take effect as previously scheduled. You can learn more about the ruling and what’s next for employers in this alert by Chuck Knapp and Dan Prokott.

For decades, bankruptcy courts have used legal orders to halt litigation not only against those filing for bankruptcy — the debtor — but also against others connected to the case not in bankruptcy — the nondebtor codefendants. This relief was relatively common when the codefendants were the debtor’s officers or directors, or the debtor was contractually obligated to indemnify the codefendant. The Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Harrington v. Purdue Pharma called all this into question, and two other courts have since weighed in on the matter. You can learn more about the decisions and their impact in this alert by Drew Magee, Richard Bernard and Michael Pompeo.