Politics FTC issues warning letter to 42 law firms over DEI initiatives Competition law shaping up to be new battlefield for Trump’s DEI takedown Platform Workers Gig platforms fined $5m for New York minimum wage violations New NYC Mayor continues mission to expand protections for gig workers Trade Secrets Ex-Googler convicted over AI espionage for Chinese competitor DOJ secures first-ever conviction in AI-related trade secret theft Community Mishcon elects employment chair as new managing partner Daniel Naftalin to replace James Lisbon; new practice head yet to be announced Harassment Fearful bosses shy away from relationship building with junior colleagues Citing legal, reputational, and personal risk, managers are avoiding normal workplace interactions, survey finds Private Practice Leaders NLRB quorum shift won’t rapidly upend labour law, says Littler’s new co-chair Republican majority does not change societal shifts and uptick in union curiosity, warns Brendan Fitzgerald Whistleblowing DOJ hands out first ever whistleblower reward in antitrust case Newly introduced scheme paid out $1m to employee reporting a bid-rigging conspiracy Harassment Employers can seek injunctions for harassed staff, Hong Kong’s top court rules While companies don’t have feelings, they can obtain tort of harassment injunctive relief Private Practice Leaders Boomtime in Saudi: Strategic growth, opportunity, and inclusion as vision becomes reality Emily Aryeetey outlines Stephenson Harwood’s expansion into Saudi Arabia, client needs and regional trends, and the growing number of women leaders across the Gulf Events Spring European Employment Summit International Employment Lawyer is delighted to announce that the third Spring European Employment Summit will take place on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th of March at Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam.The event will bring together senior in-house and private practice lawyers to explore the challenges and opportunities facing multinational employers and their counsel across the region. Research IEL Monitor IEL Monitor is a forward-looking, fully searchable database of upcoming and prospective employment and labour legislation from around the world, designed to alert in-house teams of new laws and regulations, and support timely compliance. Labour Reforms Modernising Argentina’s work rules in a changing political landscape Politics Ethics on the edge: Trump-era politics reshape UK corporate behaviour Crime Security guard’s sticky fingers prosecution debated in South Korea