wealth management

Inheritance and succession – Global Legal Monitor

Syria: Women’s Rights in Light of New Amendments to Syrian Personal Status Law April 8, 2019

(Apr. 8, 2019) On February 5, 2019, the People’s Assembly of Syria approved amendments to more than 60 articles of the Personal Status Law issued by Legislative Decree No. 59 of 1953. (President al-Assad Issues Law Amending Certain Articles of Personal Status Law Issued by Legislative Decree No. 59 of 1953 and Its Amendments, SYRIAN […]

Barry Lerner

United Kingdom: Supreme Court Rules on Heterosexual Civil Partnerships September 14, 2018

(Sept. 14, 2018) On June 27, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom issued a declaration that “sections 1 and 3 of [the Civil Partnership Act 2004, (CPA)], to the extent that they preclude a different sex couple from entering into a civil partnership, are incompatible with article 14 of [the European Convention for […]

Barry Lerner

Germany: Federal Court of Justice Rules Digital Social Media Accounts Inheritable September 7, 2018

(Sept. 7, 2018) On July 12, 2018, the German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof, BGH) held that user agreements for digital social media accounts are inheritable. Upon the death of the account holder, the user agreement passes to the heirs by operation of law, and the heirs are subrogated to the rights of the deceased, […]

Barry Lerner

International affairs – Global Legal Monitor

Brazil: Brazilian President Signs Decree Authorizing Use of Armed Forces in Amazon Region September 19, 2019

(Sept. 19, 2019) On August 23, 2019, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro signed Decree No. 9,985 (Decreto No. 9,985, de 24 de Agosto de 2019) authorizing the use of the armed forces to assist in fighting fires in the Amazon forest. Article 1 of Decree No. 9,985 authorizes the use of the armed forces to guarantee […]

Barry Lerner

Denmark: Supreme Court Upholds Conviction of Danish Citizen for Illegal Presence in Syria September 18, 2019

(Sept. 18, 2019) On August 27, 2019, the Danish Supreme Court sentenced a Danish citizen for unlawful presence in al-Raqqa, Syria, while fighting against the Islamic State (ISIS). The Court thereby affirmed the appellate court decision, finding that the citizen’s presence violated section 114 j of the Danish Criminal Code. (Supreme Court Case No. 27/2019, […]

Barry Lerner

Egypt: New Law Enacted Regulating Activities of Nongovernmental Organizations September 11, 2019

(Sept. 11, 2019) On August 19, 2019, Egyptian president Abdu Al-Fatah Al-Sisi ratified Law No. 149 of 2019 on activities of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Repealing the controversial Law No. 70 of 2017, which defenders of human rights and civil society in Egypt feared would practically ban NGOs from carrying out their work and “eliminate civil […]

Barry Lerner

Switzerland: Swiss Voters to Decide on Initiative for Democratic Control over War Material Exports August 28, 2019

(Aug. 28, 2019) On July 16, 2019, the Swiss government announced that the popular initiative called the “Against Weapons-Exports to Regions Affected by Civil War (Correction-Initiative)” has achieved the required 100,000 signatures to be put to a vote. The initiative seeks to increase democratic control over the regulation of war material exports by inscribing the fundamental […]

Barry Lerner