wealth management

Inheritance and succession – Global Legal Monitor

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

Japan: Civil Code Amended to Enable Elderly Widows and Widowers to Continue Living in Deceased Spouse’s Residence September 6, 2018

(Sept. 6, 2018) The inheritance chapter of Japan’s Civil Code was amended in July 2018. (Act to Amend Civil Code and Domestic Relations Case Procedure Act, Act No. 72 of 2018, KANPOU [OFFICIAL GAZETTE] Extra Ed., No. 154, at 4 (July 13, 2018), National Printing Bureau website (in Japanese).) The amendment will become effective by July […]

Barry Lerner

International affairs – Global Legal Monitor

United States: Federal Appellate Court Rejects Suit to Hold Bank Liable for Soldier’s Death by Iranian Explosive in Iraq January 2, 2019

(Jan. 2, 2019) The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently affirmed a lower court’s decision to dismiss plaintiff Rhonda Kemper’s complaint against Deutsche Bank (the Bank) for failure to state a claim under 18 U.S.C. § 2333, commonly referred to in judicial opinions as the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). (Kemper v. Deutsche Bank […]

Barry Lerner

Israel Becomes a Member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) December 14, 2018

(Dec. 14, 2018) Israel became a full member of the FATF on December 10, 2018, following the publication of the FATF’s mutual evaluation report. (Israel Becomes a Member of the FATF, FATF (Dec. 10, 2018); FATF, Anti-money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Measures, Israel: Mutual Evaluation Report (Dec. 2018).) Congratulating Israel on its membership, FATF President […]

Barry Lerner

Estonia: Government Boosts Defense Spending in 2019 Budget Bill November 14, 2018

(Nov. 14, 2018) The government of Estonia approved the 2019 Budget Bill on September 26, 2018. (Press Release, Government of Estonia, Government Approves Budget for 2019 (Sept. 26, 2018), Government of Estonia website (in Russian).) The 2019 Budget Bill envisages total expenditures of 11.31 billion euros (€) (about US$12.8 billion). Owing to a positive economic […]

Barry Lerner

Iran: Space Agency Aims to Train Specialists in Space Law November 7, 2018

(Nov. 7, 2018) The Iranian Space Agency (ISA) and the University of Tehran’s Institute for Studies in Public Law signed a memorandum of understanding in late-August 2018 providing for the University to train specialists in space law “to increase Iran’s role in international assemblies and secure national interests.” (Iran Expanding Space Law Studies, EGHTESAD ONLINE […]

Barry Lerner