On Thursday, September 6, Berkeley Law Adjunct Professor Bill Falik gave a presentation on his pioneering efforts to stabilize the mortgage market and prevent future foreclosures through the government’s use of eminent domain. Having expertise in real estate, land use and development, Bill Falik started thinking about ways to stop the deterioration of the housing […]
Professor Howson Presents “Dangerous Liaisons: China’s Indirect Investment Structures and the Shaky Foundations of “China Plays” on the Global Capital Markets”
On Wednesday, September 12th, Professor Nicholas Howson will present “Dangerous Liaisons: China’s Indirect Investment Structures and the Shaky Foundations of “China Plays” on the Global Capital Markets.” The Berkeley Center for Law, Business and the Economy and the Center for Chinese Studies are cosponsoring the event. Lunch will be provided and CLE credit is available. […]
SEC Proposes to Ease Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs, But Will It?
Earlier this year, President Obama signed into law the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, a provision of which directed the SEC to relax regulations regarding general solicitation of private securities offerings. On Wednesday, August 29th, the SEC did just that, proposing to amend Rule 506 of Regulation D to allow general solicitation of private […]
Bill Falik Presents “Saving Homes, Saving Cities: Fixing the Mortgage Crisis Locally” on 9/6/12
On Thursday, September 6th, Berkeley Law Adjunct Professor Bill Falik will give a presentation on his work with Mortgage Resolution Partners (MRP), an organization advocating and seeking to fund local governments’ use of eminent domain to purchase underwater mortgages. The presentation is titled: Saving Homes, Saving Cities: Fixing the Mortgage Crisis Locally. The event will […]
Facebook’s Woes Continue
Since being the first American company to makes its debut (albeit a rocky one) on the NASDAQ stock exchange with a $100 million valuation, Facebook’s stock has lost more than half of its value. As of August 23, 2012, Facebook’s value was $41.95 billion. In its earnings report a few weeks ago, the Facebook team—CEO, […]
Should America Export Natural Gas? The Debate Rages On
With the development of new technology for drilling natural gas in shale formations, both economists and oil & gas experts are projecting shifts in American natural gas usage and supply. What does this mean for the energy market, American energy consumers, and environmental groups? In 2010, natural gas generated 33.1% of the energy produced and […]
The Economic Consequences of the Endangered Species Act in the Central Valley
Who gets the water in the California Bay Delta has been a controversy spanning multiple decades primarily because of the estuary’s importance as a unique environmental habitat and as a valuable natural resource for Central Valley farmers. Near continuous litigation has spawned over the Delta’s designation as a “critical habitat” for a number of endangered […]
Cap and Trade: The Uncertain Future of California’s Climate Policy
With almost four months between now and the first carbon allowance auction, questions remain about the feasibility and economic impact of California’s Cap-and-Trade program. While the legal question has been resolved, some commentators have been critical about the consequences of California’s environmental policy path. The California First District Court of Appeals case AIR v. CARB sheds […]
Facebook Goes Public: The Tumultuous IPO Process
Is Facebook a force that will define a generation? Or is it a transient manifestation of the bigger social media revolution – springing from the demand to connect using the latest technologies? While Facebook’s cultural impact raises such philosophical questions, its business model and recent IPO have raised legal questions that are likely going to […]
BITs with the BRICs? Bilateral Investment Treaty negotiations to begin following revised model text
The United States is restarting Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) negotiations with BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) after a recent revision to the United States’ model BIT. On April 20, 2012, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released the new 2012 model BIT after a lengthy three-year review and revision process. […]