WASHINGTON, D.C. – LAWFUEL – Legal, law, attorney, law firm news – A second-term Bush Administration will be broadening the scope of homeland security legislation and in the process taking a closer look at the way businesses adhere to homeland security rules, predicts Piper Rudnick partner Philip Zeidman. The new Homeland Security InfoPAKSM the firm has written on behalf of the Association of Corporate Counsel will, Zeidman says, help companies understand and steer through this evolving area of law.
“The Homeland Security InfoPAKSM is a completely rewritten edition of well received material originally created on behalf of ACC by Piper Rudnick two years ago,” said Mr. Zeidman, a partner in the firm’s Homeland Security practice group. “This is a comprehensive document that contains everything in-house counsel and businesses need to know about the current state of relevant federal laws and rules.”
“As President Bush moves into his second term, his Administration will be expanding its activities in a number of areas involving the nation’s critical infrastructure. We will see more attention to the way businesses operate under these augmented homeland security policies,” said Mr. Zeidman. “Not only corporate counsel but all business people need to attend to these rules.
“This document clearly and simply explains the basics of legal issues relating to homeland security, regulation, and enforcement. As far as we can tell, it is the most comprehensive document on the issue to date.”
The Homeland Security InfoPAKSM is an almost entirely new document, Mr. Zeidman continued. “ACC asked that we revise the informational packet in light of the significant changes that have taken place in homeland security rules and laws since the document was first created, only two years ago,” he explained.
Like the original version, which was issued in 2002, this InfoPAKSM provides readers with information designed to raise awareness of the myriad legal issues that have arisen in the homeland security arena. It is not intended simply for in-house counsel but can be used as a resource by all businesses required to comply with directives that will increase safety in the U.S. or competing to provide services to the federal or state governments, said Mr. Zeidman.
After providing a brief history of homeland security, the new InfoPAKSM advises on such topics as corporate responsibility, including questions of disaster recovery, liability, and the duty to warn. It provides an overview of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and analysis the many which other laws make up “Homeland Security legislation,” such as those concerning money laundering, border security, maritime security, chemical security, transportation security, information sharing and changes to the Freedom of Information Act, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, and surveillance and computer hacking provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.
The InfoPAKSM discusses numerous other issues, including venture investments in the homeland security market and issues surrounding homeland security related contracting. It provides a list of resources available for obtaining additional information about homeland security rules, laws, and regulations, such as newsletters, reports, and web links.
ACC members may find a downloadable version of the InfoPAKSM, in PDF format, on line at www.acca.com/infopaks/homeland.html. A copy may also be obtained by e-mailing homeland @piperrudnick.com, or by contacting Laura Harmon of Piper Rudnick at 202.689.7818 or laura.harmon@piperrudnick.com.
ACC and Piper Rudnick attorneys will be hosting a webcast on homeland security on December 8, 2004. To learn more about the webcast, please contact Ms. Harmon or e-mail homeland@piperrudnick.com.