Firm Insights

On August 3, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the final version of its “Clean Power Plan,” which seeks to reduce carbon emissions from existing power plants by fostering the creation of renewable energy. It is estimated that power plants account for nearly 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States which […]

Under the above headline, The Wall Street Journal recently reported that wage disputes against restaurants have proliferated in troubling and damaging numbers: “…The number of wage-violation lawsuits has been on the rise for more than a decade, driven by a successful worker-organization movement, increased attention by plaintiffs’ attorneys and complicated labor laws that leave some […]

On August 10, WASA Studio, one of the oldest architecture and engineering firms in the U.S., announced that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company was granted Chapter 11 protection from creditors and its office landlord due to excessive legal expenses. WASA Studio saddled with legal costs The legendary firm, known for designing the Grand […]

The world’s top security experts, hackers, and researchers gathered recently in Las Vegas for the Black Hat and DEF CON conferences to discuss the top cybersecurity threats on the globe. The events confirmed that no industry is safe from the top cybersecurity threats, with hackers exposing vulnerabilities in everything from cell phones to drones to […]

The Treasury Department proposed new regulations that may impose limitations on transfer tax savings for corporate, partnership and limited liability company agreement provisions between family members. The proposed regulations by the Treasury Department may place limitations on the availability of discounts for lack of control and lack of marketability on ownership of transfer tax savings […]

Unlike the two proverbial constants in life, death and taxes, copyright protections do, in fact, end. When they cease, works pass into what is called the public domain, and may be used by anyone. Though there are some exceptions, works in the public domain can be freely sampled, copied and used in any way a […]

What Can Businesses Learn from Deflategate? According to media reports, settlement talks between the National Football League and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady have stalled. With the start of the football season just weeks away, neither side appears willing to budge. Brady is reportedly unwilling to acknowledge that there is any veracity to the […]

On Monday, August 10, Filmed Entertainment Inc., the owner of former mail-order music giant Columbia House, announced its plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In its bankruptcy filing, the company is seeking to sell its remaining business assets following 19 years of declining revenue. Columbia House parent company falls into debt According to the […]

Last week, the IRS passed stiffer penalties for inaccurate information found on any tax return filed after Dec. 31, 2015. In the new legislation, penalties for inaccurate information on a tax return may have more than doubled for failure to file accurate information on returns or payee statements. The new provision and penalties for inaccurate […]

Relativity Media, the third largest mini-major film studio in the world, has just announced that it will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Following the company’s 11 years of operation, CEO Ryan Kavanaugh confirmed that Relativity Media will put itself up for auction. Relativity Media falls into bankruptcy The company reported that it filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection a […]

Sometimes it’s neither drugs, rule violations nor performance that complicate an athlete’s ability to compete, but rather, sponsorship disputes with corporations. U.S. runner Nick Symmonds will soon be calling a sports lawyer, if his prior comments were any indication, to deal with his own sponsorship dilemma. The runner is involved in an ongoing dispute with American […]

The Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (Advisers Act) regulates the actions of investment advisers and requires most advisers to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Accordingly, the Advisers Act and the interpretive SEC’s rules form the essential “rule book” for the industry. What you need to know Since compliance with the Advisers Act […]