Features

The New FRCP Is Here to Stay
As expected, there have been several rulings in 2016 interpreting the FRCP e-discovery amendments which took effect in December of last year. This article looks at three cases from the first half of 2016 that highlight the ways in which the new amendments converge with the rising need to preserve new data types, as well as how new e-discovery technology can leverage the new rules to a legal team's advantage.
Features

Additional-Rent Reconciliation
Issues can arise in the context of additional rent reconciliations that occur pursuant to the provisions of a commercial lease. We examine herein specific concerns from both landlord and tenant perspectives relating to over- and under-payments of rent, improper charges, supporting documentation and auditing procedures, as well as potential bars to claiming recoveries.<p><b><i>Part One of a Two-Part Article</b></i>
Features

Post-Petition Interest in a Solvent Case
<b><i>What Interest Rate Controls?</b></i><p><p>In today's low-interest rate environment, the difference between a contractual interest rate and the federal judgment rate can be quite significant. It is not surprising, therefore, that this issue has become hotly litigated in cases involving solvent Chapter 11 debtors.
Features

Mexico's New Anti-Corruption Framework
On July 18, 2016, Mexico published a comprehensive body of new anti-corruption legislation implementing its 2015 Constitutional reform on this area of the law. The new legislation has received significant attention, and for good reason. However, it has long been plagued with a reputation for corruption, both at the federal and local levels.
Features

Food Courts and Their Leasing Issues
Although the concept has been very successful in the retail industry, a collection of tenants serving food and beverages in one location presents several issues and problems for both landlords and tenants. Those issues suggest certain aspects of food-court tenancy that should be discussed and addressed during lease negotiations, so that both landlords and tenants end up receiving what they expect to receive from the food court experience.
Features

Holders of Unredeemed Gift Cards Denied Bankpruptcy Priority
For some time now, the brick and mortar side of the retail industry has been in financial distress. In 2015 and 2016 alone, brand-name companies such as Sports Authority, RadioShack, Aéropostale, American Apparel, Eastern Mountain Sports and City Sports sought bankruptcy protection. A common question in these cases is how to treat holders of unredeemed gift cards. Are they near the back of the line with other general unsecured creditors, or are they entitled to “priority” payment status under the Bankruptcy Code?
Features

Vendor's Reclamation Rights Survive Lien of Post-Petition DIP Loan
In <i>In re Reichhold Holdings US</i>, bankruptcy judge Mary F. Walrath upheld the validity of a vendor's administrative claim for its reclamation rights under Section 546(c) of the Bankruptcy Code as against a post-petition DIP lender. In doing so, Judge Walrath declined to follow cases from the Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York that held otherwise.
Features

Industry Growth for 2016 Forecast to -0.5%
In what began as a year with a forecast of modest growth, The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (ELFA) has just released its Q4 update to the 2016 Equipment Leasing & Finance U.S. Economic Outlook, reducing the year's growth expectations to -0.5%, marking a steady decline in growth forecast for the year.
Columns & Departments
Case Notes
Landlord's Self-Proclamation of Tenant's Breach Costs It Big
Features

<i>CYBER-ETHICS:</i> Technological Competence Obligations and the Interplay of the ABA Model Rules and Attorney Cybersecurity
The ABA has long published its Model Rules of Professional Conduct and modifies them from time-to-time to stay current with legal and technological developments and advances. While these Model Rules are not officially binding on attorneys, they have been adopted in large part by nearly every stateand provide a guideline for attorneys across the country regarding standards of professional responsibility and ethical conduct.
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