Commercial Law

Aside from the many important and critical issues involving children and family, the valuation of a closely held business or professional practice may be one of the most significant issues a practitioner will face when resolving the financial aspects of matrimonial matters. In that regard, one of the most important aspects that the valuator is confronted with is the establishment of a reasonable level of replacement compensation to assign to the owner in the valuation of an ownership interest.

In employment class actions in federal court, such as class actions under Title VII for which Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 provides the governing procedure, the most critical juncture in the case is often the plaintiffs' motion for class certification. That motion requires the court to evaluate whether the plaintiffs have met the Rule 23 requirements and may proceed as a class; denial of the motion generally deals a devastating blow to plaintiffs' claims. In a new ruling that employers can use to support their bids to defeat plaintiffs' motions for class certification under Rule 23, the Second Circuit recently clarified ' and strengthened ' the standard under which district courts should determine plaintiffs' satisfaction of Rule 23's requirements.

Highlights of the latest franchising cases from around the country.

While franchise lawyers, both domestically and in foreign jurisdictions, tend to focus their primary attention on matters of importance that are specific to franchise relationships, most are keenly aware that franchising is essentially just a form of distribution. Therefore, laws and regulations of broader impact can often be of critical importance. While distribution systems may often escape the applicability of franchise laws, franchise relationships nevertheless often have to deal with those affecting distribution generally.

Information you need to know.

A recent decision from the Ohio Supreme Court may have an impact on the marketability of commercial lease agreements. In Preferred Capital, Inc. v. Power Engineering Group, Inc., 112 Ohio St. 3d 429, 860 N.E.2d 741 (2007), the court held that an open-ended forum selection clause, often referred to as a 'floating forum clause,' was not enforceable. The Preferred Capital court found that a floating forum clause in a lease agreement, which provided that any lawsuit arising from the lease would be venued in the state of the lessor's or its assignee's principal place of business, was unreasonable and contrary to public policy. While one might conclude that the subject forum clause is innocuous, the court took issue with the fact that the designated forum could be transferred to another jurisdiction if the lease agreement were assigned. In other words, if the lease were assigned to an assignee with a principal place of business that differed from that of the lessor, the appropriate forum would change. Another significant consideration for the court was the disparity of information between the parties. At the time the lease agreements were executed, the lessor was aware that the leases would be assigned to a company that was based in a foreign jurisdiction. The court's refusal to enforce the forum clause was based, in large part, on the lessor's failure to disclose that information at the time the parties entered into the lease.

Inside information on what's happening in the industry.

Firms on the move.