Features

Litigation Funders Planning a New Role: Law Firm Ownership
Since litigation finance hit the scene just a couple decades ago, the business has evolved from investing in single lawsuits to groups of claims to purchasing judgments at bankruptcy auctions. Now, some litigation finance firms are preparing for an even bigger change to their business model: Injecting cash directly into law firms in the form of an equity stake that isn't tied to any specific case.
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

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.
Columns & Departments
Bit Parts
No Sanctions Against Plaintiffs' Counsel for Frivolous Copyright Claim<br>
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.
In the Courts
U.S. District Court Judge Refuses to 'Rubber-Stamp' CFTC Settlement AgreementOn Sept. 22, 2016, Judge William H. Pauley III of the United States…
Columns & Departments
Business Crimes Hotline
SEC Settles First Stand-Alone Whistleblower Retaliation CaseOn Sept. 29, 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that International…
Columns & Departments
On the Move
Burr & Forman LLP has opened an office in Wilmington, DE. Rick Robinson, who is joining the firm as a partner in the firm's Creditors' Rights and…
Features

Restrictive Covenants and Whistleblowing
<b><i>Warning from the SEC</b></i><p>In two recent orders, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) signaled that it is paying particular attention to attempts by companies to prevent former employees from whistleblowing through restrictive covenants contained in severance agreements.
Columns & Departments
IP News
Fed. Cir.: Patent Application Provided Sufficient Written Description to Provide Priority Date<br>Fed Cir: Patent Trial Appeals Board's Decision on Assignor Estoppel is Not Reviewable<br>Fed. Cir.: Automatic Method for Lip Synchronization and Facial Expressions of Animated Characters is Patentable Subject Matter
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- "Holy Fair Use, Batman": Copyright, Fair Use and the Dark KnightThe copyright for the original versions of Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse have expired. Now, members of the public can create — and are busy creating — their own works based on these beloved characters. Suppose, though, we want to tell stories using Batman for which the copyright does not expire until 2035. We'll review five hypothetical works inspired by the original Batman comic and analyze them under fair use.Read More ›
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- The Stranger to the Deed RuleIn 1987, a unanimous Court of Appeals reaffirmed the vitality of the "stranger to the deed" rule, which holds that if a grantor executes a deed to a grantee purporting to create an easement in a third party, the easement is invalid. Daniello v. Wagner, decided by the Second Department on November 29th, makes it clear that not all grantors (or their lawyers) have received the Court of Appeals' message, suggesting that the rule needs re-examination.Read More ›