Features

What's In Store for Bankruptcy Reform In a Biden Presidency
Senator Elizabeth Warren has been relentlessly pursuing bankruptcy reform for two decades. And Joe Biden has adopted her comprehensive proposal. The proposals could impact commercial bankruptcy law and reverberate across our financial systems.
Features

Unforeseen Consequences for Bankruptcy Practice In CARES Act
This article highlights several of these outcomes and discrepancies of the CARES Act stimulus package, including how accepting crisis funding could lead to a company becoming more distressed, how bankruptcy courts are inconsistently ruling on the ability for Chapter 11 debtors to receive PPP loans and how changes to the Bankruptcy Code altered the rights of equity holders and debtholders.
Features

CA Appeals Court Rules Hobbs & Shaw Film Dispute Must Be Heard By Court
Universal City Studios will have to settle a contract dispute with a producer from the Fast & Furious movie franchise in court after a California appeals court ruled the entertainment company could not enforce an arbitration agreement.
Columns & Departments
Co-ops and Condominiums
Fine for Refusal to Remove Dogs Upheld Under Business Judgment Rule
Features

Alice and Incongruity In PTAB Appeals
This article discusses the significant contrast between consideration of issues related to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Alice Corp. v. CLS Int'l in prosecution and their resolution by the PTAB.
Features

New York's Commercial Lease Defenses to Paying Rent
Few landlords and commercial tenants have been completely immune from the governmentally imposed economic shutdown and COVID-19's wrath. Not including what may have been negotiated in a commercial lease, there are three traditional theories under which commercial tenants could seek to assert entitlement to forgiveness of their rent.
Columns & Departments
IP News
Federal Circuit Modifies Facebook IPR Joinder Ruling District Court: Stipulation of Noninfringement Does Not Preclude Post-Remand Finding of Infringement
Columns & Departments
Development
Development Consistent With Zoning Ordinance Did Not Require Referral to ZBA Development Agreement Constituted Impermissible Contract Zoning
Features

COVID Shutdown Orders vs. Statutory Rent Obligations
Even though payment of post-petition rent under a nonresidential lease (prior to rejection) has historically been an absolute requirement, bankruptcy courts, as courts of equity, have the ability during these extraordinary times to take a more flexible approach. This clearly is an evolving trend that should continue for at least the duration of the pandemic and perhaps beyond, as bankruptcy judges and practitioners seek out creative and unique responses to difficult issues.
Features

Particularized Pleading of Underlying Illegal Acts in the Second Circuit
Gamm v. Sanderson Farms, establishes a high burden for a plaintiff to plead adequately failure to disclose illegal conduct — regardless of how much circumstantial evidence a plaintiff is able to amass or how much news coverage the alleged conduct attracts.
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