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OPEB, COLI and Post-Retiree Needs

Lawrence L. Bell

The recently passed COLI Best Practices ' 101(j), Deferred Compensation ' 409A and the Medicare Act of 2003 require advisers to review all qualified and nonqualified benefit programs. These legislative changes and the courts' review of COLI provide attorneys with a different approach to help solve their benefits planning problems. While pensions have been codified, limited, and scrutinized since 1974 with ERISA, non-pension post-retiree benefits (OPEB-GASB 45, FAS 106, and IAS 19) have been less regulated ' until now. Judicial action, legislation, and administrative agency action have caused a paradigm shift in benefits planning.

Features

Movers & Shakers

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Who's doing what; who's going where.

News Briefs

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Highlights of the latest franchising news from around the country.

Court Watch

Alexander Tuneski

Highlights of the latest franchising cases from around the country.

Features

Inside the New GM Dealer Agreements

W. Michael Garner

Automakers Chrysler and General Motors changed the history of dealer relations when they stepped through dozens of state laws and regulations and terminated thousands of long-standing dealers through the power of the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Now that they have emerged from bankruptcy, history remains to be written on the intriguing issues of whether GM will be able to make its new, bold agreement, heavily weighted in GM's favor, stick in the face of state dealer laws.

GA Supreme Court Strikes Down In-term Non-competition Covenant

Mark S. VanderBroek & Perry McGuire

In a June 29, 2009 opinion relevant to all franchise businesses in Georgia, the Georgia Supreme Court held that a covenant in a franchise agreement prohibiting a franchisee from competing with the franchisor during the term of the agreement is judged under the same standards as a post-termination covenant not to compete, and is unenforceable under Georgia law unless it is reasonably limited in territory and in scope of restricted activities. By contrast, earlier in the year, the Georgia General Assembly passed a bill which, if enacted through passage of a proposed Georgia constitutional amendment in 2010, would make it easier to enforce a restrictive covenant in Georgia and would specifically permit enforcement of in-term restrictive covenants without limitations on scope of activity, duration, or territory.

Features

Organizational Risk in an Economic Downturn

Brett Tarr

During turbulent economic times, organizations need to be especially vigilant to minimize potential risks that could ultimately affect the bottom line or shareholder ROI.

Features

Shareholders to Gain Access to Company Proxy Statements for Director Nominations

Timothy M. Clark

On May 20, 2009, the SEC proposed amendments to the existing proxy rules that would, among other things, allow shareholders to nominate directors in a company's proxy materials. Chairman Mary Schapiro strongly encourages interested parties to participate in the Commission's comment process that will end on Aug. 17, 2009.

Features

Movers & Shakers

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Who's going where; who's doing what.

Features

The Leasing Hotline

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Recent rulings of interest to you and your practice.

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