Features
Money Laundering Compliance Examinations
The biggest change that financial institutions face is the new, expanded-scope anti-money laundering (AML) regulatory examination and the proliferation of Written Agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, or Cease and Desist Orders issued by bank regulatory agencies should the financial institution be found to be deficient. An analysis of recent regulatory orders including, among others, AmSouth, ABN AMRO, Standard Chartered, Hudson United Bank, and City National Bank, demonstrates that the regulators are focused on multiple issues.
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Business Crimes Hotline
Recent rulings of importance to you and your practice.
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Written vs. Oral Joint-Defense Agreements
The Joint-Defense Agreement (JDA) has become a fixture in complex white-collar cases and even many purely civil actions. When the government begins an investigation of a company and its employees, it is often advisable and sometimes necessary to secure separate representation for the company, its employees and perhaps other entities or individuals. Independent attorneys owe a duty of loyalty to their individual clients and can provide them with personalized, confidential legal advice that an attorney for the company cannot provide. The company, however, needs to communicate with these represented parties. Employees will speak frankly with company counsel only if they know they are not exposing themselves to prosecution. A company cannot produce documents and engage in frank conversation with the government without such employee cooperation.
The Bankruptcy Hotline
Recent rulings of importance to you and your practice.
A Model for Canadian Cross-Border Insolvency
The trend toward commercial globalization has led to an increase in the number and complexity of cross-border bankruptcy cases. The ability to overcome differences in legal systems, often through the cooperation and coordination of courts in different countries, can be a key factor in the success or failure of a restructuring.
'Practice By Ambush'
In their desire to zealously represent clients, practitioners may often attempt to rewrite the Bankruptcy Code or Rules in motions or reorganization plans. However, recent opinions have taken umbrage with these efforts to conduct "practice by ambush" that either propose provisions inconsistent with the Bankruptcy Code or seek to deprive parties in interest of due process, or both. After all, fundamental due process " ... is the cornerstone underpinning bankruptcy procedure...A creditor has the right to rely on the Bankruptcy Code and Rules and to expect to be accorded due process of law in accordance with the Bankruptcy Code and Rules, and the United States Constitution." <i>In re Whelton</i>, 299 B.R. 306, 318 (D. Vt. 2004).
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Must New Value Remain Unpaid to Serve As a Defense to a Preference Action?
Does subsequent new value need to be unpaid to constitute a defense to a preferential transfer under section 547(c)(4)? The issue arises when a creditor asserts the subsequent new value defense to a preference action, on the basis that additional credit (goods or services) was extended after the preferential transfer occurred, even if the subsequent new value was paid for by the debtor. With every decade comes a new wrinkle in the discussion on whether the subsequent new value provided must remain unpaid. The issue has been resurrected recently due to the frequency of critical vendor orders authorizing the post-petition payment of pre-petition debt and debtors-in-possession agreeing to pay reclamation claims in exchange for keeping the goods.
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Artist Liability for Audience Injuries
In today's concert scene, high-energy music is often accompanied by audience members who engage in such physical, and sometimes dangerous, activities as crowd surfing, moshing and stage diving. What happens when a member of the audience is injured as a result of such conduct by another concertgoer?
Business Entity for Touring
Regardless of which business form an artist selects to handle general music business matters, the touring artist should consider forming a separate business entity under which to conduct touring activities.
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