Features

Inconvenient Bankruptcy Appeals
Bankruptcy courts are not infallible, and their rulings should be reviewable. But too many district courts and bankruptcy appellate panels (BAPs) regularly refuse to review nonfinal bankruptcy court orders for questionable reasons.
Features

NY Revised Cybersecurity Regulation Goes Into Effect: What You Need to Know
On November 1, significant revisions to the regulations enforced by the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) — the state’s financial services regulator — went into effect. The DFS revisions create a long-arm provision in that the changes affect not only New York State companies, but also their affiliates, and therefore the revisions could have an impact far beyond New York State borders.
Features

Evaluating Personal Injury Claims and Insurance Policies Covering Live Events
The rise in demand for in-person events post-pandemic has meant a corresponding increase in personal injury actions against venues. Consequently, venue-owner and operator clients would be wise to regularly evaluate their insurance policies (particularly general liability insurance policies) to ensure adequate coverage.
Features

New Commercial Tenant-In-Common Can Modify Loan Terms In Bankruptcy, Even If Not a Party
In a recent decision, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts held that a mortgagee holds a claim that could be modified by a Chapter 11 plan even if the debtor was not indebted under the mortgage.
Features

Marketing Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint: Plan Ahead for Long-Term Success
Law firms can’t expect immediate results from their marketing programs. Just like you can’t go out and run a marathon in a day without the careful work of preparing for it, you can’t launch a single marketing program and expect immediate sales. Marketing requires strategy, endurance, and consistent effort over time. A sprint mindset may bring temporary gains, but a marathon approach builds long-lasting relationships, brand equity, and sustainable growth.
Features

Creating an LPM Function Is the Start — Implementing It Is the Goal
On the one hand, Big Law is locked in this endless struggle to compete on metrics: revenue per lawyer; billable hours; realization rates, and of course profit per equity partner. The fact that these are all the wrong metrics to define success is a separate discussion. On the other hand, many of these firms don’t have profitability models. And even those who do, struggle to implement them. This is super-important, so let’s break this down.
Features

What Can IP Practitioners Expect from Trump 2.0?
President-elect Donald Trump did not make intellectual property (IP) policy a major focus of his 2024 election campaign, but his policy priorities are nearly certain to have a profound effect on the IP landscape when he takes office in January.
Columns & Departments
Landlord & Tenant Law
Tenant Who Stopped Paying Rent May Not Recover DamagesDoctrine of Emblements May Entitle Tenant to Collect Damages for Loss of CropsInsufficient Evidence to Support Use and Occupancy ClaimSuccessor Landlord Liable for Predecessor’s OverchargesGuaranty Law Did Not Protect Guarantor When Tenant Never Closed
Columns & Departments
Real Property Law
Foreclosure Sale Bidder Entitled to Return of Down Payment When Title Was Not MarketableInadequacy of Price Does Not Establish Duty to Inquire About Fraud
Features

Hospitality Performance Tests In the Real World
Hotel management agreements often contain language permitting a hotel owner to terminate if the hotel’s performance fails to meet certain financial metrics. This provision, colloquially referred to as the “performance test,” is touted as a form of protection for owners by providing a right to terminate (or to receive a “cure payment”) if the hotel underperforms. But the reality is performance tests are generally structured to make them difficult, if not impossible, to fail, leaving hotel owners without the financial protection they thought they bargained for — or worse.
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- The 'Sophisticated Insured' DefenseA majority of courts consider the <i>contra proferentem</i> doctrine to be a pillar of insurance law. The doctrine requires ambiguous terms in an insurance policy to be construed against the insurer and in favor of coverage for the insured. A prominent rationale behind the doctrine is that insurance policies are usually standard-form contracts drafted entirely by insurers.Read More ›
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- Abandoned and Unused Cables: A Hidden Liability Under the 2002 National Electric CodeIn an effort to minimize the release of toxic gasses from cables in the event of fire, the 2002 version of the National Electric Code ("NEC"), promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association, sets forth new guidelines requiring that abandoned cables must be removed from buildings unless they are located in metal raceways or tagged "For Future Use." While the NEC is not, in itself, binding law, most jurisdictions in the United States adopt the NEC by reference in their state or local building and fire codes. Thus, noncompliance with the recent NEC guidelines will likely mean that a building is in violation of a building or fire code. If so, the building owner may also be in breach of agreements with tenants and lenders and may be jeopardizing its fire insurance coverage. Even in jurisdictions where the 2002 NEC has not been adopted, it may be argued that the guidelines represent the standard of reasonable care and could result in tort liability for the landlord if toxic gasses from abandoned cables are emitted in a fire. With these potential liabilities in mind, this article discusses: 1) how to address the abandoned wires and cables currently located within the risers, ceilings and other areas of properties, and 2) additional considerations in the placement and removal of telecommunications cables going forward.Read More ›
- The New York Uniform Commercial Code Comes of AgeParties in large non-consumer transactions with no connection whatsoever to New York often choose its law to govern their transactions, and New York statutes permit them to do so. What most people do not know is that the New York Uniform Commercial Code is outdated.Read More ›