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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Foreclosure Sale Bidder Entitled to Return of Down Payment When Title Was Not MarketableInadequacy of Price Does Not Establish Duty to Inquire About Fraud

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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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When franchisees choose to financially reorganize under the Bankruptcy Code, they may be the right size to choose to reorganize under Subchapter V of Chapter 11. Where the franchisor and the franchisee cannot reconcile, Subchapter V may provide the franchisee with breathing room and leverage to be revitalized.