A 'Not So' Full Defense
January 30, 2009
Insurers take deductions from defense bills or delay payment of these bills far too frequently. Insurers engage in these tactics with many policyholders, but few actually challenge the insurer's conduct. There are, however, ways to challenge these tactics.
Renewable Energy Leasing Opportunities
January 29, 2009
Lately there has been increased interest in the use of sale-leasebacks as a financing mechanism for solar projects. While most of the activity to date has involved solar projects, there is no reason that sale-leasebacks could not be used to finance other types of renewable energy or other energy projects eligible for investment tax credits under Section 48, such as fuel cells, geothermal or certain combined heat and power facilities, as well as integrated gasification combined cycle and other advanced coal-based generation projects under Section 48A or gasification projects under Section 48B.
The Housing Assistance Tax Act and the Emergency Economic Recovery Act
January 29, 2009
In response to the nation's economic downturn, former President Bush signed into law the Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008 ("Housing Act") on July 30, 2008 and the Emergency Economic Recovery Act of 2008 ("Bailout Plan") on Oct. 3, 2008. The new laws have several significant tax-related provisions that affect individual and business taxpayers including law firms, attorneys, their staff, and their clients.
Rules Governing Fax and E-mail Ads
January 29, 2009
The importance of having a robust compliance policy to review the content of proposed advertisements is well-known and widely accepted. But what may not be as familiar is the need for a separate policy focused on the means of disseminating such advertising. Here's why.
Law Firms and Social Networking
January 29, 2009
Along with the viral popularity of social networking Web sites (one of these sites is the fourth most-trafficked Web site in the world), legal blogs, collaboration sites, and informal online education options comes the vulnerability of some risk. Here's what to do.
Technology and Law Firm Management
January 29, 2009
Technology innovations in legal practice will become standard as the author's generation moves into management and leadership roles. Here's why.
Does Your Partnership Agreement Violate the Rules of Professional Conduct?
January 29, 2009
In many industries, non-competition provisions are a typical feature of employment contracts and partnership agreements. For lawyers, however, they have been condemned as unethical. Here's a look at Rule 5.6(a) of the ABA's Model Rules of Professional Conduct promulgated in 1983, and where it stands today.
Fraud, Fraud Everywhere (Nor Any Relief For the Victim)
January 28, 2009
From Wall Street executives, to Ponzi scammers like Bernard Madoff, to run-of-the-mill scammers easily exposed at sites such as Snopes.com, the Internet ' as we all should know ' has truly souped up, and made easier, frauders' ability to prey on others than ever before.
Ponzi Schemes Revisited
January 28, 2009
The unraveling of a $50-billion dollar Ponzi scheme allegedly perpetrated by Bernard L. Madoff has brought a new magnitude to an old but hardy scam. Here's a look at how Ponzi schemes work.
Losing My e-Mail
December 29, 2008
In today's BlackBerry-driven, online business world, losing one's e-mail ' and access to other online forms of communication ' has to be worse than REM's fear of losing one's religion. Yet that is just the fate that may await our next President, who has already publicly confessed (on national television, no less, though you can certainly find the story on the Internet) his steadfast inability to shake his smoking addiction under the stress of a Presidential campaign.
