Increased Flexibility for 401(k) Plan Sponsors
April 27, 2007
In the first half of this decade, a series of events wreaked havoc on pension plans. Enron and other major corporations collapsed with the result that employees and other investors lost billions of dollars in savings, including in many cases significant pension investments. Sept. 11 accelerated and deepened the fall of the financial markets. Lower securities prices, coupled with low interest rates, resulted in modest investment returns and increased funding obligations for sponsors of traditional defined benefit plans. In turn, major legacy air carriers and other historical industry leaders struggled (sometimes without success) to avoid bankruptcy. In response to these and other upheavals, Congress enacted the Pension Protection Act ('PPA') on Aug. 17, 2006, only three weeks after its introduction in the House of Representatives, in an effort to reform outdated aspects of federal pension laws and to provide greater stability and overall protection to pension plan members.
Development
April 27, 2007
Recent rulings of importance to you and your practice.
New Title Policy Forms Coming to New York
April 27, 2007
After three years of meetings and discussions not only with title companies, but also with other players in the real property industry such as lenders, realtors and government regulators, ALTA revised its 1992 forms in 2006. On Nov. 8, 2006, TIRSA filed with the Insurance Department for approval to issue the 2006 ALTA forms in New York. On March 5, 2007, the Insurance Department approved the issuance of the new 2006 forms in New York, effective May 1, 2007. The 2006 forms contain many changes from the 1992 forms with which New York real estate practitioners have grown very much acquainted. Most of the changes are rather technical and most real estate attorneys will not encounter them in their day-to-day operations. However, there are five (5) significant changes of which real estate practitioners should be aware.
Midsize Firms Seek Former Large-Firm Clients
April 27, 2007
Being one of a client's go-to law firms used to be a pretty secure situation. But gone are the days of lifelong client loyalties. In fact, disloyalty is increasingly the norm according to the BTI Consulting Group's latest survey of clients ' a situation that creates challenges and opportunities for savvy firms.
Index
April 27, 2007
A complete list of the cases analyzed in this issue.
On the Move
April 27, 2007
Who's doing what in the bankruptcy world.
Involuntary Petitions Under BAPCPA
April 27, 2007
As bankruptcy practitioners awaited the enactment and effective date of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 ('BAPCPA'), the multitude of speaking panels, journals, and cocktail conversations offering their speculative commentary on the anticipated effects of the amendments to Title 11 paid increased attention to the proposed amendments' effects on the remedies afforded to creditors under ' 303 of the Bankruptcy Code ' namely the involuntary bankruptcy petition.
