Joseph A. Bailey, Jr. Rejoins A&FP Board
February 24, 2005
<i>A&FP</i> warmly welcomes back PwC Tax Partner and U.S. Law Firm Tax Services Leader Joseph A. Bailey, Jr. for a new tour of duty on our Board of Editors.
Leasehold Improvements: New Window of Opportunity for Tax Savings
February 24, 2005
Perhaps inadvertently, Congress gave a double profitability boost to law partners when it recently enacted the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 ' a provision of which slashes the recovery period for leasehold improvements. To take advantage of these benefits, however, firms must invest in qualified leasehold improvements during 2005.
A&FP Congratulates Bill Brennan
February 24, 2005
Legal management consultancy Altman Weil, Inc. has named our Board Member William F. Brennan, CPA, CMA, as the firm's newest principal.
Surviving a Malpractice Fiasco: 10 Views
February 24, 2005
Recently I asked members of <i>A&FP</i>'s Editorial Board and several new contributors for their thoughts on how a law firm might best deal with the financial blow of an unusually large settlement or penalty assessed against the firm. <br>Although a large financial hit could arise from many scenarios, including a client slipping on a banana peel near the firm's negligently wide-open elevator shaft, our 10 discussants immediately zoomed in on professional malpractice as the source of liability on which to focus.
Contending with Title III of the ADA: Tips for Property Owners and Managers
February 24, 2005
With the recent adoption of new Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") Accessibility Guidelines, it seems likely that real property owners and managers will soon see an increase in the number of ADA-based lawsuits as both private plaintiffs and the Department of Justice seek to enforce compliance with the various changes and new provisions. This article provides a basic guide to some of the more important elements of this type of litigation, particularly cases brought by private plaintiffs.
Understanding Affirmative Action Obligations as a Landlord, Tenant or Government Contractor
February 24, 2005
Given the plethora of government regulations spawned in the 80s and 90s, Executive Order 11246 (the "Order"), signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, may appear to be relatively ancient history. Nevertheless, compliance with this far-reaching rule remains as essential today as it did when the Order was issued. Similarly, it continues to catch unwary federal contractors by surprise. Under the Order, companies that hold federal contracts or subcontracts in excess of $10,000 are prohibited from discriminating against employees and applicants for employment in hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, and national origin. This aspect of the Order is generally widely understood. What is often overlooked, however, is that these contractors are also subject to certain affirmative action requirements. While the Executive Order has been on the books for nearly 40 years, many companies still find themselves in uncharted territory with respect to their coverage under affirmative action regulations.
The Leasing Hotline
February 24, 2005
Highlights of the latest commercial leasing cases from around the country.
In the Spotlight: Internet Technologies Meet HVAC Components
February 24, 2005
Internet technologies are poised to revolutionize the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry by enabling HVAC components to communicate not only with each other but with other building systems controls as well, and even with the enterprise business systems that have become essential to running large corporations, nonprofits and agencies.
Digital Images: Don't Blink or You Will Miss Them
February 24, 2005
The use of digital cameras to create and preserve images has evolved from an expensive, often specialized process to a common practice embraced by the general public. As the use of digital photography has become commonplace, so too are digital photographs being increasingly offered as evidence. Courts generally have accepted digital photographs for the same purposes as traditional photographs: to support testimony and sometimes to take its place as "pictorial testimony." Digital photographs, however, are far more easily altered and manipulated than traditional film photographs, and such changes may be more difficult, if not impossible, to detect.
Online: Everything You Need to Know About Daubert
February 24, 2005
For everything you ever wanted to know about <i>Daubert</i>, visit <i>www.daubertontheweb.com.</i> The home page will direct you to a variety of links, which include: "Source" (the <i>Daubert</i> opinion); "Progeny" (Supreme Court cases interpreting <i>Daubert</i>); "Procedure" (cases resolving challenges to <i>Daubert</i>); "Fields" (decisions by fields of expertise); "Substance" (the <i>Daubert</i> worldview); "Circuits" (more than 650 appellate decisions); "States" (selected state decisions); "Tactics" (things to try); "User Forum" (to ask a question or state a view); and a Blog.
