DEBT Is a Four-Letter Word
July 29, 2009
Matrimonial attorneys must be able to distinguish elements of leverage risk that are accentuated in today's economy in order to present overvaluing business equity. Here's how.
Preemption Paradox
July 29, 2009
The two recent Supreme Court decisions in <i>Riegel</i> and <i>Altria Group</i> are difficult to reconcile in fundamental ways, and, consequently, they did little to provide meaningful guidance to litigants and lower courts.
Maximizing Law Firm Mergers in the Media
July 29, 2009
Grappling with an unprecedented recession, law firms are merging out of both necessity and opportunity, according to a recent client advisory from Hildebrandt and Citi Private Bank.
Changes in Pricing Legal Services
July 29, 2009
Compounded by the current recession, demands of clients and competition among law firms are causing fairly dramatic changes in the pricing of legal services, away from straight hourly billing.
Update on Climate Risks and Insurer Responses
July 29, 2009
The risks posed by global warming have become a priority for both political and business leaders worldwide. Corporate policyholders and their insurers are facing new disclosure obligations and compliance costs as well as potential first-party losses and third-party liabilities resulting from climate change. This article provides an overview of recent developments of particular interest to corporate policyholders.
Selecting a Leasing Broker
July 28, 2009
In order to assure that a firm chooses the best broker for the job, management should begin by soliciting proposals from a minimum of three or four brokers through an appropriate Request for Proposal process. To be certain that the RFP process provides the firm with relevant information from each broker to reach the best decision, the RFP should request detailed responses to the 10 questions addressed in this article.
Avoid Double Taxation
July 28, 2009
The People's Republic of China has issued two circulars providing detailed compliance requirements aimed at reaching foreign service providers with clients in China. These new provisions will likely cause U.S. and multinational law firms with clients in China to reconsider existing practices and client engagement procedures in order to avoid the possibility of double taxation.
OPEB, COLI and Post-Retiree Needs
July 28, 2009
The recently passed COLI Best Practices ' 101(j), Deferred Compensation ' 409A and the Medicare Act of 2003 require advisers to review all qualified and nonqualified benefit programs. These legislative changes and the courts' review of COLI provide attorneys with a different approach to help solve their benefits planning problems. While pensions have been codified, limited, and scrutinized since 1974 with ERISA, non-pension post-retiree benefits (OPEB-GASB 45, FAS 106, and IAS 19) have been less regulated ' until now. Judicial action, legislation, and administrative agency action have caused a paradigm shift in benefits planning.
Organizational Risk in an Economic Downturn
July 28, 2009
During turbulent economic times, organizations need to be especially vigilant to minimize potential risks that could ultimately affect the bottom line or shareholder ROI.
