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The Credit Agency Reform Act: What Leasing Companies Need to Know
Any equipment leasing or finance company desiring to access the debt capital markets must quickly become adept at dealing with a unique feature of that world: the credit rating and its gatekeeper, the credit rating agency. Entering this realm can be a jolt for finance officers used to the relationship-friendly, competitive environment of commercial banks. Dominated by two monoliths, Standard & Poor's and Moody's, the rating agency process is steeped in the clinical analytics of credit modeling. Rating agencies are viewed by many as academic in perspective and, to some, remote and obscure in their approach.
Some of this may soon begin to change. On Sept. 29, 2006, President Bush signed into law the Credit Rating Agency Reform Act of 2006 (Public Law No. 109-291, at http://thomas.loc.gov/). This Act is the first legislation to regulate credit rating agencies and states its purpose as 'to improve ratings quality for the protection of investors and in the public interest by fostering accountability, transparency, and competition in the credit rating agency industry.'
The Act results from long and extensive debate regarding: 1) the role of the credit rating agencies in the securities markets, and 2) the degree of governmental involvement needed to protect investors who rely on such credit ratings. Many see the Act, which grants the SEC the power to oversee and regulate credit rating agencies, as the final reform in the spirit of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 ('SOX'). (It is not surprising that Representative Michael G. Oxley introduced the original House version of the legislation.)
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models
Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.
Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge
As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.
Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator
How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.
Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising
The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.
Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality
This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.