Features
Stick to the 'Plain Meaning'
<b><I>Interpreting Lease Contract Terms</I></b><p>The complications that can and do arise in the field of commercial leasing come in all shapes and sizes, and not all can be anticipated. However, with careful planning, and if the stars align, lease terms sometimes cover even an abnormal future event, preserving the agreement that the parties undoubtedly contemplated at signing
Features
When Actions Speak Louder Than Words
<b><I>Written Agreements Are Not the Final Word</I></b><p>Recently, an Ohio appellate court held that the parties' actual conduct — and not the express written provisions in their lease to the contrary — controlled in interpreting the intentions of the parties in contracting. This case serves as a good reminder for legal practitioners that our written agreements are often not the final word.
Features
Challenges in Drafting a Restaurant Exclusive Use Clause
The reasonable and typical middle ground in the struggle between the parties regarding the scope of the "exclusive" is to protect only a tenant's "core" or "primary" business. Using such an approach, if properly drafted, will allow the tenant to avoid the two-coffee-shop situation, but will still permit the landlord to lease to multiple tenants with overlapping but not fundamentally competing uses.
Features
Effective Contract Management
<i><b>Three Goals</i></b><p>A recent report laid bare one of the most pressing problems of today's companies — and their GCs. Simply put, the report found that businesses of all types do a poor job of contract management.
Features
Non-Compete Clauses In California
Non-compete clauses in employment contracts typically seek to preclude employees from working for a competitor for a specific period of time and within a specific geographic area. Most states allow non-competition agreements, provided they are reasonable in scope and justified by the employer's legitimate business interests. California, however, generally prohibits covenants not to compete, subject to limited exceptions.
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Avoiding Tax Pitfalls in New York Real Property Transfers in Separation and Divorce
Most divorces involve the transfer of a marital residence between the parties as part of equitable distribution, especially when there are minor children who will continue to reside in the family home.There is a transfer tax payable on the transfer of real estate, including the marital residence, in connection with the implementation of the marital settlement agreement or divorce.
Features
Drafting Film Production Compensation Clauses In Light of State Tax Credit Requirements
Compensation provisions in entertainment contracts are in one or two subparagraphs. To simplify drafting and to use “plain English,” the compensation provisions often contain introductory, governing language along the lines of: “In full and complete consideration for entering into and performing all of the terms hereof.” However, is such a “plain English” approach always a “best practice”?
Features
<i>Decision of Note</i>: Second Circuit Rules on e-Book Sample in Digital Locker
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit decided that an agreement between a book author and a publisher allowed a customer of distributor Barnes & Noble to retain a sample of the book in the “digital locker” the distributor provided to the customer.
Features
Former BET General Counsel Plays Role in Actress's Lawsuit
The longtime general counsel of Black Entertainment Television (BET) has a starring role in actress Gabrielle Union's contract case against the network. Union alleges she was duped into working on more episodes of her BET Networks show Being Mary Jane — without a break between seasons four and five to allow her time to continue to pursue her film career between the TV production schedule.
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