Cover Story

When a village or other taxing authority conducts a tax lien sale, and the purchaser of the tax lien subsequently acquires a tax deed, what rights does the tax-delinquent former owner of the property enjoy?

Simply put, the old levers of profitability — billable hours and rate increases — are no longer sufficient. Firms that fail to proactively address inefficiencies risk losing market share to more agile competitors. To remain competitive, law firms must rethink traditional business models and optimize operations at every level.

When a village or other taxing authority conducts a tax lien sale, and the purchaser of the tax lien subsequently acquires a tax deed, what rights does the tax-delinquent former owner of the property enjoy?

When the SEC issues the next annual enforcement report for fiscal year 2025, we expect securities offering actions and investment adviser actions will almost certainly be up, and the “crypto” and “cyber” cases will almost certainly be down. Public statements by the new SEC administration have said as much, but even more telling than public statements are the allocation of limited enforcement resources.

For decades, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act has been the only law to expressly address privacy for minors’ information other than student data. In the absence of more robust federal requirements, states are stepping in to regulate not only the processing of all minors’ data, but also online platforms used by teens and children.

In an era where the workplace is constantly evolving, law firms face unique challenges and opportunities in facilities management, real estate, and design. Across the industry, firms are reevaluating their office spaces to adapt to hybrid work models, prioritize collaboration, and enhance employee experience. Trends such as flexible seating, technology-driven planning, and the creation of multifunctional spaces are shaping the future of law firm offices.

New York City enacted the Fair Chance for Housing Act on Jan. 1, 2025, a transformative law reshaping how criminal history influences housing decisions. Its goal is to address the disparate impact that review and consideration of criminal records may have on the ability of persons of color to obtain housing.

For years, customer relationship management (CRM) in law firms has often been viewed as a glorified Rolodex — a necessary but often underutilized system primarily seen as a data repository. However, as firms seek to drive business development, client engagement and revenue growth, CRM needs to evolve into a strategic growth platform.