Anatomy of an IP Theft
August 28, 2007
Matters related to intellectual property ('IP') have become so common in our e-discovery and computer-forensics practice that when we tell our staff there's a new matter requiring our attention, the general response is typically: 'Let me guess ' another company where a former employee has left for a competitor or created a startup, and allegedly stole the company's key intellectual property to get a head start.' From that point, we delve into another adventure to hunt down the next smoking gun and, in some instances, the silver bullet.
Changes to Retiree Health Benefits
August 28, 2007
Changes in accounting rules, spiraling health-care costs, increased competition and changing demographics converge to make it economically infeasible for some employers to continue providing such benefits at the generous levels of years past. Consequently, many companies have been compelled to modify their retiree health plans in ways that reduce or eliminate some benefits or that require retirees to pay more out of pocket. These changes have resulted in an avalanche of litigation.
Federal Contractors and Executive Order 11246
August 28, 2007
This past year has seen a flurry of activity under Executive Order 11246 ('EO 11246'), the law that governs the administration of affirmative action programs of employers that have certain government contracts or subcontracts. In the wake of these new changes, this article offers suggestions of best practices relating to one of the most noteworthy developments for EO 11246 compliance: the 'Internet Applicant' rule, which became effective on Feb. 6, 2006.
Support Modification: Overview and Update
July 31, 2007
In the past few years, more requests for modification of a child support obligations, either upward or downward, have been denied than granted. With regard to the cases in which an upward modification was denied, the courts have been reluctant to find that the party seeking to modify the child support obligation has established that any claimed change in circumstances was unanticipated or that the children's needs were not being met.
Ruling Signals Change in French Tax Treatment of LLP Distributions
July 30, 2007
Earlier this year, the French authorities signaled that a welcome change may be afoot in the tax treatment of distributions from UK LLPs under French law. (Most U.S. firms operate in France through the UK, unless they are grandfathered and in practice in France since the early 1990s.) This article discusses the scope of the ruling and its ramifications for UK firms considering a LLP conversion or those already in or contemplating alliances with French firms.
Unfunded Retirement Plans: An Ongoing Problem
July 30, 2007
During the past year, we witnessed a marked increase in the number of law firms, both large and small, which are finding that their existing unfunded retirement plans are becoming significant, disruptive forces. The underlying problem created by these plans is that the plans result in current income being diverted to former partners, thereby reducing the compensation of the remaining active partners. Today, the combination of an expected spike in retirements related to the baby boom generation and, for many firms, greatly increased benefit exposure due to sharp increases in firm profitability that is factored into the value of retiree benefits, stand ready to test the financial viability of even the strongest firms.
Taxes and the Internet: Haven't We Heard This Before?
July 30, 2007
Famous 18th-century technology geek Benjamin Franklin once complained that 'nothing in this world is certain but death and taxes.' These days, perhaps it's certain that this quote will appear in any tax article, but if taxes were a problem for inventors in Franklin's era (and he was an accomplished inventor himself), it shouldn't be surprising that they continue to confound experts on the Internet and e-commerce today.
Insolvencies Created By Bad Actors
July 30, 2007
While the market is swimming with innovative and highly leveraged financial transactions, and many parties are enjoying sizeable gains, some of those involved in these enterprises ultimately will become insolvent. A fraction of these insolvencies will result from fraudulent investment schemes perpetrated by multiple parties acting in concert for their mutual benefit. Innocent victims, including creditors and investors, will bear the financial brunt of the insolvencies, and will be eager to recover from all parties that participated in the fraud.
