'Sophisticated' Losers
March 01, 2019
Why Commercial Fraud Claims Sometimes Fail, and the Importance of Due Diligence
If a court decision called you "sophisticated," it was probably not intended as a compliment, but instead signaled the death knell of your fraud claim.
Eighth Circuit Rejects Ponzi Scheme Presumption to Protect Legitimate Loan Repayments
March 01, 2019
In <i>Stoebner v. Opportunity Finance, LLC</i>, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit held that “… Ponzi scheme payments to satisfy legitimate antecedent debts to defendant banks could not be avoided” by a bankruptcy trustee “absent transaction-specific proof of actual intent to defraud or the statutory elements of constructive fraud — transfer by an insolvent debtor who did not receive reasonably equivalent value in exchange.”
Counsel Concerns: Lawyers Battle Over Gears of War Client
March 01, 2019
A Philadelphia lawyer is suing the founder of a fast-growing litigation boutique over a purported fee-sharing settlement, is arguing that the boutique backed out of the settlement so it could fund other cases against video game makers.
Key Tax and Financial Considerations for New Law Partners
March 01, 2019
Being asked to join the partnership of a firm is a measure of success as a legal professional. With that achievement comes tax and financial responsibilities that, surprisingly, few attorneys are fully prepared to deal with. These responsibilities include the unexpected individual federal and state and local tax filing and payments.
Five Ways to Maximize Marketing Efforts
March 01, 2019
With every request for external exposure, there is also an assumption that one effort of marketing will result in millions in new revenue. Yet, we all know that the responsibility to implement all marketing initiatives is on the lawyers.
Don't Set Me Off: No Triangular Setoff Among Affiliated Entities and a Debtor Counterparty
March 01, 2019
In today's global economy, companies often have multiple business lines operating through separate entities. Outside of bankruptcy, these affiliated operations sometimes transact in a holistic — albeit legally distinct — debtor-creditor relationship with their counterparty. But, as this article discusses, the legal separateness of affiliates can hinder economic protections that a creditor might have otherwise when its counterparty files for bankruptcy.
Bit Parts
March 01, 2019
California Federal Judge Refuses, Among Other Things, to Drop Fiduciary Breach Claim Against AMC Networks over Fear the Walking Dead TV Series<br>New York Appellate Division Decides UMG Recordings Isn't Alter Ego of Cash Money Records<br>
Mystery Subpoena Case at High Court Could Expand U.S. Authority
March 01, 2019
Rare Supreme Court holiday activity and ongoing news coverage about special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation has drawn much attention to the enigmatic case of <i>In Re Grand Jury Subpoena</i>. The matter is unremarkable, presenting familiar issues of international litigation. Upon further examination, however, the case may have the potential to expand the authority of United States courts over foreign states and their agencies or instrumentalities.
