Not Theirs for the Taking: SCOTUS Rebuffs County’s Full Property Seizure
From Cicero’s De Officiis to the Magna Carta and the homesteaders of 1862 to the millennials of 2023, humankind has long recognized the importance of a place to call home. Codified in the Fifth Amendment (“…nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation”) and bolstered by over 200 years of case…
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Ed Sheeran’s Court Victory Adds Important Layer to Copyright Law
After almost five years of litigation, British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran pulled out all the stops (and his guitar) to obtain victory over claims his 2014 song “Thinking Out Loud” infringed on the copyrights held by the estate of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote Marvin Gaye’s 1973 hit “Let’s Get it On.”[1] The lawsuit alleged that Sheeran…
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Potential Changes Threaten Estate Planning Strategies, Create Urgency to Act
Actor Will Rogers is widely credited with stating that “the only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets.” While most taxpayers fear tax laws changing for the worse, estate and gift taxation has only grown more favorable to taxpayers over the last decade despite very public opposition.…
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New Rules Aim to Make SBA Loans More Accessible, Abundant, and Better
The United States Small Business Administration (“SBA”) oversees two loan programs that are intended to benefit small business owners and promote employment. The programs, known as the 7(a) Loan Program and Section 504 Loan Program, serve different purposes. 7(a) loans are intended to provide funding for short and long-term working capital, for purchases of furniture,…
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Should Influencers Be Held Liable for the Promotion of Digital Assets?
The world’s ever-changing technological landscape has led to the formation of new mediums of creativity — mediums that the sports and entertainment industry cannot ignore. Digital currencies, virtual universes, and enhanced gaming platforms are just a few drops in the new-tech wave that is crashing onto industries and headlines everywhere. As a result, many attorneys…
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If You Don’t Use It, You May Lose It: Land Development Approvals
Picture this scenario: You have a residential development project that had conceptual approval from the local Planning Board two years ago. Under the local laws that existed when you applied for your approval, you were entitled to 60 market-rate dwelling units. But when you submit your engineering plans for the next phase of approval, you are…
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Livin’ La Vida Loca: Florida’s Radical Overhaul of Commercial Zoning Incentivizes Developers
The “Live Local Act,” recently signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, provides unprecedented incentives for developers to build affordable housing. With access to low-interest loans and tax credits, the ability to bypass local zoning restrictions, and prevention of county-imposed rent control, developers are now incentivized to create a lasting impact in their communities…
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Location, Location, Location: Asset Protection for LLC Founders
A primary focus when starting a business should answer this question: What structure provides the most protection? New founders can get bogged down in the minutia about whether to choose a corporation or a limited liability company (“LLC”), how they want the business to be taxed, or what titles the owners should have. These are…
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The Show Must Go On: Entertainer-Employee Classification Takes Center Stage for Venues
It’s spring 2023, live entertainment is back, and perhaps so is the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law on August 16, 2022, authorizes $80 billion in funding for the IRS over the next 10 years, of which more than $45 billion is earmarked for enforcement. [1] What does this mean…
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Do It Better Than ‘Succession’: How to Optimize Transition for Your Waystar Royco
Over the past three seasons, fans of the hit HBO series Succession [1] have had an entrée into the fabulous lifestyles enjoyed by members of the Roy family and a front-row seat from which to observe the myriad succession struggles the family faces. While not every business experiences the same palace intrigue as the Waystar…
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