Articles
Shifting Board Duties for Corporations Operating within the "Zone of Insolvency" (Summer 2009)
Given the current economic climate, members of the Business Law Section are likely seeing an increased number of their clients worrying about thin cash flow and the threat of insolvency. Business clients often have reason to worry beyond their own balance sheets: the financial health of customers, distributors, and others in a company's chain of business is critical as that company awaits payment for valuable goods delivered and services rendered. More »
Commercial Real Estate Financing: The Borrower's Perspective (July 2009)
Tough times notwithstanding, there are ways for the commercial real estate borrower to use the lending process to its advantage. We are living through difficult economic times, and every day there seems to be more bad news about the commercial real estate market. The numbers aren’t encouraging. A recent newspaper article reported that: “Commercial property sales plunged 73% last year, according to Real Capital Analytics. Vacancy rates are rising, and hundreds of large properties are in default. The American Institute of Architects’ billing index, a leading indicator of construction six months ahead, is at a record low. Unemployment in the construction industry is 15.3%, well above the average 7.2% jobless rate.” More »
Details and more articles »News Alerts and Newsletters
UPDATE: Deadline for Posting Notice of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act Extended a Second Time to April 30, 2012 (1.2012)
Update: Deadline for Posting Notice of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act Extended to January 31, 2012 (10.2011)
Make Room On Your Crowded Company Bulletin Board: Most Employers Must Post Notice of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act by November 14. (9.2011)
Washington's MTCA - No Intent Required. Court affirms judgment against DOT for arranging the disposal of contaminated groundwater into the Thea Foss Waterway (8.2011)
Further Update: Temporary Federal Estate Tax Reform. On December 17, 2010 President Obama signed into law important reforms to the federal estate tax, gift tax and generation-skipping tax, effective for 2011 and 2012 and, to a limited extent, for 2010 (3.2011)
Manufacturer-Arranger Liability Under State and Federal Superfund Laws: An Update on strategies for maintaining private contribution and cost-recovery actions against manufacturers of dry cleaning materials and equipment (3.2011)
New IRS Reporting Requirements as of January 1, 2011 (1.2011)
Comments Sought Now: ADA Proposed Rulemaking Affecting Website Accessibility (12.2010)
Washington Supreme Court Muddies Economic Loss Rule (11.2010)
Temporary Window to Exclude 100% of Capital Gains on Qualified Small Business Stock (11.2010)
Changes to the Accredited Investor Definition (9.2010)
New Ninth Circuit Decision Emphasizes Employer Obligations In Disability Accommodation Cases (8.2010)
The Pleading Threshold in Environmental Cleanup Cases (Twombly, Iqbal, and What to Do) (8.2010)
Attorney-Client Privilege Applies to Environmental Consultants (8.2010)
Mercury Emissions: The Next Challenge for Coal-Powered Electric Generation Plants (8.2010)
Ninth Circuit Clarifies Independent Contractor Test (7.2010)
Employment Law Summary: (1) U.S. Supreme Court Gives Public Employer the Green Light to Search Employee’s Text Messages; and (2) U.S. Department of Labor Clarifies (and Expands) Definition of “Son or Daughter” for Purposes of FMLA Leave (6.2010)
Municipal Discharger of Stormwater Runoff Liable under CERCLA: Ruling affirms arranger liability for stormwater contamination (6.2010)
EPA Is Considering CERCLA Financial-Responsibility Requirements for Several Industries (6.2010)
United States v. Apex Oil Co.: The Seventh Circuit Holds that RCRA Provides Remedies that Cannot Be Discharged in Bankruptcy (5.2010)
Manufacturer-Arranger Liability Under State and Federal Superfund Laws: Strategies for maintaining private contribution and cost-recovery actions against manufacturers of dry cleaning materials and equipment (5.2010)
EPA Announces Plan to Regulate Coal Ash: Agency’s proposal defers decision on whether to treat coal ash slurry as a hazardous waste (5.2010)
Local Regulation and Federal Tax Incentives Promote Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings (4.2010)
EPA Issues National Greenhouse Gas Standards on Autos. Despite legal uncertainty, EPA's action sets in motion imminent regulation on broad sectors of the economy, apart from any legislation Congress may enact (4.2010)
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: What Do Employers Need To Know Today? (4.2010)
Working with Environmental Consultants: Best Practices for Preserving Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Protection (3.2010)
Modifying Donor Restrictions on Funds: Can it be Done? (3.2010)
Temporary Federal Estate Tax Repeal? (1.2010)
President Obama Signs New Law Extending COBRA Subsidy (12.30.2009)
E-Verify To Go Into Effect September 8, 2009 (9.8.2009)
Good Governance for Tax-Exempt Organizations: Guidance from the IRS (9.2.2009)
Details and more news alerts »Presentations
One way Riddell Williams adds value to its client relationships is by making complimentary presentations on-site to in house lawyers or business partners. For your consideration, we offer a List of Presentations, but welcome your suggestions for topics that may be of particular interest.
Contingent Consideration, Earnouts and Holdbacks in M&A Transactions (12.6.2011)
- When does it make sense to provide for an earnout?
- What practical considerations should a buyer or seller consider in negotiating contingent consideration?
- How does a holdback impact income taxes on the sale of my company? More »
Reasonable Accommodation After AD3A: If At First You Don't Succeed, You Must Try, Try Again! (11.16.2011)
- Learn about what's new in the world of reasonable accommodation
- Explore topics like unpaid leave, reassignment, work from home, unpredictable absences and many more
- Bob Howie will bring you current developments and walk you through various case studies to help you understand how these laws work in practice More »
Shifting Risk and Liability: Guaranties, Indemnities, and Releases in Business Transactions (10.4.2011)
Guaranties:- When I'm asking for one, how can I make sure it's enforceable?
- When I'm giving one, where is there room for negotiation?
- In the event of a claim, will I actually be protected and my losses covered?
- Who will defend a lawsuit?
- How can I limit the scope of liabilities I'm taking on?
- Is mine effective and enforceable?
- Are there limits to what I can release? More »
Developing an Excellent Nonprofit Board, Engaging Board Members, and Evaluating the Executive Director (9.22.2011)
- Building a great nonprofit board: The legal role and responsibilities of directors, and qualities and characteristics that make a successful board/
- Recruiting high impact directors: Aligning strategy with board members who can get it done
- Orienting and training directors: How to make it informative, interesting and ongoing
- Evaluating the chief executive / executive director: Best practices in measuring competencies and performance More »
Bob Howie's Annual Employment Law Update (6.8 and 14.2011)
- Keep yourself updated on key Washington and federal cases that could affect your business
- Find out what the National Labor Relations Board is doing to encourage and facilitate unionization in public and private workplaces
- Learn about new federal regulations on the ADAAA and GINA
- Explore the ways that social networking sites are having an impact on the workplace
- Hear the latest news from the U.S. Supreme Court More »
Litigation Holds (5.25.2011)
- What is a Litigation Hold?
- When should a Litigation Hold be issued?
- Best practices for issuing a Litigation Hold. More »
Preventing and Managing Directors & Officers Liability Risk (5.18.2011)
This presentation focuses on the key liability risks faced by the most senior people in your organization and what can be done to avoid and mitigate such risks, including a Top 10 List of how directors and officers get in trouble (and can stay out of it). More »
Planning for Victory: Using the "Battle of the Forms" to Your Advantage (4.28.2011)
- The Bottom Line
- How Sales Contracts are Formed
- Practical Tips More »
Strategic Thinking for Nonprofits in 2011: Succeeding in a Changing Economy (2.25.2011)
- Addressing continuing challenges in an improving but still volatile economic climate
- Lessons learned for effective leadership and operation
- Options for joining forces with others to achieve strategic goals More »
Private Offerings: Finding the Balance Between Company and Investor Objectives (12.8.2010)
- Economic considerations in private offerings
- Issues relating to control in private companies
- Other contractual features commonly found in investment documents More »
Non-Compete and Other Restrictive Covenants: Reasonable and Necessary or Overreaching and Unenforceable? (11.17.2010)
- Drafting enforceable agreements
- How to safely hire a competitor's employees
- Exit interviews and dealing with departing employees
- Litigation issues and strategies
- Settlement pitfalls More »
Equity Compensation in Limited Liability Companies (10.6.2010)
- Use of capital and profits interests as incentive mechanisms
- Viability of option plans for LLC equity
- Tax consequences of various types of equity compensation arrangemen More »
Avoiding Unintended Consequences: Current Developments in Whistleblower and Retaliation Law (9.29.2010)
- Since 1997, retaliation claims have grown from 22% to 36% of all claims filed with the EEOC
- New whistleblowing federal and state statutes have encouraged claims
- Difficulty in finding employment has lead to more creative tactics by employees More »
A Guided Tour Through the Jungles of Health Care Reform and IRC Section 409A (6.29.2010)
Health Care Reform: Employer-sponsored group health plan changes and effective dates; Special small business provisions; and Support for wellness programs. IRC Section 409A: Mini refresher on deferred compensation arrangements; Ongoing reporting requirements; and Traps for the unwary. More »
Bob Howie's 2010 Employment Law Update (6.9 and 15.2010)
A review of all significant employment and labor law developments in the past year—cases, legislation, regulations and more! More »
Starting Out Smart: Growing Your Tech Business On A Shoestring (4.13.2010)
- entity formation
- Corporate governance
- Founders' and shareholders' agreements
- Patent and invention protection
- Trademark protection and branding More »
Employment Litigation and Enforcement Trends: What Keeps Your RW Employment Lawyer Awake At Night? (3.17.2010)
Employment litigation trends are changing in 2010. State and federal agencies have announced new enforcement priorities, and plaintiffs' attorneys are seeking new ways to exploit employer mistakes. Join us for breakfast on March 17 to make sure you are up-to-date about workplace best practices that will help you avoid being part of the latest employment litigation trends! More »
Details and more presentations »