Articles

Practical advice for employers when it comes to terminating employees for misconduct. Our turbulent economic times, together with what many believe is a strongly pro-employee process, often make it difficult for an employer to win an unemployment

A healthy employer and employee relationship is key to a productive work environment. By annually updating your policies and handbooks, you will maintain consistency, employee accountability and legal compliance with the ever-evolving employment

During the 2012 legislative session the Maryland General Assembly made a number of changes to the Maryland Limited Liability Company Act (the “LLC Act”) that will be of interest to lenders and their counsel. These changes became effective October

Maryland’s legislature has been busy in both its regular and special sessions and some new laws went into effect in June and July that will be of interest to businesses and lenders. 1. Tax on Indemnity Deeds of Trust. Traditionally,

America is admired around the world because it strives to follow the rule of law. When an American business enters into a contract in the United States, they know that that they have recourse to the most sophisticated legal system in the world

With the American economy limping along, a great deal of attention has been focused recently on the availability of credit. Borrowers complain that bankers aren’t making loans, and bankers complain that their willingness and ability to make loans

The explosion of electronic communications and data over the past twenty years has been both a boon, and a curse, for attorneys and their clients. The ubiquitous nature of email and other forms of electronic data can provide a treasure trove of

What do Steven Jobs, Marilyn Monroe, and Albert Einstein have in common? Their valuable personas survive their natural lives. Apple has recently moved to prevent the manufacture of Steven Jobs dolls. Albert Einstein’s rights are held by the Hebrew

If your company were to find itself in a lawsuit arising from a contract dispute with another company, would you prefer to be represented by a law firm that you know well, in a courthouse a few miles from your company office? Or, would you rather

Today, lenders across Maryland are facing stiff headwinds. From my perspective, lenders can’t seem to catch a break. Regulators want them to limit risks while at the same time increasing business. Management must tightly control expenses to maintain

The U.S. economy remains fragile and the business environment has become fiercely competitive, as too many suppliers chase too few consumers. Guarding one’s customer base, trade secrets and branding has become critical to survival. Although not

It is not uncommon for lenders to take a security interest in a business owner’s ownership interest in the corporation, LLC, limited partnership or other entity as collateral for a loan to the business. For the most part, the transactions are documented

In recent years, non-profit and charitable organizations, such as churches, synagogues, community foundations and institutions of higher education, among others, have been promoting the virtues of philanthropy in order to encourage individuals and

By preventing disclosure of confidential communications, the privilege preserves an honest and open relationship between accountants and their clients. The privilege in Maryland is strong. A recent Maryland Court of Appeals decision even closed

Getting paid is critical to the continued livelihood of each and every business. Yet, too often, businesses do not get paid for services they have rendered or for products they have sold. While there are rarely any guarantees of getting paid, absent

More money, better benefits, flex-time, company cars, and yes, even a piece of the company, are but some of the demands being made by today's workforce. While entrepreneurs are typically reluctant to give away what they have worked so hard to build,

One of the most common concerns that an owner of a closely-held business faces regarding business succession is liquidity. How can the future owners of the business, be they family or key employees, pay the owner or his family the fair market value

1. What is a Limited Liability Company? A limited liability company (commonly called an LLC) is an unincorporated business association. Like a corporation, it is a legal entity that protects its owners from personal liability in many situations.

1. What is a Corporation? A corporation is a legal entity. By law a corporation is actually a person, with the right to own property, sue, be sued and be charged with crimes. Because a corporation is a person, it can incur all of the liability

If you are like many entrepreneurs, your business plan may focus on growth, marketing or product development -- or perhaps just day-to-day survival. Increasingly, however, clients are asking us what they can do now to plan for an eventual acquisition

It is difficult for anyone to believe or accept: the office manager or bookkeeper that you trusted implicitly has been robbing your company blind. Month after month, small amounts have been taken out of the company's bank account and now they have

Ingrained in the fabric of American Law is the notion that each party should be responsible for her own attorneys' fees, regardless of the outcome. Although this may be true in most cases, there are some exceptions, and contract law is one of

Can it really be done? Can I really find myself subject to the terms of a written contract without having ever actually signed it in ink? The answer is yes! Believe it or not, but technological advances have brought us into the world of cyber-contracting!

With the changing landscape of the workforce has come an increase in the number of companies that are subcontracting work to individuals and other companies as an alternative to hiring full time employees. While this approach has many advantages,

Despite recent downward turns in the technology sector of the market, technology-based companies remain a viable economic contributor and continue to impact us in numerous ways. For these technology-based companies, finding the right people to manage

One of the most effective ways to protect a business owner's personal assets is to operate the business through a corporation, LLC, limited partnership, or other limited liability entity (LLE). LLE's are considered persons under the law. As such,

Questions often arise as to whether the company must pay commissions or bonuses that are only partially earned or accrued as of the termination date, and whether the company can withhold from the employee's final paycheck amounts owed by the employee

Did you know that even if your business is organized as a corporation, a limited liability company or a sole proprietorship, it can also register a nickname with the State Department of Assessments & Taxation (ASDAT)? The law allows you to register

Buying or selling a business can be a wonderful, terrifying experience. Many who seek our assistance have never been through a business acquisition, and they may have no idea what to expect. As with any business activity, a sale or acquisition

How long did it take you to come up with the name of your company? Was it a quick, no‑brainer decision or was it something that you contemplated for days or even weeks. Whichever the case, once you have chosen a name for your business, the name

Depending on the type of coverage you have, you can usually expect your policy to cover the costs of your defense, as well as payment of the final judgment, should one be entered against you. Nonetheless, once you call your carrier, the incident