Course1

Tax Planning for Real Estate, Part 1

$89.00

Tax issues in major real estate transactions – property development, long-term ownership, build-and-sell, like-kind exchanges – often drive the structures of these deals. If not properly considered, tax issues can also have a major adverse impact on the underlying economics of a deal.  The structure of a transaction can impact the timing and amount of gain, the treatment of losses (often very valuable to participants), and even the tax rate.  At every stage of a transaction, tax plays an important role.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to major tax planning issues in real estate deals, including choice of entity, capital gains and distribution planning, and advanced like-kind exchange issues.   Day 1: Choice of entity considerations – contributions, distributions, and eventual sales Acquiring property in a form to minimize taxes later Understanding allocation and distribution provisions – layered allocations, target/forced allocations, built-in-gain (or loss) allocations Understanding and drafting for continuing ownership, including capital shifts and other shifts in ownership Deductions arising from non-recourse debt and minimum gain chargebacks   Day 2: Advanced Like-Kind techniques for deferring gain on the disposition of property Techniques for using partnerships – mixing bowl partnerships, freeze partnerships, leveraged acquisition partnerships Installment sales and cross-purchase/redemption agreements Capital gain tax planning and the 3.8% tax on net investment income   Speakers: Leon Andrew Immerman is a partner in the Atlanta office of Alston & Bird, LLP, where he concentrates on federal income tax matters, including domestic and international tax planning and transactional work for joint ventures, partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations. He formerly served as chair of the Committee on Taxation of the ABA Business Law Section and as chair of the Partnership and LLC Committee of the State Bar of Georgia Business Law Section.  He is also co-author of “Georgia Limited Liability Company Forms and Practice Manual” (2d ed. 1999, and annual supplements). Saba Ashraf is a partner in the Philadelphia office of Ballard Spahr, LLP and co-practice leader of the firm’s tax group. She advises clients worldwide on corporate and partnership taxation matters and has managed the tax aspects of a wide range of complex business transactions, including coordination with internal and external non-tax counsel and financial advisers. She handles the tax-related issues involved in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures,  debt restructurings and loan workouts, and the tax aspects of REITs and investments in real estate.  She is past chair of the ABA Business Law Section’s Tax Committee.  

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/3/2023
    Presented
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Course1

Tax Planning for Real Estate, Part 2

$89.00

Tax issues in major real estate transactions – property development, long-term ownership, build-and-sell, like-kind exchanges – often drive the structures of these deals. If not properly considered, tax issues can also have a major adverse impact on the underlying economics of a deal.  The structure of a transaction can impact the timing and amount of gain, the treatment of losses (often very valuable to participants), and even the tax rate.  At every stage of a transaction, tax plays an important role.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to major tax planning issues in real estate deals, including choice of entity, capital gains and distribution planning, and advanced like-kind exchange issues.   Day 1: Choice of entity considerations – contributions, distributions, and eventual sales Acquiring property in a form to minimize taxes later Understanding allocation and distribution provisions – layered allocations, target/forced allocations, built-in-gain (or loss) allocations Understanding and drafting for continuing ownership, including capital shifts and other shifts in ownership Deductions arising from non-recourse debt and minimum gain chargebacks   Day 2: Advanced Like-Kind techniques for deferring gain on the disposition of property Techniques for using partnerships – mixing bowl partnerships, freeze partnerships, leveraged acquisition partnerships Installment sales and cross-purchase/redemption agreements Capital gain tax planning and the 3.8% tax on net investment income   Speakers: Leon Andrew Immerman is a partner in the Atlanta office of Alston & Bird, LLP, where he concentrates on federal income tax matters, including domestic and international tax planning and transactional work for joint ventures, partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations. He formerly served as chair of the Committee on Taxation of the ABA Business Law Section and as chair of the Partnership and LLC Committee of the State Bar of Georgia Business Law Section.  He is also co-author of “Georgia Limited Liability Company Forms and Practice Manual” (2d ed. 1999, and annual supplements). Saba Ashraf is a partner in the Philadelphia office of Ballard Spahr, LLP and co-practice leader of the firm’s tax group. She advises clients worldwide on corporate and partnership taxation matters and has managed the tax aspects of a wide range of complex business transactions, including coordination with internal and external non-tax counsel and financial advisers. She handles the tax-related issues involved in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures,  debt restructurings and loan workouts, and the tax aspects of REITs and investments in real estate.  She is past chair of the ABA Business Law Section’s Tax Committee.  

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/4/2023
    Presented
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Course1

LIVE REPLAY: Exit Strategies: Selling Companies to Employees, Part 1

$89.00

Many closely held companies have only two potential sets of buyers – family members of the founding generation or managers and other employees of the enterprise. The market of third-party buyers for closely held companies can be very thin, so that when family members are not suitable buyers of a company, often the best solution is to sell to employees. But sales to employees are unlike sales to third-parties or family members, involving complex issues of how to finance the sale, transition management and control of the enterprise, retain key employees, and tax treatment. This program will provide you with a detailed discussion of the major issues of selling to employees, including valuation, how the sale price is financed, transition periods, retaining employees not in the buyout group, and tax treatment. Day 1: Long-range planning of sales to employees – and benefits over selling to third parties or family members Negotiating with employees over sales price and valuation issues Transitions of management control, including retaining seller/founder for a period of time Practical governance issues when employees are identified as potential buyers Day 2: Overview of alternative structures and the tradeoffs of each ESOPs – structural, practical and tax issues, including leveraged buyout options Use of company redemptions of founders to accomplish a transfer Crucial issues in drafting “earnouts” on sales to employees Seller financing options, including long-term notes and security interest in assets Speakers: Paul Kaplun is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP where he has an extensive corporate and business planning practice, and provides advisory services to emerging growth companies and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries. He formerly served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he taught business planning.  Before entering law practice of law, he was a Certified Public Accountant with a national accounting firm, specializing in corporate and individual income tax planning and compliance.  Mr. Kaplun received his B.S.B.A., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University and J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/5/2023
    Presented
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LIVE REPLAY: Exit Strategies: Selling Companies to Employees, Part 2

$89.00

Many closely held companies have only two potential sets of buyers – family members of the founding generation or managers and other employees of the enterprise. The market of third-party buyers for closely held companies can be very thin, so that when family members are not suitable buyers of a company, often the best solution is to sell to employees. But sales to employees are unlike sales to third-parties or family members, involving complex issues of how to finance the sale, transition management and control of the enterprise, retain key employees, and tax treatment. This program will provide you with a detailed discussion of the major issues of selling to employees, including valuation, how the sale price is financed, transition periods, retaining employees not in the buyout group, and tax treatment. Day 1: Long-range planning of sales to employees – and benefits over selling to third parties or family members Negotiating with employees over sales price and valuation issues Transitions of management control, including retaining seller/founder for a period of time Practical governance issues when employees are identified as potential buyers Day 2: Overview of alternative structures and the tradeoffs of each ESOPs – structural, practical and tax issues, including leveraged buyout options Use of company redemptions of founders to accomplish a transfer Crucial issues in drafting “earnouts” on sales to employees Seller financing options, including long-term notes and security interest in assets Speakers: Paul Kaplun is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP where he has an extensive corporate and business planning practice, and provides advisory services to emerging growth companies and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries. He formerly served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he taught business planning.  Before entering law practice of law, he was a Certified Public Accountant with a national accounting firm, specializing in corporate and individual income tax planning and compliance.  Mr. Kaplun received his B.S.B.A., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University and J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/6/2023
    Presented
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Course1

Asset Protection Techniques for Real Estate

$89.00

Appreciated real estate is often the most valuable asset held by a client.  Real estate as an asset class is also frequently subject to depletion through divorce, claims of creditors, tort claimants and others.  Ensuring that the real estate is properly held, preserved, and administered to protect its value is the key task of many trust and estate plans. This program will provide you with a real-world guide to accessible asset protection strategies for real estate, including the sophisticated use of limited liability entities, trusts and insurance products, key elements of drafting operating agreements and their traps, and use of forms of ownership and choice of law planning.  Economic issues to consider on acquisition, holding and administration of real estate Sophisticated use of LLCs and trusts to protect real estate Key provisions of LLC operating agreements and their traps in protecting real estate Forms of ownership and choice of law as asset protection Uses and traps of using real estate products Bankruptcy planning opportunities and limitations for distressed real estate projects   Speaker: Jonathan E. Gopman is a partner with Akerman, LLP in Naples, Florida and chair of the firm’s trust and estate group. His practice focuses on sophisticated wealth accumulation and preservation planning strategies for entrepreneurs.  He is a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and co-author of the revised version of the BNA Tax Management Portfolio “Estate Tax Payments and Liabilities.”  He is also a commentator on asset protection planning matters for Leimberg Information Services, Inc., a member of the legal advisory board of Commonwealth Trust Company in Wilmington, Delaware, and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. 

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/10/2023
    Presented
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Course1

LIVE REPLAY: Drafting Legal Holds in Civil Litigation

$89.00

Legal holds are essential documents in civil litigation.  Presented by one party to the other, often by the plaintiff to the defendant in anticipation of filing a complaint, the hold demands the other party preserve specified evidence – documents or other items – which is essential underlying claiming.  But these no mere matter of issuing a form letter. Their scope and demands must be carefully tailored to the underlying claim. There are also issues of notice, who should receive the hold, remedies for breach, and potentially sanctions. This program will provide you with a practical guide to planning and drafting legal holds in civil litigation.    Giving notice of a litigation hold – and practical legal effect Who should receive the hold? Defining the scope of hold Standards in federal and state courts Electronically stored information – preservation v. pulling Termination of litigation Remedies for violation of hold – sanctions, adverse judgement   Speaker: Stanley E. Woodward Jr. is partner with Brand | Woodward, where he has a broad civil litigation and white collar criminal defense practice.  He also conducts internal corporate investigations.  He serves as an adjunct professor of law at Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, where he teaches pre-trial litigation and employment law. Before entering private practice, he served as a judicial clerk to Judge Vanessa Ruiz of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and Judges Joan Zeldon and Judge Rufus King III of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.  Mr. Woodward earned his B.A., cum laude, and his M.S., magna cum laude, from American University, and his J.D., cum laude, from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/11/2023
    Presented
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Course1

Offices Leases: Current Trends & Most Highly Negotiated Provisions

$89.00

Leases for office space have their own logic, economics, and traps.  Next to customary issues of the allocation and payment of operating expenses, there are issues of building services, including access to high-speed data and telecommunication networks.  Many tenants are also motivated by energy efficiency and the environmental sustainability of their space.  If the space is occupied by medical or dental practice, the landlord needs to be concerned about waste disposal and other environmental issues.  Throughout an office lease there are traps for the unwary. This program will provide you a detailed guide to reviewing and drafting office leases, including building services, operating expenses, and expanding or contracting space.   Economics of office leases – and protecting landlord margins Building services – telecom and data bandwidth issues Operating expenses – taxes, insurance, fees and penalties Special issues for medical and dental practices Make-ups and give-backs – strategies for tenants and practical responses of landlords Assignment and subletting – consent of landlord, other issues Liability issues – insurance and indemnity, waiver of subrogation, waiver of right to sue   Speaker: Anthony Licata is a partner in the Chicago office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, where he formerly chaired the firm’s real estate practice.  He has an extensive practice focusing on major commercial real estate transactions, including finance, development, leasing, and land use.  He formerly served as an adjunct professor at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and at the Illinois Institute of Technology.  

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/12/2023
    Presented
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Course1

Drafting Arbitration Agreements in Business and Commercial Transactions

$89.00

One of the biggest risks in most business, commercial, or real estate agreements is the risk of dispute and costly, protracted litigation. Arbitration agreements are one of the primary methods by which this substantial risk of loss is contained. Rather than the parties resorting to costly litigation, they are required to seek resolution of their dispute before a neutral arbiter, whose decision in the matter is final and cannot be litigated. Though these agreements are effective mechanisms for dispute resolution and cost containment, they are also highly controversial. This program will provide you with a practical guide the law governing arbitration agreements and drafting their major provisions.   Framework of law governing arbitration agreements Practical uses in business, commercial, and real estate transactions Circumstances where arbitration is effective v. ineffective Counseling clients about the benefits, risks, and tradeoffs of arbitration agreements Scope of arbitration, mandatory nature, and rules used Defining applicable law, arbiter selection, and method of arbitration Judgment on award, review by courts (if any), interim relief   Speaker: Shannon M. Bell is a member with Kelly & Walker, LLC, where she litigates a wide variety of complex business disputes, construction disputes, fiduciary claims, employment issues, and landlord/tenant issues.  Her construction experience extends from contract negotiations to defense of construction claims of owners, HOAs, contractors and tradesmen.  She also represents clients in claims of shareholder and officer liability, piercing the corporate veil, and derivative actions.  She writes and speaks on commercial litigation, employment, discovery and bankruptcy topics.  

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/13/2023
    Presented
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Course1

LIVE REPLAY: Drafting Employment Agreements for Commission-based Employees

$89.00

Every organization depends on generating sales, often sales made by sales agents.  Drafting agreements for sales people is complex and unlike other employment agreements. The primary task is defining a workable sales commission and incentive structure that is durable while the sales agent works for your client and that limits legal liability and practical damage after the sales agent separates from employment.  There are also complex issues of post-employment payments, internal reporting and support, and preserving the confidentiality of proprietary employer information such as client/customer lists, pricing schedules, vendor information and more after the sales agent has departed – perhaps to a competitor. This program will provide you with a practical guide to drafting sales agents’ agreements for business clients.   Commission and incentive structures – and common traps after an agent departs Differences between employee v. independent contractor sales staff Common traps employers make in including unlawful terms Wage and hour issues in commission and incentive compensation agreements Protecting client and price lists, vendor information & other sensitive information when a sales agent leaves Scope of protectable interests and practical steps required to enforce confidentiality   Speaker: Jennifer S. Baldocchi is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Paul Hastings, LLP, and co-chair of the firm’s employment department. She has a broad-based employment practice, with a focus on intellectual property, including employee mobility, trade secrets, covenants not to compete, unfair competition, and related business tort claims. Her practice also involves advising and defending employers in complex employment claims such as wrongful discharge, discrimination, retaliation, and harassment. She also counsels clients in wage and hour issues and investigations.  Ms. Baldocchi earned her B.A., with honors, from the University of California, Berkeley, and her J.D. from Loyola Law School.

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/16/2023
    Presented
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Course1

Ethics in Discovery Practice

$89.00

Discovery can be the most important phase of litigation, directing the course and outcome of the case.  How evidence is discovered, how it is used, and how mistakes in its handling are disclosed and remedied all raise very significant ethical issues. These issues – the risk of mishandling – are increased by the vast growth of ESI, electronically stored information. Litigators have certain obligations that their vendors comply with ethics rules. There are also issues surrounding the use of paralegals in discovery practice.  Failure to ensure ethics compliance during discovery can have a material adverse impact on the underlying litigation and draw an ethics complaint.  This program will provide you with a real-world guide to substantial issues ethical issues that arise in discovery practice and how to avoid ethics complaints.    Duty of candor to the tribunal during discovery Ethical issues when you learn that a client is dishonest Inadvertent disclosure privileged documents and their handling Ethics in depositions – conferring with witnesses, using video depositions and more Ethical issues in widespread data mining of discovery documents Issues involving metadata in electronic files – documents, email, text messages Attorney-client privilege and security issues of working with outside e-discovery vendors Ethics and social media discovery   Speakers: Elizabeth Treubert Simon is an ethics attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, where she advises on a wide range of ethics and compliance-related matters to support Akin Gump’s offices worldwide.  Previously, she practiced law in Washington DC and New York, focusing on business and commercial litigation and providing counsel to clients regarding professional ethics and attorney disciplinary procedures.  She is a member of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Professional Discipline and the District of Columbia Legal Ethics Committee.  She writes and speaks extensively on attorney ethics issues.   She received her B.A. and M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from Albany Law School. Thomas E. Spahn is a partner in the McLean, Virginia office of McGuireWoods, LLP, where he has a substantial practice advising clients on properly creating and preserving the attorney-client privilege and work product protections.  For more than 30 years he has lectured extensively on legal ethics and professionalism and has written “The Attorney-Client Privilege and the Work Product Doctrine: A Practitioner’s Guide,” a 750 page treatise published by the Virginia Law Foundation.  Mr. Spahn has served as a member of the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and as a member of the Virginia State Bar's Legal Ethics Committee.  He received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Yale University and his J.D. from Yale Law School.

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/17/2023
    Presented
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LIVE REPLAY: 1031 Like-Kind Exchanges in Trust and Estate Planning

$89.00

For clients with significant real estate portfolios in their estates, Section 1031 like-kind exchanges can be a very effective tool for deferring gain. Recent tax legislation has scrambled familiar tax, economic, and practical considerations for making a like-kind exchange, in some circumstances making these techniques more attractive than before, but in others (incoming producing property) less attractive.  There are also substantial real estate law traps in like-kind exchanges.  This program will provide you with a practitioner’s guide to using new like-kind exchange rules in trust and estate planning.    Trust and estate planning opportunities using Section 1031 like-kind exchanges How the 2017 tax law changed conventional considerations of using like-kind exchanges Review of major non-estate tax issues for estate planners when using like-kind exchanges Circumstances when it no long makes sense to use like-kind exchanges for income-producing party Real estate traps when using like-kind exchanges in trust planning   Speakers: Anthony Licata is a partner in the Chicago office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, where he formerly chaired the firm’s real estate practice.  He has an extensive practice focusing on major commercial real estate transactions, including finance, development, leasing, and land use.  He formerly served as an adjunct professor at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and at the Illinois Institute of Technology.  Mr. Licata received his B.S., summa cum laude, from MacMurray College and his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School. Susan Wheatley is a partner in the Cincinnati office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP and chair of its trust and estate planning practice. Her practice focuses on advising clients on their estate and business succession planning.  She also advises clients about sophisticated charitable and gifting giving strategies. She is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and an adjunct professor of law at the University of Cincinnati College of Law.  Ms.Wheatley earned her B.A. at Yale University and her J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law.

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/18/2023
    Presented
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Course1

LIVE REPLAY: Capital Calls – Agreements to Contribute More Capital Over Time

$89.00

Many companies need additional capital to fund current operations and fuel growth.  When raising capital, these companies often look first to their existing investor base. The company may build into its operative documents – shareholder agreements, operating agreements, even its articles of incorporation or organization – a plan whereby the company can “call” on existing investors to contribute additional capital. There are various mechanisms for achieving these types of “capital calls” and adjusting the ownership interests and other rights of incumbent investors who do not contribute additional capital. This program will provide you a practical guide to planning capital calls in closely held businesses, including how to adjust the financial and governance rights of the company’s owners.   Advantages/disadvantages of requiring capital from existing investor base over time Forms of follow-on contributions – pro-rata and other structures Readjustment of stake in company when certain investors do not participate – dilution issues Voting, informational and related issues on the contribution of additional capital Obtaining additional capital from investors beyond the original Counseling clients about potential investor group disputes   Speaker: C. Ben Huber is a partner in the Denver office of Greenburg Traurig, LLP, where he has a broad transactional practice encompassing mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and reorganizations, corporate finance, capital markets, venture funds, commercial transactions and general corporate law.  He also has substantial experience as counsel to high tech, biotech and software companies in the development, protection and licensing of intellectual property.  His clients include start-up companies, family- and other closely-held businesses, middle market business, Fortune 500 companies, venture funds and institutional investors.  Mr. Huber earned his B.A. from the University of Colorado and his J.D. at the University of Colorado Law School.

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/19/2023
    Presented
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Family Feuds in Trust and Estate Planning: Counseling Clients About Dispute Avoidance

$89.00

Family feuds are the most destructive force in trust and estate planning. When a senior generation of a family dies or decides to pull back from leading a family business, long suppressed rivalries, disputes and inter-personal conflicts rise to the surface and have often a substantially adverse impact on the business’s operations and value. These disputes often place planners in the extremely difficult spot of having gain the trust of warring factions, understand their grievances, and use the tools of planning to help them and the company find a value-preserving resolution of their conflicts. This program will provide you with a real-world guide to identifying and resolving family feuds in trusts. Sources of family feuds in trusts and techniques to resolve short of litigation Disputes involving distributions, control of family assets, personal rivalries, lack of communication Techniques for resolution – outside consultants, ongoing family meetings, lifetime gifting, distribution standards How choosing trustees can provoke or dampen family disputes How to work with warring family factions while protecting yourself as lawyer Speaker: Steven B. Malech is partner in the New York City office of Wiggin and Dana, LLP, where he is chair of the firm’s probate litigation practice group.  He represents beneficiaries, fiduciaries and creditors in disputes involving alleged violations of the Prudent Investor Act and its predecessors, alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, disputed accountings, and will contests. He represents clients in cutting edge probate litigation matters involving trusts and estates with assets in the hundreds of millions of dollars. 

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/20/2023
    Presented
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LIVE REPLAY: Lawyer Ethics and Texting

$89.00

Text messaging has become a mainstream form of communication.  Clients now routinely text their lawyers about pending matters.  They may ask about the status of a case, provide facts about a case, communicate decisions to a lawyer, or message other sensitive information.  These messages are often to a lawyer’s mobile phone that is used extensively for personal purposes, unsecured in their transmissions, and easily accessible by third parties. This new wave of lawyer-client communication raises many difficult ethical questions, including preservation of the attorney-client privilege.   This program will provide you with a guide to the major ethics issues when lawyers and their clients text message about pending matters.   Confidentiality issues involving unsecured transmission of texts involving sensitive case issues How to handle mobile phones used for both personal purposes and law practice Potential loss of the attorney-client privilege when text messages are accessible by third parties Tension among the duties of competence, prudence and to communicate with clients Understanding the ethical risks and counseling clients about the risks to their case when texting   Speaker: Thomas E. Spahn is of counsel in the Tysons Corners, Virginia office of McGuireWoods, where he advises firm clients on professional responsibility issues and properly creating and preserving the attorney-client privilege and work product protections.  He has served on the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and is a Member of the American Law Institute and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.  He has written extensively on attorney-client privilege, ethics and other topics, and has spoken at over 2000 CLE programs throughout the U.S. and in several foreign countries.  Through links on his website biography, he has made available to the public his summaries of over 1,600 Virginia and ABA legal ethics opinions, organized by topic; a 300 page summary of his two-volume 1,500 page book on the attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine; over 900 weekly email alerts about privilege and work product cases; and materials for 40 ethics programs on numerous topics, totaling over 9,000 pages of analysis.  Mr. Spahn graduated magna cum laude from Yale University and received his J.D. from Yale Law School. Mr. Spahn will serve as the discussion leader of today’s program.

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/23/2023
    Presented
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Ethics of Identifying Your Client: It's Not Always Easy

$89.00

The first step in every ethics analysis is answering the question, who is your client?  It’s seemingly a very easy question to answer, but it’s not always 20/20 except in hindsight.  Representing multiple parties on the same matter, whether in litigation or on a transaction, may mean you have many clients, some or all with conflicts.   If you’re a private practitioner and you represent an organization, your client may be the entity, its officers from whom you are taking directions, or possibly both. If you’re an in-house attorney, the analysis – and its implications for the attorney-client privilege – becomes even more complex.  This program will provide you with a real world guide to ethics of identifying your client in a variety of settings avoiding conflicts of interest with the client.  Ethics and identifying your client and avoiding conflicts in transactions and litigation Representing businesses entities, nonprofit associations, and the government – client v. person giving directions Identifying clients in trust and estate planning – the testator or the person paying your fees? Special ethical challenges and ethical risks for in-house counsel and attorney-client privilege issues How to untangle clients and conflicts in joint representations – managing conflicts and information flows Best practices in documenting client representation to avoid later challenge   Speakers: Elizabeth Treubert Simon is an ethics attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, where she advises on a wide range of ethics and compliance-related matters to support Akin Gump’s offices worldwide.  Previously, she practiced law in Washington DC and New York, focusing on business and commercial litigation and providing counsel to clients regarding professional ethics and attorney disciplinary procedures.  She is a member of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Professional Discipline and the District of Columbia Legal Ethics Committee.  She writes and speaks extensively on attorney ethics issues.      Thomas E. Spahn is a partner in the McLean, Virginia office of McGuireWoods, LLP, where he has a broad complex commercial, business and securities litigation practice. He also has a substantial practice advising businesses on properly creating and preserving the attorney-client privilege and work product protections.  For more than 20 years he has lectured extensively on legal ethics and professionalism and has written “The Attorney-Client Privilege and the Work Product Doctrine: A Practitioner’s Guide,” a 750 page treatise published by the Virginia Law Foundation.  Mr. Spahn has served as member of the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and as a member of the Virginia State Bar's Legal Ethics Committee. 

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/24/2023
    Presented
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Private Placements: Raising Capital from Investors, Part 1

$89.00

Closely held companies raise capital through private placements, an offering of stock or other securities to private investors. Offerings of every size must comply with a dense set of federal securities regulation that require the offering of securities to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or qualify for an exemption from registration, mostly commonly Regulation D.  Failure to understand the regulatory framework and draft private placement documents exposes the offering company to substantial financial liability. This program will provide you with a practical guide to planning private placements, drafting the operative agreements, and understanding the regulatory framework governing them.   Day 1: How private placements are used as a practical matter in capital raises Understanding the securities law and regulatory framework of private placements Reliance on Reg. D safe harbor to avoid registration – amounts raised, accredited investor, timeframes, non-solicitation Understanding exempt securities v. exempt offerings   Day 2: Practical guidance on drafting subscription agreements Understanding disclosures in offering documents and liability for issuer of securities Special issues for small private placements Crowdfunding as a capital raising tool   Speaker: S. Lee Terry is a partner in the Denver office of Davis, Graham & Stubbs, LLP, where he has a broad corporate and securities practice.  He advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnership agreements, licensing and other technology related contracts.  He has an active practice advising private companies, ranging from capital raising and major transactions to dispute resolution and investigations. He also has an extensive securities law practice, including various types of capital raising transactions.  Earlier in his career, he worked in the Office of General Counsel of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/25/2023
    Presented
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Private Placements: Raising Capital from Investors, Part 2

$89.00

Closely held companies raise capital through private placements, an offering of stock or other securities to private investors. Offerings of every size must comply with a dense set of federal securities regulation that require the offering of securities to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or qualify for an exemption from registration, mostly commonly Regulation D.  Failure to understand the regulatory framework and draft private placement documents exposes the offering company to substantial financial liability. This program will provide you with a practical guide to planning private placements, drafting the operative agreements, and understanding the regulatory framework governing them.   Day 1: How private placements are used as a practical matter in capital raises Understanding the securities law and regulatory framework of private placements Reliance on Reg. D safe harbor to avoid registration – amounts raised, accredited investor, timeframes, non-solicitation Understanding exempt securities v. exempt offerings   Day 2: Practical guidance on drafting subscription agreements Understanding disclosures in offering documents and liability for issuer of securities Special issues for small private placements Crowdfunding as a capital raising tool   Speaker: S. Lee Terry is a partner in the Denver office of Davis, Graham & Stubbs, LLP, where he has a broad corporate and securities practice.  He advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnership agreements, licensing and other technology related contracts.  He has an active practice advising private companies, ranging from capital raising and major transactions to dispute resolution and investigations. He also has an extensive securities law practice, including various types of capital raising transactions.  Earlier in his career, he worked in the Office of General Counsel of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/26/2023
    Presented
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Undue Influence and Duress in Estate Planning

$89.00

Elderly and other clients with diminished physical or intellectual capacity are often the victims of undue influence or duress in disposition of their property.  They are often dependent on a caregiver, relative or other person for social interaction or essential mobility and functioning.  This makes them ripe for exploitation by the unscrupulous.  From a trust and estate planner’s perspective, undue influence and duress undermine the client’s true intent and jeopardize the validity of estate and trust instruments. This program will provide you with a world guide to spotting warning signs of undue influence and duress, drafting considerations, and the risks of litigation challenging trust and estate plans.   Undue influence and duress risks in trust and estate planning Elements of undue influence – motive, opportunity and actual exercise Understanding what constitutes duress How to spot warning signs or red flags of undue influence and duress Drafting considerations to preserve the true intent of a client and prevent challenges Court battles – burdens of proof, assessing likelihood of successful challenges   Speaker: Steven B. Malech is partner in the New York City office of Wiggin and Dana, LLP, where he is chair of the firm’s probate litigation practice group.  He is represents beneficiaries, fiduciaries and creditors in disputes involving alleged violations of the Prudent Investor Act and its predecessors, alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, disputed accountings, and will contests. He represents clients in cutting edge probate litigation matters involving trusts and estates with assets in the hundreds of millions of dollars. 

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/27/2023
    Presented
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LIVE REPLAY: Exit Strategies: Selling Companies to Employees, Part 1

$89.00

Many closely held companies have only two potential sets of buyers – family members of the founding generation or managers and other employees of the enterprise. The market of third-party buyers for closely held companies can be very thin, so that when family members are not suitable buyers of a company, often the best solution is to sell to employees. But sales to employees are unlike sales to third-parties or family members, involving complex issues of how to finance the sale, transition management and control of the enterprise, retain key employees, and tax treatment. This program will provide you with a detailed discussion of the major issues of selling to employees, including valuation, how the sale price is financed, transition periods, retaining employees not in the buyout group, and tax treatment. Day 1: Long-range planning of sales to employees – and benefits over selling to third parties or family members Negotiating with employees over sales price and valuation issues Transitions of management control, including retaining seller/founder for a period of time Practical governance issues when employees are identified as potential buyers Day 2: Overview of alternative structures and the tradeoffs of each ESOPs – structural, practical and tax issues, including leveraged buyout options Use of company redemptions of founders to accomplish a transfer Crucial issues in drafting “earnouts” on sales to employees Seller financing options, including long-term notes and security interest in assets Speakers: Paul Kaplun is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP where he has an extensive corporate and business planning practice, and provides advisory services to emerging growth companies and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries. He formerly served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he taught business planning.  Before entering law practice of law, he was a Certified Public Accountant with a national accounting firm, specializing in corporate and individual income tax planning and compliance.  Mr. Kaplun received his B.S.B.A., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University and J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/30/2023
    Presented
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LIVE REPLAY: Exit Strategies: Selling Companies to Employees, Part 2

$89.00

Many closely held companies have only two potential sets of buyers – family members of the founding generation or managers and other employees of the enterprise. The market of third-party buyers for closely held companies can be very thin, so that when family members are not suitable buyers of a company, often the best solution is to sell to employees. But sales to employees are unlike sales to third-parties or family members, involving complex issues of how to finance the sale, transition management and control of the enterprise, retain key employees, and tax treatment. This program will provide you with a detailed discussion of the major issues of selling to employees, including valuation, how the sale price is financed, transition periods, retaining employees not in the buyout group, and tax treatment. Day 1: Long-range planning of sales to employees – and benefits over selling to third parties or family members Negotiating with employees over sales price and valuation issues Transitions of management control, including retaining seller/founder for a period of time Practical governance issues when employees are identified as potential buyers Day 2: Overview of alternative structures and the tradeoffs of each ESOPs – structural, practical and tax issues, including leveraged buyout options Use of company redemptions of founders to accomplish a transfer Crucial issues in drafting “earnouts” on sales to employees Seller financing options, including long-term notes and security interest in assets Speakers: Paul Kaplun is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP where he has an extensive corporate and business planning practice, and provides advisory services to emerging growth companies and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries. He formerly served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he taught business planning.  Before entering law practice of law, he was a Certified Public Accountant with a national accounting firm, specializing in corporate and individual income tax planning and compliance.  Mr. Kaplun received his B.S.B.A., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University and J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/31/2023
    Presented
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LIVE REPLAY: Ethics and Client Money: Trust Funds, Expenses, Setoffs & More

$89.00

Whenever an attorney takes money from a client – for fees billed, to cover expenses, as a retainer, or held in trust – there are substantial ethical issues involved.  Many ethical complaints arise from accusations that an attorney mishandled funds. In billing and collecting fees and expenses, there are issues about whether the fees and expenses were explained in advance and are proper in relation to services provided.  If an attorney accepts credit cards from clients, there are significant issues related to disclosure, Truth-in-Lending laws, chargebacks, pass-through of merchant processing fees, and confidentiality.  In trust funds, there are issues of segregation of funds, accounting, and more. This program will provide you with a practical guide to the many ethical issues that arise when attorneys, clients, and money mix.   Traps in trust fund accounting and the risks of “set-offs” of disputed amounts Disclosure and documentation of trust accounting of client money Retainers – use, accounting, and regular communications Accepting credit card payments from clients –  pass-through processing fees, Truth-in-Lending, disclosure and confidentiality Confidentiality when a client has a dispute with his credit card company – ethical tension of client duties and contractual obligations Use of credit cards to fund a retainer and related trust fund accounting issues – trust funds v. operating funds   Speaker: Thomas E. Spahn is of counsel in the Tysons Corners, Virginia office of McGuireWoods, where he advises firm clients on professional responsibility issues and properly creating and preserving the attorney-client privilege and work product protections.  He has served on the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and is a Member of the American Law Institute and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.  He has written extensively on attorney-client privilege, ethics and other topics, and has spoken at over 2000 CLE programs throughout the U.S. and in several foreign countries.  Through links on his website biography, he has made available to the public his summaries of over 1,600 Virginia and ABA legal ethics opinions, organized by topic; a 300 page summary of his two-volume 1,500 page book on the attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine; over 900 weekly email alerts about privilege and work product cases; and materials for 40 ethics programs on numerous topics, totaling over 9,000 pages of analysis.  Mr. Spahn graduated magna cum laude from Yale University and received his J.D. from Yale Law School. Mr. Spahn will serve as the discussion leader of today’s program.

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 11/1/2023
    Presented
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LIVE REPLAY: Nonprofits and Commercial Real Estate

$89.00

Nonprofit and exempt organizations are often attracted to real estate because the asset class is seen as comparatively safe yet offers opportunities for long-term appreciation and, perhaps, ongoing income.  Even if these investment assumptions prove correct, real estate assets – ownership of exiting property, development of new property, or leasing activities – implicate a range of restrictions, complications, and compliance obligations.  These include regulatory restrictions depending on whether the real estate investment furthers the entity’s charitable purpose or not; collaborations with for-profit joint ventures; and debt financing of investments.  This program will provide you with a real world guide to advising nonprofit and exemption organization clients about real estate activities.   Use of 501(c)(3) funds for real estate acquisition and development Restrictions of using nonprofit/exempt organization funds in for-profit real estate transactions Compliance issues for nonprofit/exempt organizations participating in real estate deals Planning for event something goes wrong – how to limit damage to for-profit and nonprofit   Speaker: Michael Lehmann is a partner in the New York office of Dechert, LLP, where he specializes in tax issues related to non-profits and in the tax treatment of cross-border transactions.  He advises hospitals and other health care providers, research organizations, low-income housing developers, trade associations, private foundations and arts organizations.  He advises clients on obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status, executive compensation, reorganizations and joint ventures, acquisitions, and unrelated business income planning.  Mr. Lehmann received his A.B., magna cum laude, from Brown University, his J.D. from Columbia Law School, and his LL.M. from New York University School of Law.

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 11/2/2023
    Presented
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Trust and Estate Planning for Retirement Plans – IRAs, 401(k)s, and More (6.4.19)

$89.00

The single biggest asset most clients have is their retirement account – IRAs, 401(k)s, other defined benefit plans, and annuities. These retirement plans are often tax-favored but in exchange for that status come with a variety of restrictions. Each is also governed not only by the underlying terms of its sponsors and providers but by an array of complex tax regulations.  Understanding how these complex financial products are treated not only for tax purposes but, often more importantly, for purposes of transfer at death is the central focus of trust and estate plans for most clients.  This program will provide you with a guide to tax treatment and transfer rules of client retirement assets.    Allocation of estate and gift taxes QTIPing IRAs and trusts as IRA beneficiaries Trust distributions as income v. principal Understanding traps of beneficiary designations Creditor claims against retirement assets How annuity distributions are treated for income tax purposes – ordinary income, capital gain, return of investment   Speakers: Daniel L. Daniels is a partner in the Greenwich, Connecticut office of Wiggin and Dana, LLP, where his practice focuses on representing business owners, corporate executives and other wealthy individuals and their families.  A Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, he is listed in “The Best Lawyers in America,” and has been named by “Worth” magazine as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the United States representing affluent individuals. Mr. Daniels is co-author of a monthly column in “Trusts and Estates” magazine.  

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 11/3/2023
    Presented
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LIVE REPLAY: Drafting Guarantees in Real Estate Transactions

$89.00

Guarantees undergird most real estate transactions.  Lenders, investors and others are often unwilling or unable to finance or otherwise support a real estate transaction without certain substantial guarantees.  These guarantees may concern repayment of loan proceeds or performance of other services – construction, maintenance and waste prevention, environmental indemnity, etc.  The scope of guarantees is highly negotiated, particularly whether the guarantee is recourse or non-recourse and the scope of carve-outs from the guarantees. This program will provide you with a practical guide to negotiating and drafting guarantees in real estate transactions.    Types of guarantees – payment, performance, collection, completion Essential elements of a guarantee – consideration, scope, carve-outs, waivers Guarantees for property maintenance/no waste, environmental indemnity and other non-financial concerns Carve-outs – full v. partial, fraud, misappropriation, misapplication, failure to maintain, insurance, and more Guarantees of construction loans   Speaker: John S. Hollyfield is of counsel and a former partner in the Houston office Norton Rose Fulbright, LLP.  He has more than 40 years’ experience in real estate law practice.  He formerly served as chair of the ABA Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, and chair of the Anglo-American Real Property Institute.  He has been named a "Texas Super Lawyer" in Real Estate Law by Texas Monthly magazine and is listed in Who’s Who in American Law.  He is co-editor of Modern Banking and Lending Forms (4th Edition), published by Warren, Gorham & Lamont.  He received his B.B.A. from the University of Texas and his LL.B. from the University of Texas School of Law.

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 11/6/2023
    Presented
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Environmental Liability in Commercial Real Estate Transactions

$89.00

Environmental liability is one the biggest risks in acquiring and/or developing commercial real estate. When environmental risk is not accurately assessed, allocated and/or hedged, the parties to the deal are exposed to very substantial financial liability and the fundamental economics of the deal are jeopardized.  This program will provide you a practical guide to developments in environmental diligence in real estate deals, allocating or hedging the risk, and post-closing concerns.    Sources of environmental liability under federal law Assessing risk: Estimating liabilities and incorporating findings into deal documents Developments in affirmative defenses Contractual allocation of liability Uses of environmental insurance Post-closing concerns   Speaker:   Anthony Licata is a partner in the Chicago office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, where he formerly chaired the firm’s real estate practice.  He has an extensive practice focusing on major commercial real estate transactions, including finance, development, leasing, and land use.  He formerly served as an adjunct professor at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and at the Illinois Institute of Technology. 

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 11/7/2023
    Presented
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LIVE REPLAY: Ethical Issues When Representing the Elderly

$89.00

  Many ethical issues arise when lawyers represent elderly clients.  Foremost among these issues is determining whether a client has the capacity to make valid decisions – and if not, then what? There are many conflict of interest issues, including whether direction is taken from the elderly person or another person (often an adult child) who is paying for the representation. There are also issues involving the exercise of undue influence by a caregiver or other person, including the validity of gifts to that person. Issues of preserving confidentiality and the attorney-client privilege when meetings are held in the presence of children or caregivers are also very important. This program will provide you with a practical guide to the most important ethical issues when lawyers represent elderly clients.   Determining whether your elderly client has capacity – and identifying your client Practical alternatives if you determine a client doesn’t have capacity Conflicts of interest between the elderly client and the person paying for the representation, including the validity of gifts Preserving confidentiality and the attorney-client privilege when a caregiver or third party is in client meetings Clients who lose capacity during a continuing representation Ethical issues involved with undue influence over the elderly – what should you do? Elder abuse issues – how to spot it and what to do if you discover it   Speakers: Thomas E. Spahn is of counsel in the Tysons Corners, Virginia office of McGuireWoods, where he advises firm clients on professional responsibility issues and properly creating and preserving the attorney-client privilege and work product protections.  He has served on the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and is a Member of the American Law Institute and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.  He has written extensively on attorney-client privilege, ethics and other topics, and has spoken at over 2000 CLE programs throughout the U.S. and in several foreign countries.  Through links on his website biography, he has made available to the public his summaries of over 1,600 Virginia and ABA legal ethics opinions, organized by topic; a 300 page summary of his two-volume 1,500 page book on the attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine; over 900 weekly email alerts about privilege and work product cases; and materials for 40 ethics programs on numerous topics, totaling over 9,000 pages of analysis.  Mr. Spahn graduated magna cum laude from Yale University and received his J.D. from Yale Law School. Mr. Spahn will serve as the discussion leader of today’s program. Missia H. Vaselaney is a partner in the Cleveland office of Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP, where her practice focuses on estate planning for individuals and businesses.  She also represents clients before federal and state taxing authorities.  Ms. Vaselaney is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has been a member of the Steering Committee for AICPA’s National Advanced Estate Planning Conference since 2001.  Ms. Vaselaney received her B.A. from the University of Dayton and her J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 11/8/2023
    Presented
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LIVE REPLAY: Drafting Demand Letters

$89.00

Demand letters may seem like they’re merely hammer-strokes, the first blow of litigation.  But the most effective demand letters are more subtly crafted.  Tone is important.  Vitriolic letters – letters that do not keep a client’s goals in mind and misjudge the reader’s range of likely reactions – may be counterproductive.  Rather than moving the process toward a good outcome, the letter may actually result in setbacks and greater costs.  There’s a subtle balance between precision and vagueness, stimulating favorable response by being sufficiently vague so that the reader speculates about adverse consequences.There’s also the issue of how much of your case – favorable facts and persuasive law – to include in the letter.This program will provide you with a real-world guide to setting goals and carefully crafted demand letters to advance client goals.   Setting goals and realistic expectations Striking the right tone – how aggressive is too aggressive? Precision v. vagueness - leaving room for speculation and negotiation How much of your case – the facts and the law – to include in the letter? Common traps and mistakes in demand letters   Speaker:  Shannon M. Bell is a member with Kelly Law Partners, LLC, where she litigates a wide variety of complex business disputes, construction disputes, fiduciary claims, employment issues, and landlord/tenant issues.  Her construction experience extends from contract negotiations to defense of construction claims of owners, HOAs, contractors and tradesmen.  She also represents clients in claims of shareholder and officer liability, piercing the corporate veil, and derivative actions.  She writes and speaks on commercial litigation, employment, discovery and bankruptcy topics.  Ms. Bell earned her B.S. from the University of Iowa and her J.D. from the University of Denver.

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 11/9/2023
    Presented
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LIVE REPLAY: Trust & Estate Planning for Religious and Philosophical Beliefs

$89.00

To Be Determined

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 11/13/2023
    Presented
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Lawyer Ethics When Storing Files in the Cloud

$89.00

Most files are now stored in the “cloud,” a global network of servers that store files for organizations of every size, including law firms.  Many applications, including word processing, email and billing software packages that are used daily by lawyers and law firms, are also stored and used in the cloud.  This dramatic shift in the way files are created, modified, stored, and shared has substantial implications for law firms.   The first is a duty of competence requirement that lawyers understand how the technology they employ works and how it might impact client communications and confidentiality, among many other issues.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to ethical issues when lawyers and law firm store and create files in the cloud.   Technology competence as an ethical duty of competence Ethical benchmarks and diligence for ensuring file and communication confidentiality in the cloud Mobile access – issues when the cloud is used via smartphone or tablet What if your client uses the cloud but you do not? Attorney-client privilege issues when using the cloud to communicate Internal policies – ensuring law firm security supplements cloud security   Speakers: Matthew Corbin is Senior Vice President and Executive Director in the Professional Services Group of AON Risk Services, where he consults with the company’s law firm clients on professional responsibility and liability issues.  Before joining AON, he was a partner with Lathrop & Gage, LLP, where he was a trial and appellate lawyer handling professional liability, commercial, business tort, employment, construction, insurance, and regulatory matters. Before entering private practice, he served as a judicial clerk to Judge Mary Briscoe of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.   Mark A. Webster is Vice President and Director in the Professional Services Group of AON Risk Services.  He consults with the company’s law firm clients on professional responsibility and liability issues.? Before joining AON, he was a partner with Lathrop & Gage, LLP, where he had an extensive real estate transactions practice.  

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 11/14/2023
    Presented
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Structuring Minority Ownership Stakes in Companies

$89.00

Taking a minority ownership stake in a closely held company is a common occurrence. An investor may have taken a minority stake to fund growth in the business or someone may have provided essential, non-cash services – technical expertise, sales skill, management expertise – in exchange for equity. But there are substantial drawbacks with minority stakes. The minority stake holder may have limited access to information to the business and little or no control or influence over the ultimate success of the business.  The majority stake holder(s) may also seek to force out minority stake holders. This program will provide you with a real-world guide to structuring minority stake investments in anticipation of the majority stake owner eventually forcing the buyout of minority stake owners. Structuring minority stake ownership for eventual buyout by the majority stake owner How to avoid undue dispute and litigation through planning Framework of law protecting minority stake owners Equitable structuring of minority stake governance, information, and other rights Differences between passive minority-stake owner and those who actively participate in the business Valuation and buyout finance issues for majority stake owners Liquidity rights for minority stake owners Counseling techniques to help avoid open dispute among owners Speaker: Frank Ciatto is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where he has 20 years’ experience advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, limited liability companies, tax and accounting issues, and corporate finance transactions.  He is a leader of his firm’s private equity and hedge fund groups and a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions Subcommittee of the ABA Business Law Section.  He is a Certified Public Accountant and earlier in his career worked at what is now PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York.   Molly Merritts is an attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where she focuses her practice on a wide range of corporate law matters, including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing, and real estate investment trusts. She also advises clients on corporate governance matters, transactional and commercial contract negotiations, and corporate reorganizations.  

  • Audio Webcast
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 11/15/2023
    Presented
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