The start of summer vacations is a perfect time to reflect on the things we can do to optimize our performance and make the practice of law more enjoyable. There are dynamics unique to the practice of family law, which make it particularly challenging. Our clients are oft en highly reactionary, anxious, distraught and lack self-awareness. Opposing counsel may not
More of your clients may have diminished capacity than you would expect. An estimated 1.5 million Americans 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease, which is expected to increase by 40 percent within 10 years. While Alzheimer’s is not the only condition to cause cognitive impairment, it’s certainly the most noted. Several studies indicate that as many as 10-20 percent of
Class actions often end in settlement for myriad reasons. The exposure for a defendant company or government is usually substantial. Often the conduct was accidental and the entity wants to make it right. Sometimes the company is publicly traded and litigation exposure will affect their stock price. The Considerations in a Class Action Negotiation These cases are regularly worth millions
Perry Mason explains my career choice – though I have not yet concluded if I am angry with or thankful to that show’s creator. But, having practiced law for over 20 years, and assisting clients with probate, estate and business litigation, I offer a few observations about litigation in various stages from the initial drafting of documents, correspondence and courtroom
“Do You Want to Know a Secret?” was a 1963 top 10 hit by the Beatles about a romantic secret. Intellectual property law also deals with secrets, but of a different nature – trade secrets. We have previously written about trade secrets in IP law, but have not surveyed the statutes that relate to trade secrets. Until last year, trade
What happens when a promoter wants to put on an event, hypes it, markets it extensively, and then just isn’t able to deliver? Can that be treated as a class action? When does the marketing go too far and how does that affect the legal landscape of any potential class action? These issues were brought to life in the ill-fated
With all the hysteria leading up to the election and everything that has happened since, I am betting that some of you have stopped reading the newspaper and shut off the television. That is probably healthy. If you did, you missed some big legal news. A neurosurgeon was recently sentenced to life in prison in Dallas County. As many of
The New Business Name Almost every business starts on a small scale, such as in the founder’s garage (or now, out of the founder’s laptop). In many instances, the surname of the founder becomes the name of the business and brand for its goods and services. There is a bit of founder vanity involved in doing so, but it might
In recent years, statistics have shown that while the overall divorce rate is falling, divorces for people over 50 are rising. The gray divorce phenomenon has many issues particular to that age group, including spousal maintenance for a homemaker spouse or when there has been significant disparity in incomes; the tracing of inherited assets; and the division and use of
Divorce is a difficult process – even under the best of conditions. The most pressing issue is to complete the separation from the former spouse. Change passwords – everywhere. Don’t leave financial, email or social media accounts open to abuse by someone who may be feeling aggrieved. The next step is to adjust the financial plans to reflect the new
The start of summer vacations is a perfect time to reflect on the things we can do to optimize our performance and make the practice of law more enjoyable. There are dynamics unique to the practice of family law, which make it particularly challenging. Our clients are oft en highly reactionary, anxious, distraught and lack self-awareness. Opposing counsel may not
More of your clients may have diminished capacity than you would expect. An estimated 1.5 million Americans 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease, which is expected to increase by 40 percent within 10 years. While Alzheimer’s is not the only condition to cause cognitive impairment, it’s certainly the most noted. Several studies indicate that as many as 10-20 percent of
Class actions often end in settlement for myriad reasons. The exposure for a defendant company or government is usually substantial. Often the conduct was accidental and the entity wants to make it right. Sometimes the company is publicly traded and litigation exposure will affect their stock price. The Considerations in a Class Action Negotiation These cases are regularly worth millions
Perry Mason explains my career choice – though I have not yet concluded if I am angry with or thankful to that show’s creator. But, having practiced law for over 20 years, and assisting clients with probate, estate and business litigation, I offer a few observations about litigation in various stages from the initial drafting of documents, correspondence and courtroom
“Do You Want to Know a Secret?” was a 1963 top 10 hit by the Beatles about a romantic secret. Intellectual property law also deals with secrets, but of a different nature – trade secrets. We have previously written about trade secrets in IP law, but have not surveyed the statutes that relate to trade secrets. Until last year, trade
What happens when a promoter wants to put on an event, hypes it, markets it extensively, and then just isn’t able to deliver? Can that be treated as a class action? When does the marketing go too far and how does that affect the legal landscape of any potential class action? These issues were brought to life in the ill-fated
With all the hysteria leading up to the election and everything that has happened since, I am betting that some of you have stopped reading the newspaper and shut off the television. That is probably healthy. If you did, you missed some big legal news. A neurosurgeon was recently sentenced to life in prison in Dallas County. As many of
The New Business Name Almost every business starts on a small scale, such as in the founder’s garage (or now, out of the founder’s laptop). In many instances, the surname of the founder becomes the name of the business and brand for its goods and services. There is a bit of founder vanity involved in doing so, but it might
In recent years, statistics have shown that while the overall divorce rate is falling, divorces for people over 50 are rising. The gray divorce phenomenon has many issues particular to that age group, including spousal maintenance for a homemaker spouse or when there has been significant disparity in incomes; the tracing of inherited assets; and the division and use of
Divorce is a difficult process – even under the best of conditions. The most pressing issue is to complete the separation from the former spouse. Change passwords – everywhere. Don’t leave financial, email or social media accounts open to abuse by someone who may be feeling aggrieved. The next step is to adjust the financial plans to reflect the new
