Alerts
Corporate Transparency Act Currently Unenforceable as Fifth Circuit Reinstates Nationwide Injunction
This is an update to our Corporate Alert issued on December 26, 2024. Read more.
December 31, 2024
Alerts
Corporate Transparency Act Back in Effect
This is an update to our Corporate Alert issued on December 12, 2024. Read more.
December 26, 2024
Alerts
Federal Court Enforces Mass Arbitration Terms
We recently wrote about the Ninth Circuit’s decision in Heckman v. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., No. 23-55770, 120 F. 4th 670 (9th Cir. 2024), which struck down Ticketmaster’s mass arbitration terms as unconscionable and unenforceable. Read more.
December 23, 2024
Alerts
Federal Court Suspends Corporate Transparency Act Enforcement
On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, in the case of Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. v. Garland, No. 4:24-cv-00478-ALM (E.D. Tex.), the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a nationwide preliminary injunction against enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”), and stayed the January 1, 2025 beneficial ownership information (“BOI”) reporting deadline for entities formed prior to 2024. Read more.
December 9, 2024
Alerts: Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility
For New York Lawyers: Recent Changes to the Biennial Reporting Requirements
New York recently made changes to its biennial reporting requirements. The notice linked here from the NYS Unified Court System explains those changes, which go into effect on Dec. 1, 2024. Here's a summary of what New York lawyers need to know. Read more.
November 21, 2024
Alerts: Hospitality Law
Online Coffee Retailer Defeats Website Accessibility Claims in Federal Court
One of the largest areas of current legal exposure for companies arises from their own websites. That’s because over the past several years, plaintiffs have filed thousands of lawsuits alleging that company websites are inaccessible to consumers with visual or hearing impairments—in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related state laws. Read more.
October 28, 2024
Alerts: Entertainment Law
New California Law Restricts Use of Words “Purchase” & “Buy” for Licensed Digital Goods
On September 24, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 2426 (effective Jan. 1, 2025), a consumer protection bill that expands the scope of false advertising in California. In short, AB 2426 prohibits interactive entertainment and digital media companies from using words like “buy,” “purchase,” or any other words that indicate unrestricted ownership over digital goods. Violators may face injunctions and civil penalties imposed by California regulators or civil claims from individuals with proper standing. Read more.
October 3, 2024
Alerts: Hospitality Law
Adapting to New “All-In” Price Laws: Essential Compliance Strategies for the Hospitality Sector
Recently, a new wave of “all-in” price laws has emerged, mandating transparent pricing practices to ensure consumers are fully aware of the total cost of goods and services upfront. For the hospitality sector, where fees and additional charges have long been commonplace, these developments signal a significant transformation. Navigating this new terrain requires keen attention to regulatory and statutory changes and a proactive approach to compliance. Here are some updates to keep in mind. Read more.
August 16, 2024
Alerts: Hospitality Law
Top Five Legal Considerations for Those New to The Restaurant Industry
Opening a restaurant can be an exciting venture, filled with the promise of creativity, community, and culinary delights. For investors, there is the allure of high returns and a tangible, enjoyable product. However, it’s also a business that operates under a complex web of legal regulations with potential pitfalls for restaurateurs and investors alike. To help those new to the industry, we have compiled a list of five key legal considerations to keep in mind when either opening or investing in a restaurant. Read more.
July 1, 2024
Alerts: Hospitality Law
Recipes for Success: Top Three Considerations for Chefs in the Entertainment Industry
Chefs are expanding their expertise beyond the kitchen to reach wider audiences and explore opportunities in the entertainment industry. As chefs seek to leverage their culinary skills and their personal brand in new ventures, such as television shows, cookbooks, and product lines, this transition comes with its own set of challenges. In this second installment of the Frankfurt Kurnit Hospitality Law Newsletter, we'll discuss the top three considerations chefs should keep in mind as they navigate their success in the spotlight and showcase their talents on a broader stage. Read more.
May 6, 2024
Alerts
New York Bans Certain Invention Assignment Clauses
On September 15, 2023, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill S5640 (“S5640”) into law, introducing a new section 203-f to New York’s labor law. This legislation imposes new limitations on the use of invention assignment clauses in employment agreements within New York. Effective immediately upon signing by Governor Hochul, S5640 marks a significant shift in the state’s approach to managing the balance between employee and employer intellectual property (“IP”) rights. Employers should review their existing employee invention assignment agreements to ensure these agreements comport with the new law. Read more.
May 2, 2024
Alerts: Employment Law
FTC Bans Certain Non-Compete Agreements
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has approved a new Rule which bans for-profit employers from entering into post-employment, non-compete agreements with employees. By a vote of 3 to 2 the FTC determined that these non-compete agreements constitute “unfair competition” under the FTC Act. The Rule is effective 120 days after it is published in the Federal Register. Here’s what employers and executives need to know. Read more.
April 26, 2024
Alerts
Corporate Transparency Act Compliance Reminder
In October 2023, we issued a Corporate Alert for clients (“New Laws Will Require Certain Companies to Disclose Formerly Anonymous ‘Beneficial Owners’”) pertaining to the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”), a new federal law that took effect as of January 1, 2024. Read more.
March 12, 2024
Alerts: Hospitality Law
Opening Your Restaurant: Avoid the “Good Guy Guaranty” Leasing Trap
Chefs and other restaurateurs face myriad legal issues when launching a new eatery. One of the most common legal issues that we see arises from the so-called “Good Guy Guaranty” leasing clause—a widely misunderstood agreement that can create a false sense of security about a restaurant owner’s potential monetary exposure under their real estate lease. (Note: we use the common industry term 'good guy guaranty' clause in this alert while recognizing it is potentially outdated.) Below, we identify this trap and outline some steps that aspiring restaurateurs can take to avoid it. Read more.
February 23, 2024
Alerts
New Laws Will Require Certain Companies to Disclose Formerly Anonymous “Beneficial Owners”
A federal law taking effect on January 1st 2024, and a New York law awaiting Governor Hochul’s signature, will require certain companies to disclose their beneficial owners to regulators. These are big changes for owners that had previously preferred to remain anonymous. Whom do the laws cover? And what information will need to be disclosed? Read more.
October 18, 2023
Alerts: Employment Law
New Ruling from the National Labor Relations Board May Require Significant Handbook Revisions
On August 2, the National Labor Relations Board issued a decision, Stericycle Inc. and Teamsters Local 628, that creates a new legal standard for how the NLRB will evaluate workplace rules and policies to determine if such rules interfere with employees’ protected rights to engage in concerted workplace activity under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act. Read more.
August 8, 2023
Alerts: Privacy & Data Security Law
Six Steps to Help Your Team Comply with the New SEC Public Company Cybersecurity Rules
On July 26, 2023, the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) approved final Rules entitled Cybersecurity Risk Management, Strategy, Governance, and Incident Disclosure (the “Rules”). The Rules require certain cybersecurity incident disclosures on Form 8-K, generally within 4 business days after the determination that a cybersecurity incident is material. Read more.
August 1, 2023
Alerts: Privacy & Data Security Law
Five Action Items to Help You Prepare for the Wave of Privacy Enforcement Starting July 2023
Mark your calendars - July 2023 is an important month for US privacy enforcement. Read more.
June 21, 2023
Alerts
What the FTC-Microsoft COPPA Action means for the Gaming Sector
Last week, the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission announced a 20 million dollar settlement with Microsoft for allegedly violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Read more.
June 15, 2023
Alerts: Privacy & Data Security Law
Washington “My Health My Data” Act Dramatically Alters Health Data Compliance Landscape
Washington State’s My Health My Data Act (“the Act”) introduces a sweeping set of obligations for nearly all entities that do business in the state and that handle “consumer health data,” a broad new class of health-related data separate from that regulated by the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”). Read more.
April 24, 2023
Alerts: Employment Law
New York Releases New Changes to its Model Sexual Harassment Policy and Training Video
On April 11, 2023, the New York State Department of Labor released updated versions of its sexual harassment model policy and training materials. Read more.
April 17, 2023
Alerts: Employment Law
National Labor Relations Board Provides Key Guidance on Severance Agreements
On March 22, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or the “Board”) released a memorandum providing employers of both unionized and private sector workplaces with important guidance about severance agreements that contain broad confidentiality and/or non-disparagement provisions (the "Memo"). Read more.
March 30, 2023
Alerts: Privacy & Data Security Law
CPRA Regs: 8 New Obligations You Need to Know
On February 14, the CPPA, California’s new privacy regulatory agency, filed the first part of its proposed final CPRA Regs with California’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL). Read more.
February 21, 2023
Alerts: Estate Planning Law
Increased Exemption for 2023 Creates Estate Planning Opportunities
The Federal estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer (“GST”) tax exemption amounts have increased in 2023 to $12.92 million per individual (up from $12.06 million in 2022). Read more.
February 6, 2023
Alerts: Employment Law
Top New California Employment Laws for 2023
We share a snapshot of the new employment laws California employers and employees need to know as they start off 2023. Read more.
January 3, 2023
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