Divorce Allowed to Partners In an Out-of-State Civil Union – A Piece of the Windsor Legacy
In a case of first impression in Pennsylvania entitled Neyman v. Buckley[1], the Pennsylvania Superior Court, the Commonwealth’s intermediate appellate court, held that a Pennsylvania Family Court has jurisdiction to grant a divorce to a same-sex couple residing in Pennsylvania who had entered into a… Read More
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UncategorizedFinal Section 987 Regulations for “Qualified Business Units”
In December of 2016, the Treasury issued final and temporary functional currency regulations that apply to certain types of so-called “qualified business units”. A qualified business unit or “QBU” includes a corporation. In addition, activities of a corporation or an individual qualify as a QBU… Read More
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TaxQ&A: Obtaining a Patent
After investing in research and development, companies often debate when and how to file a patent application on their new technology. Although every company and technology is unique, these are common guidelines to help companies decide what is best in their situation. Q: How do… Read More
What Startups Can Learn from the 76ers ‘Process’
For those of us who are Philadelphia 76ers fans, we are all too familiar with the phrase, “Trust the Process” and how Sam Hinkie, the team’s former General Manager, spent years structuring the franchise for future success while experiencing losing seasons. With the 76ers still… Read More
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Startups‘Twas the night before the holiday party
With the holiday season underway, we thought we’d repost this blog from our partner, Chastity Bruno, as a friendly reminder for employers and employees to help make the office holiday party a success…and to avoid any potential lawsuits. It is that time of year again… Read More
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EmploymentThe Estate Tax Repeal Redux
A bit of tax history is in order. In 2001 President George W. Bush signed the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 which eliminated what he had dubbed during his campaign the “death tax” … except it wasn’t a real repeal. Under… Read More
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Trusts and EstatesTrademark Trial and Appeal Board Lights-Up Applications for Marijuana-Related Products
The importance of protecting one’s brand name is common knowledge across all industries (See clip of Frank Lucas in American Gangster). In a precedential decision the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) recently declined another mark within the marijuana industry, holding that the United States… Read More
Will My Facebook Page Join Me In Heaven?
What happens to your Facebook page, your Twitter account, your online banking and brokerage accounts and your emails when you die? Who has access to these “digital assets” and who can use and control them or close them down? This issue has been the subject… Read More
New Disguised Sale Rules
One way of cashing out business assets involves contributing the business assets to an entity classified for tax purposes as a partnership in exchange for a minority interest in the partnership, where the partnership would borrow money on a full recourse basis and distribute the… Read More
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TaxSelling Your Legal Practice in PA just Got Easier
Effective this week, a change in the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct will have a major effect on succession planning for lawyers. Under the old rule, an attorney who wanted to sell his or her practice was required to sell the entire law practice to… Read More
