Events

On February 29, 2024 from 12-1pm, Tannenbaum Helpern's Construction & Design group members, Melissa Billig and Stuart Rosen, along with Allison Robin from Envoie Projects, will be presenting a webinar on the differing perspectives of project owners and design professionals during negotiations and will offer practical solutions for expedient execution.

Program Description: Owners, owner’s representatives, developers. design professionals and others in the A/E/C industry are invited to join us for a Leap Day discussion on the top 5 issues facing owners and architects while negotiating architectural services agreements, which apply broadly to design professionals. Topics of discussion will include the importance of a well-defined scope of services, ownership or licenses in the instruments of service, and risk management, including insurance, indemnification and limitations of liability.

This event has been approved for 1.0 New York State CLE credits in the category of Areas of Professional Practice. The credits are both transitional and non-transitional; this program is suitable for both experienced and newly admitted attorneys. There is no fee to attend this program.

Register here for this webinar, Streamlining Architectural Services Agreements.

On February 7, 2024 from 12-1pm, Tannenbaum Helpern's Construction & Design group members, Kenneth M. Block, Stuart Rosen and Hillel E. Sussman, will be presenting a webinar on several new laws and regulations affecting construction that appeared in 2023.

Program Description: The year 2023 saw the enactment of several new laws and regulations affecting construction, including sustainability goals, safety and permitting requirements, and invoicing and retainage withholding. Also at issue in 2023 were legal issues such as subcontractor defaults and limitations of liability for contractors and design professionals. The program will explore these developments and issues, and offer practical advice for owners and developers in dealing with the topics.

This event has been approved for 1.0 New York State CLE credit in the category of Areas of Professional Practice. The credit is both transitional and non-transitional; it is suitable for both experienced and newly admitted attorneys

Register here for this webinar on Building Code and Legal Developments Affecting 2024 Construction.

In April 2019 the NYC City Council passed the Climate Mobilization Act, including Local Law 97 requiring most buildings over 25,000 square feet to meet new energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions limits by 2024, with stricter limits becoming effective in 2030. Significant penalties will be imposed on building owners for the failure to comply with the emission limits. In this CLE program, the panel will address the elements of Local Law 97, offer practical advice for building owners in the implementation of steps which can be taken to reduce energy consumption and consequent emissions, and comply with the law.

Ever wonder how your LOI can lead to a commercial lease? Real estate lawyers Ari Davis and Michelle Greenberg address this important topic during the World Wide Land Transfer webinar on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 10:00am (ET). This program qualifies for 1 credit CE for NYS Real Estate Agents/Brokers. Register today!

Paul Sarkozi, partner and chair of Tannenbaum Helpern's Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice will speak on the Federal Bar Council’s live CLE webinar, moderated by The Honorable Steven I. Locke, U.S. Magistrate Judge. Paul advises companies pursuing and protecting investments in the evolving cannabis industry and serves as a member of the NYSBA Cannabis Law Committee.

In this construction webinar, Kenneth Block and Brandon Reiner, joined by Matt Doherty, a principal of Zubatkin Owner Representation, discussed the pros and cons of various delivery methods for construction projects.

Vincent Syracuse, Carl Regelmann and Elizabeth Schlissel discussed the important issues that in-house counsel face on a regular basis for this ethic CLE program.

Many joined us for a panel discussion as THSH Joseph Lockinger and speakers discussed the reasons for the increase in this type of litigation and how businesses can minimize the risk of being sued.

Many joined Tannenbaum Helpern’s real estate and construction attorneys Kenneth Block and Joshua Levy, and Ketan Trivedi from Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers as they discussed the important legal and practical considerations of protecting neighboring properties during construction and the negotiation of the terms of access agreements required for the installation of the protective measures.

This program explored the role of the Owner's Representative in the construction process – from preliminary design through final completion. Many joined Tannenbaum Helpern construction attorneys Ken Block and Josh Levy and executive managing director of Colliers Project Management, Robert Gorton for a discussion on when to engage an owner’s representative and the role it plays in a construction project.

This program drilled down on guaranteed maximum prices (GMPs), covering the pros and cons of using GMPs, when and how they are established, the elements of the GMP and the relevant contractual provisions. The discussion included the treatment of contingencies, general conditions costs, allowances, qualifications, savings and change orders.

Property damage, personal injury, schedule delays, liens and unanticipated costs. Construction projects involve risks, and managing those risks is essential to the successful completion of every project.

Many joined Tannenbaum Helpern construction attorneys Ken Block and Josh Levy and an industry expert Craig Barnet for a discussion on the essential tools that owners can use to anticipate, allocate, control and minimize construction risk.

The Dec 6, 2016 court ruling in US v Salman clarifies the “personal benefit” requirement and eases the government’s burden of proving insider trading cases. But how does this impact other decisions such as US v Newman and the prosecution of future insider trading cases? While the government need not show that the tipper has received something of tangible value, it raises the question of when the relationship between tipper and tippee reaches the level which would satisfy this lesser “personal benefit” requirement. Head of Tannenbaum Helpern’s Governmental and Regulatory Investigations Practice and securities litigator Ralph Siciliano held a lively, in-depth discussion addressing these and other critical questions in light of the Salman decision.

The intellectual property world, driven by technology and the reach of the Internet, continues to evolve, creating opportunities and obstacles for all. Tannenbaum Helpern Intellectual Property attorneys Andrew Berger and L. Donald Prutzman held an interactive discussion on the key developments in the copyright and trademark world over the past year and what protections and problems you are likely to face going forward.

This interactive panel discussion guided in-house counsel through important issues of professional responsibility they face on a regular basis including rules that govern privileged communications, contact with former employees, conflicts of interest, electronic discovery, and others. A series of hypothetical fact patterns were used to illustrate critical problems and offer problem-solving techniques.

Cybersecurity is a leading concern – if not the number one concern – for general counsel and compliance officers. Tannenbaum Helpern’s Andre R. Jaglom and David R. Lallouz and Baker Tilly’s Russell J. Sommers, discussed the regulatory environment for businesses in the financial services sector versus other industries, examined industry cybersecurity standards, discussed how to conduct cybersecurity audits, addressed lawyers' ethical responsibilities for information security and looked at employee training and vendor contracts to address weaknesses. Program topics included: Regulatory requirements from the SEC, FTC, NY Department of Financial Services and other agencies, Industry Standards and Security Audits: AICPA, NIST and SOC Reports and People – The Weakest Link: Legal Ethics Issues, Employee Training and Vendor Contracts. To watch the video, click here.

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It is an honor to be selected as an executor or trustee, but that service comes with significant legal obligations. This program examined many important legal and practical issues that executors or trustees confront, and it presented cautionary lessons from recent case law concerning fiduciary conduct. The program also covered management responsibility over assets, obligations to estate and trust beneficiaries, and strategies to avoid internal disputes and litigation.

Preservation of electronic materials continues to be a hot topic, and the possible sanctions that courts can apply to companies that fail to preserve is an on-going concern for firms. Therefore, it is critical for companies to comply with and understand their preservation obligations and for their lawyers to advise them of these requirements.

This program reviewed when a company's preservation obligations are triggered, the steps that companies should follow to meet those obligations, and significant developments in the law. It also discussed practical steps that companies can follow in developing a pre-litigation document retention policy.

Tannenbaum Helpern tax attorneys Michele Itri and David Schulder along with RSM US LLP's International Tax Principal Mark Strimber, discussed how hedge funds and private equity funds can minimize tax burden for non-U.S. investors. These investors are primarily concerned with avoiding U.S. tax filing obligations and paying U.S. tax on "effectively connected income" which can result from a non-U.S. investor's investment in U.S. real estate, certain U.S. loans, U.S. operating companies and fee participations. More information includes certain blocker structures and other techniques that can be used to accommodate these concerns and minimize the U.S. tax drain on the investment returns of non-U.S. investors. Watch videos from the event by clicking the links below:

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With a number of high-profile ‎workplace ‎shootings ‎being reported, employers have begun asking with greater frequency what should they do to prepare their company and employees for such an event. ‎As an employer, what are your legal responsibilities if a shooting‎‎ occurs in your workplace or at a company-sponsored or sanctioned event? For you and your employees, what are the recommended survival strategies? Are employers obligated to offer survival training? Are employers liable if they don't? These questions and many more were addressed.

Section 409A of the tax code impacts virtually every agreement, program or other arrangement that provides for the deferral of compensation for employees or other service providers. This program provided an overview of Section 409A's key provisions and outlined how you can structure your stock option and phantom equity plans and employment and severance agreements to ensure compliance.

Rebecca E. Crosby, Maryann Stallone, Vincent J. Syracuse and Jamie B.W. Stecher spoke about important issues of ethics and professional responsibility that is routinely faced as in-house counsel. Topics included: Rules governing privileged communications; Electronic discovery; Contact with former employees; Conflicts of interest and others. A series of hypothetical fact patterns were used to illustrate common challenges and offer problem-solving techniques.

Tannenbaum Helpern's distribution law attorney Andre R. Jaglom gave the distributor's perspective in a panel discussion entitled "Producer Wholesaling and Retailing" at the 20th Anniversary of the CLE International annual program on Wine, Beer & Spirits Law in Louisville.

It is well accepted in the construction industry that "time is money." This program presented a case study demonstrating the procedures an owner/developer should implement to avoid delay, mitigate the effects of delay and disruption, and recover damages resulting from the effects of delay. Scheduling techniques and contract clauses were discussed.

Join us for an interactive discussion of ten common intellectual property mistakes businesses, large and small, make and how to avoid making them in your business. The program offered solutions and best practices to avoid problems in multiple areas concerning both creation and protection of your business's intellectual property, and using intellectual property belonging to others in your business.

NYSBA – Global Law Week 2015

Tannenbaum Helpern Drew Jaglom, Michele Itri and Donald Prutzman on selecting the best distribution model for a product or service; maximizing the available intellectual property protection for your products and brand in the most cost-efficient manner; navigating the maze of import, tariff and customs laws; structuring you operations in the most tax efficient manner and complying with applicable rules or policies of the FTC relating to your products and marketing efforts.

This interactive program addressed employment law issues frequently faced by in-house counsel. In-house counsel have unique challenges stemming from their requirement to be both a legal counselor and a business person. In light of this unique role, this program covered legal and practical solutions for:

• avoiding discrimination and harassment liability, including best practices for handling employee complaints and workplace investigations,
• managing risks associated with the misclassification of individuals as independent contractors,
• reducing wage claim exposure, including overtime obligations,
• protecting against liability resulting from employees' social media usage, and
• recognizing issues and satisfying obligations arising from employees' disabilities, medical leaves of absence, and health issues.

This program examined the impact of the recent court decision on insider trading cases going forward. While the decision in US vs. Newman provided much needed clarity in the law governing insider trading, it also left many important questions unanswered. Join Ralph Siciliano, who heads Tannenbaum Helpern's Governmental and Regulatory Investigations practice and regularly advises investment managers and other financial professionals on insider trading and SEC enforcements, as he discussed the implications of the court decision on insider trading and the investment community.