By Russell J. Stein The Massachusetts Department of Revenue (the “DOR”) has recently issued two Technical Information Releases of importance to taxpayers. In TIR 19-7, the DOR provides guidance on the applicability of the Federal Opportunity Zone tax benefits under Massachusetts tax law, clarifying that while the benefits are available to corporate taxpayers they are...
You are ready to join a nonprofit board so you can help support the good work that it does. Do you know the risks associated with serving in this important role? In both Massachusetts and Rhode Island, directors of nonprofit corporations must discharge duties in good faith and in a manner he or she believes...
Don’t Forget To Preserve Evidence Of Your Bona Fide Intention To Use The Mark Businesses often have misconceptions about trademark issues in the United States. One very common “trap for the unwary” results from the ability to file a trademark application without having to demonstrate that the mark is in use at the time the...
By John E. Ottaviani & Geri Rosman 1. IMMORAL AND SCANDALOUS MARKS. You may have read about this trademark case — ANDREI IANCU v. ERIK BRUNETTI, 18-302 (SCOTUS) — pending before the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) right now, regarding whether the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office can refuse to register marks that are...
Client AlertsEmployment & LaborUpdate: Massachusetts Paid Family And Medical Leave – Deadline For Employer Contributions Extended To October 1, 2019
June 12, 2019
As has been widely rumored, the Commonwealth has decided to delay the July 1 implementation of the Massachusetts paid family and medical leave law (“PFML”). A joint statement by Massachusetts Governor, Charlie Baker, Senate President, Karen Spilka, and House Speaker, Robert DeLeo explains: [T]he deadline to begin employer contributions to the PFML program has been...
Client AlertsIntellectual PropertyUSPTO Requires Non-US Trademark Applicants To Retain US-Licensed Attorneys
June 10, 2019
By John E. Ottaviani The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced new rules that will go into effect 3 August 2019. Under the new rules, all new applications and renewal applications filed by a person or entity not domiciled in the U.S. must be filed by an attorney licensed to practice before the USPTO. Prior...
Client AlertsCommercial FinanceIRS Provides Guidance On Current Refunding Of Bonds Issued Under Targeted Bond Programs
June 7, 2019
By Eugene G. Bernardo II and David M. DiSegna IRS Notice 2019-39 sets forth certain requirements for preserving the tax-exempt or tax-advantaged status of current refunding bonds that are issued to refinance bonds that were originally issued under targeted bond programs. From time to time, Congress has established these statutory programs to facilitate lower borrowing...
Client AlertsCommercial FinanceIRS Private Letter Ruling Provides New Guidance On Calculating Economic Life of Certain Bond-Financed Assets
May 31, 2019
By Eugene G. Bernardo II or David M. DiSegna The IRS has released a Private Letter Ruling that approves a simplified method of calculating the remaining economic life of property financed with exempt facility bonds. Section 142 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) defines exempt facility bonds (which are tax-exempt under the Code) as bonds that...
Client AlertsIntellectual PropertySaving Time and Costs In The U.S. Trademark Registration Process
May 29, 2019
The complex U.S. trademark registration system makes many trademark owners from other countries reluctant to file national applications or extend international applications to the U.S. One reason often given is the higher cost of obtaining trademark protection in the U.S. due to the statutory requirements and the formalities that must be observed. It is frequently...
Client AlertsEmployment & LaborOne Epic Year Later: Have You Implemented A Mandatory Arbitration Agreement Yet?
May 17, 2019
By Alicia J. Samolis, Michael A. Gamboli and Christopher M. Wildenhain A year ago, the United States Supreme Court issued its seminal decision in Epic Systems v. Lewis, which confirmed that employers may use mandatory individual arbitration agreements without fear of the National Labor Relations Act (see our prior client alert for more details). In Epic’s wake, some employers,...
