Litigation can be a lengthy, costly, and emotionally draining process. As an attorney who practices as transactional, trial, and appellate counsel, I’ve seen firsthand how disputes can escalate into full-blown, multi-year court battles, typically to the detriment of everyone involved. While sometimes litigation is unavoidable, there are several steps you can take to minimize your […]
Widerman Malek Law Blog
Leveraging Outside Counsel: Safeguarding Corporate Intellectual Property Assets
In the area of corporate governance, protecting intellectual property (IP) stands out as a primary concern. In the digital age, where innovation is at the core of competitiveness, corporations must protect their intellectual assets to maintain their edge in the market. Engaging outside counsel has emerged as a strategic imperative for corporations seeking to protect […]
Balancing Innovation and Accuracy: The Role of LLMs in Patent Research and Legal Practice
In this new age of generative AI and large language models (LLMs), we are quickly learning what tasks benefit from this new tool and what tasks are harmed by it. The legal community, and seemingly the world at large, watched with grim curiosity as New York attorneys were reprimanded for using ChatGPT to draft a […]
Understanding Your Rights: Dealing with an IRS Notice of Deficiency
Receiving a notice from the IRS can be a nerve-wracking experience for anyone. But perhaps one of the most anxiety-inducing notices is the Notice of Deficiency. This document is sent when the IRS believes that you owe additional taxes based on discrepancies found in your tax return. However, it’s essential to understand that as a […]
The Corporate Transparency Act Goes Into Effect 01/01/2024 – Here’s How It Impacts Your Business and What You Need to Know
What is the Corporate Transparency Act? The Corporate Transparency Act (the “CTA,” 31 U.S.C. § 5336) was enacted in 2021 and goes into effect on January 1, 2024. It is intended to assist law enforcement in dealing with money laundering, tax fraud, financing of terrorism, etc. through the use of anonymous shell and front companies. […]
Successful Business Basics: Why You Should Consider Hiring a Lawyer
When you start a business, there are many things that you need to take into consideration, but often the last one on the list is whether your business will need a lawyer. There are two professionals that every single business should have from the start – a trusted accountant and a lawyer who understands your […]
Foreign-owned companies must have U.S. employer identification number
EIN for Foreign Person Can someone who is not an American citizen, or a resident of the U.S., form a corporation or LLC in Florida or any other state? The answer is yes. There is no requirement that the owners of an entity registered in the U.S. are American citizens or residents of this country. […]
Business Email Compromise (or CEO/CFO Impersonation Fraud)
According to the FBI, Business Email Compromise (BEC for short, or CEO/CFO impersonation fraud) have caused at least USD 3.1 billion in total losses to over 22,000 enterprises around the world. The FBI defines BEC as a sophisticated email scam that targets businesses working with foreign partners that regularly perform overseas wire transfer payments. The […]
Does Religious Freedom Overrule Corporate Dress Codes?
Corporate dress codes are coming under scrutiny by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for religious discrimination. In August of 2012, former Disney employee, Imane Boudlal sued Disney after being told she could not wear her hijab to work and just recently a Kentucky Fried Chicken former employee sued the franchise that dismissed her […]
Florida Sunshine Law Vol. 4 – Consequences of violating the Sunshine Law
What are the consequences of violating the Sunshine Law?
Violations of Florida’s Sunshine Law can bring stiff and far reaching consequences, some of which are not just against the board members, commissioners, etc. involved. For starters, there can be criminal penalties. If a board member, commissioner, etc. knowingly violates the Sunshine Law, the individual is likely guilty of a second degree misdemeanor, which can include 60 days of imprisonment and a fine of up to $500.
