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 […]
Widerman Malek Law Blog
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
Please Note- UPDATE: Despite prior reports that the Corporate Transparency Act is no longer enforceable, the Act remains in effect except with respect to companies that are members of the National Small Business Administration (NSBA), a private small business advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. The court’s ruling that the Act is unconstitutional is only […]
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.
Florida Sunshine Law Vol. 3 – Misconceptions about the Sunshine Law
Misconceptions about the Sunshine Law<\strong>
There are several misconceptions about Florida’s Sunshine Law that I would like to address in this third installment. One of the largest that I believe is slowly getting recognized and understood is the right to participate or comment in meetings falling under the requirements of Chapter 286, Florida Statutes.
