Does Your Deal Contain An Earn-Out Provision?
Traditionally, when an owner sold his company, the buyer paid the entire purchase price in cash at the closing. Although the owner sometimes continued as an employee or consultant to help transition the business to the buyer, the owner was no longer personally invested in the business’s performance. Over the last few years, though, we’ve […]
Texas’ New Trademark Act
On September 1, 2012, a new trademark law will replace Texas’ current trademark laws. Heightened Scrutiny of Trademark Applications The most significant revision to the Texas trademark application process requires the Texas Secretary of State to refuse registration to marks likely to cause confusion with a mark already registered at the U.S. Patent and Trademark […]
NLRB Scuttles Arbitration by Individuals Only
A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision held that the Federal Arbitration Act allowed for a waiver of class action claims. So, plaintiffs would have to bring their claims one at a time. The case essentially was a claim by phone services customers for over charges. Last week the NLRB ruled that having a similar provision […]
Branscomb Added to “Best Law Firms” List
Texas-based Branscomb Law is among the 2011-2012 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”. The firm was recognized for its work in corporate law, tax law, trust and estate law, commercial litigation and real estate law. The rankings are based on client and lawyer evaluations and incorporate the 3.9 million evaluations of more than […]
Mike Stukenberg named “Corpus Christi Best Lawyers® Trust and Estates Lawyer of the Year”
Mike Stukenberg has been named “Corpus Christi Best Lawyers® Trust and Estates Lawyer of the Year” for 2012. Stukenberg helps clients prepare and develop estate plans and structure family businesses. He also represents businesses and individuals in income and estate tax audits and probate and trust matters. Best Lawyers®, a well respected legal publication, gave […]
Living Trust Scams In Texas
In many instances living trusts are very beneficial tool in estate planning. Though recently, living trust sales have become a disturbing area of consumer fraud in Texas. Each year thousands of consumers waste from $500 to $5,000 by purchasing living trusts. Con artists promote their business by making false or misleading statements about the probate […]
A Good Time to Make Your Estate Planning Moves: What’s New This Year
Tax Law Changes. The 2010 Tax Act made some significant changes in the tax laws that effect gifts. The exemption for lifetime gifts was increased from $1 million to $5 million ($10 million in the case of a married couple making joint gifts) effective January 1, 2011. The estate tax exemption was also increased to […]
DOL and IRS Combine Forces to Attack Employer Misclassification of Independent Contractors
Over the past several years we have been advising our labor and employment law clients to exercise caution in the appropriate classification of individuals who provide services for them. This comes in two parts: proper identification of employees as either exempt or non-exempt for overtime purposes; and properly classifying workers as either employees or independent […]
Is Your Current Outside Counsel as Creative as a 5th Grader?
Whether it’s rock-paper-scissors, eenie-meenie-minie-moe, or simply flipping a coin, when we were kids we found ways to break impasses and get back to playing the game. Now, as highly trained lawyers, it’s helpful to remember 5 simple ways, from game theory and kids, to align interests and move forward. Contact us for help on how […]
Frack or Fiction? The Truth About Fracturing the Eagle Ford Shale
Hydraulic fracturing (commonly referred to as “fracing” or “fracking”) has received substantial attention by the media, oil and gas industry, environmental groups and landowners since the onset of the shale boom across the United States. If you live in a state where oil and gas are produced, particularly where non-traditional shale plays are located and […]
