Business Interruption Coverage in the Time of COVID-19
As 'shelter in place' orders increase, business are turning to their insurance policies to cover losses incurred due to government ordered shutdowns.
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New Law Dramatically Affects Noncompete Agreements in Washington
On May 8, 2019, Governor Inslee signed a new law that will transform the use of noncompete agreements in Washington. The new law takes effect on January 1, 2020 and will apply to all existing noncompete agreements with employees and…
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Washington Supreme Court Significantly Limits General Contractors’ Liability for Jobsite Injuries to Subcontractor Employees
Owners and General Contractors generally have a duty to provide a safe workplace. But does that duty mean that an Owner or General Contractor is automatically liable for the actions of its Subcontractors when a Subcontractor’s employee suffers an injury…
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The Importance of an Operating Agreement to Family Businesses
For family businesses organized as limited liability companies, an operating agreement is critical to maintaining ownership within the family, providing clear direction to management in the face of complicated family dynamics, and offering stability when individual family members wish to…
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“Grain Glitch” “Fixed”: Cooperative Loophole for Doctors, Lawyers, and Accountants Closed
In recent months, a flurry of news articles have pointed to a strategy whereby certain highly paid professionals (such a doctors, lawyers, and accountants) can form worker-owned cooperatives in order to avoid the limits placed on the new tax law’s…
Read MoreSignificant Changes to Partnership Audit Rules Require Planning
In November 2015, Congress enacted as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (the “BBA”) partnership audit rules designed to make it easier for the IRS to examine partnerships and collect any resulting underpayments through one centralized proceeding. With limited…
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New Deduction for Pass-Through Entities May Reduce Taxable Income in 2018 and Beyond
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changes much of our nation’s tax law. One of the most discussed changes is the new flat corporate tax rate of 21%, which is a permanent change in the new law. To take advantage…
Read MoreComparing the Tax Reform Plans in the House and the Senate
On November 16, 2017, the House of Representatives passed the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (H.R. 1) (the “House Bill”) with a 227–205 vote. The Senate’s version of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (the “Senate Bill”) has not been…
Read MoreWhen a Retail Tenant Goes Dark – Part Two
This post follows up on a prior article addressing the myriad issues that can occur when a retail tenant abandons the premises before the expiration of the lease term: When A Retail Tenant Goes Dark – Part One. This is a growing…
Read MoreWhen A Retail Tenant Goes Dark – Part One
Despite strong consumer confidence and the lowest unemployment level in a decade, retail defaults this year are expected to surpass those in 2009 when the economy was in the throes of the Great Recession. Sorry, We're Closed, The Economist, May…
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