Publications
WealthCounsel Quarterly recently featured an in‑depth article by Michael T. Clear and Erin D. Nicholls, offering practical guidance for professionals navigating one of the most sensitive areas of trust administration: trustee removal. The article explains why trustee removal is often complex, highly fact‑specific, and deeply consequential for families, fiduciaries, and advisors. Michael and Erin outline […]
Each year, thousands of taxpayers relocate for warmer weather, lower taxes or new opportunities. However, failure to properly change domicile can cost these taxpayers a hefty and unexpected tax bill. In a recent New York Tax Appeals Tribunal case, In the Matter of the Petition of John J. Hoff and Kathleen Ocorr-Hoff, the court determined […]
On December 19, 2025, New York’s Governor signed into law the Fostering Affordability and Integrity Through Reasonable Business Practices Act (“FAIR Business Practices Act”). The FAIR Business Practices Act amends Sections 348 and 349 of New York’s General Business Law for the first time since the 1970s. The Act makes three key changes, expanding: (1) […]
The last stretch of 2025 saw significant developments in antitrust litigation involving algorithmic pricing and listing services in the real estate sector. As artificial-intelligence driven software and other real estate business practices continue to generate antitrust litigation, companies should remain vigilant about the risks of incorporating new technologies and listing policies into their business models. […]
From fiscal year 2020 to January 2025, the backlog of unexamined U.S. patent applications rose by approximately 45%, from 576,103 to 837,928.[1] Meanwhile, the average time for a patent applicant to receive a first Office Action rose from 14.8 months to 22.6 months over the same time period—a 53% increase.[2] From our own anecdotal experience, […]
The Banking Law Journal has published Partner Peter Lahny’s article, “Navigating Intercreditor Arrangements in Commodities and Trade Finance: A Practical Guide Part III,” the concluding article in his three‑part series on intercreditor issues in commodities and trade finance. This final installment synthesizes the analysis developed throughout the series, examining how various intercreditor arrangements function in […]
On December 22, 2025, the FTC reopened and set aside the FTC’s 2024 consent order against the AI company Rytr LLC.[1] This move was made by the two active members, Chair Andrew Ferguson and Commissioner Mark Meador, leading the normally five-member agency. These members ordered the Rytr consent decree to be set aside because the […]
On December 19, Governor Hochul vetoed legislation that would have amended the definition of certain terms contained within the New York LLC Transparency Act (NYLTA). The governor’s veto means the terms “beneficial owner,” “reporting company,” and “exempt company” will continue to mirror those found in the federal Corporate Transparency Act. As such, when the reporting […]
As the new year approaches, we present our annual year-end advisory for 2025. This edition highlights noteworthy estate and gift tax changes and outlines planning opportunities for year-end and beyond. We also take a moment to recognize some of our accomplishments in 2025 and provide our outlook for the new year. 2026 ESTATE, GIFT, AND […]
On December 8th, the U.S. Supreme Court declined a petition to review, and therefore, let stand the April 2025 decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) in Recentive Analytics, Inc. v. Fox Corp. The CAFC had held that patent claims that merely apply machine learning (a form of Artificial Intelligence […]
Yesterday, in Abbott v. League of United Latin American Citizens (No. 25A608), a presumably 6-3 Court issued a short order allowing Texas’s new, and explicitly gerrymandered, congressional map to go into effect for the 2026 congressional election. In doing so, it stayed a split three-judge District Court’s decision that the new map violated the Constitution by taking the racial composition of voting districts into account in achieving the legislature’s partisan […]
Partner Peter J. Lahny IV‘s article “Navigating Intercreditor Arrangements in Commodities and Trade Finance: A Practical Guide – Part II” was published by The Banking Law Journal. The second installment of this three-part series addresses key issues in intercreditor arrangements for commodities and trade finance, including priority disputes and coordination challenges among lenders. It also […]
Greetings, Court Fans! You may have noticed that we haven’t quite worked up the resolve to start summarizing all the Supreme Court’s activities on its interim-orders docket, despite the now imperceptibly fine line between many interim orders and merits opinions. In the meantime, though, we are (re)committed to summarizing every merits decision, no matter how […]
A revocable trust is a flexible estate planning tool that allows you to manage and distribute your assets during your lifetime and after your death. You retain full control over the trust while you’re alive, with the ability to amend or revoke it at any time. Upon your death or incapacity, a successor trustee steps […]
Overview We previously alerted readers to a troubling ruling out of Massachusetts that could impact estate planning across the country (Jones v. Jones, 103 Mass. App. Ct. 223 (2023)). Connecticut now has its own similar case, Gervolino v. Gervolino, that echoes the troubling analysis of the Massachusetts case, with broad language that runs counter to […]
On November 7, 2025, The Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) published an article written by Partner Michael Menapace regarding a new excess general liability program offered by three of world’s leading insurers. This single-desk underwriting and claim arrangement is unique in the U.S. market and offers benefits to policyholders with limits up to $100,000,000. Michael is […]
Overview In a troubling ruling to keep an eye on, a Connecticut Superior Court refused to strike a claim in a divorce action that a divorcing spouse who resigned his position as trustee of a family trust engaged in a fraudulent conveyance. Although it was an early ruling in the case, and the claim may […]
Probate litigation is an area of law that can be fraught with unexpected twists and critical deadlines. The recent decision in Chartier v. Valliere, 234 Conn. App. 1 (2025), offers a compelling look into the complexities of will contests, the significance of precise court language, and the perilous consequences of delayed action. This case provides […]
Wiggin and Dana’s Robert M. Langer and Associate Zeynep E. Vallance, together with Quyen Truong of Covington & Burling LLP and Alundai Benjamin of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, each former UConn Law School students of Mr. Langer, have co-authored the Connecticut Chapter of the Sixth Edition of State Antitrust Practice and Statutes (SAPS). This edition marks a milestone […]
The 30-day comment period concluded with respect to the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published in the Federal Register on September 24, 2025 by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to amend the process by which the agency selects H-1B registrations toward the annual fiscal year visa quota. The proposed rule replaces the current, random […]
The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”), through its U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), issued new guidance related to the September Presidential Proclamation titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers.” The Proclamation imposes a one-time $100,000 fee on employers submitting new H-1B petitions on behalf of individuals currently outside the U.S. USCIS has now outlined situations […]
Partner Katie Rubino‘s article “Beyond the Secret Sauce: Turning IP Into Acquisition Leverage” was published by Corporate Compliance Insights. This article explains how a well-crafted intellectual property strategy can significantly boost a company’s exit value during mergers and acquisitions. By aligning IP assets with buyer needs, protecting core innovations, and leveraging tactics like expedited patent […]
Wiggin and Dana’s Katherine Rubino, Pierre Yanney, and Thomas Landman recently collaborated on “Rail Yard Automation Patents Derailed at Delaware District Court. Lessons from All Terminal Services (d/b/a ConGlobal) v. Roboflow”. This article explores the Delaware District Court’s decision to invalidate three rail yard automation patents under 35 U.S.C. § 101, finding the claims were […]
Partner Peter J. Lahny IV‘s article “Navigating Intercreditor Arrangements in Commodities and Trade Finance: A Practical Guide – Part I” was published by The Banking Law Journal. The initial installment of this three-part series guides secured lenders in commodities and trade finance on complex issues created by the standard forms of intercreditor agreement, with a […]
Recent merger settlements further confirm that merger remedies are back and indicate the healthcare industry remains a priority for antitrust enforcers. In July, we published an alert regarding the resolutions of two merger investigations initiated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ).[1] We observed a key shift in […]
On October 24, Partner Paul Tuchmann was featured on SiriusXM NBA Radio’s The Starting Lineup in an episode titled “Federal Investigation Implicates NBA Players and Coaches in Betting Scandal.” Paul’s commentary provided listeners with a rare window into the legal mechanics behind high-profile sports investigations, as he discussed the federal probe into illegal sports betting […]
George Kimball and Mark Heaphy‘s book “Outsourcing Agreements: A Practical Guide, Second Edition” was published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This updated edition delivers actionable insights for negotiating, drafting, and managing outsourcing contracts. It’s an essential resource for legal professionals, procurement teams, and business leaders navigating complex service relationships. Start reading today – the first chapter […]
Earlier this month, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois invalidated two patents for a menu comparison methodology, highlighting an important ruling for the patent community.[1] Plaintiff Bootler (d/b/a FoodBoss) brought suit against Google claiming that Google infringed U.S. Patent Nos. 10,445,683 ( ‘683) patent and 11,037,090 ( ‘090 patent).[2] The claims […]
Effective October 1, 2025, the federal government has shut down until Congress approves a stopgap measure or new fiscal year budget. This means parts of the federal government are suspending operations until funding is restored. Traditionally, the U.S. government is funded annually through twelve appropriations bills. When appropriation bills are not passed and signed by […]
A revocable trust is a flexible estate planning tool that allows you to manage and distribute your assets during your lifetime and after your death. You retain full control over the trust while you’re alive, with the ability to amend or revoke it at any time. Upon your death or incapacity, a successor trustee steps […]