Publications
Only a “product seller” can be held liable under the Connecticut Product Liability Act (“CPLA”). The CPLA defines a “product seller” as “any person or entity, including a wholesaler, distributor or retailer who is engaged in the business of selling such products whether the sale is for resale or for use and consumption.” Conn. Gen. […]
Greetings, Court Fans! It was a big week for the Update. On Monday, we went to Washington (over an analog phone line) to assist Appellate Group head Jonathan Freiman with his oral argument in Republic of Germany v. Philipp (No. 19-351). Click here for audio! (We swear, that’s Justice Breyer opening a bag of chips […]
Partner Carolyn Reers‘ advisory titled “Estate Tax Planning and the Often-Overlooked Power of the “Med-Ed Exclusion”” has been published by The National Law Review. Click here to read her article on The National Law Review‘s website.
Partner Scott McClure‘s client alert “IRS Releases New Guidance on the Deduction of PPP Expenses” has been picked up by The National Law Review. Click here to read Scott’s article.
Late Wednesday, the IRS released new guidance clarifying the tax treatment of certain expenses paid by taxpayers who have received a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). This new guidance amplifies a prior IRS notice on this subject that has been the topic of much discussion and legislative effort to reverse the IRS’ position. Under […]
Partner David Ring has authored, “An extreme version of good: lessons from companies under consent agreement,” which appears in the November 2020 issue of Export Compliance Manager. The magazine addresses smart practice in day-to-day export compliance. A subscription is required to read the publication. Click here to subscribe.
Partners Tahlia Townsend and David Hall have co-authored a chapter titled, “Why Deep Knowledge of U.S. Export Controls is Essential for Navigating CFIUS Requirements.” The chapter appears in the Second Edition of “Foreign Direct Investment Regimes 2021,” a cross-border insight into FDI screening regimes, for The International Comparative Legal Guides (ICLG). To read their article, […]
The current federal gift and estate tax rate is 40% and once an individual uses his or her lifetime exemption (currently $11.58 million and scheduled to drop to about half of that in 2026, perhaps sooner in light of election results) tax planning becomes difficult and complex. The only simple solutions are making charitable gifts […]
Greetings, Court Fans! And Happy Election Day! No doubt, there may be other things on your mind this evening, but if you’re looking for a diversion as the results trickle in, you’re in luck, as we’ve got the first two opinions of the term to share with you! And in case you’re not looking for […]
“From key court decisions in the United States and Europe to positive policy developments, write Joseph Casino, Benjamin Diessel and Michael Kasdan of Wiggin and Dana, the global SEP community has had much to celebrate this year.” Partners Joseph Casino, Benjamin Diessel and Michael Kasdan have co-authored an article for IAM titled, “Remembering a Blissful […]
Effective October 8, 2020, the United States Small Business Administration streamlined the forgiveness process for Paycheck Protection Program borrowers with loans of $50,000 or less. The simplified forgiveness application permits these small PPP borrowers to disregard the penalties for reductions in full time equivalent employee headcounts or undo cuts in salaries and hourly wages, which will […]
Partners Tahlia Townsend and David Laufman have co-written “Key Aspects of U.S. Financial Sanctions Risk for Non-U.S. Companies” for the International Comparative Legal Guides: Sanctions 2021 (Second Edition), which was published by Global Legal Group. To read the “Key Aspects of U.S. Financial Sanctions Risk for Non-U.S. Companies,” please click here. This chapter and other sanctions-related […]
Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (“SLATs”) may be the most common planning technique for married clients to use in 2020. A SLAT is an irrevocable trust where the spouse is a permitted beneficiary. It allows married clients to take advantage of the high gift tax exemption amount while also allowing for continued access to the gifted trust […]
An effective way to pass wealth, growth and income to future generations is through the use of a Dynasty Trust. A Dynasty Trust (sometimes also referred to as a Generation-Skipping Trust), is an irrevocable trust that continues for as long as the applicable state law allows. In addition to using your federal gift tax exemption to fund […]
Election Day is around the corner. Federal gift and estate tax exemptions are at an all-time high and interest rates are historically low. Many commentators believe that there will be no major changes to federal gift and estate tax laws as long as Republicans control any of the White House, Senate or House of Representatives. […]
Greetings, Court Fans! It’s the first Monday of October, which means we’re back for another term of Court-tracking. Of course, OT20 is not just another term. We begin short-handed, following the death of the inimitable Justice Ginsburg just over two weeks ago. The effort to replace her—or forestall her replacement—during the final weeks of a […]
Effective October 2, 2020, the United States Small Business Administration created a path to avoid the SBA pre-approval for change of control transactions involving borrowers under the Paycheck Protection Program. The SBA Procedural Notice lays out a (relatively) clear multi-part test for whether the PPP lender can unilaterally approve a change of control transaction without first […]
A Trade Secrets article co-authored by Wiggin and Dana Partner Joseph Casino and Associates Thomas Landman and Rikesh Patel has been published by the American Bar Association. To read their piece, click here or the PDF below.
Restrictions on U.S. entry pursuant to a nonimmigrant visa in certain classifications (H, J, L) remain in place through at least December 31, 2020 pursuant to Executive Order PP 10052 (“Nonimmigrant Visa Ban” or “NIV Ban”). See our related client alert here. Per the Department of State, individuals otherwise subject to the entry restrictions under […]
USCIS Fee Changes and New Forms On October 2, 2020 the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) new fee schedule will go into effect. Most immigration benefit requests will see a significant increase in fees (weighted average increase is 20%). Notably, USCIS implemented separate fees for each I-129 nonimmigrant visa category, moving away from a uniform […]
For nearly four decades, participation in private offerings has been reserved for only those investors with the financial resources to demonstrate their “sophistication” to invest by meeting specific wealth thresholds without regard to financial knowledge or expertise. On August 26, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), by a vote of 3-2, issued a […]
The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued revised regulations concerning the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) on September 11, 2020, just over a month after the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York invalidated four components of the previous iteration of the regulations. The move comes with only four months remaining before […]
Partner Najia S. Khalid and Associates Jermaine A Brookshire, Jr. and Ashley Moore’s previous client alert “Immigration and Compliance Briefing: COVID I-9 Compliance Flexibility Extended, I-9 Compliance Audits and Work Site Raids” has been published by The National Law Review. Read their piece on The National Law Review‘s website here.
On August 12, 2020, John Demers, the head of the National Security Division (NSD) at the Department of Justice (DOJ), spoke publicly about national security threats from China at an event sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. In more candid remarks than typically provided in a public forum, Mr. Demers […]
COVID-19 Remote I-9 Flexibility Policy Extended Again As of March 20, 2020, and now extended through September 19, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) is permitting a limited I-9 compliance flexibility policy for employers and workplaces that are operating remotely to “defer the physical presence requirements associated with Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9).” […]
USCIS To Furlough Over 13,000 U.S. Employees Given stalled stimulus negotiations in Congress, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) notified 13,400 of its 20,000 U.S. employees that they will be furloughed at the end of this month. The furloughs, expected to impact every USCIS office, may remain in effect through the end of the […]
Each year, Wiggin and Dana LLP and LeadingAge Connecticut collaborate to produce a comprehensive summary of new Connecticut laws affecting providers of services for the elderly. This year’s Summary reports on legislation affecting nursing homes, residential care homes, home and community-based services, and individual practitioners. To view a copy of the Summary with the Public […]
Many clients use intrafamily loans to assist a relative with the purchase of a residence, the funding of a business venture or an investment in any other asset. If properly structured, intrafamily loans also provide clients with an excellent tax planning strategy. To avoid having any part of an intrafamily loan considered a gift for tax purposes, […]
Associate Kaitlyn Pacelli’s Private Client Services advisory, “Executor Selection,” has been published by The National Law Review. To read Kaitlyn’s piece on The National Law Review‘s website, click here.
Partners Joseph Casino and Michael Kasdan have co-authored a 2020 update to their article titled, “Patent Litigation: Mapping a Global Strategy,” which is published by Thomson Reuters and The Practical Law Company. The piece also discusses key strategic considerations when bringing patent litigation in different forums and includes updates regarding the litigation of standards essential patents (SEPs) and non-SEPs. […]