On August 20, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Ryan, LLC v. FTC, held that the Federal Trade Commission’s non-compete rule is unlawful and ordered that the FTC’s non-compete rule would not take effect on September 4, 2024, or thereafter. The ruling prevents the FTC from enforcing the rule against any company nationwide. Also in August, a Florida court issued an order prohibiting Read More
BAKER JENNER CLIENT ALERT! REPORTING DEADLINE LOOMS UNDER THE CORPORATE TRANSPARENCY ACT
The below is merely informational and does not communicate, whether intentionally or otherwise, any legal, compliance or other advice. As previously shared in our March 2024 article, The Corporate Transparency Act: A New Era For Business Reporting, January 1, 2025 marks a looming deadline for businesses to disclose “beneficial ownership information,” or BOI, to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Read More
The Evolution of AI and Intellectual Property Rights
While copyright in the U.S. was formerly instituted by Act of Congress in 1790, its origins lie in several hundred years of prior legal evolution driven by the introduction of the printing press. Ever since, copyright has been in a dance with technology, as new forms of expression made possible by new inventions push the law to consider and adapt. More recently, the boundaries of which works may qualify for a Read More
Copyright Cease and Desist Letters Demand Immediate Action
As we have discussed in prior blogs, proprietary knowledge is frequently key in helping businesses distinguish their goods and services from those of their competitors. In that regard, copyright can be a powerful tool that can serve as a shield as much as a sword. Understanding it, and its uses and pitfalls, is therefore increasingly important in today’s competitive business environment, including when sending or Read More
Vendor and Service Agreement Series: Part III – Long-Term Relationships
When entering into long-term vendor agreements, the focus shifts significantly toward nurturing and managing the ongoing relationship. These contracts are not merely transactional. They’re dynamic and require regular reviews and updates to adapt to the evolving needs of both parties. Here’s how businesses can effectively manage these longer commitments: Annual Review of Terms Long-term relationships benefit from Read More
Airtight Vendor & Service Agreements Part II: The Short-Term Scope
Vendor agreements establish the foundation of your business relationships and operations. These documents delineate financial transactions and set the stage for how services are rendered, define timelines, and detail how disputes will be resolved. In Part I of this series, we discussed the essential elements of vendor agreements; now, we will take a closer look at short-term considerations. Payment Read More
Airtight Vendor & Service Agreements Part I: The Essentials
Service agreements are the unsung heroes of the business world—they're the backbone of countless business operations, ensuring that everything runs as expected, from timelines to payments. Forget about the spotlight-stealing mergers and headline-making corporate scandals; it’s these everyday contracts that keep the gears of commerce smoothly turning. In this series, we’ll dissect these agreements, starting with the Read More
Why You Need the Strategic Edge Provided by a Litigator
No matter what industry you’re in, the certainty of legal challenges is as consistent as the market's demand for innovation and growth. Effectively handling challenges requires a legal advisor who is not confined to just traditional counsel roles but is equipped with robust litigation skills. The unique dual expertise of a business attorney who also practices as a litigator provides a strategic edge essential for any Read More
Legal Revolution in Modern Business Planning
In recent years, the function of attorneys within corporate environments has shifted significantly. Previously viewed largely as defenders in legal disputes, their role now includes major contributions to strategic business decisions and risk management. Proactive financial planning for legal contingencies significantly influences a company's operational success. It also potentially opens the door to additional Read More
BAKER JENNER CLIENT ALERT! WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – FTC ISSUES FINAL RULE ON NON-COMPETES, SUBSTANTIALLY ALTERING THE RELATIONSHIPS ON WHICH BUSINESSES DEPEND
The below is merely informational and does not communicate, whether intentionally or otherwise, any legal, compliance or other advice. In our February 2023 Client Alert, we advised that the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) had issued its proposed rule prohibiting non-competes nationally, an early policy initiative of the Biden Administration. Over a year later, on April 23, 2024, the FTC issued its 570-page Final Read More
