Business & Tax Articles

For individuals navigating estate planning and wealth preservation, irrevocable trusts offer a powerful and strategic vehicle for protecting inherited assets, minimizing death taxes and, to some extent, income taxes, and ensuring generational continuity. A particularly beneficial structure involves placing inherited assets into an irrevocable trust.

Starting a business is an exciting endeavor. There are a multitude of considerations, and the decisions made early on can have long-lasting legal and financial consequences. Speaking with a business formation attorney at the outset can help you avoid costly mistakes, protect your personal assets, and set your company up for long-term success.

On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) became law, enacting several changes that will impact employers and employees. 

As a result of a case out of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, a new regulation was issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) applicable to the 10% DBE requirement. 

The First Half 2025 Merger & Acquisition Update prepared by Optis Partners reports 319 announced insurance agency mergers and acquisitions during the first half of calendar year 2025 as compared to 345 for the same period in 2024 (an 8% reduction). 

Mergers and acquisitions among insurance agencies and brokers in the United States and Canada totaled 750 in 2024.

As raids conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are underway, it is crucial for employers to understand their rights and responsibilities if and when ICE agents arrive.

Family Private Enterprise Model for Business Succession Planning: Hiring a Non-Family Member President and Developing an Independent Board of Directors

In what seems to be a never-ending carousel of rulings, on December 26, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed course and reinstated the nationwide preliminary injunction of the enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA).

Fifth Circuit Stays Nationwide Preliminary Injunction of Corporate Transparency Act - January 1, 2025 Filing Deadline Reinstated, But FinCEN Issues Notice of Extension of Filing Deadlines

Mergers and acquisitions among insurance agencies and brokers in the United States and Canada totaled 535 through the first 3 quarters of 2024.

The Court granted a nationwide preliminary injunction to prohibit the government’s enforcement of the CTA throughout the country. However, as there is no harm in making the filings with FINCEN and as there is some question as to the legal authority of the Court’s nationwide injunction, we suggest reporting companies at least consider proceeding with and finalizing such Beneficial Ownership Information filings prior to January 1, 2025.

On August 23, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit vacated the U.S. Department of Labor’s “80/20” rule, which involves tipped wages covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, a federal court issued a nationwide injunction against the Federal Trade Commission, precluding it from enforcing its April 23, 2024 final rule purporting to ban non-compete agreements against most employees in the United States.

On July 17, 2024, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed into law the Fair Contracting for Health Care Practitioners Act, Act 74-2024 (Act), which introduces significant changes to the contractual and employment conditions for certain health care practitioners in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Act becomes effective on January 1, 2025.