Course1

Baskets and Escrow in Business Transactions

$79.00

Identifying and hedging the risk of the unknown is one of the biggest risks in business documentation.  If unknown liabilities arise – or known liabilities are greater than anticipated –parties want recourse to address the economic loss.  “Caps” and “baskets” are used to address this problem.  Caps are the the total amount for which one party may be liable to the other party post-closing. “Baskets” are the amount of loss one party must incur, if any, before seeking recourse to the other party. The variations and interplay between caps and baskets can be highly complex. This program will provide you with a practical guide to the uses, types, and drafting traps of caps and baskets in business transactions.   Types of “baskets” – “tipping baskets” v. “true deductibles” v. hybrids Negotiating “caps” – aggregates limits, specific carve-outs for fraud and other bad acts Intricate relationship between baskets and caps Drafting to reduce risk of dispute and enhance collectability of claims Use of escrow to ensure payment of indemnification claims   Speaker: Steven O. Weise is a partner in the Los Angeles office Proskauer Rose, LLP, where his practice encompasses all areas of commercial law. He has extensive experience in financings, particularly those secured by personal property.He also handles matters involving real property anti-deficiency laws, workouts, guarantees, sales of goods, letters of credit, commercial paper and checks, and investment securities.Mr. Weise formerly served as chair of the ABA Business Law Section. He has also served as a member of the Permanent Editorial Board of the UCC and as an Advisor to the UCC Code Article 9 Drafting Committee.Mr. Weise received his B.A. from Yale University and his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 11/21/2024
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Course1

Ethics for Business Lawyers

$79.00

Lawyers advising businesses on transactions or negotiating on their behalf often confront a range of important ethical questions.  The biggest is, who is your client?  Often a company’s owners or managers will not understand the distinction between representing them and representing the company? There are also issues of identifying and clearing conflicts among clients when they are negotiating transaction.  And what can a lawyer say or do when negotiating for a client? Also, lawyers are sometimes confronted with issues about what to do when clients are dishonest.  This program will provide you with a real world guide to ethical issues when representing clients in business transactions.    Ethical issues in business and corporate practice Identifying your client in a variety of transactional contexts – the company v. its managers? Conflicts of interest in representing both sides of a transaction Ethical issues in transactional negotiations and communications with represented parties Representing clients you know to be dishonest and reporting wrong-doing “up and out”   Speakers: Thomas E. Spahn is a partner in the McLean, Virginia office of McGuireWoods, LLP, where he has a substantial practice advising clients on properly creating and preserving the attorney-client privilege and work product protections.  For more than 30 years he has lectured extensively on legal ethics and professionalism and has written “The Attorney-Client Privilege and the Work Product Doctrine: A Practitioner’s Guide,” a 750 page treatise published by the Virginia Law Foundation.  Mr. Spahn has served as a member of the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and as a member of the Virginia State Bar's Legal Ethics Committee.  He received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Yale University and his J.D. from Yale Law School. William Freivogel is the principal of Freivogel Ethics Consulting and is an independent consultant to law firms on ethics and risk management.  He was a trial lawyer for 22 years and has practiced in the areas of legal ethics and lawyer malpractice for more than 25 years.  He is chair of the Editorial Board of the ABA/BNA Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct. He maintains the Website“Freivogel on Conflicts” at www.freivogelonconflicts.com<http://www.freivogelonconflicts.com/> .Mr. Freivogel is a graduate of the University of Illinois (Champaign), where he received his B.S. and LL.B.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 11/29/2024
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Course1

Liquidation: Legal Issues When a Client Decides to Close a Business

$79.00

Planning for an LLC’s eventual liquidation can be as important as formation. Well planned and efficient liquidations help LLC members preserve value. Messy liquidations are costly and rapidly diminish value. Whether triggered by a provision in a buy/sell agreement or on the basis of a statutory provision, liquidations are a process of marshaling assets, providing a variety of notices, satisfying debts and other liabilities, and eventually liquidating distributions to LLC members. When planned and managed effectively, the process can preserve substantial value for clients. This program will provide you with a practical guide to liquidations of LLCs.   Statutory bases for voluntary LLC dissolution and how they are triggered by members Judicial/non-voluntary bases for LLC dissolution Planning for eventual dissolution of an LLC in buy/sell agreements Process of dissolution, winding up and termination – and practical consequences of each step Drafting statements of dissolution Summary of tax consequences of distributions of various type of property   Speaker: Daniel G. Straga is counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where he counsels companies on a wide variety of corporate and business matters across a range of industries. He advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, venture capital, and governance matters.  Mr. Straga earned his and his B.A. from the University of Delaware and his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 11/30/2024
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Course1

Buying, Selling and Exchanging Partnership and LLC Interests

$79.00

As LLCs have become the default choice of entity for most businesses, sales and exchanges of LLC membership interests are commonplace. Despite the frequency of sales and exchanges, exactly what rights of the seller the buyer succeeds to is often mistaken and these mistakes can lead to dispute and litigation. By default, transferees succeed only to the economic interests of the transferor. They do not succeed to the transferor’s governance rights. If governance rights are part of the underlying bargain, the consent of the LLC’s other members generally must be sought.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to drafting and planning for the sale and exchange of LLC interests.   Selling/exchanging LLC and partnership interests and effective alternatives Succession to economic rights of seller v. management and information rights Tax consequences to the entity and buyers/sellers in sales/exchanges of entity interests Disguised sales of LLC/partnership interests – and techniques to avoid adverse tax impact Constructive terminations and their adverse tax consequences Distributions and other alternative to sales and exchanges of LLC/partnership interests   Speaker: C. Ben Huber is a partner in the Denver office of Greenburg Traurig, LLP, where he has a broad transactional practice encompassing mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and reorganizations, corporate finance, capital markets, venture funds, commercial transactions and general corporate law.  He also has substantial experience as counsel to high tech, biotech and software companies in the development, protection and licensing of intellectual property.  His clients include start-up companies, family- and other closely-held businesses, middle market business, Fortune 500 companies, venture funds and institutional investors.  Mr. Huber earned his B.A. from the University of Colorado and his J.D. at the University of Colorado Law School.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 12/6/2024
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Course1

Piercing the Entity Veil: Individual Liability for Business Acts

$79.00

One of the bedrock principles of business law is limited liability. The individual owners of an entity – shareholders of a corporation or members of a limited liability company – cannot be held personally liable for the debts or liabilities of the entity.  But the doctrine is not absolute.  There are many common law fact patterns that allow courts to pierce the entity veil – co-mingling of funds, using an entity as an alter ego, among others – and reach an individual person’s assets. There are also several sources of statutory authority allowing veil piercing. This program will provide you with a practical guide to common law, equitable, and statutory theories of piercing entity veils.   Statutory and equitable principles to pierce the entity veil Fact pattern justifying piercing limited liability to reach an owner’s personal assets Statutory sources permitting breaching the entity veil Application of veil piercing to non-corporate entities Liability for improper distributions Piercing for withheld income and employment taxes, and sales/use taxes   Speakers: Allen Sparkman is a partner in the Houston and Denver offices of Sparkman Foote, LLP.  He has practiced law for over forty years in the areas of estate, tax, business, insurance, asset protection, and charitable giving.  He has written and lectured extensively on choice-of-entity, charitable giving and estate planning topics.  He is the Colorado reporter for the books "State Limited Partnership Laws" and "State Limited Liability Company Laws," both published by Aspen Law & Business.  He has also served as president of the Rocky Mountain Estate Planning Council.  Mr. Sparkman received his A.B. with honors from Princeton University and his J.D. with high honors from the University of Texas School of Law

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 12/12/2024
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Letters of Intent in Business Transactions

$79.00

Letters of intent frame the material terms of business and commercial transactions.  They outline with considerable detail the substantive terms of the underlying agreement – price, reps and warranties, closing conditions, etc. They also provide a process by which a definitive underlying agreement will be finalized. But they are not, generally, intended to be definitive agreements themselves; not enforceable, only a substantial starting point. There is, however, a certain point at which the detail in these letters becomes so extensive that they become enforceable.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to the most important substantive and process aspects of letters of intent, their uses and traps, including unexpected enforceability.   Drafting effective letters of intent in transactions Purposes of letters, timing, relationship to diligence, exclusivity Substantive  terms v. process terms Indemnity, hold back and limitation of liability provisions Termination of a letter and survival of certain provisions Understanding the point at which letters of intent may become enforceable   Speaker: Stephanie Molyneaux is an attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where she assists clients with a wide variety of transactional matters.  Her experience includes mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, contractual agreements, technology transactions, licensing, and intellectual property transactions.  Ms. Molyneaux received her B.A., with distinction, from American University of Beirut and her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Richmond School of Law.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 12/13/2024
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Course1

Drafting Indemnity Agreements in Business and Commercial Transactions

$79.00

Indemnity agreements are central to the risk allocation and limitation of liability system built into most transactionalarrangements. The indemnitor agrees to indemnify the indemnitee on the occurrence of certain events. The scope of liability in these agreements is very carefully defined, often including actual costs but excluding consequential damages or any damages arising from third-party claims. All of the pieces of the indemnity puzzle – scope, measure of damages, exclusions and procedures for cost recovery – must be very carefully considered, negotiated and drafted. This program will provide you with a practical guide to drafting key provisions of indemnity agreements in transactional agreements.    Scope of indemnity – indemnity v. hold harmless, damages v. liabilities, direct v. third-party claims Types of losses subject to indemnity – breaches of reps and warranties, covenants, losses, specific circumstances Determining recoverable damages and costs, including attorneys’ fees Implied or equitable indemnity – and use of disclaimers to limit liability Difference between the duty to defend v. indemnification  Procedure for claiming and obtaining indemnification reimbursements   Speakers: Joel R. Buckberg is a shareholder in the Nashville office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C. and chair of the firm’s commercial transactions and business consulting group. He has more than 45 years’ experience structuring and drafting commercial, corporate and business transactions.  He also counsels clients on strategic planning, financing, mergers and acquisitions, system policy and practice development, regulatory compliance and contract system drafting. Prior to joining Baker Donelson, he was executive vice president and deputy general counsel of Cendant Corporation.  Mr. Buckberg received his B.S. form Union College, his M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University, and his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law. William J. Kelly, III is a founding member of Kelly Law Partners, LLC, and has more than 30 years’ experience in the areas of employment and commercial litigation.  In the area of employment law, he litigates trade secret, non-compete, infringement and discrimination claims in federal and state courts nationwide and has advised Fortune 50 companies on workplace policies and practices.  In the area of commercial litigation, his experience includes class action litigation, breach of contract and indemnity, mass-claim complex insurance litigation, construction litigation and trade secrets.  Earlier in career, he founded 15 Minutes Music, an independent music production company.  Mr. Kelly earned his B.A. from Tulane University and his J.D. from St. Louis University School of Law.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 12/21/2024
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Course1

Capital Calls – Agreements to Contribute More Capital Over Time

$79.00

Many companies need additional capital to fund current operations and fuel growth.  When raising capital, these companies often look first to their existing investor base. The company may build into its operative documents – shareholder agreements, operating agreements, even its articles of incorporation or organization – a plan whereby the company can “call” on existing investors to contribute additional capital. There are various mechanisms for achieving these types of “capital calls” and adjusting the ownership interests and other rights of incumbent investors who do not contribute additional capital. This program will provide you a practical guide to planning capital calls in closely held businesses, including how to adjust the financial and governance rights of the company’s owners.   Advantages/disadvantages of requiring capital from existing investor base over time Forms of follow-on contributions – pro-rata and other structures Readjustment of stake in company when certain investors do not participate – dilution issues Voting, informational and related issues on the contribution of additional capital Obtaining additional capital from investors beyond the original Counseling clients about potential investor group disputes   Speaker: C. Ben Huber is a partner in the Denver office of Greenburg Traurig, LLP, where he has a broad transactional practice encompassing mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and reorganizations, corporate finance, capital markets, venture funds, commercial transactions and general corporate law.  He also has substantial experience as counsel to high tech, biotech and software companies in the development, protection and licensing of intellectual property.  His clients include start-up companies, family- and other closely-held businesses, middle market business, Fortune 500 companies, venture funds and institutional investors.  Mr. Huber earned his B.A. from the University of Colorado and his J.D. at the University of Colorado Law School.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 1/12/2025
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Course1

Drafting Liquidated Damages Clauses

$79.00

Liquidated damages clauses are a risk allocation tool used across business, commercial, real estate and sometimes employment agreements.  On the occurrence of certain carefully defined triggering events, the breaching party is liable for the liquidated damages amount.  Triggering events run the gamut from failure to deliver marketable products on a timely basis to early termination of an employment contract. Though these clauses are intended reduce the risk of post-closing litigation over damages, the scope of damages is not always knowable at closing and poorly drafted clauses may cause more litigation. This program will provide you a real world guide to the essential elements of enforceable liquidated damages clauses.   Law governing liquidated damages clauses Elements of clauses – damages difficult to quantify and liquidated amount reasonably related to actual damages Guidance on optionality, specificity, self-justification, and triggers Circumstances in which clauses are most effectively used – and those where they are ineffective Practical tips of enhancing enforceability and collecting damages   Speaker: Shannon M. Bell is a member with Kelly & Walker, LLC, where has litigates a wide variety of complex business disputes, construction disputes, fiduciary claims, employment issues, and landlord/tenant issues.  Her construction experience extends from contract negotiations to defense of construction claims of owners, HOAs, contractors and tradesmen.  She also represents clients in claims of shareholder and office liability, piercing the corporate veil, and derivate actions.  She writes and speaks on commercial litigation, employment, discovery and bankruptcy topics.  Ms. Bell earned her B.S. from the University of Iowa and her J.D. from the University of Denver.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 1/14/2025
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Course1

Exit Strategies: Selling Companies to Employees, Part 1

$79.00

Many closely held companies have only two potential sets of buyers – family members of the founding generation or managers and other employees of the enterprise. The market of third-party buyers for closely held companies can be very thin, so that when family members are not suitable buyers of a company, often the best solution is to sell to employees. But sales to employees are unlike sales to third-parties or family members, involving complex issues of how to finance the sale, transition management and control of the enterprise, retain key employees, and tax treatment. This program will provide you with a detailed discussion of the major issues of selling to employees, including valuation, how the sale price is financed, transition periods, retaining employees not in the buyout group, and tax treatment. Day 1: Long-range planning of sales to employees – and benefits over selling to third parties or family members Negotiating with employees over sales price and valuation issues Transitions of management control, including retaining seller/founder for a period of time Practical governance issues when employees are identified as potential buyers Day 2: Overview of alternative structures and the tradeoffs of each ESOPs – structural, practical and tax issues, including leveraged buyout options Use of company redemptions of founders to accomplish a transfer Crucial issues in drafting “earnouts” on sales to employees Seller financing options, including long-term notes and security interest in assets Speakers: Paul Kaplun is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP where he has an extensive corporate and business planning practice, and provides advisory services to emerging growth companies and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries. He formerly served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he taught business planning.  Before entering law practice of law, he was a Certified Public Accountant with a national accounting firm, specializing in corporate and individual income tax planning and compliance.  Mr. Kaplun received his B.S.B.A., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University and J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 2/2/2025
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Exit Strategies: Selling Companies to Employees, Part 2

$79.00

Many closely held companies have only two potential sets of buyers – family members of the founding generation or managers and other employees of the enterprise. The market of third-party buyers for closely held companies can be very thin, so that when family members are not suitable buyers of a company, often the best solution is to sell to employees. But sales to employees are unlike sales to third-parties or family members, involving complex issues of how to finance the sale, transition management and control of the enterprise, retain key employees, and tax treatment. This program will provide you with a detailed discussion of the major issues of selling to employees, including valuation, how the sale price is financed, transition periods, retaining employees not in the buyout group, and tax treatment. Day 1: Long-range planning of sales to employees – and benefits over selling to third parties or family members Negotiating with employees over sales price and valuation issues Transitions of management control, including retaining seller/founder for a period of time Practical governance issues when employees are identified as potential buyers Day 2: Overview of alternative structures and the tradeoffs of each ESOPs – structural, practical and tax issues, including leveraged buyout options Use of company redemptions of founders to accomplish a transfer Crucial issues in drafting “earnouts” on sales to employees Seller financing options, including long-term notes and security interest in assets Speakers: Paul Kaplun is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP where he has an extensive corporate and business planning practice, and provides advisory services to emerging growth companies and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries. He formerly served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he taught business planning.  Before entering law practice of law, he was a Certified Public Accountant with a national accounting firm, specializing in corporate and individual income tax planning and compliance.  Mr. Kaplun received his B.S.B.A., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University and J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 2/3/2025
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Drafting Sales Agreements: UCC Issues and More

$79.00

The sale of goods is one of the most common forms of commercial transactions.  The sales contracts governing these transactions can be quite complex and they must all comply with the Uniform Commercial Code Article 2.  The UCC governs contract formation, express and implied warranties, and outlines forms of breach of contract and types of remedies.  Compliance with the code enhances enforceability of the contract and expedites remedies upon breach.  However, when its many requirements are overlooked, contracts for sale of goods may be invalid and the underlying transaction void. This program will provide you with a practical guide to drafting and reviewing contracts for the sale of goods under UCC Article 2.   “Battle of forms,” methods of acceptance or rejection, and electronic contracting Delivery, acceptance or rejection of goods by buyer Breaches for failure to deliver, non-conforming product, repudiation, failure to pay Types and measure of damages for breach of contract by seller or buyer Express and implied warranties – fitness for purpose, merchantability, title infringement Disclaimer of warranties and other techniques to limit scope of liability   Speaker: Christopher Tompkins is a partner in the Chicago office of Jenner & Block, LLP, where he counsels clients in such areas as breach of contract, the Uniform Commercial Code, equipment leasing, business torts, and intellectual property.  He has handled all phases of litigation in state and federal court and before arbitration tribunals, including pre-litigation investigation, motion practice, discovery, working with expert witnesses, trial and appeal.Previously, he served as a legislative intern for the National Council of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws where he worked on legislation related to commercial law.  Mr. Tompkins received his B.A., cum laude, from The Catholic University of America and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 3/10/2025
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Franchise Agreements: What You Need to Know Before Your Clients Signs, Part 1

$79.00

Franchises often seem to clients like vehicles to assured success, but they are risky ventures.  The task for lawyers advising clients about franchises is to counsel them about setting reasonable expectations and help them understand the practical obligation of franchise agreements.  This is no easy task because these agreements are a complex arrangement of restrictions, fees, operational requirements, intellectual property protections and reporting periods. But understanding how these agreements work – and the range of what’s negotiable and what’s not – is essential to client success.  This program will provide you with a real world guide to the framework of franchise law, practical due diligence of franchise opportunities, and reviewing and negotiating the most important provisions of franchise agreements.   Day 1: Setting and counseling clients about realistic franchise expectations Practical guide to reading/understanding a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Phases of franchise review – due diligence, negotiation of agreement, and lease work Spotting red flags early in the process Framework of franchise law and relationship of federal/FTC regulations to state regulation   Day 2: Major economic and non-economic provisions in franchise agreements Determining what’s truly negotiable – and what’s not Scope of territory – rights within in it and the opportunity to expand Tiers of fees, royalties and marketing expenses Operating standards and covenants – and negotiating for local modification Transfer and exit issues when a franchisee wants out   Speakers: Kerrin O'Connell is an attorney from Denver, Colorado who has focused her practice on franchise transactions and intellectual property licensing for Drumm Law. Prior to joining Drumm Law, she served as an associate at a law firm specializing in the development of franchise disclosure documents and franchise agreements for emerging franchise brands, and previously worked in the contracts department of one of the largest real estate franchisors. Ethan Larson is an attorney from Denver, Colorado who joined Drumm Law after bouncing around in various legal fields, but has now found his  home at Drumm Law, where he can put the interests of his clients first. He prides himself on providing quality work for his clients while keeping their costs down. He enjoys getting to know his clients on a personal level, and developing relationships that extend outside of the virtual office.  

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 3/15/2025
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Franchise Agreements: What You Need to Know Before Your Clients Signs, Part 2

$79.00

Franchises often seem to clients like vehicles to assured success, but they are risky ventures.  The task for lawyers advising clients about franchises is to counsel them about setting reasonable expectations and help them understand the practical obligation of franchise agreements.  This is no easy task because these agreements are a complex arrangement of restrictions, fees, operational requirements, intellectual property protections and reporting periods. But understanding how these agreements work – and the range of what’s negotiable and what’s not – is essential to client success.  This program will provide you with a real world guide to the framework of franchise law, practical due diligence of franchise opportunities, and reviewing and negotiating the most important provisions of franchise agreements.   Day 1: Setting and counseling clients about realistic franchise expectations Practical guide to reading/understanding a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Phases of franchise review – due diligence, negotiation of agreement, and lease work Spotting red flags early in the process Framework of franchise law and relationship of federal/FTC regulations to state regulation   Day 2: Major economic and non-economic provisions in franchise agreements Determining what’s truly negotiable – and what’s not Scope of territory – rights within in it and the opportunity to expand Tiers of fees, royalties and marketing expenses Operating standards and covenants – and negotiating for local modification Transfer and exit issues when a franchisee wants out   Speakers: Kerrin O'Connell is an attorney from Denver, Colorado who has focused her practice on franchise transactions and intellectual property licensing for Drumm Law. Prior to joining Drumm Law, she served as an associate at a law firm specializing in the development of franchise disclosure documents and franchise agreements for emerging franchise brands, and previously worked in the contracts department of one of the largest real estate franchisors. Ethan Larson is an attorney from Denver, Colorado who joined Drumm Law after bouncing around in various legal fields, but has now found his  home at Drumm Law, where he can put the interests of his clients first. He prides himself on providing quality work for his clients while keeping their costs down. He enjoys getting to know his clients on a personal level, and developing relationships that extend outside of the virtual office.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 3/16/2025
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Due Diligence in Business Transactions

$79.00

Due diligence, often guided by lawyers, is essential to the success of major business transactions and poorly planned or conducted diligence can contribute to a buyer not getting the benefit of its bargain.  Diligence helps confirm essential assumptions about the value of a transaction and aids the discovery of unknown liabilities. There’s also a subtle relationship between the content of diligence and the time allowed to conduct it.  In more robust market environments, sellers have the upper hand and can limit diligence, making the process about time allocation and risk management. This program will provide you with a practical guide to planning the diligence process, understanding the most important areas of inquiry depending on the type of transaction, and review checklists.   What to diligence, utilizing experts, and managing the process and time Impact of market environment on the length and scope of diligence Checklists – what information do you need to get, from whom, and on what timeline? Hard assets v. soft assets – how to diligence the validity and title to each Contracts with suppliers and customers – ensuring stability and visibility of revenue Financial records and statements – what should attorneys look for?   Speaker: C. Ben Huber is a partner in the Denver office of Greenburg Traurig, LLP, where he has a broad transactional practice encompassing mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and reorganizations, corporate finance, capital markets, venture funds, commercial transactions and general corporate law.  He also has substantial experience as counsel to high tech, biotech and software companies in the development, protection and licensing of intellectual property.  His clients include start-up companies, family- and other closely-held businesses, middle market business, Fortune 500 companies, venture funds and institutional investors.  

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 4/5/2025
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Drafting Indemnity Agreements in Business and Commercial Transactions

$79.00

Indemnity agreements are central to the risk allocation and limitation of liability system built into most transactionalarrangements. The indemnitor agrees to indemnify the indemnitee on the occurrence of certain events. The scope of liability in these agreements is very carefully defined, often including actual costs but excluding consequential damages or any damages arising from third-party claims. All of the pieces of the indemnity puzzle – scope, measure of damages, exclusions and procedures for cost recovery – must be very carefully considered, negotiated and drafted. This program will provide you with a practical guide to drafting key provisions of indemnity agreements in transactional agreements.    Scope of indemnity – indemnity v. hold harmless, damages v. liabilities, direct v. third-party claims Types of losses subject to indemnity – breaches of reps and warranties, covenants, losses, specific circumstances Determining recoverable damages and costs, including attorneys’ fees Implied or equitable indemnity – and use of disclaimers to limit liability Difference between the duty to defend v. indemnification  Procedure for claiming and obtaining indemnification reimbursements   Speakers: Joel R. Buckberg is a shareholder in the Nashville office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C. and chair of the firm’s commercial transactions and business consulting group. He has more than 45 years’ experience structuring and drafting commercial, corporate and business transactions.  He also counsels clients on strategic planning, financing, mergers and acquisitions, system policy and practice development, regulatory compliance and contract system drafting. Prior to joining Baker Donelson, he was executive vice president and deputy general counsel of Cendant Corporation.  Mr. Buckberg received his B.S. form Union College, his M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University, and his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law. William J. Kelly, III is a founding member of Kelly Law Partners, LLC, and has more than 30 years’ experience in the areas of employment and commercial litigation.  In the area of employment law, he litigates trade secret, non-compete, infringement and discrimination claims in federal and state courts nationwide and has advised Fortune 50 companies on workplace policies and practices.  In the area of commercial litigation, his experience includes class action litigation, breach of contract and indemnity, mass-claim complex insurance litigation, construction litigation and trade secrets.  Earlier in career, he founded 15 Minutes Music, an independent music production company.  Mr. Kelly earned his B.A. from Tulane University and his J.D. from St. Louis University School of Law.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 4/15/2025
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Charging Orders in Business Transactions

$79.00

A charging order redirects a partner or LLC member’s distributions, if any, to a creditor.  These court orders are frequently used when an LLC or partnership interest has been pledged to a creditor as collateral and the debtor is in default. Charging orders differ substantially from liens on corporate stock because charging orders do not allow the creditor to foreclose on the LLC or partnership interest but only claim distributions from the entity.  The creditor does not succeed to any other rights of the LLC member – voting rights, management rights – and is totally dependent on the entity to make distributions.  This program will provide you with a real-world guide to the uses and limitations of charging orders in transactions and tips on enhancing their effectiveness.    What does a creditor get with a charging order and what rights does the debtor retain? Impact of charging orders on the entity Enhancing the enforceability of charging orders Enforcement of one state’s charging order statute in another state Tax consequences of charging orders   Speakers: Steven O. Weise is a partner in the Los Angeles office Proskauer Rose, LLP, where his practice encompasses all areas of commercial law. He has extensive experience in financings, particularly those secured by personal property.  He also handles matters involving real property anti-deficiency laws, workouts, guarantees, sales of goods, letters of credit, commercial paper and checks, and investment securities.  Mr. Weise formerly served as chair of the ABA Business Law Section. He has also served as a member of the Permanent Editorial Board of the UCC and as an Advisor to the UCC Code Article 9 Drafting Committee.  Mr. Weise received his B.A. from Yale University and his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. Daniel Kleinberger is an Emeritus Professor of Law at Michell|Hamline where his teaching and scholarship focused on business law.  He has served as the reporter on many uniform laws in business law, including Series Unincorporated Entities and Limited Partnerships.  Before entering academic, he was an in-hose counsel at the 3m Corporation.  He is the author of a leading treatise on LLCs and a popular student treatise on agency, partnerships, and LLCs.  Professor Kleinberger earned his A.B. from Harvard University and his J.D. from Yale Law School.  

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 4/19/2025
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MAC Clauses & "Acts of God": How the Pandemic Continues to Change Contracts

$79.00

Material Adverse Change (MAC) clauses are common in most businesstransactions. These clauses allocate among the parties the risk of a MAC occurring between the execution of transactional documents and closing the underlying transaction.  Sellers want certainty that a sale or other transaction will close and argue that the MAC clause should be very narrowly drafted. Buyers want maximum flexibility and will argue that anything that makes the transaction unattractive should constitute a MAC.  Between those two opposing views are a host of narrow and technical but important details that need to be negotiated, details which will determine whether the transaction is successfully closed, efficiently and cost-effectively terminated, or devolves into dispute and litigation. This program will provide you with a practical guide using and drafting MAC clauses in transactions.   • Drafting “Material Adverse Change” provisions and carve-outs • Forms of MACs – closing conditions or representations? • Practical process of “proving” a MAC occurred, including burden of proof • What happens to the transaction if a MAC occurred? • Spotting red flags when drafting MAC clauses and best practices to reduce the risk   Speaker: Steven O. Weise is a partner in the Los Angeles office Proskauer Rose, LLP, where his practice encompasses all areas of commercial law. He has extensive experience in financings, particularly those secured by personal property.  He also handles matters involving real property anti-deficiency laws, workouts, guarantees, sales of goods, letters of credit, commercial paper and checks, and investment securities.  Mr. Weise formerly served as chair of the ABA Business Law Section. He has also served as a member of the Permanent Editorial Board of the UCC and as an Advisor to the UCC Code Article 9 Drafting Committee.  

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 5/3/2025
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Techniques to Avoid and Resolve Deadlocks in Closely Held Companies

$79.00

One of the biggest risks to a closely held company is a dispute among the members of its ownership group. The members may disagree about a major company transaction, the strategic direction of the company, distribution practices, or simply develop ruinous inter-personal issues.  In closely held companies that are held by a single family, disputes are particularly personal, often arising when members of a junior generation succeed to the interests and leadership role of the senior generation.  Unless these disputes are carefully channeled into dispute resolution mechanisms, the stability and financial success of the company is threatened.  This program will provide you with a guide to the sources of disputes in closely held companies and mechanisms for resolution, with an emphasis using buy/sell agreements to resolve disputes.           Common sources of disputes and deadlocks in closely-held companies        Planning and drafting mechanisms to resolve disputes          Conflicts over strategic transactions, distributions, or inter-personal relations          Practical use of buy/sell agreements to liquidate interest of dissenting member          Major elements of buy/sell agreements          Alternatives to using buy/sell agreements   Speaker: S. Lee Terry, Jr. is a partner in the Denver office of Davis, Graham & Stubbs, LLP, where he has a broad corporate and securities practice.  He advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnership agreements, licensing and other technology related contracts.  He has an active practice advising private companies, ranging from capital raising and major transactions to dispute resolution and investigations. He also has an extensive securities law practice, including various types of capital raising transactions.  Mr. Terry started his career in the Office of General Counsel of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  

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  • 60
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  • 5/17/2025
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Drafting Buy/Sell Agreements for Closely Held Companies, Part 1

$79.00

There is rarely a liquid market for the sale or exchange of ownership interests in closely-held companies.  Buy/sell agreements fix that problem by creating a market among the owners of a company, providing a mechanism for owners to liquidate their interests in a reliable manner. The owners may agree to buy and sell interests among themselves on the occurrence of certain events and using certain valuation metrics, or they may agree that the company itself will redeem an owner’s interest. Without these agreements, there is often no alternative for an owner to cash out, short of liquidating the company. This program will provide you with a practical guide to the different types of buy/sell agreements, drafting the essential provisions of each, and common negotiating and drafting tips.   Day 1: Types of buy/sell agreements – cross-purchase among owners, entity redemption, and hybrid approaches Most highly negotiated provisions of buy/sell agreements Triggering events – voluntary sale, retirement, death, bankruptcy of shareholder or member Valuation of interests – appraisals, formula clauses,comps, and dispute resolution Rights of first offer v. rights of first refusal, and sales to third parties   Day 2: Funding buy/sell arrangements  – payouts/earnouts over time, commercial borrowing, key-man insurance, other funding sources Special issues involving S Corps and unincorporated entities Drag-along and tag-along rights in buy/sell agreements Major tax issues in buy/sell agreements for buyer, seller and the entity   Speaker: Daniel G. Straga is counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where he counsels companies on a wide variety of corporate and business matters across a range of industries. He advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, venture capital, and governance matters.  He also have extensive experience in private equity and cross-border transactions.Mr. Straga earned his and his B.A. from the University of Delaware and his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/21/2025
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Drafting Buy/Sell Agreements for Closely Held Companies, Part 2

$79.00

There is rarely a liquid market for the sale or exchange of ownership interests in closely-held companies.  Buy/sell agreements fix that problem by creating a market among the owners of a company, providing a mechanism for owners to liquidate their interests in a reliable manner. The owners may agree to buy and sell interests among themselves on the occurrence of certain events and using certain valuation metrics, or they may agree that the company itself will redeem an owner’s interest. Without these agreements, there is often no alternative for an owner to cash out, short of liquidating the company. This program will provide you with a practical guide to the different types of buy/sell agreements, drafting the essential provisions of each, and common negotiating and drafting tips.   Day 1: Types of buy/sell agreements – cross-purchase among owners, entity redemption, and hybrid approaches Most highly negotiated provisions of buy/sell agreements Triggering events – voluntary sale, retirement, death, bankruptcy of shareholder or member Valuation of interests – appraisals, formula clauses,comps, and dispute resolution Rights of first offer v. rights of first refusal, and sales to third parties   Day 2: Funding buy/sell arrangements  – payouts/earnouts over time, commercial borrowing, key-man insurance, other funding sources Special issues involving S Corps and unincorporated entities Drag-along and tag-along rights in buy/sell agreements Major tax issues in buy/sell agreements for buyer, seller and the entity   Speaker: Daniel G. Straga is counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where he counsels companies on a wide variety of corporate and business matters across a range of industries. He advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, venture capital, and governance matters.  He also have extensive experience in private equity and cross-border transactions.Mr. Straga earned his and his B.A. from the University of Delaware and his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/22/2025
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Drafting Escrow Agreements in Business & Commercial Transactions

$79.00

Every escrow agreement has a degree of intrinsic uncertainty.  Whether the agreement is for the release of money, property title, software code, or something else, the escrow agent must determine whether certain conditions have been met before releasing the property held in escrow.  That involves a degree of judgement, and like all judgments, subject to dispute.  In this sense, escrow agreements, which are intended to limit risk and enhance the certainty of a transaction, introduce another layer of risk. This puts a priority on carefully drafting the material details of the underlying transaction in as clear terms as possible.This program will provide you with a practical guide to drafting escrow agreements in transactions.   Defining conditions for release of property in basic, clear, explicit terms to reduce risk Drafting release instructions to tightly synchronize with the underlying transaction Inherent risks involved with escrow agent determinations Co-mingled and held in trust funds v. segregated funds Timing – how drafting too early might miss key terms in the underlying agreement Choosing the right escrow agent depending on the nature of the transaction Reducing escrow agent through E&O or other insurance   Speaker: Steven O. Weise is a partner in the Los Angeles office Proskauer Rose, LLP, where his practice encompasses all areas of commercial law. He has extensive experience in financings, particularly those secured by personal property.  He also handles matters involving real property anti-deficiency laws, workouts, guarantees, sales of goods, letters of credit, commercial paper and checks, and investment securities.  Mr. Weise formerly served as chair of the ABA Business Law Section. He has also served as a member of the Permanent Editorial Board of the UCC and as an Advisor to the UCC Code Article 9 Drafting Committee.  Mr. Weise received his B.A. from Yale University and his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 7/28/2025
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From One Thing to Another: Business Entity Conversions & Domestication

$79.00

Choice of entity is not a one-time decision.  Business entities may choose to change their legal form for many reasons – changing tax laws, new investors that require a different form of entity, or market or regulatory conditions making a different form of entity the better choice. But whenever an entity is converted from one form to another, significant tax liability and corporate or partnership law issues arise.  One important consideration is how to modify the company’s underlying agreements to ensure basic economic arrangements among the owners remain intact.  This program will provide a real-world guide to entity conversions.   Conversions among C Corps, S Corps, partnerships and LLCs Strategies for minimizing tax on conversions Business and organizational law considerations when converting an entity Drafting issues in restating underlying company agreements Practical and tax traps when engaging in an entity conversion   Speaker: Elizabeth Fialkowski Stieff is an attorney in the Baltimore, Maryland office of Venable, LLP, where her practice focuses on corporate advisory matters, including mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures, as well as tax controversies.  Prior to joining Venable, she was an associate in corporate and securities practice at a national law firm, where she advised clients on a variety of federal and state tax issues.  Before entering private practice, she served as a judicial clerk to Judge L. Paige Marvel of the United States Tax Court.  Ms. Stieff earned her B.A. from John Hopkins University and her J.D. and LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 7/29/2025
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Getting to Market: Sales and Distribution Agreements

$79.00

A product is only as successful as its distribution, only as profitable as it reaches the widest market possible.  Most suppliers of goods rely on distributors to reach the market. Distributor agreements can come in a multitude of types, including wholesale and retail distribution agreements. These agreements encompass a series of intricately interrelated provisions about the scope of products, the scope of the territory involved, exclusivity, pricing control, support in the form of marketing and training, supply guarantees, and much more.  Success for both the supplier and the distributor depends on a thoughtfully planned and drafted agreement.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to drafting the most essential provisions of distributor agreements.   Understanding distributor and supplier objectives – and how they can be harmonized Legal framework of distributor agreements Products covered and how they are defined and altered over time Exclusivity – territory and products Support – training, advertising, promotion Supply guarantees, timeliness of performance Pricing – who controls and antitrust considerations   Speaker: Joel R. Buckberg is a partner in Nashville office of Baker Donelson, P.C. and vice chair of the firm’s corporate group. He has more than 40 years’ experience in corporate and business transactions.  His practice focuses on corporate and asset transactions and operations, particularly in hospitality, franchising and distribution.  He also counsels clients on strategic planning, financing, mergers and acquisitions, system policy and practice development, regulatory compliance and contract system drafting. Prior to joining Baker Donelson, he was executive vice president and deputy general counsel of Cendant Corporation.  Mr. Buckberg received his B.S. from Union College, his M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University, and his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 8/9/2025
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Assuming Liabilities/Debt in Transactions: Tricks and Traps

$79.00

This program will provide you a practical guide to drafting for the assumption and limitation of liabilities in business and commercial transactions.  The program will cover the mechanics of assuming debt in a transaction, how it is identified, terms negotiated and documented. The program will discuss the related issue of how “bad conduct” carve-outs in indemnification and other limitation of liability provisions can defeat limitations on liability if the carve-outs are not carefully drafted.  Successor liability in business transactions and techniques to mitigate its risk will be covered. This program will provide a real-world guide to handling debt and liabilities in transactions.   Identifying and documenting the assumption of liabilities Successor liability and techniques to mitigate the risk “Bad conduct” carve-outs in indemnification and limitation of liability Risks of carve-out language being over-expansive and defeating liability protection Mistakes in the treatment of liabilities in transactions   Speaker: Steven O. Weise is a partner in the Los Angeles office Proskauer Rose, LLP, where his practice encompasses all areas of commercial law. He has extensive experience in financings, particularly those secured by personal property.  He also handles matters involving real property anti-deficiency laws, workouts, guarantees, sales of goods, letters of credit, commercial paper and checks, and investment securities.  Mr. Weise formerly served as chair of the ABA Business Law Section. He has also served as a member of the Permanent Editorial Board of the UCC and as an Advisor to the UCC Code Article 9 Drafting Committee. 

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 8/19/2025
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Good Faith and Fair Dealing in Business Transactions: Litigation Risks

$79.00

When business transactions go bad – either because they fail on their own terms or they never reach the closing table – there are often recriminations, accusations of bad-faith and threats of litigation.  The parties negotiating these transactions are subject to certain standards of conduct which, if violated, give rise to liability. Various theories of liability exist, including breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing, negligent or fraudulent misrepresentation, and interference with a business expectancy. This program will provide you with real-world guide to the standards of conduct in business transactions and your clients can mitigate risk of liability.   Sources of fiduciary standards in negotiating, drafting and closing business transactions How fiduciary standards are commonly breached in transactions Role of business torts, including negligent and fraudulent misrepresentation, interference with a business expectancy Risks of litigation and practical remedies – damages, rescission, specific performance Special duties in closely held businesses, including misappropriation of company opportunities   Speaker: Shannon M. Bell is a member with Kelly Law Partners, LLC, where she litigates a wide variety of complex business disputes, construction disputes, fiduciary claims, employment issues, and landlord/tenant issues.  Her construction experience extends from contract negotiations to defense of construction claims of owners, HOAs, contractors and tradesmen.  She also represents clients in claims of shareholder and officer liability, piercing the corporate veil, and derivative actions.  She writes and speaks on commercial litigation, employment, discovery and bankruptcy topics.  

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 8/23/2025
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Incentive Compensation in Businesses, Part 1

$79.00

Companies of every type including incentivize compensation features in employee compensation packages. The range of incentive compensation tools and techniques available to these companies depends on the type of entity involved.  Corporate entities have stock options, restricted stock and other forms of profit or capital appreciation rights.  LLCs are even more flexible and can award a variety of forms of profit or capital rights.  These alternatives, together with voting and vesting restrictions, provide companies alternatives for virtually every circumstance.  But each alternative comes with tradeoffs – practical, tax and financial. This program will provide you with a real world guide to the incentive compensation alternatives in business entities.   Day 1: Framework of incentive compensation alternatives for corporate v. pass-through entity Advantages and drawbacks of stock options, restricted stock, and profit participation rights How IRC Section 83 impacts corporate stock options, the award of restricted stock and other rights Use of vesting to impact the tax consequences of incentive compensation Special incentive compensation issues in S Corps   Day 2: Use of profit interests and capital interest in LLCs, partnerships Exchanging incentive compensation for services Incentive compensation in single member LLCs Impact of IRC Section 409A and deferred compensation Employment tax considerations   Speaker: Norman Lencz is a partner in the Baltimore, Maryland office of Venable, LLP, where his practice focuses on a broad range of federal, state, local and international tax matters.  He advises clients on tax issues relating to corporations, partnerships, LLCs, joint ventures and real estate transactions.  He also has extensive experience with compensation planning in closely held businesses.  

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 8/31/2025
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Incentive Compensation in Businesses, Part 2

$79.00

Companies of every type including incentivize compensation features in employee compensation packages. The range of incentive compensation tools and techniques available to these companies depends on the type of entity involved.  Corporate entities have stock options, restricted stock and other forms of profit or capital appreciation rights.  LLCs are even more flexible and can award a variety of forms of profit or capital rights.  These alternatives, together with voting and vesting restrictions, provide companies alternatives for virtually every circumstance.  But each alternative comes with tradeoffs – practical, tax and financial. This program will provide you with a real world guide to the incentive compensation alternatives in business entities.   Day 1: Framework of incentive compensation alternatives for corporate v. pass-through entity Advantages and drawbacks of stock options, restricted stock, and profit participation rights How IRC Section 83 impacts corporate stock options, the award of restricted stock and other rights Use of vesting to impact the tax consequences of incentive compensation Special incentive compensation issues in S Corps   Day 2: Use of profit interests and capital interest in LLCs, partnerships Exchanging incentive compensation for services Incentive compensation in single member LLCs Impact of IRC Section 409A and deferred compensation Employment tax considerations   Speaker: Norman Lencz is a partner in the Baltimore, Maryland office of Venable, LLP, where his practice focuses on a broad range of federal, state, local and international tax matters.  He advises clients on tax issues relating to corporations, partnerships, LLCs, joint ventures and real estate transactions.  He also has extensive experience with compensation planning in closely held businesses.  

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 9/1/2025
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"Founding Documents": Drafting Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws, Part 1

$79.00

Though LLCs have become a default choice of entity for many businesses, corporations – C Corps and S Corps – still produce optimal results for many family-held businesses or businesses operating in industries where the corporate is preferred or required.  The founding documents of corporations – Articles of Incorporation, Stockholders’ Agreements, and bylaws – are complex, interlocking instruments that create and regulate the capital structure, governance, and finance of the business.  Very important issues of who can own stock, how that stock is valued and transferred, how major corporate decisions are made, and how disputes are resolved are all determined by these documents. This program will provide you with a practical guide to planning and drafting the essential founding documents of corporations.  Day 1: Practical planning and drafting founding documents Counseling clients about the allocation of voting power and distribution preferences Framework of law – what’s required, what can be modified, what’s discretionary Defining common stock characteristics – classes, voting rights Uses of preferred stock – classes, rights, preferences Tax issues to consider when drafting founding documents Day 2: Instituting boards of directors – duties, restrictions, indemnification Approval of shareholders – major transactions, voting thresholds, procedures Restrictions on the transferability of stock Major components of corporate bylaws Common traps in drafting founding documents – avoiding later litigation  Speaker:  Eric J. Zinn is of counsel in the Denver office of Kutak Rock, LLP.  He represents clients in clients in matters involving corporate, individual and partnership taxation, state and local taxation, and corporate mergers, acquisitions and finance. He is a frequent lecturer on topics including the proper choice of legal entity for the operation of a business enterprise, drafting operating agreements for limited liability companies, international taxation, partnership taxation, and like-kind exchanges.  He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Colorado-Denver Business School and at the University of Colorado School of Law in Boulder. He is the author of "Colorado Limited Liability Company Forms and Practice Manual,” published by Data Trace Publishing. Before entering private practice he served as a judicial clerk to the U.S. Tax Court.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 9/29/2025
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"Founding Documents": Drafting Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws, Part 2

$79.00

Though LLCs have become a default choice of entity for many businesses, corporations – C Corps and S Corps – still produce optimal results for many family-held businesses or businesses operating in industries where the corporate is preferred or required.  The founding documents of corporations – Articles of Incorporation, Stockholders’ Agreements, and bylaws – are complex, interlocking instruments that create and regulate the capital structure, governance, and finance of the business.  Very important issues of who can own stock, how that stock is valued and transferred, how major corporate decisions are made, and how disputes are resolved are all determined by these documents. This program will provide you with a practical guide to planning and drafting the essential founding documents of corporations.  Day 1: Practical planning and drafting founding documents Counseling clients about the allocation of voting power and distribution preferences Framework of law – what’s required, what can be modified, what’s discretionary Defining common stock characteristics – classes, voting rights Uses of preferred stock – classes, rights, preferences Tax issues to consider when drafting founding documents Day 2: Instituting boards of directors – duties, restrictions, indemnification Approval of shareholders – major transactions, voting thresholds, procedures Restrictions on the transferability of stock Major components of corporate bylaws Common traps in drafting founding documents – avoiding later litigation  Speaker:  Eric J. Zinn is of counsel in the Denver office of Kutak Rock, LLP.  He represents clients in clients in matters involving corporate, individual and partnership taxation, state and local taxation, and corporate mergers, acquisitions and finance. He is a frequent lecturer on topics including the proper choice of legal entity for the operation of a business enterprise, drafting operating agreements for limited liability companies, international taxation, partnership taxation, and like-kind exchanges.  He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Colorado-Denver Business School and at the University of Colorado School of Law in Boulder. He is the author of "Colorado Limited Liability Company Forms and Practice Manual,” published by Data Trace Publishing. Before entering private practice he served as a judicial clerk to the U.S. Tax Court.

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    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 9/30/2025
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