Business Law eNews

As we approach the start of the new State Bar/California Lawyers Association year, your Business Law Section Executive Committee and Standing Committee leaders are working hard to provide the high quality content and networking opportunities that make membership in the BLS so beneficial. Even better, the BLS and CLA are forming and deepening relationships with local and affinity bar associations, regulatory agencies, industry leaders and judges, to explore opportunities for collaboration wherever possible. Read more

We are happy to report that CLA’s first-ever Solo and Small Firm Summit, which was held in Huntington Beach last month, was a smash hit! Given that the majority of practitioners (and thus our members) in California are in solo practice or with small firms, it is critical that we provide cutting-edge and practical resources to this demographic. We are pleased that the BLS contributed to the 27 CLE sessions and 13.75 hours of MCLE credit offered at this “The 21st Century Law Firm” program. Read more

Courtesy of CEB, we are bringing you selected legal developments in areas of California business law that are covered by CEB’s publications. This month’s feature is from the April 2019 update to Selecting and Forming Business Entities. References are to the book’s section numbers. See CEB’s CLA Section Member Discount Page for special discounts for Business Law Section members. The most significant legal developments since the last update include developments in such important topic areas as federal tax law, conflicts of interest, LLP eligibility, and blockchain technology. Read more

The BLS’ Health Law Committee, Bet Tzedek Legal Aid Foundation, the California Minority Counsel Program Ambassadors Council, the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association and the CLA are collaborating with the LA County Law Library to provide a unique volunteer opportunity for attorneys to give back to their community on October 26, 2019. Read more

While summer is often a time of rest, your Business Law Section Executive Committee and Standing Committees remain hard at work preparing the educational programs and in particular, the publications content, which make membership in the BLS so beneficial. For example, the Agribusiness Committee of the Business Law Section is updating its Agricultural Law Sourcebook, and the Insolvency Law Committee is putting the finishing touches on its updated California Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors Desk Guide. In addition, our Commercial Transactions Committee is working on an update to the extensive Hidden Liens Report available on the CLA website, and the BLS’ Partnerships and LLCs Committee is updating its Handbook for Incorporating a Business in California. It is the hard work and dedication of the Sections’ volunteers that enables the BLS to produce the quality publications that makes our Section so special. That is why I ask that you consider joining the Business Law News (BLN) Editorial Board. Read more

Courtesy of CEB, we are bringing you selected legal developments in areas of California business law that are covered by CEB’s publications. This month’s feature is from the April 2019 update to Counseling California Corporations. References are to the book’s section numbers. See CEB’s BLS Landing Page for special discounts for Business Law Section members. Read more

Courtesy of CEB, we are bringing you selected legal developments in areas of California business law that are covered by CEB’s publications. This month’s feature is from the April 2019 update to Counseling California Corporations. References are to the book’s section numbers. See CEB’s BLS Landing Page for special discounts for Business Law Section members. Read more

Learn how legal marketing professionals, other professionals and attorneys can work together to increase diversity inside firms. A panel with representatives from legal marketing, business development, diversity professionals and practicing attorney diversity leaders will share success stories and challenges in driving diversity. Breakout groups will allow attendees to share insights and ideas for how legal professionals can work together to advance law firm business success while creating more diverse and inclusive workplaces. Read more

On June 6, the BLS’ Internet and Privacy Law Committee and the CLA’s Intellectual Property Law Section co-sponsored their “IP and the Internet” conference at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center in Los Angeles. The conference addressed some of the most pressing internet legal and ecommerce issues today, including “open Internet” and copyright in the wake of the new EU Copyright Directive, and best practices for navigating intellectual property and ecommerce issues related to smartphone mobile apps and online food and beverage sales. Read more

At its in-person meeting on May 16, the Nonprofit Organizations Committee hosted a program with Audrey Rowe from the California Franchise Tax Board, who discussed matters of interest to tax-exempt organizations in California. Among other topics, Ms. Rowe updated the Committee on developments with California tax‑exemption forms, nonprofit dissolutions, and pending legislation of interest to nonprofits. Read more