Regulatory

Why is the FTC Banning Noncompetes?

Jun 10 2024

In a decisive step aimed at protecting workers, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has ruled to invalidate noncompete clauses for all employees in the coming weeks. This new rule applies to virtually all classes of employees and will fundamentally revise … →

Posted in Corporate, Regulatory

Navigating New Changes in Real Estate Commissions: What You Need to Know 

May 10 2024

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently announced a significant settlement relating to how broker commissions are handled, shedding light on a complex aspect of real estate transactions that affects both buyers and sellers. This post aims to clarify the … →

Posted in Real Estate, Regulatory

Navigating For Sale by Owner (FSBO) Purchases: A Buyer’s Guide 

May 02 2024

When you’re eyeing a home that’s For Sale by Owner (FSBO), you’re stepping into a scenario where the homeowner is bypassing real estate professionals to sell their property directly. While this might seem like a straightforward path to homeownership, there … →

Posted in Real Estate, Regulatory

Federal Court Throws Out NLRB’s New Joint-Employer Rule

Mar 20 2024
construction worker working in a neon vest

On March 8, 2024, Judge J. Campbell Barker of the Eastern District of Texas vacated the National Labor Relations Board’s proposed joint employer rule. This decision by the federal judge means that for the time being, the rule created in … →

Posted in Labor and Employment, Litigation, Regulatory

Is the Corporate Transparency Act Unconstitutional?

Mar 08 2024
us capitol close up

On March 1, 2024, a U.S. District Court judge in Alabama in a fifty-three-page opinion ruled that the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) is unconstitutional because it “exceeds the Constitution’s limits on the legislative branch and lacks a sufficient nexus to … →

Posted in Corporate, Litigation, Regulatory

Is AI Assisting You, or Are You Assisting AI? 

Feb 26 2024
artificial intelligence or ai robot looking at a screen

This might seem like a distinction without a difference but if you are going to patent any inventions you develop with the assistance of artificial intelligence, you need to know which it is. On February 13, the United States Patent … →

Posted in Intellectual Property, Regulatory

File a High-Quality Provisional Patent

Feb 19 2024

Understanding Provisional vs. Non-Provisional Patent Applications  Navigating the patent application process can be complex, particularly when distinguishing between provisional and non-provisional patent applications. Provisional patents, often seen as the first step in securing a patent, are informal and do not … →

Posted in Intellectual Property, Regulatory

Employee or Independent Contractor?

Feb 05 2024

In a pivotal move, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule on January 9, 2024, set to take effect on March 11, 2024. This rule fundamentally revises the guidelines for classifying workers as employees or independent contractors … →

Posted in Labor and Employment, Regulatory

The New Corporate Transparency Act 

Jan 16 2024
calculator pen and spreadsheet

The landscape of corporate legislation and governance is always evolving, and this year is no different. On January 1, 2024, the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) went into effect, which will impact the regulation of small businesses in Butler County and … →

Posted in Announcements, Corporate, Regulatory

Navigating the New USPTO Trademark Search System

Jan 15 2024

On November 30, 2023, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) made a significant transition away from its legacy system, the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS). After two decades, the Bibliographic Retrieval System underpinning TESS was deemed obsolete. The announcement, … →

Posted in Intellectual Property, Regulatory