Burr & Forman - Corporate E-Note - JD Supra
May 2017
CYBERSECURITY WannaCry Ransomware – What You Need to Know
Making Headlines Supreme Court Eases Rules for Companies in Patent Disputes (Source: Reuters, 2017-05-22) High Court Considers if Firms Can be Sued for Human Rights Abuses (Source: The New York Times, 2017-04-03) Report Finds Growing Number of CEOs Ousted for Ethics Violations (Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 2017-05-20) Companies Using Kidnap Policies to Cover Ransomware Losses (Source: Reuters, 2017-05-19) AICPA Unveils Final Piece of Cybersecurity Guidelines (Source: The Wall Street Journal, 2017-05-03) New Rule Changes Accounting of Companies' Equity Investments (Source: The New York Times, 2017-05-12)
Starting on Friday, May 12th, computers in countries around the world have fallen victim to the latest ransomware attack. As of May 15th, it is estimated that more than 150 countries have infected systems, totaling over 200,000 computers. The ransomware is known as WannaCry (or WannaCrypt), and as you might expect, it encrypts your computer and holds your files hostage, requiring you to pay a ransom to get your files back. Read the full article here. For more information, contact India Vincent, Josh Ehrenfeld, Ed Snow and Ryan Corbett. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Bill to Allow Employees to Choose Between Overtime Wages and Paid Time Off Passes in House
FIRM NEWS Burr Adds Corporate & Tax Partner Scott Miller in Orlando Burr & Forman announces the addition of Scott G. Miller as a partner in its Orlando office and the firm’s Corporate and Tax practice group. Miller brings more than 23 years of experience counseling clients on estate and wealth preservation planning as well as tax matters and disputes. He advises clients in all areas of estate planning, including complex gift, generation skipping transfer tax and estate planning, lifetime giving and charitable planning. Miller also represents taxpayers in gift, generation skipping and estate tax controversies with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), ranging from audits of returns and administrative appeals within the IRS to Tax Court matters. Burr Welcomes Corporate and Securities Partner Back to Firm Jennifer Moseley joins Burr & Forman's Atlanta office as a partner based in the Corporate Practice. She previously practiced in the firm's Birmingham office from 2003 to 2013. Jennifer counsels public and private companies in a number of compliance and transactional matters. She is also experienced in EB-5 regional center formation, structuring and securities offering matters, as well as working with companies who seek investment in connection with the EB-5 visa regional center program under U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services rules and regulations. Burr Advances Real Estate Practice with Beth Davis as Partner
The House recently passed a bill that would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to allow certain employees to choose to take paid time off rather than overtime pay when working more than 40 hours in a workweek. Ron Flowers and Carlton Hilson review impacts for employers in this alert. Alabama Workers' Compensation Act Held Unconstitutional On Monday, May 8, 2017, Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Pat Ballard unexpectedly ruled that the Alabama Workers' Compensation Act is unconstitutional. Specifically, Judge Ballard found the $220 per week cap on workers' compensation benefits unconstitutional because the cap was below the poverty level and equal to just over twenty-five percent of the state's average weekly wage. Read the full alert. For more information, contact Meghan Cox. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Supreme Court Reins in Venue for Patent Cases For nearly three decades, patent owners have been able to file patent infringement lawsuits in any court that had personal jurisdiction over the accused infringer. This broad approach to venue led to the rise of remote patent litigation hotbeds, like the Eastern District of Texas, to which the defendant had little relation, other than perhaps shipping allegedly infringing products to that jurisdiction. Ryan Corbett has more on Burr's Non-Compete & Trade Secrets Blog. HEALTH CARE May Health Care E-Note
Burr & Forman welcomes Atlanta partner Beth Davis to the firm’s Real Estate Practice. Davis serves manufacturers, distributors, retailers, developers, lenders, and property owners involved in environmental, consumer product safety, food, drug, and medical device, and product liability matters, including regulatory compliance, permitting, enforcement defense and litigation. She is a former attorney with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Lee Thuston Named to “Who’s Who in Law” by Birmingham Business Journal In an article published on April 28 in the Birmingham Business Journal, Lee Thuston is recognized for being a part of this year’s “Who’s Who in Law,” a feature that highlights Birmingham’s top leaders in the legal world. The article highlights Thuston’s leadership as chairman of Burr & Forman and in major economic development projects throughout the Southeast. “Through his advocacy and connections, several major companies chose Alabama for their expansion location, including Mercedes-Benz U.S. International.” Burr Attorneys Named to Birmingham Magazine’s “Top Attorneys” List
Four Burr attorneys were featured in the April issue of Birmingham Magazine named to the publication’s 2017 “Top Attorneys” list. Kelli Fleming was listed for her work in health care, while April Mason was listed in two categories for her work in the Corporate and Franchise areas. In addition, Gail Mills was listed in the area of Real Estate and Labor and Employment Associate Meryl Cowan was listed as a “Rising Star.” Honorees were invited to a special reception on April 13th at the Harbert Center. Heisterhagen Appointed Secretary of the Maritime Law Association Young Lawyers Committee Kasee Sparks Heisterhagen has been appointed Secretary of the Maritime Law Association of the United States ("MLA") Young Lawyers Committee. This appointment was made by MLA President, Harold K. Watson. Heisterhagen will serve the MLA in this capacity through the 2018 Annual Meeting. The Maritime Law Association of the United States is a national professional organization of lawyers who practice admiralty law. The MLA serves maritime lawyers by providing a forum to discuss news and issues in the practice, as a source of opinion and information to the public, and as a representative to the international legal community. As a professional organization, the MLA has had a hand in several significant developments in maritime law. At Burr, Heisterhagen’s work in the maritime field includes enforcement of maritime liens, vessel seizures, marine finance and
Read Burr's latest Health Care E-Note here, or subscribe to this newsletter.
marine-related bankruptcies. She regularly investigates marine casualties and claims. Burr Welcomes New Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer
SECURITIES LITIGATION Hot Topics: Securities Litigation Blog Keep up with news, regulatory changes, legal opinions and practical tips involving all areas of securities regulation and litigation on Burr's blog. If you ever have a question about something on the blog or have a securities question, please contact any of Burr's Securities team members, and we will be happy to assist you. Here are the latest developments on our blog: SEC Stays ALJ Cases Subject to 10th Circuit Review Will The Fiduciary Rule Live on Even if it is Repealed? SCOTUS to Hear Another Securities Case Labor Delays Fiduciary Rule
Burr & Forman announces the addition of Clinton Gary as chief strategy and business development officer. Based in Atlanta, Gary will lead the firm’s business development and marketing teams, overseeing efforts across Burr’s 11-office geographic footprint. He brings 25 years of experience in professional services marketing and strategy with industry-leading accounting, consulting and law firms. Read more about Clinton's background here. Burr Listed to BTI’s “Law Firms Best at Cybersecurity” List Burr & Forman was recently recognized in BTI Consulting Group's "Law Firms Best at Cybersecurity" list. The firm was listed on the "Honor Roll" and was one of 86 law firms recognized for its efforts in cybersecurity. To form the list, BTI conducted in-depth interviews with corporate counsel from various organizations with $1 billion or more in revenue. The legal decision makers interviewed come from a variety of more than 15 industry segments from banking, health care, and manufacturing to retail and transportation. Read about Burr & Forman's Cybersecurity Team here. Burr Listed to Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 2017 Intellectual Property Attorneys List In an article published on April 7, 2017 in the print edition of the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Burr & Forman is recognized for making the 2017 list of Intellectual Property Attorneys in Tampa. According to the article, Burr & Forman ranks fourth out of the top 25 law firms in the market.
CONSTRUCTION LAW CONSUMER FINANCE LITIGATION ENVIRONMENTAL LAW MATTERS INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS NON-COMPETE & TRADE SECRETS SECURITIES LITIGATION TCPA ADDENDUM TENNESSEE BUSINESS LITIGATION
Burr & Forman Corporate E-Note is a bi-monthly e-mail service provided by Burr & Forman LLP. The physical address for correspondence related to this newsletter is: 171 17th Street, NW, Suite 1100, Atlanta, GA 30363. (404) 815-3000. You are subscribed to this list as: Please note: This electronic newsletter is provided to clients and friends of Burr & Forman. The information described is general in nature, and may not apply to your specific situation. Legal advice should be sought before taking action based on the information discussed. Applicable State Bar or Attorney Regulations May Require This Be Labeled as "Advertising."
CYBERSECURITY WannaCry Ransomware – What You Need to Know
Making Headlines Supreme Court Eases Rules for Companies in Patent Disputes (Source: Reuters, 2017-05-22) High Court Considers if Firms Can be Sued for Human Rights Abuses (Source: The New York Times, 2017-04-03) Report Finds Growing Number of CEOs Ousted for Ethics Violations (Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 2017-05-20) Companies Using Kidnap Policies to Cover Ransomware Losses (Source: Reuters, 2017-05-19) AICPA Unveils Final Piece of Cybersecurity Guidelines (Source: The Wall Street Journal, 2017-05-03) New Rule Changes Accounting of Companies' Equity Investments (Source: The New York Times, 2017-05-12)
Starting on Friday, May 12th, computers in countries around the world have fallen victim to the latest ransomware attack. As of May 15th, it is estimated that more than 150 countries have infected systems, totaling over 200,000 computers. The ransomware is known as WannaCry (or WannaCrypt), and as you might expect, it encrypts your computer and holds your files hostage, requiring you to pay a ransom to get your files back. Read the full article here. For more information, contact India Vincent, Josh Ehrenfeld, Ed Snow and Ryan Corbett. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Bill to Allow Employees to Choose Between Overtime Wages and Paid Time Off Passes in House
FIRM NEWS Burr Adds Corporate & Tax Partner Scott Miller in Orlando Burr & Forman announces the addition of Scott G. Miller as a partner in its Orlando office and the firm’s Corporate and Tax practice group. Miller brings more than 23 years of experience counseling clients on estate and wealth preservation planning as well as tax matters and disputes. He advises clients in all areas of estate planning, including complex gift, generation skipping transfer tax and estate planning, lifetime giving and charitable planning. Miller also represents taxpayers in gift, generation skipping and estate tax controversies with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), ranging from audits of returns and administrative appeals within the IRS to Tax Court matters. Burr Welcomes Corporate and Securities Partner Back to Firm Jennifer Moseley joins Burr & Forman's Atlanta office as a partner based in the Corporate Practice. She previously practiced in the firm's Birmingham office from 2003 to 2013. Jennifer counsels public and private companies in a number of compliance and transactional matters. She is also experienced in EB-5 regional center formation, structuring and securities offering matters, as well as working with companies who seek investment in connection with the EB-5 visa regional center program under U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services rules and regulations. Burr Advances Real Estate Practice with Beth Davis as Partner
The House recently passed a bill that would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to allow certain employees to choose to take paid time off rather than overtime pay when working more than 40 hours in a workweek. Ron Flowers and Carlton Hilson review impacts for employers in this alert. Alabama Workers' Compensation Act Held Unconstitutional On Monday, May 8, 2017, Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Pat Ballard unexpectedly ruled that the Alabama Workers' Compensation Act is unconstitutional. Specifically, Judge Ballard found the $220 per week cap on workers' compensation benefits unconstitutional because the cap was below the poverty level and equal to just over twenty-five percent of the state's average weekly wage. Read the full alert. For more information, contact Meghan Cox. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Supreme Court Reins in Venue for Patent Cases For nearly three decades, patent owners have been able to file patent infringement lawsuits in any court that had personal jurisdiction over the accused infringer. This broad approach to venue led to the rise of remote patent litigation hotbeds, like the Eastern District of Texas, to which the defendant had little relation, other than perhaps shipping allegedly infringing products to that jurisdiction. Ryan Corbett has more on Burr's Non-Compete & Trade Secrets Blog. HEALTH CARE May Health Care E-Note
Burr & Forman welcomes Atlanta partner Beth Davis to the firm’s Real Estate Practice. Davis serves manufacturers, distributors, retailers, developers, lenders, and property owners involved in environmental, consumer product safety, food, drug, and medical device, and product liability matters, including regulatory compliance, permitting, enforcement defense and litigation. She is a former attorney with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Lee Thuston Named to “Who’s Who in Law” by Birmingham Business Journal In an article published on April 28 in the Birmingham Business Journal, Lee Thuston is recognized for being a part of this year’s “Who’s Who in Law,” a feature that highlights Birmingham’s top leaders in the legal world. The article highlights Thuston’s leadership as chairman of Burr & Forman and in major economic development projects throughout the Southeast. “Through his advocacy and connections, several major companies chose Alabama for their expansion location, including Mercedes-Benz U.S. International.” Burr Attorneys Named to Birmingham Magazine’s “Top Attorneys” List
Four Burr attorneys were featured in the April issue of Birmingham Magazine named to the publication’s 2017 “Top Attorneys” list. Kelli Fleming was listed for her work in health care, while April Mason was listed in two categories for her work in the Corporate and Franchise areas. In addition, Gail Mills was listed in the area of Real Estate and Labor and Employment Associate Meryl Cowan was listed as a “Rising Star.” Honorees were invited to a special reception on April 13th at the Harbert Center. Heisterhagen Appointed Secretary of the Maritime Law Association Young Lawyers Committee Kasee Sparks Heisterhagen has been appointed Secretary of the Maritime Law Association of the United States ("MLA") Young Lawyers Committee. This appointment was made by MLA President, Harold K. Watson. Heisterhagen will serve the MLA in this capacity through the 2018 Annual Meeting. The Maritime Law Association of the United States is a national professional organization of lawyers who practice admiralty law. The MLA serves maritime lawyers by providing a forum to discuss news and issues in the practice, as a source of opinion and information to the public, and as a representative to the international legal community. As a professional organization, the MLA has had a hand in several significant developments in maritime law. At Burr, Heisterhagen’s work in the maritime field includes enforcement of maritime liens, vessel seizures, marine finance and
Read Burr's latest Health Care E-Note here, or subscribe to this newsletter.
marine-related bankruptcies. She regularly investigates marine casualties and claims. Burr Welcomes New Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer
SECURITIES LITIGATION Hot Topics: Securities Litigation Blog Keep up with news, regulatory changes, legal opinions and practical tips involving all areas of securities regulation and litigation on Burr's blog. If you ever have a question about something on the blog or have a securities question, please contact any of Burr's Securities team members, and we will be happy to assist you. Here are the latest developments on our blog: SEC Stays ALJ Cases Subject to 10th Circuit Review Will The Fiduciary Rule Live on Even if it is Repealed? SCOTUS to Hear Another Securities Case Labor Delays Fiduciary Rule
Burr & Forman announces the addition of Clinton Gary as chief strategy and business development officer. Based in Atlanta, Gary will lead the firm’s business development and marketing teams, overseeing efforts across Burr’s 11-office geographic footprint. He brings 25 years of experience in professional services marketing and strategy with industry-leading accounting, consulting and law firms. Read more about Clinton's background here. Burr Listed to BTI’s “Law Firms Best at Cybersecurity” List Burr & Forman was recently recognized in BTI Consulting Group's "Law Firms Best at Cybersecurity" list. The firm was listed on the "Honor Roll" and was one of 86 law firms recognized for its efforts in cybersecurity. To form the list, BTI conducted in-depth interviews with corporate counsel from various organizations with $1 billion or more in revenue. The legal decision makers interviewed come from a variety of more than 15 industry segments from banking, health care, and manufacturing to retail and transportation. Read about Burr & Forman's Cybersecurity Team here. Burr Listed to Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 2017 Intellectual Property Attorneys List In an article published on April 7, 2017 in the print edition of the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Burr & Forman is recognized for making the 2017 list of Intellectual Property Attorneys in Tampa. According to the article, Burr & Forman ranks fourth out of the top 25 law firms in the market.
CONSTRUCTION LAW CONSUMER FINANCE LITIGATION ENVIRONMENTAL LAW MATTERS INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS NON-COMPETE & TRADE SECRETS SECURITIES LITIGATION TCPA ADDENDUM TENNESSEE BUSINESS LITIGATION
Burr & Forman Corporate E-Note is a bi-monthly e-mail service provided by Burr & Forman LLP. The physical address for correspondence related to this newsletter is: 171 17th Street, NW, Suite 1100, Atlanta, GA 30363. (404) 815-3000. You are subscribed to this list as: Please note: This electronic newsletter is provided to clients and friends of Burr & Forman. The information described is general in nature, and may not apply to your specific situation. Legal advice should be sought before taking action based on the information discussed. Applicable State Bar or Attorney Regulations May Require This Be Labeled as "Advertising."
