Business Law and Corporate Law

New York lacks a formal slayer statute but applies a common-law "slayer rule" established in the landmark 1889 case Riggs v Palmer, which prevents individuals from profiting through their own wrongdoing.

For families with substantial wealth, estate planning is often designed to prevent disputes. Trusts are carefully drafted. Assets are placed into entities or trusts. Professional fiduciaries may be appointed to manage property. Succession plans are developed for family businesses.

Estate planning requires choosing between two fundamental approaches: the traditional will and the revocable trust. While both direct asset distribution after death, they differ significantly in cost, privacy, probate requirements, and incapacity protection—differences that can profoundly impact your family's experience during an already difficult time.

Partners Laura Cicirelli and Eric Weiner explore the critical elements founders need to understand when entering their first priced preferred stock financing round. From liquidation preferences and governance rights to founder re-vesting and drag-along provisions, this discussion reveals how these initial equity decisions establish the power dynamics that will shape all future funding rounds.

California is going through a record-breaking venture capital surge, fueled mostly by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. Companies based in the state have attracted approximately $366 billion in venture capital since the beginning of 2026, nearly twice California’s previous annual record and more than three times the amount raised by companies in the other 49 states combined, according to PitchBook data reported by The Wall Street Journal.

CF Private Equity President and CEO Mark Hoeing discusses how persistence of returns, disciplined manager selection, and rigorous diligence define success in today's private markets. He shares insights on continuation vehicles, the power law dynamics driving venture capital returns, and identifies founder-owned businesses and AI infrastructure as key sources of future growth.

Section 172(1) of the UK Companies Act 2006 requires directors to act in the way they consider, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the company’s success. But what standard of behaviour does this require?

The Federal Reserve has established a four-part safe harbor for determining when voting trusts, buy-sell agreements, and similar shareholder arrangements will not be treated as a "company" under the Bank Holding Company Act. Understanding these requirements is critical for structuring governance arrangements that avoid unintended regulatory consequences, particularly regarding termination provisions that override state perpetuity laws.

The Change in Bank Control Act framework contains a critical provision that can unexpectedly transform individual shareholders into a regulated group with collective filing obligations. Understanding when shareholders are deemed to be "acting in concert" is essential for compliance, particularly when shareholder agreements exist or when new members join existing control groups.

A federal lawsuit challenges Texas A&M University System's classroom-content policy, alleging it unconstitutionally restricts faculty instruction on race, gender, and sexual orientation. The case follows the Eleventh Circuit's decision on Florida's Stop WOKE Act and raises critical questions about viewpoint discrimination, academic freedom, and the boundaries between legitimate curricular oversight and unconstitutional restrictions on classroom speech.

Two Lowenstein Sandler attorneys share their personal experiences navigating divorce while working in demanding law firm environments. They discuss the delicate balance between privacy and transparency, the importance of support systems, and strategies for maintaining professional performance during one of life's most challenging transitions.

Patsy Doerr, Chief People & Culture Officer at LRN, joins Lowenstein Sandler's Real Talk podcast to share her extensive experience in driving inclusive leadership initiatives and building ethical workplace cultures across global organizations. The conversation explores her career journey and the critical elements needed to advance inclusion, talent development, and leadership in today's corporate environment.