Business Law and Corporate Law

Maryland has amended its franchise registration and disclosure law with changes taking effect October 1, 2026. The amendments extend enforcement authority, expand franchisee claims periods, clarify jurisdictional scope, establish franchisee association rights, and codify a fast-track renewal program for franchise disclosure documents.

International restaurant expansion often generates legal problems before anyone believes there is much legal work to do. A team finds a location and negotiates the lease before confirming that the hours, the liquor service, and the patio are permitted at that address. An executive chef flies in to train the kitchen on a visitor stamp.

On July 9, 2026, the United States District Court for the Central District of California issued its decision in So Cal Storage, LLC et al. v. UNITS Franchising Group, Inc., 2026 WL 2045621 (C.D. Cal. July 9, 2026), granting a franchisor's motion to dismiss the franchisees’ claims arising from alleged misrepresentations, software failures, vendor restrictions, and misuse of advertising fund contributions.

Private equity investment in law firms through management services organizations is attracting regulatory scrutiny as legislators establish boundaries around outside capital. Sponsors must navigate professional conduct rules, economic structures, and governance frameworks that differ fundamentally from traditional PE investments while building platforms designed for growth and eventual exit.

Young athletes are earning significant income through NIL deals before turning professional, yet traditional financial advisory models introduce legal and estate planning too late in their careers. How can the sports industry better protect athletes' wealth by establishing coordinated advisory teams, trust structures, and comprehensive planning during the NIL era rather than waiting until after major contracts are signed?

Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft has entered a critical second phase, shifting from questions about nonprofit mission betrayal to antitrust and competition law issues.

In this episode of The Founder's Hour, hosts Laura Cicirelli and Eric Weiner are joined by Julie Levinson Werner, partner and Vice Chair of Lowenstein’s Employment practice, to discuss the legal and practical considerations founders face as they begin building a workforce.

Universities drive innovation across medicine, AI, materials, and clean tech, but academic researchers face a critical challenge: the need to publish conflicts with patent protection requirements for confidentiality. Understanding how to navigate publication deadlines, filing strategies, and IP development can determine whether groundbreaking research becomes a valuable commercial asset or loses protection entirely.

Explora las soluciones migratorias más populares para emprendedores e inversionistas en EE. UU., incluyendo las visas E-2, EB-2 NIW y EB-5. Descubre cuál se ajusta mejor a tu perfil según tu nacionalidad...

A U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means hearing on “Foreign Influence in American Nonprofits” last month and recent letters by Republican state Attorneys General accusing specific organizations of violating FARA have resulted in some additional public attention about how FARA relates to the nonprofit/tax-exempt sector.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and IRS recently issued temporary regulations that provide an immediately effective framework for establishing and administering “Trump Accounts,” including broad automatic enrollment and large-scale contributions funded by governmental and charitable donors. The regulations became effective September 30, 2026, apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and expire September 30, 2029.

Nonprofits are playing an increasingly visible role in shaping elections, but navigating the overlapping rules of federal tax law and state campaign finance requirements can be daunting. This on-demand webinar walks through the "rules of the road" for nonprofits that want to participate in elections without jeopardizing their tax status or running afoul of disclosure laws, translating legal frameworks into practical governance and compliance strategies drawn from real-world experience.