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.

The Greater Havelock Area Chamber of Commerce is bringing together food trucks, local vendors, and families for a community celebration at Walter B. Jones Park. This fall festival promises diverse food options and a welcoming atmosphere for all ages, showcasing the small businesses and community spirit that define the Havelock area.

Lowenstein attorneys and business services professionals share how pro bono work has enhanced their legal expertise and interpersonal abilities through direct client engagement, court experience, and cross-departmental collaboration. The discussion reveals how serving vulnerable clients at nonprofit organizations develops critical skills in empathy, creative problem-solving, and clear communication that translate across all areas of legal practice.

Lowenstein lawyers and business services professionals discuss the firm's comprehensive pro bono program, demonstrating how attorneys across all practice areas—from white collar defense to real estate—contribute to matters serving individuals, nonprofits, and communities. The video explores how pro bono work provides meaningful opportunities for client interaction, hands-on responsibility, and professional development while receiving the same attention as billable client matters.

A Delaware Chancery Court ruled on the validity of written consents used to remove a director from a private security technology company's board, addressing whether post-litigation consents could be aggregated with earlier consents and the proper methodology for calculating majority stockholder approval. The decision clarifies the timing requirements and procedural mechanics of stockholder action by written consent under Delaware law.

A Delaware Chancery Court dismissed derivative claims against biotech company directors and stockholders, ruling that a plaintiff failed to adequately plead breach of fiduciary duty in connection with an abandoned IPO and subsequent litigation settlement. The decision reinforces the business judgment rule's protection for directors and clarifies that stockholder disagreement with board decisions does not overcome the presumption of good faith, while also addressing the rights of directors to resign and the

A Delaware Court of Chancery decision examines whether a board of directors properly rejected an activist investor's director nominations in a proxy contest involving a Bitcoin-holding company. The case tests the boundaries of bylaw interpretation and board authority when an activist fund sought to nominate a full slate of directors amid concerns about potential asset liquidation and undisclosed conflicts of interest.

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into legal practice, attorneys face a critical challenge: determining whether attorney-client privilege and work product protections survive when confidential information passes through AI platforms. Recent court decisions reveal diverging approaches to this question, with outcomes hinging on the specific nature of AI usage, the type of tool employed, and whether proper safeguards were in place.

If you are under SEC investigation, one of the most critical, strategic decisions you may face is whether to invoke your Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Corporate legal departments increasingly use third party platforms and managed billing services to review outside counsel invoices. In many cases, the client selects the system and directs its law firms to submit bills through it. Some of these services now use artificial intelligence, automated review, or a combination of technology and human reviewers to examine individual time entries and recommend billing reductions.