Doing Business in Florida Blog

Client Alert: Florida Law Restricting Foreign Real Estate Investments

June 1, 2023
Edward Baker  |  Real Estate

Client Alert - U.S. Supreme Court Unanimously Determines that Statute Governing Bankruptcy Sale Appeals is Not Jurisdictional

April 25, 2023
Erin M. Hoskins  |  Bankruptcy Litigation

Client Alert: New Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP Act): What Do Private Employers Need to Know to Comply?

March 14, 2023
Ruth Vafek  |  Labor & Employment

As part of the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 signed into law on December 29, 2022, private employers with 15+ employees* need to know about the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which goes into effect June 27, 2023. 

Intellectual Property and Generative AI

March 6, 2023
Justin Taylor and Geoffrey Lottenberg  |  Intellectual Property

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance, new questions arise about how copyright and patent laws will apply to new content created by AI. 

Florida Real Estate Legislation to Watch in 2023

February 8, 2023
Jeffrey R. Margolis  |  Real Estate Legislation

Ahead of the 2023 Florida Legislative Session, several real estate related bills have been introduced in the Florida legislature that will be considered by lawmakers during the upcoming Legislative Session which begins in March.

Client Alert: Federal Trade Commission Proposes New Rule for Nationwide Ban on Noncompete Clauses in Labor Contracts

January 9, 2023
Leonard K. Samuels and Nikki Branch  |  Labor and Employment , Noncompete

On January 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (commonly known as the “FTC”) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to ban the use of noncompete clauses by employers nationwide. True to their name, noncompete clauses block workers from working for competitors, or starting a new competing business, after employment ends for a set period.

LIBOR Being Replaced with Secured Overnight Financing Rate

January 6, 2023
Jeffrey R. Margolis  |  LIBOR, Mortgages , Interest Rates, Real Estate

LIBOR, formerly known as the London Interbank Offered Rate, was the key benchmark for setting interest rates charged on adjustable-rate loans, mortgages, and corporate debt for more than 40 years. However, LIBOR is being replaced by the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) which is considered a more accurate and more secure pricing benchmark. 

Joint Alert: Our Response to the 2022 Insurance Reforms

December 21, 2022
Insurance Reforms , Insurance

Client Alert - FinCEN Issues Final Rule on Company Applicant - Beneficial Ownership Reporting Under the Corporate Transparency Act

October 7, 2022
Mark Wisniewski  |  Financial Crimes Enforcement Network

On September 29, 2022, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) issued a much-anticipated final rule (“Final Rule”) implementing the Corporate Transparency Act’s (“CT Act”) beneficial ownership information (“BOI”) reporting provisions. The purpose of the Final Rule is to assist FinCEN, law enforcement, and other stakeholders within the national security apparatus in interdicting criminal actors that seek to launder illegal source proceeds and/or to hide assets utilizing the U.S. financial system and/or U.S. (and foreign) corporate entities. 

Subject to certain exceptions for corporate entities that are expressly exempt from the beneficial ownership information reporting requirements imposed by the CT Act, the Final Rule will require most corporate entities created in or registered to do business in the United States to prepare and submit BOI reports (“BOI Reports”) to FinCEN identifying two categories of individuals: (1) the ‘beneficial owners’ of the entity; and (2) the ‘company applicants’ of the entity.  The Final Rule provides guidance on who must file a BOI Report, what information must be reported, and when a BOI Report is due.
 

We Mourn the Loss of Our Colleague Ricardo A. Gonzalez

October 3, 2022

With profound sadness, we announce the loss of our colleague and dear friend, Ricardo A. Gonzalez. Rick was an exceptional lawyer specializing in complex commercial litigation and regulatory defense and compliance. Rick passed away on September 25, 2022.

2021 American Land Title Association Forms

September 28, 2022
Jeffrey R. Margolis  |  2021 American Land Title Association Forms, Real Estate

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has approved the 2021 American Land Title Association (ALTA) forms for use in Florida.  OIR has approved use of the new ALTA 2021 Policy forms starting October 3, 2022.  The new forms include a new Commitment, Loan and Owner’s Policies, Short Form Residential Loan Policies, as well as the following Endorsements.

 

Client Alert: Updated Social Media Rules in California

September 21, 2022
Heidi Howard Tandy  |  Assembly Bill 587, California Legislative Information

Businesses with a presence in or customers who are residents of California and who have revenue over $100 million per year will soon be required to file semiannual reports with that state’s Attorney General, self-reporting their content moderation policies on hate speech, extremism, and disinformation.