December 2016 – Purpose Driven General Counsel

A Lawyer’s Year-End Reflections.

It is the end of 2016. I am having “big picture” thoughts as the year ends. I have a pretty nice “big picture” view out of my office window. Out of my office window from the 12th floor of 99 Monroe overlooks many ice skaters at Rosa Parks’ Circle in downtown Grand Rapids. It isContinue reading “A Lawyer’s Year-End Reflections.”

Business Law Update: You have Terms and Conditions, but are they CONSPICUOUS?

Business Owners – ask yourself: When selling or buying, what are in my company’s Terms and Conditions? You can check out some of my prior posts on Terms and Conditions. “TnCs” are important to review closely. TnCs “allocate risk” among the two parties to the contract. In some instances, even if one party never reads theContinue reading “Business Law Update: You have Terms and Conditions, but are they CONSPICUOUS?”

Real Estate Law Update: A Discussion on Laches

A few years back I wrote a post about the legal doctrine of Laches and how laches relates to real estate disputes. Since then, I consistently get a lot of hits on that post – and a lot of searches for “laches in real estate.” Why? I don’t know. Maybe because its an unfamiliar term, unless youContinue reading “Real Estate Law Update: A Discussion on Laches”

Pitfalls for Business Owners: Recent Court Case on Piercing the Corporate Veil.

We are heading towards the end of the year – I love the Christmas season! One thing that comes to mind for local business owners going into the New Year – make sure that your legal documents and procedures are in proper order. As every business owner should know, one of the main purposes inContinue reading “Pitfalls for Business Owners: Recent Court Case on Piercing the Corporate Veil.”

Legislative Update and Non-Disparagement Clauses in Contracts

Today, I read an article published in the ABAJournal titled: In bid to protect online reviews, Congress OKs bill banning gag clauses in consumer contracts According to the ABAJournal: “Congress has passed a bipartisan bill that aims to protect negative online reviews by banning nondisparagement clauses in nonnegotiable consumer contracts.” It appears that this legislationContinue reading “Legislative Update and Non-Disparagement Clauses in Contracts”

Special Purpose National Bank Charters for #Fintech Companies

Today, Thomas J. Curry, Comptroller of the Currency gave remarks at Georgetown Law School about Special Purpose National Bank Charters for Fintech Companies. You can read the remarks here. Mr. Curry announced that the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) would move forward with considering applications from financial technology (fintech) companies to become special purpose nationalContinue reading “Special Purpose National Bank Charters for #Fintech Companies”