Publications

• U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY SUSPENDS ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN FINES AND PENALTIES UNDER THE CTA

  March 4, 2025

  In a news release issued on March 2, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced that it will discontinue enforcement of penalties and fines under the Corporate Transparency Act’s (“CTA”) current beneficial ownership information reporting rule with respect to U.S. citizens, domestic reporting companies, and their beneficial owners. However, the reporting requirements will remain in effect […]

• Michigan Legislature Reaches Last Minute Compromise on Earned Sick Time Act Amendments

  February 21, 2025

  Late Thursday, February 20, 2025, the Michigan Legislature passed an amendment to the Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA). This amendment changes requirements under ESTA that were set to go into effect just a few hours later. Importantly, the Legislative amendments take immediate effect on February 21, 2025.  Governor Whitmer is expected to sign the bill […]

• Navigating a Workplace Raid by a Federal Agency

  January 30, 2025

  The Trump Administration has made immigration law enforcement one of its top priorities and has already directed federal law enforcement agencies to begin conducting raids in search of unauthorized workers within the United States. Employers should know that there is an increased likelihood of scrutiny by federal agencies regarding the employment of foreign workers. The […]

• Estate and Gift Tax Uncertainty in 2025

  February 18, 2025

  At the end of 2025, the tax exemption for federal estate and gift taxes is scheduled to revert to what it was in 2012 with cost-of-living increases.  Currently, the exemption is $13,990,000 per person.  Given the size of the exemption, the vast majority of people do not need to be concerned about the estate tax […]

• Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Requirements Reinstated

  December 24, 2024

  On December 23, 2024, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order staying the preliminary injunction granted by a Texas District Court in Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. v. Garland. As a result, the requirement for companies to report beneficial ownership information is reinstated, effective immediately. While many reporting companies were previously required to […]

• Federal District Court Issues Temporary Injunction Against Corporate Transparency Act Nationwide

  December 5, 2024

  The Eastern District of Texas issued a nationwide preliminary injunction on December 3, 2024, pausing the reporting obligations imposed by the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The decision, Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. v. Garland, comes shortly before a significant reporting deadline on January 1, 2025 – the date on which companies in existence as of […]

• TEXAS COURT DELIVERS EARLY HOLIDAY GIFT TO MICHIGAN EMPLOYERS

  October 18, 2024

  Michigan employers have faced a level of uncertainty in setting their personnel budgets for 2025 due to the United States Department of Labor’s 2024 Rule that increased the minimum salary for employees exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act as Administrative, Executive, or Professional employees. The increase was scheduled in two phases: the […]

• THE IMPACT OF CONNELLY V. UNITED STATES ON SUCCESSION PLANNING FOR BUSINESS OWNERS

  October 3, 2024

  On June 6, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in a 9-0 decision that life insurance proceeds from a company-owned policy used to redeem a deceased owner’s interest in a closely held business must be included when calculating the value of that owner’s interest for federal estate tax purposes. The Court’s ruling […]

• Federal Trade Commission Non-Compete Ban Put on Ice…For Now

  August 21, 2024

  On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, United States District Judge Ada Brown issued a nation-wide injunction stopping the scheduled September 4th implementation of the Federal Trade Commission’s rule that eliminated almost all non-compete agreements. The ruling was widely expected given Judge Brown’s earlier ruling blocking the ban in Texas in which she expressed significant skepticism regarding […]

• Navigating the Process of Obtaining a Liquor License

  August 20, 2018

  For a business owner or entrepreneur looking to obtain a liquor license or buy a licensed business, the process of applying for and receiving approval from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (“MLCC”) can be daunting and, at times, frustrating. Depending on the business you are running or hoping to run, there are several different types […]