Maryland Business Law & Corporate Litigation Blog

Companies doing business in Maryland and throughout the United States frequently require commercial space to conduct their operations. In some cases, the commercial space may be an office or a manufacturing or production facility. In other commercial ventures, securing retail space may be necessary to expand the brand’s reach and market presence. In still other […]

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) provides brokers and brokerages with a framework to guide relations between the parties. While FINRA can provide certain benefits to brokers including the ability to transition into a new employment role, brokers also are constrained from certain actions and owe their employer and investors certain duties. Therefore, before engaging in […]

The equitable and predictable disposition of property based disputes is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of a court of law. Courts throughout Maryland and the nation fill this role and hear  ranging from problems relating to the title, adverse claims against the land, and landlord-tenant disputes.  The courts routinely affect businesses and the lives […]

Up until about a month ago, trade secret law was dominated by state laws and state courts. The rights a company had to pursue damages and protect misappropriated intellectual property due to the theft of trade secrets was largely limited to state-based remedies. It is true that criminal penalties for the misappropriate of trade secrets […]

I’ve counseled hundreds of registered reps who, for one reason or another, have decided to leave their current broker dealer and move to a new platform.  Of course, they want “their” clients to move with them.  And usually, the firms want “their” clients to stay.  Some firms will even do whatever it takes to keep […]

Media outlets like the New York Times have long called attention to the increasingly widespread practice of  the use of arbitration clauses in contracts and agreements with businesses. In an October 31, 2015, Times article the author noted that even well-respected and consumer-friendly businesses like American Express have inserted clauses into their membership agreements that […]

FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) is Wall Street’s industry-funded watchdog. FINRA engages in a range of activities including oversight and enforcement activities, drafting rules and guidance, and providing education and training. The organization also provides an investor compliance center where consumer complaints about fraud and unfair practices can be leveled and a whistle-blower tip line. […]

Many federal agencies have, at times, been characterized as less than business-friendly in its approach to issues. In fact, the unveiling of a higher fiduciary standard back in 2010 resulted in intense and, at times, vociferous opposition that led to the proposal’s temporary shelving. A a modified proposal was unveiled in 2015 due to concerns […]

Aside from the federal floor on prohibited workplace conduct set by provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the courts’ interpretations of these laws, some states have also enacted higher standards including additional classes and additional types of prohibited conduct. As such, something of a patchwork of standards and prohibitions has developed. Of […]

Unfair competition laws are intended to ensure that consumers who enter a business deal receive the benefit of the bargain they were promised. They also protect competing businesses from each other, as they prevent businesses from using unfair or illegal practices to undermine competitors. These laws apply to all industries in Maryland. Furthermore, the laws […]