CPE

The unprecedented challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in drastic changes in the commercial real estate industry.

Commercial litigation can be a complex and costly process. Stakes are often high especially when it comes to calculating lost profits. In the battle over lost profit damages, both sides must face the tough challenge of choosing which calculation methodologies, documentation, and expert evidence to use. Defendants will often try to push back, citing credible damages studies that often leave the opposition with little to no significant damages awards.

Keeping pace with the ever-evolving tax rules is one of the biggest pain points for tax teams.

Sales tax automation allows organizations to focus on growth without fear of noncompliance.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) continues to intensify its enforcement initiatives on delinquent taxpayers through the new issue-focused approach.

As organizations across industries look for new ways to reach customers, many have turned to easily activated ecommerce channels or have begun to sell through third-party marketplaces.

On January 10, 2022, the Office of Chief Counsel IRS Memorandum Number 20214101F1 (IRS CCM) took effect requiring additional documentation for employers when filing for a research and development (R&D) refund on tax returns. The IRS CCM also provides guidance on acceptable documentation when filing R&D Credit refund claims.

As watchdogs of the business world, public accountants are expected to comply with robust ethical standards and demonstrate integrity and professional competence in their work.

The London Interbank Offered Rate, most popularly known as LIBOR, is one of the most important interest reference rates in the world. However, for several years, LIBOR has been hounded by many challenges and controversies.

Several significant changes continue to shape federal income tax regulation.

Class certification under the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 has been a complex and challenging battle for plaintiffs and defendants alike. With the shifting legal interpretation and stringent analysis, the certification process has become increasingly difficult and costly.

Patent investigations brought under International Trade Commission (ITC) have seen an upward trend in recent years. Consequently, as several types of products and components are imported in the U.S., an increase in patent litigation is also expected – a scenario that may put a large number of U.S. companies and their consumers at risk.

In today's ever-evolving market economy, proper financial planning and effective risk prevention practices for businesses have been more crucial than ever. With distressed debts becoming more rampant, workouts and restructuring measures should be given more focus. Furthermore, significant court rulings under Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code must also be followed to avoid future litigation that could result in claw-backs and fraud claims.

In order to prevent patent-licensing problems, standard-setting organizations (SSOs) have created fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms to ensure that standard-essential patent (SEP) owners will get patent benefits without unfair bargaining. Earlier this year, as patent holders are generally free to charge the users of their patents, the developers of technical standards have agreed to license the former’s SEPs to manufacturers of standardized products at royalty rates that are fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory. 

During the Covid-19 crisis, some companies had compensation plans with entirely financial metrics that would pay out at zero, while other experienced tailwinds. In both cases, many companies made adjustments to short and long-term plans to respond to the unprecedented year.