PLDO Law Blog
“FRUSTRATION OF PURPOSE” DISCHARGES COMMERCIAL TENANT’S RENT OBLIGATION
While specificity is typically a good thing in contract drafting, sometimes, too much specificity can backfire. A commercial landlord in Boston discovered this recently when the Suffolk County Superior Court discharged rent otherwise owed by a cafe operator during the...
IS 2021 THE YEAR FOR RHODE ISLAND? SMOKE SIGNALS POINT TO CANNABIS ADULT USE LICENSING
In 2017, the State of Rhode Island expanded its medical marijuana program by creating a licensing process for the cultivation and manufacturing of cannabis and cannabis products for sale at the State’s three sanctioned compassion centers. By all accounts – industry...
A “NATURAL DISASTER” – THE PANDEMIC’S IMPACT ON CONTRACTS
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, we wrote about the legal concept of “force majeure” clauses found in some business contracts. A force majeure clause excuses a party from performing its obligations under a contract based upon some unforeseen and serious event such as a...
IMPORTANCE OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DURING THE PANDEMIC
It is widely recognized that the system of corporate governance is a key approach to preserving and protecting an enterprise and its stakeholders by checks and balances among the board and officers of a corporation. Strong governance policies make it possible to...
U.S. Supreme Court Opens the Door to “Generic-dot-Com” Trademarks
Booking.com, an on-line travel agency that books hotel reservations and provides other services to customers, filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the “USPTO”) to register the trademark “Booking.com.” The application was rejected based on...
Comparing Start-Up Valuation Methods
In our Business Law practice, we routinely deal with entrepreneurs and investors who are trying to structure an investment opportunity on the basis of the company’s value before the outside investment is closed. This challenge exists whether the investment will be...
Due Diligence Considerations for Entrepreneurs and Investors
Representing clients seeking to invest in a venture or finance a new business opportunity is a challenging experience for the lawyer as it routinely involves outlining the steps and various issues that are involved in the process of either type of transaction. The...
Investment Structures in a Business Transaction
The process of negotiating an investment opportunity is oftentimes intimidating for first time investors or entrepreneurs. The business jargon is confusing, while the terms and conditions vary for each investment. The non-equity investment terms will vary from lender...
Courts Start To Weigh In On COVID-19 Lawsuits
PLDO recently issued an advisory about the forthcoming explosion of lawsuits arising out of the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, the article addressed the legal concept of “force majeure” and predicted that many businesses will claim that the pandemic prevented...
