Wooden & McLaughlin

Misha selected as SKL participant

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Michael (Misha) Rabinowitch, a partner with Wooden & McLaughlin LLP, will have the opportunity to advance his community leadership interests as a member of Class XXXV of the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series.

Rabinowitch is one of 25 young professionals to be accepted into the series, a highly competitive program that seeks to expand the ranks of community leaders by teaching and motivating members to address the needs of central Indiana. “I am honored to have been chosen to participate in SKL, which has helped many of central Indiana’s most prominent leaders become more effective community leaders,” Rabinowitch said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to follow in their footsteps and hopefully make a lasting contribution to our region.”

Class members are chosen because of their significant community involvement and professional achievement; their demonstrated interest in community issues; a record of participation and achievement in voluntary community activities; and their willingness to expand their leadership role in the community. “Congratulations to Misha Rabinowitch on his selection for the SKL Leadership Series,” said Roland Dorson, president of the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, which operates the series. “ As an SKL graduate, I know that it is an honor to be chosen, but also a responsibility and commitment to improve our community.”

Dorson, a graduate of the series’ Class XIX, is moderator for Class XXXV. To ensure that the series is timely and topical, each class’s moderator identifies aspects of broad economic and societal issues that are specific to central Indiana for the class to study. Class XXXV will meet monthly from September through June. Participants will interact with local leaders, professional experts and community decision makers to discuss issues such as the region’s quality of life, education and economic development.

For more information, contact:
Linda Kirby, Program Director 317.464.2226 or lkirby@indylink.com

About the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series: Formed in 1976, SKL informs and motivates emerging leaders and raises their awareness of community issues and sense of community trusteeship through seminars, tours, reading and interaction with experts, leaders and decision makers. The series is named in honor of Stanley K. Lacy, an Indianapolis banker and active participant in civic projects, who died in a tragic automobile accident in 1973 at the age of 27.

About the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce: Founded in 1890 by Colonel Eli Lilly and a group of Indianapolis business leaders, the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce is the voice of the central Indiana business community. Today, with a membership of more than 4,000 businesses, the Indianapolis Chamber is still a voice of progress and improvement, bringing together businesses for a thriving community. For more information on the Chamber, visit indychamber.com.

Kent and Ron's article on the status of Federal Estate Tax Laws

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Ron Salatich and Kent Broach author article in Estate Planning Law IN Brief entitled "The Current Status of Federal Estate Tax Laws." In this article, Ron and Kent whether there is any estate tax or generation-skipping tax in 2010. They also discuss a change in carry-over basis and what might happen in 2011 if Congress does not step in.

RFI Green Law IN Brief

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Rob Inselberg authors Green Building Law IN Brief. The article focuses on LEED certification challenges and decertification. With huge sums of money being tied to project performance and obtaining a certain LEED rating, whether through tax breaks, bonuses or other financial incentives, what happens if something occurs that causes a project to have its LEED rating downgraded or even revoked.

Who is responsible for the risks associated with the financial repercussions that may result from a downgrade or decertification of a project? This article in Green Building Law IN Brief analyzes the LEED Certification Challenge Policy as it was applied to the recent first-of-its-kind third-party appeal of a LEED certification. Please click on the link above to view the entire article.

MR reflections on practicing law in summer

admin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Misha Rabinowitch had two articles published last week - one on issues surrounding the treatment of pregnant restaurant workers and another on the practice of law. The first article was for the Indiana Restaurant Association. The title of that article is "Pregnant Restaurant Staff: Are They Entitled to Special Treatment?."

Misha's second article was published in "The Indiana Lawyer." The title of that article, written on behalf of the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana, is "Practicing Law can be Gratifying, Even in Summertime."

HR Alert on Unequal Pay, E-spying, and Health Care Reform Grandfather Clauses

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Greg Kult authored a new HR Alert on a variety of important and timely topics. Some of the topics covered include:

a large judgment for unequal pay;
E-spying by the government;
the need to pay for "volunteer" at-home work; and
"grandfathered health plan coverage" considerations.

In order to read the entire alert, please click on "HR Alert." Feel free to contact Greg or Misha Rabinowitch with any questions.

Greg Kult Speaking Engagements

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Greg Kult will be speaking about "Making Sense of the Department of Labor's Interpretation on Mortgage Loan Officers and the Fair Labor Standards Act" to the Indiana Mortgage Bankers Association in Indianapolis on July 13. He will be conducting the same presentation in Ft. Wayne and South Bend on July 20.

Some of the topics included in Greg's presentation include:

DOL assumptions on Lending officers
Who’s an exempt administrative employee
Importance of job analysis
Overtime, bonus and commission calculations
Understanding misclassification liability
Changing an employee’s status

Wooden & McLaughlin Attorneys Ranked in Chambers USA

admin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Wooden & McLaughlin LLP has again been ranked among the top firms in a national report of U.S. lawyers and law firms.

In Chambers USA: A Guide to America's Leading Business Lawyers, Wooden & McLaughlin LLP ranked among the top Indiana law firms for Real Estate. In addition, 4 Wooden & McLaughlin lawyers are individually recognized in the 2010 report in their respective practice areas. The following partners are recognized in the 2010 guide: for General Commercial Litigation – Douglas B. King, and for Real Estate – Thomas W. Dinwiddie, John W. Hamilton, and E. Joseph Kremp.

The guide, published by London-based Chambers and Partners, ranks lawyers and law firms in the practice areas based on the results of in-depth interviews with a vast range of lawyers and their clients (i.e., commercial users of legal services).

HR Alert on more 1099s and required pro-union "ads"

admin — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Greg Kult authored a new HR Alert on 1099s and government required pro-union "ads." Feel free to contact Greg or Misha Rabinowitch with any questions.

Greg Kult's IBJ article on mortgage loan officers

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Reprinted with permission.
IBJ Media 2010

Greg Kult recently published a "Voice from the Industry" article in the Indianapolis Business Journal's Banking and Finance Focus section in which he explains the potential significant liability exposure for improperly classifying mortgage loan officers under a new letter issued by the Department of Labor. Click here to view the entire article.

An Employer's Reference Guide to Health Care Reform

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Greg Kult, a partner practicing in the firm's employment and health care area, has now read the entire Health Care Reform Act ( "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act/Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010") several times. In an effort to assist employers, Greg has summarized the Act into a handy reference guide. Click here to look at the Employer's Reference Guide to Health Care Reform.