News & Insights

Employers with employees who are authorized to work in the United States as foreign students engaged in post-completion employment (“F1/OPT”), take note: On August 12, 2015, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia vacated the 2008 Department of Homeland Security rule authorizing ... Read more >

Alan Grochal Best Lawyers in America has named Alan Grochal the 2016 “Lawyer of the Year” in Baltimore for his bankruptcy litigation practice.  Mr. Grochal has been named continuously to Best Lawyers list since 2009 for his bankruptcy/creditors’ rights practice.  Mr. Grochal a... Read more >

In a recent case, the Maryland Court of Appeals, Maryland’s highest court, held that an automobile dealer could rely on the terms of its buyer’s order to compel its customer to arbitrate, even if the installment sales contract (i.e. the financing instrument) did not contain its own arbitration p... Read more >

The Maryland General Assembly passed an important bill about spot delivery, the practice in which an auto dealer attempts to arrange credit with a third-party lender for a finance or lease transaction and delivers a vehicle before the lender issues a final approval. The bill, which was signed int... Read more >

There is a high separation and divorce rate among families with a special needs child. The stress level of raising a child with special needs may result in a breakdown of the parents’ relationship and the necessity of a custody or Parenting Plan to address issues relating to their child. T... Read more >

The federal Department of Labor (DOL) has issued updated forms for Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) certification.  These updated forms are to be completed by health care providers to certify that the employee, immediate family member, or military member/next of kin has a covered, serious health... Read more >

The Court of Special Appeals of Maryland recently examined a foreclosure trustee’s duties with respect to considering offers to purchase the foreclosure property.   Although the Court reached the correct result under the facts of the case, its discussion of trustee duties came dangerousl... Read more >

On February 25, 2015, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule that amends the Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) regulations and provides employees in same-sex marriages and common-law marriages with full FMLA rights and protections if they need leave to care for a spouse with a serious... Read more >

Former Governor O’Malley signed into law a significant change to the Maryland Estate Tax that went into effect on January 1, 2015.  Prior to the new law, Marylanders had a $1,000,000 applicable exclusion from estate tax. Beginning this year, the applicable exclusion amount changes as follo... Read more >

People tend to associate Pre-Nuptial Agreements (or “Pre-Nups”) with the rich and famous, when, in fact, it is a useful tool for many of us. If you are planning to get married after having established yourself financially, you should think about protecting yourself and your assets. One way to pr... Read more >