Publications Archive

In a recent article for Restaurant Startup & Growth, Alisa Cleek discusses whether restaurant operators can legally mandate their employees to take the COVID-19 vaccine, and if they can, whether they should. She also addresses concerns about how to respond when an employee refuses to take a mandated vaccine or, alternatively, what to do when a group of employees refuses to work with an employee who has not taken the vaccine. 

In an article that published in Today’s General Counsel online and in the February/March print issue, Michael Cicero discusses three intellectual property (IP) cases that are likely to alter the IP landscape this year, Google v. Oracle, U.S. v. Arthrex, Inc. and American Axle & Mfg., Inc. v. Neapco Holdings LLC.

In an article published in Bloomberg Tax on January 27, 2021, Michael Burwick discusses what effect the Biden-Harris administration and a Democratic-controlled Congress may have on capital gains taxes.

In an article published in Cannabis Business Executive on January 13, 2021, Reggie Snyder discusses the various cannabis-related legislation that the Democrat-controlled Congress may consider in 2021, how the fundamental shift in political power on Capitol Hill affects Democrat Sen. Chuck Schumer’s ability to introduce cannabis-related legislation in the Senate for a vote and how Vice President-elect Harris’ tie-breaking authority as the president of ...

Reggie Snyder published the sixth article in his Cannabis Business Executive series on December 23, 2020 discussing the various types of information that investors should understand and consider when trying to decide whether to invest in a cannabis start-up business. 

In an article published on November 20, 2020 in Sports Litigation Alert (Volume 17, Issue 22), Bruce Siegal provides insight on college sponsorship during the time of COVID-19 and the key considerations moving forward.

Bruce Siegal authored the legal section of the recently revised "Licensing Resource Book," from the the International Collegiate Licensing Association.

In an article published on October 12, 2020 in Bloomberg Tax, James Standard provides insight on the basic considerations which must be addressed in forming and operating a 501(c)(3) organization, primarily from a federal income tax perspective.

Julian Fortuna co-authored the book, "Business Organizations with Tax Planning," discussing the formation and operation of the various types of business entities.

In an article published by the Georgia Bar Journal, Don Boyle and Greg Schultz discuss first-party coverage for business interruption losses, including sources of business interruption coverage; how losses arising out of coronavirus/COVID-19 potentially are covered; expected arguments against coverage by insurers; and policyholder responses to insurers' arguments, with an emphasis on Georgia law. 

In an article published on August 27, 2020 in Bloomberg Law, Michael Cicero provides insight on the recent orders issued by the Federal Circuit involving last year’s ruling on the patent eligibility test, which have only clouded the issues more.

In an article published on August 20, 2020, James Standard provides insight on the basics of a tax-free spin-off transaction, which occurs where one corporation (i.e., a parent) distributes stock of a controlled corporation (i.e. a subsidiary) to its shareholders, generally on a pro rata basis.

On August 5, 2020, the fifth article of Reggie Snyder’s six-part series published in Cannabis Business Executive, providing an overview of the various federal and state marijuana-related legislation currently pending before the U.S. Congress and on the U.S. State Ballots for the 2020 General Election.

In an article published by the INTABulletin on June 1, 2020, Linda Yang discusses the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit's ruling upholding the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board's decision to bar registration of the mark STRATUS NETWORKS in design by the applicant.

In an article published by Cannabis Business Executive on May 14, 2020, Reggie Snyder and Tres Dye discusses the legal issues, operational challenges, and regulatory hurdles that marijuana dispensaries frequently encounter. 

In an article published in the Spring 2020 issue of GGI Labour & Employment Law News, Bryan Jacoutot discusses Bitcoin’s rapid ascent into mainstream consciousness and its potential as a viable payment method for legacy structures like employment.

Mitzi Hill discusses how the growing number of Americans living under lockdown orders because of the COVID-19 pandemic have caused many U.S. companies faced this new question: Is my company an “essential” business that can stay open during a lockdown?

Reginald Snyder discusses how the lack of national standards for laboratory tests of marijuana products affects the public health and the marijuana industry.

In an article published by Cannabis Business Executive on December 18, 2019, Reggie Snyder discusses legal issues, operational challenges, and regulatory hurdles that marijuana-related businesses (MRBs) frequently encounter.

Bloomberg Law published Michael Cicero's article, "INSIGHT: Patent Ineligibility Defense Expands to Mechanical Subject Matter—Controversy Follows."

Bruce Siegal provides a decade of cases overflowing with proactive steps that brand owners and their counsel can take to stay ahead of infringers in the online world.

Reggie Snyder discusses the various fire, health, and safety risks associated with growing and cultivating marijuana plans inside large, indoor, commercial spaces. 

Joseph Sullivan discusses trademark risks for brand-owners resulting from "naked licensing" in his article published by Law360, "Undressing The Risks Of Naked TM Licensing."

In the 2020 edition of the Georgia Business Litigation, a one-volume, comprehensive guide to matters business litigators will encounter, Jeffrey R. Kuester and Michael A. Cicero further updated their chapter titled “Intellectual Property Litigation.”

If you are interested in paying your employees in bitcoin, it is important to be aware of your state’s regulatory and legal requirements. Employment attorney Bryan Jacoutot discusses the tax, wage, and salary compliance issues you could face by paying employees in bitcoin.

In the October issue of the Georgia Bar Journal, Julian Fortuna and Gerika Kelly discuss the legal ramifications that a plaintiff, defendant, or counsel could face for failing to address probable tax consequences before a settlement is finalized.

Employment attorney Bryan Jacoutot discusses U.S. regulatory and compliance laws facing employers who are considering paying their employees in bitcoin.

PLI Current published Li-Chung Daniel (Dan) Ho and Neil O'Donnell's article, "A Practical Approach to Innovation Mining: How Employee Contents Can Help Tech Companies Develop New Products and Services" in its Summer 2019 issue. In order for tech companies to stay ahead of the competition, Mr. Ho and Mr. O'Donnell urge these companies to not rely solely on their research teams.

In the October 2019 Issue of the Georgia Employment Law Letter, Glianny Fagundo explains the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings apply to all Georgia employers) decision to resist the impulse to make bad law despite an employer firing an employee for a trip to Africa.  

Companies can experience devastating results at the hands of aggressive domestic U.S. trademark and patent trolls. Taylor English Intellectual Property attorney Amanda Hyland explains what trademark trolls are and what you can do about them.

All companies will have to take a closer look at the data they are collecting and understand what is defined as "personal information". Taylor English Data Security & Privacy Chair, Mitzi Hill explains why the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), that will take effect early 2020, will affect all Atlanta companies

Reginald Snyder discusses the legal and financial challenges of banks and marijuana related businesses, the risks of violating federal law, and the STATES Act and the SAFE Banking Act.

In the August 2019 Issue of the Georgia Employment Law Letter, Raanon Gal explains The Georgia Court of Appeals' interpretation of the Restrictive Covenant Act noncompete provision between an employer and an independent contractor by examining the CarpetCare Multiservices case.

Law360 published Bill Dillon's article on the impact that the new Antitrust Division DPA policy will have on producers of poultry in light of the decision made in the Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation.

Reggie Snyder discusses the impact that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s potential reclassification of cannabis would affect Georgia’s medical cannabis industry in his article published by Cannabis Industry Journal.

We have all read the #MeToo and Time’s Up headlines. We have seen celebrities and high-profile executives face ostracizing, termination, and even prosecution.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has introduced the world to a legion of so-called “smart” devices that drive an increasingly connected consumer to a global network of information and data.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a rapidly evolving way of thinking about the internet and how the devices we use every day interact. IoT describes the developing system in which “smart” devices interact with each other through the internet to gather and exchange data to provide additional functions, security and ease-of-use for human users.

The Federal Lawyer published Henry M. Quillian III's article, "The Foundation Launches 2019 With a Flurry," in its March/April edition. In it, Mr. Quillian discusses The Foundation's successes and happenings for 2019 which include offering the Robert A. McNew Law Student Scholarship and the Kintner Public Service Scholarship. Additionally, the Foundation received a Diversity Grant for “Black Precinct Courthouse and Museum Program and Subsidized Dues for ...

Employment attorneys all over Georgia sharpened their blades as soon as they heard a new decision on the Georgia Restrictive Covenants Act (RCA) was forthcoming. Unlike the previous handful of decisions under the Act, the new ruling—Kennedy v. Shave Barber Co.—got to the root of the law and finally gave us some of the clarity for which we had been clamoring.

In an article published by TechTarget, Jonathan Wilson was quoted regarding the increasing information security risks that supply chain software is experiencing.

In an article published by Construction Executive, Natalie Mark explains two main issues that every construction executive should know and understand; what is electronically stored information (ESI) and why should ESI matter.

Glianny Fagundo explains the value of adopting employee assistance programs (EAP) in an article published by HR Daily Advisor.

In the December 2018 Issue of the Georgia Employment Law Letter, Raanon Gal explains The Georgia Court of Appeals' interpretation of the Restrictive Covenant Act noncompete provision between an employer and an independent contractor by examining the CarpetCare Multiservices case.

Masae Okura's book, "U.S. Visas for Students and Researchers," is an immigration manual for students and scholars who want to study in the United States.

In an article published by Corporate Compliance Insights, "Privacy Is (Now) Your Business," Mitzi Hill discusses recent cybersecurity legislation that just passed and what companies can do to ensure compliance.

In the Georgia State University Law Review, attorney Teresa Adams authored, “Tacking on Money Laundering Charges to White Collar Crimes: What Did Congress Intend, and What Are the Courts Doing?”

Read the full PDF version.

In an article published by Corporate Compliance Insights, “12 Steps to Reveal and Reduce Cyber-Breach Risk,” Mitzi Hill provides advice on how to reduce cyber risk.

Read “Phishing for Trouble: One Manufacturer’s Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.”