On New Year's Day 2013, the "American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012" (the Act) was enacted to avoid the impact of automatic "fiscal cliff" tax increases. The Act, effective January 1, 2013, retains and makes permanent the Bush-era income tax rates for all but high-income taxpayers, makes permanent the current estate tax exemption with a slight increase in the marginal estate tax rate, and makes important business tax changes. The elimination of "sunset" provisions in the income and estate tax should...

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On November 14, 2012, Pepper Hamilton attorneys Richard P. Eckman and Stephen G. Harvey conducted a webinar entitled "Is the Attorney-Client Privilege Under Attack by the CFPB?" to review a new rule by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to codify protections for privileged information submitted to it by the financial institutions it regulates. The rule follows the CFPB's announced expectation that, upon request, the entities the CFPB supervises will disclose privileged material to it. The U.S. Senate passed a bill...

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) has issued a final rule which amends its regulations on testing and labeling pertaining to certification of children’s products. Specifically, the final rule requires the selection of “representative” samples of children’s products for periodic testing by accredited third party testing labs. The final rule is effective on February 8, 2013 and applies to products manufactured after that date. The CPSC defines a representative sample “as one that provides the manufacturer with a basis for inferring...

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Client Alert: December 17, 2012 Jay A. Dubow | dubowjpepperlaw.com Many corporate executives rely on Rule 10b5-1 plans to buy or sell shares of their company's stock without having to worry about violating insider trading laws, even when the trades take place when the executive possesses material nonpublic information about his or her company. However, recent Wall Street Journal articles have described civil and criminal investigations into possible misuse of Rule 10b5-1 plans by executives at a number of companies. Read more  

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The Food and Drug administration has recently advised that a notice (presumably by e-mail) will be sent to the party named as “U.S. Agent”.  There will be a link if the agent should want to decline being named as agent. For more information and to read an example of the message the FDA expect to send out, click here.  

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Tasteful Croatian Journeys is grateful to Conde' Nast Traveler for honoring Wanda S. Radetti again as the World Top Destination Specialist for Croatia. Wanda designs the ultimate in tailor-made luxurious travel packages to Croatia. Her itineraries weave history and culture together with natural beauty while engaging all of the senses. The emphasis is always comfort, safety, and excellence in service. They are a one-stop-shop for all services that the sophisticated and discerning traveler will require in Croatia. They organize services...

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EACCNY member CMS Hasche Sigle is happy to inform that the CMS cross border team advised Telefónica Deutschland in all legal matters relating to the largest IPO in Germany within the last five years. The shares have been traded on the Frankfurt stock exchange since 30 October 2012. Upon full exercise of the greenshoe-option, the gross issue proceeds would amount to EUR 1.45 billion. For further information, please see this press release.

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In response to the results of the 2012 election, John O. McManus - top AV-rated tax and estate planning attorney and founding principal of Tri-State-Area-based McManus & Associates - released the following guide to changes in tax rates and exemptions, as well as a statement below: 2012 and 2013 Tax Rates and Exemptions                                                                                                               2012                 2013 Estate Tax Rate                                                                                 35%                   55% Estate Tax Exemption                                                                        $5.12MM          $1MM Gift Tax Rate                                                                                      35%                   55% Gift Tax Exemption                                                                             $5.12MM          $1MM Generation Skipping Transfer...

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