September 2012
Volume VI, Issue II
CALENDAR
- September 4, 2012 – MRA End of Summer Mixer, Legal Harborside, Boston, MA
- September 21-23, 2012 – Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, Rosecliff & Marble House, Newport, RI
- October 10, 2012 – David Robinson, Esq. will be teaching a seminar on Writing Demand and Response Letters at the National Retail Tenant Association’ s Annual Conference. The NRTA is the leading source of lease administration education for commercial office and retail real estate lease professionals, attorneys, lease accounting and other commercial property management specialists who are responsible for retail real estate lease administration and operating costs recovery procedures. Also in attendance will be Lou Katz, Chair of RIW’s Retail, Hospitality Practice Group.
- November 7, 2012 – MA Food Association, Annual Meeting and Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony, Lombardos, Randolph, MA
- November 12-14, 2012 – The Restaurant Finance & Development Conference, Bellagio, Las Vegas
Do Not Miss Out on the Tax Planning Opportunity of a Lifetime!
Lisa Weinstein Burns, Esq.
By Lisa Weinstein Burns, Esq., LLM
On December 17, 2010, Congress and President Obama signed legislation that took most people by surprise when they agreed to increase and unify the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer (“GST”) tax exemptions to a single sum of $5 million per person for a temporary two year period of time. This amount has been further increased in 2012 by inflation adjustments to an amount of $5.12 million per person. What this means is that an individual can give away property this year, either while living or at death, up to $5.12 million in value without incurring gift or estate tax, assuming such individual has not previously used any of his or her federal exemption; and a married couple can give away up to $10.24 million this year. This legislation also extended the beneficial Bush federal income tax cuts that cut capital gain tax rates to an all time low. Click here to read full article.
Wage Act Violations: Officers and Managers of LLCs at Risk.
By Bethany A. Grazio
Last year, the Hampden Superior Court considered a case of first impression involving the application of the Massachusetts Wage Act (M.G.L. c. 149, § 148) to managers and officers of limited liability companies. In the case of Cook v. Patient EDU, LLC et al., No. HDCV20100819, 28 Mass. L. Rptr. 492 (May 24, 2011), the court held that the managers and officers of a limited liability company cannot be held personally liable under the Wage Act. While that case is currently on appeal, the Suffolk Superior Court heard another case regarding whether the Wage Act applied to managers and officers of a LLC as it applies to officers of a corporation. Click here to read full article.
Marketing Corner
Is this the person to whom I am speaking? – Lily Tomlin in classic
Laugh-in skit
Don’t leave critical customer interactions to chance. When customers call your restaurant give them a live person to talk with. If that’s not possible right away in every case, make sure they get a quick return call. Don’t dump customers into some voicemail netherworld… or simply refer them to some web location.
Make sure employees who answer your phone are well-trained… upbeat, polite and informed. And committed to resolving the customer need or connecting them with someone who can.
Industry Trends
- National Restaurant Association Reports Continued Restaurant Job Growth, Outpaces Overall Job Growth Rate by Two to One
- U.S. Hotel Industry Sees Rise in Profitability
- Retail Industry Trends and Technology Business Drivers
- Top food trends from the 2012 NRA Show
In the News
Congratulations to RIW Trademark Client Sonesta Hotels on their ongoing expansions:
- Sonesta announces new extended stay hotel Click here to read more.
- Sonesta to open boutique in Doha. Click here to read more.
- New Restaurant with chef Rick Tramonto in New Orleans Royal Sonesta. Click here to read more.
Ruberto, Israel & Weiner attorneys have comprehensive knowledge and expertise in the areas of law in which they practice and the industries served. Attorneys in RIW’s Hospitality Practice Group have provided legal services to industry clients for over 30 years.
Additionally, our attorneys organize seminars, lecture, write articles, participate in trade associations, and serve on Boards of Advisors for retail, food and hospitality industry companies.
For a full description of our Hospitality Practice Group, including a list of representative clients, click here.
INDUSTRY GROUP ATTORNEYS
Kelly Caralis, Mergers & Acquisitions and Leasing
kac@riw.com
Bradley Croft, Construction Law
blc@riw.com
Michael J. Duffy, Litigation
mjd@riw.com
Stacey Friends, Trademarks and Branding
sfriends@riw.com
Bethany Grazio, Mergers & Acquisitions and Financing
bag@riw.com
Louis Katz, Mergers & Acquisitions and Leasing
lck@riw.com
Joe Magner, Litigation
jnm@riw.com
David Robinson, Litigation
dwr@riw.com
Michael D. Rosen, Commercial Real Estate; Zoning; Land Use; Leasing & Financing and Green Initiatives
mdr@riw.com
Russell Stein, Mergers & Acquisitions and Leasing
rns@riw.com
ARCHIVES
Click here for past articles on a range of issues including: Finance; Leasing; Data Security; Succession & Estate Planning; Disputes; Construction; and Branding.
Published by Ruberto, Israel & Weiner. Kelly A. Caralis, Esq., Editor.
