Good Company

Featured Articles

Private Company Stock Options: An Idea Whose Time Has Come Back
by Michael J. Drooff and Dean Kenney

While several practices around stock options at public companies during the '90's have proven troubling, stock options remain important and legitimate ways of creating incentives for employees of growing private companies while preserving precious cash. It makes sense for many private companies to again consider grants of stock options to officers, directors and key employees. [Contact Authors]
[FULL STORY]

New Overtime Rules Take Effect - Employers Should Take Time To Check Their Compliance
by James P. Reidy and Sean M. Gorman

In 2003, the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) published a proposal to modernize its 50-year-old regulations defining exemptions from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for “white-collar” employees. [Contact Authors]
[FULL STORY]

Software Agreements And The Derivative Works Dilemma - What Do You Really Own?
by Douglas G. Verge and Maria E. Recalde

Often times a software agreement will grant to the licensee ownership rights in "derivative works." The licensee might think that these ownership rights include ownership of the copyright in the entire new resulting work. That is not necessarily the case, however. Absent agreement to the contrary, the licensee would own only the rights to the new material that it contributed to the underlying work, which together form the new resulting work. [Contact Authors]

[FULL STORY]

Friend And Foe: New Options, Risks For Businesses Under Consumer Protection Act
by Robert H. Miller

In several recent decisions, the New Hampshire Supreme Court has dramatically expanded the scope of the New Hampshire Consumer Protection Act and more clearly defined the elements required to prove a claim under the act. After a flurry of confusing court decisions, the New Hampshire legislature also recently amended the act to clarify precisely which sorts of transactions were intended to be exempt from prosecution.[Contact Author]

[FULL STORY]

Escalating Threats To Tax-Exempt Hospitals And Healthcare Systems
by Stephen E. Weyl

A number of recent developments at the federal and state levels significantly affect tax-exempt hospitals and healthcare systems. These developments – potential liability arising out of charity care and billing/collections practices and attacks on federal and state law tax exemption – constitute a present and escalating threat to the finances and operations of exempt hospitals and other healthcare providers. [Contact Author]
[FULL STORY]

Firm News

Inaugural Employment Seminar in Upper Valley

SPBG held its first annual Upper Valley Employment Law Seminar on September 14 at the Hanover Inn. The event drew attendees from a wide variety of Upper Valley employers in both New Hampshire and Vermont. Five SPBG attorneys from our Manchester, Boston, and Upper Valley offices gave presentations on an array of important current issues for employers: recent legislative and case law developments; the new Fair Labor

Standards Act regulations; employer email and computer use strategies; the Family and Medical Leave Act; and current employee benefits issues.

The seminar was well received and will be an annual event.

International Trade Mission to the Netherlands
and the United Kingdom
Saturday, November 13 - Saturday, November 20, 2004
Kerry Scarlott, SPB+G Boston, will represent our firm at this international event.

Upper Valley Seminar on Global Legal Issues Planned for January
SPBG will be presenting a seminar in the Upper Valley in January on legal issues facing businesses in an increasingly global marketplace. Planned topics include import/export licensing and controls; immigration and international employment issues; and intellectual property protection and enhancement in a global environment.

Watch Good Company for details and date or visit our website at www.sheehan.com.

Business Alert

IRS Extends Tip Compliance Agreement Program
Earlier this month, the Internal Revenue Service announced it was indefinitely extending its Tip Rate Determination and Education Program, a voluntary compliance tool that has helped nearly double the reporting of tip income.
[FULL STORY]

Publication Release

Sheehan Phinney Publishes Guide To Selling The Private Business

Selling the Private Business Cover Image

Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green, PA has just published Selling the Private Business, written by Attorney Alan L. Reische, in conjunction with Attorneys Michael J. Drooff, Peter W. Leberman, and Colleen Lyons. This comprehensive guide will help private business owners who may be contemplating selling their companies to understand the business sales process by outlining the various responsibilities of both buyers and sellers.
[FULL STORY]

Business Resources

Contact Us

We would like to hear from you. Let us know what you think, what you like about "Good Company" and what you would like to see in future issues.

E-mail goodcompany@sheehan.com.

Good Company Archives

Upper Valley Special Edition September, 2004 Vol. I, No. 1
Summer 2004 June 30, 2004 Vol. II, No. 3	Spring 2004 March 30, 2004 Vol. II, No. 2
Winter 2004 January 2, 2004 Vol. II, No. 1	Fall 2003 September 30, 2003 Vol. I, No. 1

What is "Good Company"?

"Good Company" is a Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green business publication. It focuses on issues important to today's business leaders.

We hope you enjoy being in "Good Company."

Hurry! Space is Limited

The 15th Annual Public Sector Labor And Employment Law Seminar
Readers who work for New Hampshire municipalities, counties and school districts will learn valuable information, get answers to their questions, and take home helpful materials when attending the 15th Annual Public Sector Labor and Employment Law Seminar. This event brings together representatives of management, labor and the New Hampshire Public Employee Labor Relations Board for a day of presentations and discussions on a variety of timely issues.
[FULL STORY]

Upcoming Events

Review of New Changes to FLSA Overtime Exemptions
Manchester Area Human Resources Association Dinner Meeting
Tuesday, October 5, 2004

7:00PM
Presenter: James P. Reidy
SPB+G Manchester

The Event Center at C.R. Sparks
Bedford, NH

NH International Trade Forum
Wednesday, October 6, 2004
Radisson/Center of NH, Manchester, NH
For more information please contact
Susan Marceau at 603.334.6074.

Back to Business Expo and Job Fair

Thursday, October 7, 2004

11:00AM – 5:00PM

Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce

Andover Country Club, Andover, MA

Succession Planning
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
7:00PM
Presenters: Mark Ventola and Kerry Scarlott, SPB+G Boston
Meeting Room, Stoneham Police Station
Central St., Stoneham, MA

New Hampshire: Welcoming Diversity & Its Benefits

New Hampshire Commission
for Human Rights

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

8:30AM - 4:00PM
The Center of New Hampshire

Radisson Hotel, Manchester, NH

To register print out and complete the following brochure. (Brochure)

Business and Industry Annual Dinner and Lifetime Achievement Awards

Wednesday, October 20, 2004

5:30PM – 9:00PM

The Center of New Hampshire
Radisson Hotel, Manchester, NH

The New Fair Labor Standards Act Regulations
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
8:00AM
Presenter: Mark Ventola, SPB+G Boston
North Suburban Chamber of Commerce
The Career Center, Baldwin Park
Woburn, MA

What Every General Practitioner Should Know About International Law: A Practical Primer
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Presenters: Alan Reische, SPB+G Manchester and Kerry Scarlott, SPB+G Boston
Holiday Inn, Concord, NH (Press Release)

Red Mass Reception
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
7:00PM - 9:00PM
Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green Office
Conference Center
Manchester, NH

15th Annual Public Sector Labor and Employment Law Seminar

Monday, October 25, 2004

8:30AM - 3:30PM
The Event Center at C.R. Sparks
Bedford, NH
To register contact Debra Piotrowski at dpiotrowski@sheehan.com. (Register on-line by clicking here.) (Brochure) (Agenda) (Press Release)

NH Housing Finance Authority’s Annual Housing Conference

Monday, November 1, 2004

Presenter: Kenneth A. Viscarello
SPB+G Manchester

Legal Concerns for the Small/Startup Business (5 part series)
Small Business Development Center

Thursday, November 4, 2004

8:00AM
North Shore Community College

Tuesday, November 9, 2004

8:00AM
Middlesex Community College

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

5:00PM
Northern Essex Community College

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

8:00AM
Salem State College

Presenter: Mark Ventola, SPB+G Boston

Upper Valley Seminar on
Global Legal Issues
January 2005
Exact date/time TBD
Planned topics include: import/export licensing and controls, immigration and employment issues, and intellectual property protection and enhancement in a global environment. Watch future Good Company calendars for details or visit www.sheehan.com.

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