Asset Management

Expert Analysis

• Countdown To Tax Compliance For Global Individuals

  

  With only one month until the deadline for filing 2017 U.S. federal income tax returns on extension, Lucy Lee and James Maynor of Greenberg Traurig LLP have prepared a list of 10 common tax reporting obligations that may be relevant to global individuals with cross-border assets or activities.

• Calif.'s New Rules For Lawyers Move Closer To ABA Model

  

  The first comprehensive overhaul of California's Rules of Professional Conduct in nearly 30 years becomes operational on Nov. 1. Some of the new rules mirror the model language used by the American Bar Association, but many continue to reflect California’s unique approach to certain ethical questions, says Mark Loeterman of Signature Resolution LLC.

• Know The Limits To Atty Public Statements During A Trial

  

  The balancing act between protecting attorneys’ speech rights and ensuring unbiased adjudications was highlighted recently in two cases — when Michael Cohen applied for a restraining order against Stephanie Clifford's attorney, and when Johnson & Johnson questioned whether a Missouri talc verdict was tainted by public statements from the plaintiffs' counsel, says Matthew Giardina of Manning Gross & Massenburg LLP.

• NY Nonqualified Deferred Comp Rules Ripe For Challenge

  

  Asset managers may be reporting significant amounts of deferred compensation on their 2017 federal partnership returns this year under Section 457A of the Internal Revenue Code. Managers may not be thinking about the New York state and New York City tax consequences of such income inclusion required at the federal level — but that would be a mistake, say attorneys at Mayer Brown LLP.

• IRS Ruling On MBS Restructuring Should Encourage Investors

  

  In June 2019, the Federal Housing Finance Agency will require Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to begin issuing standardized mortgage-backed securities. Accordingly, the IRS last month encouraged Freddie Mac investors to convert their existing securities by stating that conversions won't trigger taxable gains or losses, say Mark Leeds and Steven Garden of Mayer Brown LLP.

• In Calif., Questions Remain On Law Firm Conflict Waivers

  

  In Sheppard Mullin v. J-M Manufacturing Co., the California Supreme Court ruled last month that a law firm's failure to disclose a known conflict with another current client did not categorically disentitle the firm from recovering fees. But the court didn’t provide hoped-for guidance on how to write an enforceable advance conflict waiver, says Richard Rosensweig of Goulston & Storrs PC.

• Cayman Derivative Cases Brought Overseas Still Face Hurdles

  

  Two court decisions within the past year have simplified the process for bringing derivative claims outside the Cayman Islands on behalf of Cayman companies, as shareholders no longer need permission from a Cayman court. However, such claims still face two difficulties, say Peter McMaster and Anna Snead of Appleby.

• Q&A

  A Chat With Faegre Client Development Chief Melanie Green

  

  In this monthly series, Amanda Brady of Major Lindsey & Africa interviews management from top law firms about the increasingly competitive business environment. Here we feature Melanie Green, chief client development officer at Faegre Baker Daniels LLP.

• A Breakdown Of Title Insurance For Mezzanine Financing

  Excerpt from Lexis Practice Advisor

  

  Despite pessimism after the recession, mezzanine financing continues to be a part of almost every significant commercial real estate transaction. Lenders should understand the basic mezzanine debt structure and what title insurance options are available to them, say Spencer Compton and David Wanetik of First American Title Insurance Company.

• Opinion

  A Decade After Financial Crisis, Misconceptions Remain

  

  Following the 2008 economic downturn, many observers blasted mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations. Today, we're hobbled with numerous regulations that stem from a fundamental misunderstanding of what these instruments were designed to do, says Edward Stringham of the American Institute for Economic Research.