There has been some confusion among employers regarding the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Despite the shorthand references to “no tax on overtime” and “no tax on tips,” the law does not eliminate payroll taxes or change how employers calculate or pay overtime. Instead, it creates a temporary “individual income tax deduction” for employees, which in turn triggers new (and evolving) … [More]
Legal Firm’s Major Gift Expands Moot Court Access for Valley Law Students
Shapiro Law Team announced a major endowment to the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. The company’s major gift will go to the Moot Court Endowment, expanding opportunities for students to participate in court simulations. Shapiro Law Team’s gift will cover participant’s registration fees, travel expenses, and other vital resources. Moot … [More]
First AI-Powered Mass Tort Law Firm Begins Operations in Arizona
Justpoint, Inc., a consumer-protection company using artificial intelligence to uncover hidden toxins in everyday products, announced the launch of Justpoint Law, LLP. This follows approval to operate as an Alternative Business Structure (ABS) law firm by the Arizona Supreme Court last July. The approval makes Justpoint Law the first US personal injury/mass tort law firm … [More]
Personal Guaranties: A Liability Every Arizona Business Owner Should Understand
You Signed What?!
Don and Dora are Arizona natives who’ve built a stable, comfortable life in their three decades of marriage. Dora works as a bookkeeper. Don spent 20 years growing his small business, Don’s Donuts, into a neighborhood favorite. They aren’t wealthy but they’re steady. They paid their bills, saved for the future and did everything they thought responsible business owners should … [More]
Why Legal Structures Matter
Protecting business and personal finances
Starting a business is exciting but it is also a legal commitment. One of the most overlooked decisions entrepreneurs make is choosing the right business entity when starting their company. That choice can determine whether personal assets — including one’s home, savings and investments — are safe if their business faces any legal troubles. Beyond the formation of a company, … [More]
What Is an Employer’s Responsibility if an Employee Is Cited with a DUI?
Arizona has some of the strictest DUI laws in the nation, designed to deter impaired driving and reduce alcohol- and drug-related crashes. Despite these efforts, the state continues to see rising fatalities linked to impaired driving. December is recognized as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, an initiative aimed at raising awareness during one of the deadliest times … [More]
Drug Developments: What Arizona Employers Need to Know about Recent Legal Changes
Magic mushrooms may be on the same acceptance path as marijuana
Psilocybin use could become legal in Arizona much sooner than employers realize, and there is already a blueprint for compliance. Marijuana legalization in the United States has advanced piecemeal, state by state and city by city, but with steadily increasing momentum. California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana use in 1996, and Arizona did so in 2010. … [More]
Preserving a Business’s Competitive Edge: A Practical Guide to IP Protection for Phoenix Entrepreneurs
A Practical Guide to IP Protection for Phoenix Entrepreneurs
Business owners often treat protecting their intellectual property in the way many treat a check-engine light appearing on the car dashboard: “That seems important, but it can wait.” But that strategy can be costly. Understanding when and how to effectively protect IP is essential for safeguarding proprietary technology, preserving consumer goodwill, achieving long-term … [More]
Employees: Exempt or Non-Exempt? Avoiding Costly Classification Errors
On the surface, it seems like a simple paperwork issue: Classify workers as exempt or non-exempt, cut the checks and move on. But when it comes to employee pay, one wrong label can cost an employer millions and trigger cascading liabilities, including unpaid wage claims, overtime disputes, government penalties and even class-action lawsuits. Understanding the difference … [More]
Carvana Joins Consortium Safeguarding R&D from from Patent Trolls
Carvana, an industry pioneer for buying and selling used cars online, announced that it has joined LOT Network, a global consortium of companies committed to protecting innovation by deterring frivolous litigation from patent assertion entities. Carvana develops most of its technology in-house, from its online purchase platform to systems powering merchandising and … [More]
$6B at Stake as Court Weighs How to Unwind Google’s Ad Stack
While the Google antitrust case around search made a lot of headlines, the less watched case, focused on advertising technology, marches on. This past Spring Judge Brinkema found Google to be an illegal monopolist in this sector, with evidence they used their dominance in the publisher tools market (ad serving) to capture big swaths of the overall display advertising market. In … [More]
Layoff Logic: How to Avoid a Short Circuit with a Lawful Workforce Contraction Strategy
As technology, demand and regulations rapidly evolve, the tech sector generally and semiconductor companies specifically must learn and master how to legally expand and contract their workforces to meet both business needs and budgetary constraints. Fluctuating demand due to the cyclical nature of the industry and the growing talent shortage with nuanced and evolving laws … [More]
Are Climate-Related Disclosure Laws on the Horizon?
Arizona businesses with a California presence should pay attention to California climate-related disclosure laws
Over the last few years, California enacted climate-related disclosure laws that may impact Arizona companies doing business in our neighboring state. Compliance with these laws is required to start in 2026, and Arizona businesses should be aware. Specifically, there are two broad categories of mandated climate-related disclosures under California law. First, companies may … [More]
Understanding Shareholders’ Agreements in Closely Held Corporations
It’s good business to be prepared for when shareholders who were once best friends don’t agree with each other anymore
It all starts with a great idea, people getting together over a handshake and starting a business together. Then, one day, times become tough, issues arise, and shareholders who were once best friends don’t agree with each other anymore. Next, one shareholder wants to leave the business, but there is no legal document providing the rules of the road to resolve those … [More]
The Changing Workplace: The Outcomes and Challenges of Return-to-Office Mandates in 2025
In the years following the globally disruptive COVID-19 pandemic, employers have explored variations of work arrangements to balance the demands of their businesses with the needs of their employees’ personal lives. Among the lessons learned through the pandemic was, many jobs have the potential to be performed remotely. While the arrangement allowed new flexibility for many … [More]
Law Firms Combine to Redefine Employment Law in the West
In a bold move that strengthens its leadership in labor and employment law services, Fennemore, a leading full-service business law firm, is combining with BurnsBarton, a premier Phoenix-based employment law and litigation boutique firm, effective June 2, 2025. The strategic union nearly doubles the number of Phoenix-based attorneys in Fennemore’s Employment and Labor Law … [More]
Estate Planning for Business Succession
What small business owners need to know
John Mercer never imagined his sudden heart attack at age 58 would leave his business vulnerable. With no formal succession plan in place, his family struggled to maintain operations while managing their grief. Key clients, concerned about service continuity, began exploring relationships with competitors. Meanwhile, valuable employees, uncertain about the company's future, … [More]
Mining and Regulatory Affairs Attorney Joins Dorsey in Phoenix
Dorsey & Whitney LLP continues to expand its Phoenix office with the arrival of Regulatory Affairs and mining attorney Marc Marra, the international law firm announced. Marc has substantial experience helping clients with exploration and mine project development, land tenure, and related natural resource issues. His practice is complemented by both private and public … [More]
