Snell & Wilmer is a full-service business law firm with more than 450 attorneys practicing in 15 locations. Title with Firm:PartnerYears at Firm: 31Law School:University of Iowa College of LawContact Phone:(602) 382-6235Other Practice-Area Expertise:Internal Investigations / International / Government Regulations Barbara J. DawsonCommercial … [More]
Wilenchik & Bartness
Wilenchik & Bartness, P.C. provides aggressive, reasoned counsel to individuals and companies of all sizes in the areas of complex federal, state and criminal litigation and mediation. Title with Firm: Managing PartnerYears at Firm: 30Contact Phone: (602) 606-2810Other Practice-Area Expertise: Business, Real Estate, White-Collar Criminal … [More]
Making Sense of It All: Business, the Law and COVID-19
The observation of Jennings, Strouss & Salmon attorney Otto Shill, “The primary concern of business owners today is to keep their respective businesses viable,” can hardly be disputed. Most business owners are adapting to current market circumstances that may be limiting or altering the way they interact with their customers. In addition, many businesses are facing … [More]
Senator Mark Kelly
The toll of the pandemic has been devastating. Hundreds of thousands of American lives lost. Millions more have lost jobs or faced economic hardship. The pandemic has also taken a toll on Arizona’s businesses, and that will be the focus of this edition of In Business Magazine. Some businesses have been able to adapt their model during the pandemic. Many businesses, however, … [More]
Business Noncompetes
The year 2020 has changed the way we do business forever. From working at home to layoffs to total closures, 2020 has shaped the way businesses will operate moving forward. As a result, laid-off workers and struggling entrepreneurs have found creative ways to maintain their income and forge new paths. In 2014, freelancers made up 17% of the workforce. As of 2020, that number … [More]
Companies’ Compliance Concerns Regarding Independent Contractors
The gig economy has exploded and, now more than ever, contract workers are in high demand. One report showed that month-over-month revenues in the gig economy increased 18% in June 2020 alone, according to an article in Forbes. What’s more, many organizations are leaning on these contractors to keep their businesses afloat in the wake of this monumental recession. However, … [More]
Tips for Businesses in the Wake of Proposition 207
Proposition 207 officially became Arizona law last month when election results were certified. Some effects were immediate, such as lawful adult possession and use of cannabis without a medical card. Others will be felt in about six months, when recreational facility licenses issue. These licensed “marijuana establishments” will not replace existing dispensaries or the existing … [More]
Arizona Minimum Wage Increase: Facts and Misconceptions
On January 1, 2021, the minimum wage for Arizona employees will increase to $12.15 per hour, up from $12.00 per hour in 2020. This increase is based on the passage in 2016 of the Fair Wages and Healthy Families Initiative, which provided for a gradual increase in the minimum wage each January, from $10.50 per hour on January 1, 2018, to $11.00 per hour on January 1, 2019, then … [More]
Are Overtime Rules Enforceable?
Seven months into 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic has changed nearly every aspect of life. Even mundane matters like working out has changed (you now need a gym reservation). Working at home, remote learning, social distancing and mask mandates are only the surface of what challenges face our personal and professional lives this year and beyond. This article offers some basic, … [More]
Subchapter V 11 Bankruptcy Saves Companies Significant Time and Money
COVID-19 shutdowns crippled many Arizona companies, with some going out of business permanently. Others are considering bankruptcy, but question whether they can afford the $40,000 to $75,000 that a Classic Chapter 11 often costs. Fortunately, they now have a better option that saves as much as 50% in legal fees. In August, Arizona confirmed its first Subchapter V Chapter … [More]
The Rise of and Rising Concerns about Business Chat
Many employers have a significant number of employees working from home, performing tasks and connecting with others in ways that were little used prior to March of this year. One popular tool is chat software. Chat software is gaining in popularity each day. Platforms are everywhere. There are two types of platforms discussed in this article. The first is within organizations, … [More]
Phoenix Attorney Authors First Book to Examine Laws Governing Psychedelic Substances
On the verge of a pop culture tipping point, Psychedelica Lex now serves as the preeminent legal manual for individuals and organizations with a vested or growing interest in psychedelics and entheogens. Authored by Gary Smith, a Phoenix-based attorney and a veteran cannabis attorney and general counsel to the nation's oldest non-Native American peyote church, … [More]
Bankruptcy in a Distressed Post-COVID-19 World
Bankruptcy is a forum and an arena for resolving distressed business situations in a post COVID-19 world. Bankruptcy is not a solution for every business, but it is one of several alternatives to consider. In a chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, a business can find the time and the breathing room to choose and implement the right solution to save the business and jobs, and … [More]
Pandemic Presents Learning Opportunities for Employers
In Charleston, S.C., a restaurant was sued by a former server who says he was fired after he left work to get tested for COVID-19. A large automaker was also recently sued for wrongful termination after firing an employee within hours of the employee’s complaint about safety concerns, even after the employee had been assured that he could stay home without penalty … [More]
