The WiLaw Connection: Quarterly Publication–April 2021 |
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Is Your Commercial Property Tax Assessment Too High? |
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Every spring, thousands of tax assessment notices will be sent to commercial property owners throughout Wisconsin. If you receive this notice, it is important to consider whether the assessed value of your property is fair. Most commercial property owners are just trying to find ways to keep their tenants in place during the pandemic. The last thing commercial property owners need to receive is a significant increase in their property taxes based on higher assessments. You have a legal right to file an objection and challenge the assessed value of your property with your local municipality. There are strict, and short, deadlines in place for these objections, so do not delay if you feel the valuation is inflated.
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FEMA Launches COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program |
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Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. FEMA estimates that qualifying families can expect reimbursements of $3,000 to $7,000 out of the program’s total budget of $2 billion.
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$7.5 Million Debt Limitation for Small Business Debtors Extended |
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Recently, President Biden signed into law the COVID-19 Bankruptcy Relief Extension Act of 2021. This act extends the $7.5 million debt limitation under the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (SBRA) for another year, until March 27, 2022. Last year, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to provide emergency assistance for individuals and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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IRS Says Restaurant Entertainment Expenses Fully Deductible |
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Businesses can now claim a 100% deduction on restaurant meals through the end of 2022, the IRS announced. The IRS released guidance which temporarily allows businesses a full deduction for food and beverages purchased from restaurants, starting after December 31, 2020 and before January 1, 2023.
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American Rescue Plan Extends Tax Credits for COVID-Related Leave |
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On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law. Among a wide variety of other aims, the $1.9 trillion bill extended tax incentives for certain employers that chose to provide their employees with qualifying paid leave related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Corporate Practice of Medicine and Fee Splitting–Considerations for Telehealth Ventures |
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The increase in the use of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to new business ventures among medical practices, technology companies, and sometimes also venture capitalists. The relationship between and among the medical practice, the technology component, and the financiers must be carefully structured to comply with federal and state law. If structured appropriately, licensed medical providers can be relieved of business administrative functions and instead focus on clinical care.
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Firm Elects Kelly Condon and Trevor Lippman
as Shareholders
We are pleased to announce that Attorney Kelly Condon and Attorney Trevor Lippman were recently elected as shareholders of the firm.
Kelly has been with the firm since 2017. Prior to joining OCHDL, she was an Advanced Planning Attorney at Northwestern Mutual. Kelly assists her clients with estate planning, succession planning, probate administration, trust administration, and inheritance litigation. She is licensed to practice law in both Wisconsin and Florida. Kelly maintains an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell® and has been selected for inclusion on The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch List.
Trevor has been with the firm since 2013 and is a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. Trevor assists clients in a wide array of personal and business matters with a strong emphasis in litigation relating to wills, trusts, fiduciary disputes, and inheritance disputes. Trevor has recently been selected for inclusion on the Wisconsin Super Lawyers Rising Stars List and The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch List.
Both Kelly and Trevor are tremendous additions to the shareholder group, and we are proud to have them on our team.
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Firms included in the 2021 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.
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Proud to be a Member of Meritas
Our firm is a proud member of Meritas, a global alliance of 7,485 experienced lawyers in 191 full-service law firms serving 258 markets. Through Meritas, clients seeking legal services can easily
connect with pre-qualified legal expertise worldwide.
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