COVID-19: Important Documents to Consider During a Pandemic

It is always important to have estate planning documents in place to face the unknown that the future holds.  During a pandemic like the one the world is facing now, it is even more important, one may argue essential, to have the proper estate planning documents in place.  Generally speaking, any adult would do well […]


Selecting an Environmental Lawyer

Environmental law matters frequently involve an overlap and interplay between legal, scientific, and business concerns.  Translating science into policy and policy into law and the resulting enforcement or interpretation of the law by government agencies and the courts can leave people and businesses frustrated, confused, and confounded by the law and its regulators.  Adding to […]


SERVICE ANIMALS UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

This post will outline some basic rules that all public-facing entities should be aware of with regard to service animals’ legal status under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While these rules are generally very straightforward and, for the most part, common sense, having a clear understanding of the rules at play can help entities […]


Trump Administration Moves Forward with Major Changes to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Earlier this month, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) announced its final rule titled “Update to the Regulations Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act.”  The changes are significant and—to put it mildly—not without controversy. NEPA has been with us for some time.  The Act was promulgated in 1970, when the environmental […]


New York Discovery Reform

In part one of the series of two blogs, we informed you about one of New York’s new criminal justice laws; bail reform. In part two, we will discuss the newly implemented discovery laws. On April 1, 2019, the Legislature passed criminal justice reform legislation that included discovery reform, which requires prosecutors to disclose evidence […]


Main Street Lending Program – Update for Not For Profit Applicants

Previously, we reported that the Federal Reserve established the Main Street Lending Program to combat the economic issues caused by COVID-19. The Main Street lending program provides $600 billion to for-profit small and medium-sized businesses that make reasonable efforts to keep employees on the payroll, until now. The Federal Reserve has released proposals of the […]


Alert: Governors Impose Travel Restrictions Effective at Midnight

On June 24, 2020, the governors of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut announced a travel advisory. The travel advisory requires a 14-day quarantine for travelers from states where the infection rates pass a threshold that indicates, “significant community spread,” said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The 14-day quarantine applies to anyone coming from a […]


Public Service Commission Issues Order Extending NY-Sun Program

In spite of the seemingly cataclysmic budget pressures New York State is under in light of additional expenses and crimped revenue related to the pandemic response, its long-term commitment to achieving its renewable energy goals, as articulated in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), shows few signs of wavering. On May 14th, the […]


Dear Old Dad.

Today, we celebrate dads.  Aren’t they lucky to have us?  Unlike moms, there is little chance that dads will spend their special day in Central New York brushing snow off the grill. We hope you are spending the day in a way that is meaningful to you.  If you need a little dad wisdom in […]


Get Out of Jail Free? New York Bail Reform

If you have played Monopoly before, you are aware of the game’s Get Out of Jail Free card. During the board game, if a player unfortunately meets certain conditions, they will be sent to the Go to Jail game tile. However, if the player has a Get out of Jail Free card, then they can […]