Pitfalls Telephone Seminars - Training Resources

Structuring and Drafting Conservation Easements ...cated and the failure to consider the effects of possible pitfalls can be devastating. This teleconference will provide you with the legalities of creating a conservation easement and establish what the priorities are when it comes to structuring and drafting them. You will gain an appreciation for the complexities of crafting a form of conservation easement that works. Pitfalls that are  more...

Implementing a Health Risk Assessment for Your Health Plan: What Works, What Doesn't, What's Legal BenefitsMaybe you've heard about health risk assessments and wonder if they're a good idea for your organization. Or you've been tasked with implementing a health risk assessment as part of your health plan and don't know much about them. You have a lot of questions such as 'How can a health risk assessment help control health care costs?,' 'What makes for an effective health risk assessment?,'  more...

Best Practices in Nursing Documentation: Writing Effective and Legal Proof Notes ...rposes, describe appropriate documentation, and highlight pitfalls of bad documentation and its consequences. This program will introduce you to how the legal system uses documentation, techniques to avoid problems and what you might be required to do at some time in the future with respect to your documentation or lack thereof. The standards that are applied to documentation will also be  more...

IRC Section 41: Credit for Increasing Research Activities Update BenefitsThis teleconference will feature a discussion around one of the most misunderstood and misapplied sections of the Internal Revenue Code, Section 41 - Credit for Increasing Research Activities. Our team of former Big Four partners and managers has collectively worked on more than 500 research tax credit studies during our careers. Learn from some of the top technicians in the industry on  more...

Developing a Sound HR Metrics System ...monstrating HR's value to the organization, ways to avoid pitfalls in HR metric systems and how to align HR programs with business needs. This teleconference will distinguish between different types of data and measures, and show you ways to communicate HR metrics to the organization. Human resource managers, payroll managers, business owners and managers, supervisors, operations managers,  more...

Conflicts With Additional Insured Coverage ...e, relying upon additional insurance coverage can present pitfalls. A variety of forms are used to provide this coverage and these different forms may provide less (or more) coverage than the parties understand or anticipate. This teleconference will provide a critical review of both the basics of additional insured coverage and a discussion of recent important developments. Learning  more...

Creating and Using a Salary Increase Matrix BenefitsThis teleconference will discuss the concept, implementation and best practices associated with a merit matrix. Implementing a merit matrix is one of the easiest and most direct ways to link pay with performance and manage turnover. Sharing of pitfalls that many companies encounter when implementing a matrix and how to avoid them will be addressed. The teleconference will provide insight  more...

Avoiding the Pitfalls of GMP Contracting BenefitsAs owners have searched for project delivery systems that reduce the duration from project conception to project completion, one of the most common approaches has included the use of guaranteed maximum price, or GMP, contracts. However, as the use of these contract formats has proliferated, so have disputes that strongly suggest that the parties using them do not fully understand: (a) the  more...

Common Pitfalls of Certificates of Insurance Benefits'Trust me, we're covered. We have General Liability Insurance.' This statement is also often times followed by an all too common explanation: 'My company employees are listed as additional insured so we are covered.' Certificates of insurance are meant to evidence insurance coverage for landlords and tenants; secured transactions; and other property, casualty and liability exposures  more...

Construction Joint Ventures: Benefits and Pitfalls BenefitsConstruction joint ventures, properly conceived and implemented, enhance the marketing opportunities and organizational assets of the individual joint venturers, thereby enabling the joint venture to obtain and successfully complete larger, more complex projects than those the joint venturers could undertake individually. Construction joint ventures are excellent vehicles for combining  more...

S Corporations: How to Avoid Common and Often Overlooked Pitfalls (Simple to Complex) ...efitsAs many practitioners will attest to, there are many pitfalls when S corporations are involved. This teleconference will identify the most common pitfalls, such as not properly maintaining earning accounts, ineligible shareholders, the one class of stock principle, invalid or missing S Corporation elections and built-in gain. You'll not only learn how to identify these pitfalls, but you'll  more...

Documentation and Proof of Construction Delay ...e importance of the contemporaneous documentation and the pitfalls associated with discredited analytical techniques. It will also describe the underlying legal concepts and decisions. Step-by-step, real-life examples will allow you to see how the concepts and techniques presented in the teleconference are actually applied. At the conclusion of the teleconference, you will be able to identify  more...

Understanding UCC Article 9 Foreclosures ...ive resolution. The UCC foreclosure process contains some pitfalls that creditors need to avoid and obstacles that should be addressed. However, with careful planning, these issues can be addressed and the risks minimized. This teleconference will discuss key topics for creditors to consider in weighing foreclosure under UCC Article 9 sale and best practices to effectuate a UCC sale and  more...

Easement Valuations: Common Pitfalls and Principles BenefitsMany state and local governments are acquiring a variety of preservation easements for a broad variety of reasons and it is important that property owners understand the proper method of valuing these easements to insure they are receiving just compensation. Further, condemnors are increasingly recharacterizing temporary construction easements as noneasements to avoid paying compensation.  more...

Easement Valuations: Common Pitfalls and Principles BenefitsMany state and local governments are acquiring a variety of preservation easements for a broad variety of reasons and it is important that property owners understand the proper method of valuing these easements to insure they are receiving just compensation. Further, condemnors are increasingly recharacterizing temporary construction easements as noneasements to avoid paying compensation.  more...

Basics of Reverse Osmosis for Brackish Groundwater Treatment ...ter quality at lower cost. You will learn about potential pitfalls and get suggestions on how to avoid these problems. This teleconference will also discuss software and guidelines for how to select and employ software both in system design and troubleshooting. n nLearning Objectives n- You will be able to discuss reverse osmosis process principles. n- You will be able to discuss case  more...

Taxation of Gifts, Prizes, Bonuses and Awards BenefitsParticularly in difficult economic times, employers are looking to provide benefits to employees with the least cost, both to them and employees. Gifts and prizes can be a good yet inexpensive way to boost morale, unless employers and employees alike fail to understand the tax consequences and end up with an unintended and unwanted tax bill. This teleconference will explain the tax  more...

Reverse Mortgages: A Lender's Perspective BenefitsThe reverse mortgage market is expanding exponentially as the population ages and new players are coming into the market. Don't get left behind. Learn what a reverse mortgage is, what's involved in offering such a product, which reverse mortgage products are currently offered in the market, state and federal requirements, and potential pitfalls. Join Reed Smith attorney Arthur Axelson for  more...

Federal Tax Classification of Series LLCs BenefitsThe series LLC may be the solution to many issues that confront federal tax practitioners on a daily basis. For example, the series LLC is very useful in situations where long and expensive regulatory processes are involved with a new state law entity. The series LLC also can be used in asset backed securitizations in place of business trusts in those states that treat single member LLCs  more...

Utilizing Spendthrift Trusts in Estate Plans BenefitsA spendthrift trust is an invaluable tool in protecting assets for the beneficiary. This teleconference will introduce you to the use and purpose of spendthrift trusts. Additionally, this program will provide specific guidance of drafting an effective spendthrift trust and highlight drafting pitfalls. Attorneys, estate planners, accountants, presidents, vice presidents, CFOs, controllers,  more...

Payroll Tax Pitfalls: Preventing IRS Penalties and Personal Liability for Late Payments BenefitsAmong many other legal obligations, employers face the ongoing requirement to timely withhold and remit payroll taxes to the federal government. People responsible for fulfilling a company's payroll tax obligations often do not realize the substantial penalties that can be imposed by the IRS against the company when payroll taxes are not timely deposited or paid at all. Additionally, in  more...

Legal Traps of Internet Activities for Nonprofits ...ofit organization, yet it is fraught with a host of legal pitfalls. This teleconference will focus on the legal traps of Internet activity: the tax impact of web-based advertising and related activities, the potential issues involved in fundraising through the Internet and the risks of utilizing emerging social media to further your organization's mission. Join two of the nation's leading  more...

Legal Issues Surrounding the Utilization and Maintenance of Computerized Medical Records ...his teleconference will identify the key legal issues and pitfalls associated with using and maintaining EHR systems, with an emphasis on potential litigation issues. This teleconference is critical for hospitals considering an EHR implementation - whether for internal use or for use by community physicians - and for physicians and other users of EHR technology. You will learn risk management  more...

Collective Bargaining and Construction Labor Contracts ... to proactively plan their labor strategies and avoid the pitfalls and liabilities that could hinder the successful operation of their business. Learning Objectives - You will be able to summarize the National Labor Relations Act. - You will be able to explain union relationships in the construction industry. - You will be able to operate under a construction labor contract. - You will be able  more...

Gift Acceptance Policies for Public Charities and Tax-Exempt Organizations ... without running into the legal, accounting and practical pitfalls inherent in some types of gifts! A comprehensive gift acceptance policy can help an organization avoid these pitfalls, enhance its donor relationships and run a more successful development program. This teleconference will address the issues that should be covered in a basic gift acceptance policy for a public charity, as well  more...

Tax Treatment of Charitable Fundraising BenefitsFundraising for charitable organizations has become a complex business. Charities no longer hold out a tin cup and ask for donations. They engage in sophisticated activities to generate revenue for their mission and the activities have tax consequences. This teleconference will review the federal tax consequences of fundraising activities and provide specific guidance on how to avoid tax  more...

Medical Records 101: Responding to Requests for Patient Information ...ity for release of patient information, electronic record pitfalls (including potential corporate liability issues in medical malpractice cases), HIPAA and submission of patient health information to third parties, and heightened privacy protections for special medical information, including mental health, substance and child abuse records. Medical records directors, health information  more...

Lawful Hiring ...ernment investigations and litigation. Learn how to avoid pitfalls when running ads and asking interview questions, and what to include and review regarding applications, including how to handle criminal convictions. Learn about the use of background checks and the requirements of the FCRA, pre-employment drug testing and more ways to ensure you comply with the laws when using these options.  more...

Protecting Attorney Work Product in Communications With Testifying and Consulting Experts ...materials. Our faculty will explore the common disclosure pitfalls for practitioners and present real-life scenarios involving disclosure of expert communications. They will also discuss strategic considerations present in expert-intensive cases. Finally, you'll get simple practical tips for working with experts that will protect your communications and minimize the potential for discovery  more...

Current Issues in Attributional and Agency Nexus ...ributional nexus - and will explain some of the traps and pitfalls that can subject a business to state tax obligations despite a lack of direct physical presence. Learn how a related company can create nexus and understand the do's and don'ts to reduce nexus risks. The panel will also discuss the latest legislative and case law developments, including the controversial web-based nexus statute  more...

Automated Meter Reading and Advanced Metering Infrastructure: A Guide for Municipal Water and Energy Utilities ...l-world examples, highlighting successes and how to avoid pitfalls. Learning Objectives - You will be able to summarize emerging technologies and applications. - You will be able to differentiate between alternative deployment and migration strategies. - You will be able to give examples on how to procure the best AMR/AMI system at a lower cost. - You will be able to integrate AMI into utility  more...

Effective Management of Off-Site Employees BenefitsHaving employees telecommute has evolved from being a personal convenience to a good business strategy, and now taking our current economic challenges it is a business necessity. It has become an imperative to effectively manage employees who are not reporting daily to the normal work site. This 90-minute teleconference will discuss how to properly manage off-site employees, the pitfalls  more...

Pitfalls of Participant Loans in Retirement Plans ...qualified employee benefit plans need to be aware of many pitfalls to avoid tax consequences. Even worse than tax consequences is the possibility of the entire plan losing its preferred tax status. This teleconference will explain the regulations of participant loans in a plan, help you avoid the associated pitfalls and ensure the plan complies with the regulations regarding participant loans.  more...

ALTA Policy, Endorsements and Transaction Strategies with Title Insurance ...iscuss how counsel, investors and lenders can avoid title pitfalls and coverage gaps, expedite a pre-closing response to coverage requests, and ultimately enhance coverage. Critical legal issues and practical considerations often coincide with factors that mask underlying real estate title impediments. Distinguishing among the array of popular endorsements and obtaining endorsements that matter  more...

Buying and Selling Partnerships, LLCs and Other Similar Entities BenefitsCorporations and alternative entities have distinctly different frameworks for defining the tax, economic and management rights and obligations of their equity owners. But oftentimes business people and their advisors structure and negotiate purchases and sales of equity interests in alternative entities using concepts from the corporate model. Failing to account for the differences  more...

Dynamic Tips for Effective E-Discovery ...very basics and helps you understand the complexities and pitfalls of e-discovery projects large and small. The teleconference uses real-life examples to compare and contrast various approaches to electronic data preservation, collection and review. Discover which strategies are more efficient and effective in different situations. Join us for an insightful analysis of e-discovery intricacies  more...

How Letters of Credit Work and Why Sometimes They Don't ... the steps in the life of a letter of credit, identifying pitfalls along the way. The teleconference will review and illustrate fundamental principles using real-life examples. Our presenter will explain how these principles apply to both commercial and standby letters of credit and how these two types differ. In particular, you'll learn why letters of credit might not get paid. Along the way,  more...

Best Practices to Manage Your Multistate Payroll ... will help payroll personnel cope with multistate payroll pitfalls explaining in practical terms not only how to calculate the taxability of employee benefits but how to structure your benefits to be nontaxable. Finally the teleconference will spell out the significant differences between state and federal laws with respect to overtime, taxable income, break periods and garnishments. We will  more...

Design Codes and Standards for Noise Control ...election, construction systems, sustainability and design pitfalls. n nThis teleconference is based on publicly available information concerning the LEED® rating and certification system, and is not specifically endorsed or approved by the U.S. Green Building Council. n nLearning Objectives nYou will be able to discuss criteria and codes. nYou will be able to state compliance and legal  more...

Enabling Loan Processes with Paperless Files ...rence will help you understand the benefits and potential pitfalls of paperless loan files, the considerations that must be made in choosing and implementing paperless systems, and the ways to maintain the highest document quality standards. You will gain a broad introduction to the types of processes that can be enabled by digital files, strategies for migration and improvement of existing  more...

Preventing Workers' Compensation Abuse nNationwide, workers' compensation abuse costs the insurance industry billions of dollars each year. It is sometimes called "The Hidden Tax" because each of us absorbs these monies in the costs of goods and services each year. This teleconference will give you a better understanding of workers' compensation abuse, keys to a successful investigation and how to avoid claim pitfalls. This  more...

How To Prevent Construction Projects From Going Bad ... attendees who want to have a better understanding of the pitfalls of the construction process and how to meet them head on. It will provide a summary level discussion of the aspects of construction that can often lead to a bad project and of the fundamentals necessary to implement a successful project. n nTopic areas will include a discussion on defining success and how to plan for it from  more...

Escrow Basics: The Keys to Successful Real Property Closings nIf the closing of real estate related transactions is one of your job responsibilities, "Escrow Basics" is designed to provide you with the knowledge to obtain this goal but MUCH MORE - how to make it a successful, memorable and pleasant experience. Learn what escrow is, its role and the closing process. Both loan and sale escrow transaction are covered with emphasis on our current economy's most  more...

AIA Document A312 Payment Bond Forms ...for obtaining bonds and administering contracts avoid the pitfalls presented by use of the A312 bond form and to modify the bonds in a way that will meet their business objectives. Particular attention will be paid to the 45-Day Rule modifications approved by the AIA and certain major sureties and to potential conflicts between bond terms and your contract terms. In the current credit crunch,  more...

Why Is This Guy Still on My Health Plan? nThis teleconference will cast light on an area many employers overlook but which has the potential to create significant exposure - that is, failing to coordinate a company's leave policies with the eligibility and termination provisions of its benefit plans. This results many times in inactive employees (inactive usually because of a disability or other leave of absence) lingering on employer's  more...

Water Well Rehabilitation - Technical Considerations and Economic Advantages nThe decline of global economic conditions has discouraged high-volume water well owners, including municipalities, water companies, industrial entities and other large well owners, from incurring the cost of installing new wells. However, the decline of the economy has not reduced the requirement of water purveyors and other well owners to provide a safe and dependable supply of high-quality  more...

Understanding Pregnancy Leave and Return to Work Issues nUnder federal and state law, employers must not treat pregnant employees any differently from other employees. But, what exactly does this mean? Questions often arise as to how much leave a woman may take, what her rights are when she is on leave and what rights does she have when she returns to work. Employers often times are unwittingly violating the law. This teleconference will help you avoid  more...

Doing Business in Texas? An Overview of the Texas Margin Tax nFor decades, the Texas Franchise Tax remained virtually unchanged. Once equipped with the knowledge that Texas limited partnerships were not taxable, many companies saw little need to delve further into the details of the tax. Beginning with reports due in 2008 all this has changed with the revised Texas Franchise Tax, known as the Texas Margin Tax by everyone but the Texas Comptroller's Office.  more...

Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Guidance Under the New Administration - Rapanos or Oberstar? nThe federal regulatory landscape affecting development in and around waters of the United States was significantly altered by the Rapanos decision. Indeed, that landscape continues to shift as the Army Corps and the courts respond in new ways to a perceived loss of jurisdiction. This teleconference will help you understand the ever-changing jurisdictional landscape and navigate a course to  more...

Retirement Benefit Solutions For Nonprofit Organizations and Government Entities nNonprofit organizations face many of the same issues regarding use of retirement benefits to attract and retain employees and executives as for-profit companies, but the tools available to them are often more limited. This teleconference will explore both broad-based retirement programs and executive deferred compensation available to nonprofit organizations. It will highlight new rules for  more...

Lease vs. Buy: Choosing the Best Option ...ce will provide you with a comparison of the benefits and pitfalls of financing business equipment through equipment lease financings and by purchasing. The speakers will approach the issues from several perspectives, including legal, accounting and tax concerns, as well as practical issues. As our speakers have more than 60 years of combined experience in equipment finance, they will be able  more...

Appellate Process Basics for Legal Professionals nFiling an appeal is a specialized process with particular requirements and deadlines. Failure to follow the appropriate procedures can be fatal to an appeal or, at a minimum, compromise its chance of success. A paralegal's thorough assistance is invaluable in making certain the rules are followed and obligations are met. This teleconference will provide you with an overview of the life cycle of a  more...

Estate Planning for Vacation Homes nSummer and holiday gatherings at the family vacation home have become important traditions for many families. Providing a place where family members can relax, reconnect and escape the busy pace of life is increasingly significant to many families. Parents want to perpetuate these cherished memories and experiences throughout the generations. To do so requires careful, thoughtful planning by both  more...

Pitfalls with Lean Implementation nAre you (or about to be) in the 90% lean failure group? In implementing lean, the cards are stacked against your success. The sad truth is this: eight or nine organizations of 10 who embark on implementing an improvement initiative like lean, Six Sigma or Lean Six Sigma FAIL to get the benefits they should. This wastes time and money, and disenfranchises the workforce. In extreme cases, it can  more...

Noise Control Design for Condominium and Multifamily Dwellings nToday's condominium buyers have become much more sophisticated with respect to acoustical issues, largely because of the horror stories related to them by the media and their acquaintances. Buyers not only want a condominium unit that is quiet when the building is complete, but they also want assurance during the design and sales process that footfall noise from above and airborne noise from  more...

Environmental Issues in Commercial Leases Benefits Environmental issues impact myriad provisions in a commercial lease and can have not only a material legal effect, but a material economic effect on the rights, duties and risk allocation between the landlord and the tenant. From pre-delivery site and building assessment to operational risks, insurance and indemnification obligations to premises surrender, restoration and abatement,  more...