Phelps Dunbar LLP

Back in Death Valley! We had the best time hosting a tailgate for our attorneys, clients, families and friends at the LSU vs. Ole Miss game this past Saturday in Baton Rouge! It was an eventful day filled with birthdays, balloons and big rivalries. Thank you to everyone who joined us to make the day so memorable! ??????????

Noncompetes are back in the news. The National Labor Relations Board general counsel's latest plan to address the effects of these agreements could bring financial impacts and added responsibilities for employers. ? The plan unveiled a new test to decide if employers must pay penalties to employees affected by certain noncompete provisions, including those that require them to pay employers back for training, education and other costs. The tests applies to former employees, too. ? Employers using "stay-or-pay" provisions also now have an added duty to show these clauses advance a legitimate business interest. ? Phelps associate Caroline Perlis outlines the factors of the new test and possible penalties, and the conditions "stay-or-pay" provisions must meet. Learn more to get ahead of these changes >> https://lnkd.in/gR_XckFZ

As #HispanicHeritageMonth comes to a close, we want to celebrate the incredible contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to our society. Maritza Sanchez, an associate in our Fort Worth office, is leading the way in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). LCLD is committed to building a more diverse legal profession by preparing early and mid-career attorneys for leadership roles. With over 400 corporate and law firm leaders involved, the LCLD has trained thousands of lawyers, fostering an environment of growth and inclusivity.?Through her role as a facilitator of peer group discussions, Maritza is paving the way for the next generation of diverse leaders. Locally, she leads Phelps' involvement with the annual fundraiser Di’Lolas’ Caminata Contra El Cancer to support those fighting breast cancer and their families. Her dedication to both professional development and community service underscores the importance of #diversity in creating a more inclusive legal profession. Read more about how Maritza and the LCLD Pathfinder Program foster greater diversity within the legal field here >> https://lnkd.in/epKRvFZS

College student-athletes are closer to being paid for their Name, Image and Likeness (#NIL). On October 7, Judge Claudia Wilken granted preliminary approval for the proposed settlement in the landmark House v. NCAA case. This groundbreaking class action, filed by student-athletes in 2020, addresses compensation for the use of their NIL. The proposed settlement aims to distribute approximately $2.78 billion to thousands of student-athletes and allows colleges to pay athletes a portion of the revenue they generate. Schools can share up to $22 million annually, equating to 22% of the average Power Four school's athletic department revenue. While this is a significant step forward, the full impact on NIL deals and schools outside the Power Four conferences remains to be seen. Phelps lawyers Michael B. Victorian and Paxson Guest discuss this new ruling and how these changes will affect athletes and universities. Read more >> https://lnkd.in/gsD_MENb

Party like its 1984! Our Baton Rouge office took it back to the 80s to celebrate our office's 40th "birthday" while cooking up some fun at the 26th Annual Belly Up with the Bar! A big thank you to the Baton Rouge Bar Association for hosting a great event benefiting the BRBF’s Youth Education Program.

A hearing tomorrow could decide who owns Shohei Ohtani's historic 50/50 ball and set major precedent in property disputes. The Daily Business Review featured associate Patrick M. Judd's breakdown of the questions before the court and how the ruling will impact property law. ? Two fans both claim they caught the ball after Ohtani hit it into the stands, marking his 50th homerun of the season. The lawsuit over ownership makes its way through the court while bids for the ball on the open market climb to record highs, raising the stakes in this unsettled area of law. Click below to get up to speed before tomorrow's hearing!

We flocked up with local veterans and friends from Bastion Community of Resilience yesterday to celebrate the New Orleans Pelicans' first win of the pre-season. Not a bad way to spend a Monday! ??

Get up to speed on the latest court and legislative updates impacting the #construction industry with Phelps partner Daniel Lund on October 17! He'll join Adrian D'Arcy at D'Arcy Vicknair Attorneys At Law and Robert Riess at Riess LeMieux LLC on the Legal Update panel at The Blueprint Conference, moderated by Murphy Foster at Breazeale Sachse and Wilson LLP. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from industry leaders! Click here for more information on the conference >> https://lnkd.in/gw8VGQUT

GameDay greatness!?? We kicked off tailgating season with ESPN's College GameDay in Tuscaloosa last weekend! We had an incredible time hosting family, friends and clients to watch the Crimson Tide battle the Georgia Bulldogs. Thank you to everyone who joined us and made it a memorable event. Roll Tide and Go Dawgs! ????

We are here for what matters most – our people and our communities. ?? #HurricaneHelene #FLStrong #NCStrong #TNStrong