Navigating What's Ahead - June 2024

Lippes Mathias LLP Combines with Syracuse-Based Health Care Firm CCBLaw, Expands Lippes’ National Footprint to Include Every Major City in New York

The combination brings our New York State office count to eight and our nationwide attorney count to 197. With 18 dedicated health law attorneys, we're now one of the largest and most experienced health care practices in New York outside of New York City. Read the full press release HERE .

Check out the coverage of our combination in multiple publications HERE .

And watch the video below to understand why a "vibe check" was necessary before combining.

Laura L. Spring Assumes Role as President of the Onondaga County Bar Association

Laura L. Spring , a partner in our Employment and Health Law practice teams in our recently opened Syracuse office, is now the president of the Onondaga County Bar Association after serving as president-elect for the past year. Read the full press release HERE .

Lippes Mathias Welcomes Four New Attorneys Across its Footprint

We are thrilled to introduce Samantha L. Gozlan , Luke M. Miller , Suzanne M. Rohde , and Christopher J. Tyrpak —four attorneys whose addition will enhance our services in various firm office locations and practice areas. Read the full press release HERE .

Sixteen Lippes Mathias LLP Attorneys and Seven Practice Areas Ranked in Chambers USA 2024

We're proud to share that 16 of our attorneys and seven practice areas have been ranked for 2024. Since 1990, Chambers USA has recognized the world's top lawyers and law firms through rigorous, objective research, ranking leading firms and lawyers across the U.S. in over 50 practice areas. Read the full press release HERE .

Lippes Mathias Ranked #232 on the 2024 NLJ 500 List of the US’ Largest Law Firms by Attorney Count

Lippes Mathias has made a significant leap, climbing 19 spots up the National Law Journal’s 2024 NLJ 500 list of the largest U.S. law firms by attorney headcount. This impressive rise has seen the firm move from #251 to #232 in just a year.?Read the full press release HERE .

Celebrating Juneteenth

159 years ago, on June 19, 1865, the last enslaved African Americans in the U.S. in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom—two years and five months after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. At Lippes Mathias, we're grateful for the opportunity to reflect and honor the significance of this day in American history and everything it represents.

Celebrating Pride Month

At Lippes Mathias, we view Pride Month as an opportunity to further amplify our recognition of both the rights and contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community.

As Pride Month comes to a close, we reflect on two historic court decisions that advanced LGBTQIA+ rights in America, paving the way for greater equality and justice for everyone. At Lippes Mathias, we recognize the importance of these legal milestones and remain dedicated to supporting equity under the law for all protected classes.

Lippes Mathias Managing Partner and Chairman Kevin J. Cross Receives Rochester Business Journal Excellence in Law Award

Managing Partner and Chairman Kevin J. Cross was honored as a recipient of the Rochester Business Journal's Excellence in Law Award in the law firm administrators category. Read the full press release HERE .

John J. Flynn Recognized at the St. Thomas More Guild’s 2024 Annual Luncheon

John J. Flynn , former Erie County district attorney and current leader of our Municipal Law Practice Team, was recently honored at the St. Thomas More Guild’s 2024 Annual Luncheon. Read the full press release HERE .

United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Grants Trademark Cancellation in favor of Lippes Mathias Client DFRobot

After one of its distributors received a cease-and-desist letter from Atlas Scientific LLC alleging infringement of its trademark rights in the GRAVITY mark, DFRobot turned to Intellectual Property Team members Matthew D. Asbell , Chintan A. Desai , and Tony V. Pezzano to file a petition for cancellation with the USPTO’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Read the full press release HERE .

Supreme Court Decides in Favor of Tribal Nations in Becerra v. San Carlos Apache Tribe

Indian Law Practice Team members Carol E. Heckman , Kathryn V. Myrtle , and Michael G. Rossetti detail the significant win for Tribal Nations in the recent Becerra v. San Carlos Apache Tribe Supreme Court decision. The 5-4 ruling requires the Indian Health Service (IHS) to reimburse Tribes for costs associated with program income from third-party insurance payors. Read the full client alert HERE .

Impact of the 2024 U.S. Election on Immigration

In this two-part series, Immigration Practice Team member Elizabeth M. Klarin outlines how the upcoming 2024 presidential election could impact immigration. Read the full blog HERE .

City and County of San Francisco v. Environmental Protection Agency: Supreme Court to Decide the Limits of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits

Environment & Energy Practice Team members Christina D. Bonanni , Ian A. Shavitz , and Madelyn M. VanDorpe cover the recent news that the Supreme Court will review a Clean Water Act case filed by San Francisco against the U.S. EPA questioning whether the EPA can impose general prohibitions in permits without specifying exact limits on discharges. The outcome could influence how future permits are written nationwide. Read the full client alert HERE .

USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Grants Dismissal of Previously Addressed Claim Against Well-Known Turkish Meat Producer in Trademark Proceeding

Intellectual Property Team members Matthew D. Asbell and Chintan A. Desai 's motion to dismiss a substantial claim against their client Afyon Et ve Et Mamulleri Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Afyon), a well-known Turkish meat producer, alleging prior trademark rights has been granted. Read the full press release HERE .

Reminder: Department of Labor Overtime Exemption Rule to Take Effect July 1, 2024

Employment Practice Team members Amy Habib Rittling , Michael J. Lufkin , Sarah B. Purpura , and Robert G. Riegel, Jr. provide an update on the Department of Labor's Overtime Exemption Final Rule as the July 1, 2024, effective date draws near. Read the full client alert HERE .

Nathaniel J. Kuzma Quoted in Article Highlighting New Contract with Dunkirk City School District

K-12 Education Team Co-Leader Nathaniel J. Kuzma spoke to The Observer about his new contract with Dunkirk City School District. Read the full article HERE .

Hon. Carol E. Heckman (Ret.) to Speak at LERA Annual Meeting on Mass Arbitration

Hon. Carol E. Heckman (Ret.) , leader of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Team , is speaking at the Labor and Employment Relations Association annual meeting during a panel titled "The Evolution of Mass Arbitration and Its Future," which will explore mass arbitration in employment disputes, its distinctions from class arbitration, and the American Arbitration Association's role. Read the full press release HERE .

Highlights of the EEOC's Final Regulations on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Employment Practice Team members Eugenia H. Donahoo , Amy Habib Rittling , Michael J. Lufkin , and Robert G. Riegel, Jr. cover the final regulations interpreting the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The PWFA became effective on June 27, 2023, and the regulations took effect on June 18, 2024. Read the full client alert HERE .

Overcoming Misconceptions about U.S. Trademark Registration for International Businesses

Intellectual Property Team member Matthew D. Asbell explains how one can obtain a U.S. trademark registration before commencing use in the U.S. Read the full article HERE .

Eileen M. Martin and Elizabeth M. Klarin Present During Greater Toronto Area Accountants & Finance Network Webinar

The webinar, presented by Immigration Practice Team partners Eileen M. Martin and Elizabeth M. Klarin , was titled, "Considerations When Crossing the Border & How to Obtain Work Authorization." Read the full press release HERE .

Matthew D. Asbell and Andrew J. Olek Discuss the Legal Implications of Exiting a Franchise in Q&A with StacheCow

StacheCow spoke with Intellectual Property Team members Matthew D. Asbell and Andrew J. Olek to learn more about typical termination terms in franchising, potential financial penalties, reasons for disputes, and the other most common legal implications of exiting a franchise. Read the full article HERE .

Lippes Mathias Secures $794K Award on Behalf of Financial Institution in Damages Hearing

Litigation Practice Team members Brian C. Mahoney and Thomas R. Southard successfully represented a financial institution in a damages hearing, securing a $794,000 award for the client. Learn more about our litigation capabilities HERE .

Lippes Mathias Welcomes our 2024 Summer Associates

Help us welcome Timothy Allaire, Nathan Arnholt, Natalia Beltre, Jennifer Forward, Matheus Marquez-Sterling, and Khalia Muir—the members of our 2024 class of summer associates. We couldn't be more excited to spend the summer working alongside these bright, young future stars of the legal profession.

Partner Matthew D. Asbell Lends His Perspective on a Recent Trademark Dispute Between a Software Developer and the New York Times

Intellectual Property Team member Matthew D. Asbell spoke to CBC/Radio-Canada to share his insights on the current trademark dispute between the creator of the geography-themed puzzle game Worldle and the New York Times. Read the full article HERE .

University at Buffalo School of Law Discover Law Undergraduate Scholars Program Visits Lippes Mathias

As a proud community partner to the program, we jumped at the chance to host the University at Buffalo School of Law Discover Law Undergraduate Scholars again for lunch, a tour, and multiple rounds of speed networking with our attorneys.