The New York State Bar Association Committee on Animals and the Law will be having its 5th Annual Student Writing Competition.  Papers must be postmarked no later than June 29, 2012 and cannot be more than 25 pages, including footnotes.  One hard copy and one electronic copy must be submitted to Kim Hojon, New York [...]

Last night, I was having dinner at a bar on the Upper West Side.  I couldn’t help but overhear a conversation from the table next to me.  The gentlemen were (civilly) discussing a business partnership that had gone bad.  They had a “handshake” deal that started out with great dreams together (“You used to say [...]

I was reading the November/December 2011 Issue of the New York Beef Producer from the New York Beef Producers’ Association today. Ron Kuck, a New York Dairy/Livestock Extension Educator with Cornell had a nice article on page 28 regarding the importance of working with your herd veterinarian.  Kuck suggests working with a veterinarian to develop [...]

The National Agriculture Law Center has reported that approximately 90% of agricultural operations do not survive the transition to the next generation.  I have to say- that statistic is a bit alarming.  The primary reason for this is poor succession planning.  Estate planning is just one part of workable succession plan.  Estate planning focuses on [...]