I recently read “The Vertical Farm” by Dr. Dickson Despommier. I find urban agriculture to be fascinating and have loved visiting some rooftop farms in Brooklyn. As the world population grows, we are not getting more land to help grow our food. In fact, each year we get less and less farmable land due to urban encroachment. I don’t think …
New York Divorce: Rehabilitative Spousal Maintenance
Durational (a/k/a rehabilitative) maintenance can be awarded to enable the lesser-monied spouse to get back on his or her feet and become self-sufficient following a divorce. Most commonly, durational maintenance is usually provided to spouses that have been out of work for a while or spouses who are caring full-time for young children and need time and resources to become …
Book Review: “Does This Make My Assets Look Fat?”
As a woman, matrimonial lawyer, and entrepreneur, the issue of financial empowerment for females is important to me. I recently met Susan L. Hirshman, a financial adviser with Morgan Stanley and author of “Does This Make My Assets Look Fat?” As I have blogged about before, I believe financial transparency is important for a couple getting married or already …
That Pesky Student Loan Debt and Divorce
In case you missed it, I was quoted in this Wall Street Journal article talking about premarital student loan debt and divorce (and admitting my law school debt load). In a marriage, everything fits into one of three buckets: separate property for each spouse and marital property. Debt also fits into one of these buckets. In New York, property and …
For the Lawyer Entrepreneur – “The Happy Law Practice”
I get contacted from time-to-time from those interested in being a food and agriculture lawyer or hanging their own shingle in any area of law. I wanted to note a book that I recently read titled “The Happy Law Practice.” I have a few colleagues that were involved with putting this book together including Amy Neiman from A Simplified Life, …
Divorce: I’m Living in a Pre-Marital Home- Now What?
All property in a divorce fits into one of three buckets: (1) Husband’s separate property, (2) Wife’s separate property, and (3) Marital Property. Property will be divided by equitable distribution (which does not necessarily mean equal). Marital property is broadly construed in order to give effect to the ‘economic partnership’ concept of the marriage relationship recognized in the statute. Separate …
Save the Date: CLE on 1031 Exchanges
I will be moderating another Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) webinar for the American Bar Association (“ABA”) General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division (“GP Solo”) Agriculture Law Committee on May 29, 2014 at 2pm ET. on “1031 Exchanges for the Agriculture Industry“. Faculty members will include: 1. Max Hansen,Esq. President and CEO of the American Equity Exchange, Inc. in …
Upcoming Ag Labor Law Presentation in Baltimore, Maryland
I am on the planning committee for the 2014 American Agriculture Law Association (“AALA”) Northeast Regional and helping organize the ag labor presentation from 11am to 12pm on June 6, 2014 at the University of Maryland, School of Law. Attorneys Karen Eichman from Kennett Square, PA and Arthur Read from the Friends of Farmworkers, Inc. in Philadelphia will give an …
Looking to Start or Build a Family/Divorce Mediation Practice?
I have loved my family and divorce mediation part of my practice over the last few years. In particular, I strongly believe in the divorce mediation process. I recently met Justine Borer, a well-established family and divorce mediator in New York City, and she recommended her seminar titled “Practical Tips for Family and Divorce Mediators.” Although focused on the …
Save the Date: AALA Northeast Regional Meeting
I am on the planning committee for the first ever American Agriculture Law Association (“AALA”) Northeast Regional Meeting scheduled for June 6, 2014 at the University of Maryland, School of Law. I am helping put together the employment/labor law session that day but we will also have helpful sessions on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (“CAFO’s”) and environmental law, the Food …
Divorce: Cohabitation Before Marriage – Does that Make a Separate Asset Marital?
Under New York law, a separate property asset does not become marital property just because the parties were a couple at the time the property was purchased. Revisiting the case of a house which was purchased by one party before the marriage, which is separate property, an unfortunate realization for many people is that living together in a house one person …
3 Upcoming Agriculture Presentations in Upstate New York
I will be 2 presentations at the Southern Tier Risk Management Conference at the Jamestown Community College in Olean, NY on May 19th. I’ll be giving the keynote speech on the Broken Window’s Theory and how it can apply to risk management and the family farm or agri-businesses. It is truly the “little things” that can make the big different. …