I hope my readers had a great Fourth of July. I just got back from the Berkshires. You can see some of my pictures on Instagram. Back to business..
I had a great first, second, and third anniversary for this blog, but I have to say – Year 4 has been the best. Thank you for support from my blog readers, clients, and colleagues that have helped me build a successful law practice. It seems like yesterday that I packed up my jeep in Wyoming to move back to New York City to open a food and agriculture law practice in the most densely populated city in the county.
Here are a few highlights: I finished the community mediation apprenticeship with the New York Peace Institute and am now a mediator for the New York State Agriculture Mediation Program. I also have a growing private divorce mediation practice.
For the second year in a row, I have been selected as the “Best Livestock Lawyer” in the Best of the Barns Competition. Along with the great Rachel Cutrer, I was humbled to be selected as the Outstanding Early Career Award from Texas A & M Unversity’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
I have had numerous speaking engagements this past year. Most recently, I had a great time speaking in Ohio on what ag clients want from lawyers and protecting the agri-business with contract management, NDA’s and trademarks. My presentation from the Texas Bar CLE has been a “hot visit” on SlideShare.com – you can also find a questionnaire for a recipient agreement here. I also enjoyed speaking at my alma mater, Pace Law School, about local food law with Jason Foscolo. Here are some ideas for youth interested in agvocating via social media or livestock judging. Additionally, I really enjoyed talking divorce mediation on the Russ Terry Show and speaking to Morrisville State College’s equine and dairy science classes on New York livestock law. I also moderated CLE’s on food labeling and labor and employment law for farms and ranches.
Furthermore, if you are thinking about starting your own agriculture law practice, listen (and view) my presentation to the American Bar Association’s Section on the Environment, Energy and Resources (along with the great Natara Feller, an energy lawyer in Brooklyn, NY). You should also check out my presentation on technology choices for an ag law practice from the American Agriculture Law Association (“AALA”) Conference last fall. You can also read more about my path to becoming an agriculture lawyer in NYC here.
Some of my favorite blogs from the last year:
1. Trademarks can be a great tool for livestock producers and agri-business owners.
2. Here are nice overviews of the “stableman’s lien” and lien for the service of stallions or bulls in New York.
3. Get your bull lease!
4. I make no secret on this blog that I support the use of limited liability companies for farms and food businesses. Here are some thoughts on operating agreements.
5. NDA’s are an important (and oftentimes overlooked) document for agri-businesses.
6. Read those “Market Rules” before becoming a vendor at a farmers’ market. There are a myriad of legal issues to think about.
7. I helped author the LinkedIn guide for beef cattle producers for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (“NCBA”) Young Producers’ Council. In case you missed it, check out the guides for blogging, tweeting, and Facebooking.
8. Here is a nice overview of New York cottage food law.
9. Here are my thoughts on building a management team for your farm or agri-business to help with succession planning.
10. Think about your individual goals for your farm estate plan. Estate planning is so much more complicated than simply getting a Last Will and Testament – and it’s not just for the elderly or ultra rich.
I’m looking forward to a fabulous fifth year practicing food, farm and family law in New York City. As a reminder, I am licensed to practice law in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the District of Columbia. You can follow me on Twitter @RinckerLaw or @CariRincker. Please take a moment and join Rincker Law’s Facebook page.