Let’s face it. Estate planning is easy to push off. What’s another week… another month… another year… another five years… After all, I’m healthy. My spouse is healthy. We don’t have kids. We don’t have a lot of assets. I don’t care if what-little-I-do-have follows the rules of intestacy (i.e., the “default rules” if you die without a Last Will …
What Are Some Things That You Would Pay More For?
I enjoyed reading Troy Marshall’s article in Beef magazine titled “5 things I’d pay more for” (page 43 in the July 2012 issue). Troy states that there are a few items he thinks is worth extra money including (his Top 5): 1. Good genetics; 2. Good people; 3. Good equipment and tools; 4. Good horse; and, 5. Good boots. I …
Appointed as the Chair of the ABA GP Solo Agriculture Law Committee for 2012-2013
For the second year in a row, I have been appointed as the Chair of the American Bar Association’s (“ABA”) General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division’s Agriculture Law Committee for the 2012-2013 year. It has been an exciting first year getting the Committee up and going again with two fantastic Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) webinars on crop/livestock insurance and …
Three Years and the Fun Keeps Coming…
Happy Third Year Anniversary to this blog! Seems like just yesterday I was writing this second year anniversary post. Time flies when you are having fun! It’s been an exciting third year of this blog. Here are a few highlights: 1. This law blog (“blawg”) made the American Bar Association’s (“ABA”) Top 100 Blawg list. Nominations for 2012 are right …
My Presentation on Tradition and Technology in Agriculture
Last year, I spoke at the New York Farm Bureau (“NYFB”) Young Farmers & Ranchers (“YF&R”) Leadership Conference in Upstate New York regarding “Tradition & Technology” within the agriculture industry. I wrote this blog post last year summarizing my presentation; however, I thought I would revisit this topic today and post my presentation below. Regarding tradition, you might also like this …
Debrief From Skype Conversation About Being An Agriculture Attorney
I hope that my readers had a wonderful Fourth of July vacation and were able to spend some time in the sun. I had a nice time running again and spending time on a few beaches on Long Island including Shelter Island and Robert Moses Beach. Some R & R is always a good thing. Last Friday, I enjoyed a …
My Presentation on Drafting Farm Partnership Agreements
Last fall I spoke at the American Agriculture Law Association (“AALA”) 32nd Agriculture Law Symposium on partnership agreements for farms and ranches. Although there is likely a better choice of entity, general partnerships are common among the agriculture community and easily overlooked when there is a good relationship among the partners (or family members). Even so, I highly recommend memorializing …
Will Be Attending the American Agriculture Law Association Annual Agriculture Law Symposium
I will be attending the American Agriculture Law Association (“AALA”) Annual Agriculture Law Symposium on October 19-20, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. I highly recommend the conference if you are a lawyer or law student hoping to build a food and agriculture law practice. Registration forms will be available later this summer. If you are a law student, there are travel …
“The World is Run By Those Who Show Up”
“The world is run by those who show up.” – Robert Johnson I gave the below presentation last spring at the New York Agri-Women Second Annual Meeting so I thought I would share. I am oftentimes reminded of this quote and believe it is applicable in nearly every aspect of life. For those of you who are volunteering your time …
Fixing “Broken Windows” On Your Farm: The Little Things That Make a Big Difference
Last week I finished the book “Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell (admittedly, while I was laying on a beach over Memorial Day weekend). I read “Outliers” last summer and “Blink” several years go and I think Gladwell’s books make for a thought-provoking quick read. The premise of the book is about how the “little things” can make a big difference …
Presenter on Sustainability in Agriculture
I will be a panelist at this event on May 16th from 8:00 to 10:00 am with the Association of the Bar for the City of New York (“City Bar”) titled “Feeding Ourselves, Sustaining the Planet.” I will be presenting on sustainability developments in “Big Ag.” It is sponsored by City Bar’s Committee on International Environmental Law and the Committee …
Animal Law Mediation
I was recently asked whether I handle animal law mediation. And the answer is, “why yes I do.” I am a previous member of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Animals in the Law, New Jersey State Bar Association Committee on Animal Law, and the New York Lawyers’ Association Committee on Animal Law. I have also had …