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State & Local

  • June 03, 2025

    Calif. Says Man Stuck With $6.6M Tax Bill In Domicile Dispute

    A man must pay nearly $6.6 million in taxes and penalties to California after he and his spouse failed to prove they abandoned their domicile in the state when they moved to Nevada, California's Office of Tax Appeals ruled.

  • June 03, 2025

    The Law360 400: A Look At The Top 100 Firms

    A rebound in client work sent the nation’s largest law firms into growth mode last year, driving a wave of hiring, mergers and strategic moves that reshaped the top tier of the Law360 400. Here's a preview of the 100 firms with the largest U.S. attorney headcounts.

  • June 03, 2025

    W.Va. Revenues Through May Beat Forecast By $237M

    West Virginia's general fund revenue collection for July through May outpaced budget forecasts by $237 million but underperformed last year's total by $158 million, according to the State Budget Office.

  • June 02, 2025

    Montana Tribal Tariff Dispute Will Stay In US Trade Court

    A Montana federal judge won't reconsider an order to transfer a challenge to President Donald Trump's Canada tariff orders by members of the Blackfeet Nation to the U.S. Court of International Trade, saying the CIT has historical jurisdiction over claims by tribal members on import and duty-related actions.

  • June 02, 2025

    White House Asks DC Circ. To Halt Tariff Injunction

    The White House on Monday asked the D.C. Circuit to hit pause on a lower court ruling that found President Donald Trump's tariffs unlawful, arguing the "legally indefensible preliminary injunction" would impede sensitive trade negotiations if left unchecked.

  • June 02, 2025

    Ill. Budget Increases Taxes On Tobacco, Online Sports Books

    Illinois' Democratic-controlled General Assembly passed a $55 billion budget for fiscal 2026, including about $800 million in targeted tax hikes on tobacco, vaping and online sports betting.

  • June 02, 2025

    Calif. Construction Co. Owes Tax On Materials, OTA Says

    A California construction company owes tax on sales of materials and other goods after failing to prove its assessment should be lowered, the state Office of Tax Appeals said in a ruling released Monday.

  • June 02, 2025

    Calif. Sizzler Franchise CEO Owes $500K In Tax, OTA Says

    The president of a California company that operated multiple Sizzler restaurants is personally liable for over $500,000 in sales taxes and penalties, the state Office of Tax Appeals ruled in an opinion released Monday that upheld the state tax agency.

  • June 02, 2025

    Hawaii Suspends Tax Collections Time Limit During Appeals

    Hawaii will suspend the statute of limitations on collections of income tax, transient accommodations tax and other taxes while an appeal of an assessment is pending before the state's Taxation Board of Review or Tax Appeal Court under a bill signed by the governor.

  • June 02, 2025

    Texas Lawmakers OK Tax Exemption For Internet Access

    Texas would exempt internet access services from sales tax under an amended bill passed by lawmakers and headed to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott for consideration.

  • June 02, 2025

    Colo. Creates Employee-Owned Biz Tax Breaks

    Colorado will allow up to $1 million state income tax deduction, along with other tax breaks, for employee-owned businesses under a bill signed by the governor. 

  • June 02, 2025

    Hawaii Conforms Tax Laws To Federal Code

    Hawaii conformed its income, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax laws to the Internal Revenue Code under a bill signed by the governor.

  • June 02, 2025

    Minn. Justices Prod Humana On Pharmacy Benefit Sourcing

    Minnesota Supreme Court justices appeared skeptical Monday of a Humana subsidiary's arguments that sales of pharmacy benefit services attributed to the state should be sourced to a Humana unit based in Wisconsin.

  • June 02, 2025

    NJ Church Must Prove Religious Use For Tax Exemption

    A church that no longer holds services must produce evidence to show that it houses religious items to overturn a New Jersey town's denial of a tax exemption for the property, the state's tax court ruled.

  • June 02, 2025

    Feds Want 12½ Years For Ex-Ill. Speaker Convicted Of Bribery

    Prosecutors are urging an Illinois federal judge to sentence former state House Speaker Michael Madigan to prison for 12½ years for bribery, conspiracy and fraud, saying his conduct adds "another sordid chapter to Illinois' storied reputation of corruption" while Madigan, armed with more than 200 letters of support, seeks only probation.

  • June 02, 2025

    Calif. Smoke Shop Purchaser Found Liable For Biz Sales Tax

    A California business that purchased a smoke shop from the previous operator is liable for the remaining sales tax liability of that business as the successor, the state Office of Tax Appeals said in a ruling released Monday.

  • June 02, 2025

    Nebraska Tax Commission Upholds Farm's $1.89M Valuation

    A Nebraska farm valued at $1.89 million was accurately assessed in line with other agricultural property, the state's Tax Equalization and Review Commission found, rejecting claims by the property owner that it was over-assessed.

  • June 02, 2025

    Calif. Man Failed To Pay Sandwich Shop's Tax Liability

    A California man willfully failed to pay the sales tax liability of the sandwich shop in which he had 49% ownership, the state Office of Tax Appeals said in a ruling released Monday. 

  • June 02, 2025

    Mich. General Revenue Jumps By $720M Through April

    Michigan's total general fund revenue for October through April outpaced last year by $720 million, according to a report by the state Budget Office.

  • June 02, 2025

    Texas Voters To Decide On Fire-Ruined Homestead Tax Break

    Texas voters will decide whether to amend the state's constitution to authorize a temporary property tax exemption for homesteads destroyed by fire under a joint resolution approved by state lawmakers and filed with the secretary of state.

  • May 30, 2025

    Ex-Mich. Speaker, Wife To Face Nonprofit Embezzlement Trial

    Former speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives Lee Chatfield and his wife on Friday were sent to circuit court to stand trial on allegations that the former speaker misused state and campaign funds, and that the pair embezzled money from Chatfield's nonprofit to pay for their lifestyle.

  • May 30, 2025

    Nicotine Tax Dispute Heads To Texas Supreme Court

    The Texas Supreme Court on Friday agreed to review a dispute over whether a vape company that sells oral nicotine products should be subject to a state tax on tobacco products.

  • May 30, 2025

    Pa. Justices Back Hospital Tax Break Despite High Salaries

    The corporate structure and high executive pay at a Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, hospital were not reason enough to take away its nonprofit, tax-exempt status, the state Supreme Court ruled Friday.

  • May 30, 2025

    DC Budget Plan Would OK Gambling, Repeal Child Tax Break

    Washington, D.C., would legalize and tax certain gambling activities and repeal its new child tax credit before it is ever used under a budget and revenue proposal that also promises cuts in services.

  • May 30, 2025

    Minn. Tax Court Blasts County Counsel For AI-Written Brief

    Counsel for a Minnesota county submitted a brief to the state tax court generated by artificial intelligence with five legal citations for cases that did not exist, the court said, referring the matter to a state disciplinary board.

Expert Analysis

  • Recruitment Trends In Emerging Law Firm Frontiers

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    BigLaw firms are facing local recruitment challenges as they increasingly establish offices in cities outside of the major legal hubs, requiring them to weigh various strategies for attracting talent that present different risks and benefits, says Tom Hanlon at Buchanan Law.

  • Money, Money, Money: Limiting White Collar Wealth Evidence

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    As courts increasingly recognize that allowing unfettered evidence of wealth could prejudice a jury against a defendant, white collar defense counsel should consider several avenues for excluding visual evidence of a lavish lifestyle at trial, says Jonathan Porter at Husch Blackwell.

  • How Associates Can Build A Professional Image

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    As hybrid work arrangements become the norm in the legal industry, early-career attorneys must be proactive in building and maintaining a professional presence in both physical and digital settings, ensuring that their image aligns with their long-term career goals, say Lana Manganiello at Equinox Strategy Partners and Estelle Winsett at Estelle Winsett Professional Image Consulting.

  • Firms Must Rethink How They Train New Lawyers In AI Age

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    As law firms begin to use generative artificial intelligence to complete lower-level legal tasks, they’ll need to consider new ways to train summer associates and early-career attorneys, keeping in mind the five stages of skill acquisition, says Liisa Thomas at Sheppard Mullin.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Always Be Closing

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    When a lawyer presents their case with the right propulsive structure throughout trial, there is little need for further argument after the close of evidence — and in fact, rehashing it all may test jurors’ patience — so attorneys should consider other strategies for closing arguments, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • Credit Cards And Trading Cards: SALT In Review

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    From Mastercard's loss in a South Carolina court case to the taxability of trading cards imported to California, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.

  • Calif. Budget Will Likely Have Unexpected Tax Consequences

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    A temporary suspension of net operating loss deductions and business incentive tax credits, likely to be approved on June 15 as part of California’s next budget, may create unanticipated tax liabilities for businesses that modeled recently completed transactions on current law, says Myra Sutanto Shen at Wilson Sonsini.

  • Litigation Inspiration: Attys Can Be Heroic Like Olympians

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    Although litigation won’t earn anyone an Olympic medal in Paris this summer, it can be worthy of the same lasting honor if attorneys exercise focused restraint — seeking both their clients’ interests and those of the court — instead of merely pursuing every advantage short of sanctionable conduct, says Bennett Rawicki at Hilgers Graben.

  • Lean Into The 'Great Restoration' To Retain Legal Talent

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    As the “great resignation,” in which employees voluntarily left their jobs in droves, has largely dissipated, legal employers should now work toward the idea of a “great restoration,” adopting strategies to effectively hire, onboard and retain top legal talent, says Molly McGrath at Hiring & Empowering Solutions.

  • How Cannabis Rescheduling May Alter Paraphernalia Imports

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    The Biden administration's recent proposal to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana use raises questions about how U.S. Customs and Border Protection enforcement policies may shift when it comes to enforcing a separate federal ban on marijuana accessory imports, says R. Kevin Williams at Clark Hill.

  • Fishing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Atop the list of ways fishing makes me a better lawyer is the relief it offers from the chronic stress of a demanding caseload, but it has also improved my listening skills and patience, and has served as an exceptional setting for building earnest relationships, says Steven DeGeorge​​​​​​​ at Robinson Bradshaw.

  • A Healthier Legal Industry Starts With Emotional Intelligence

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    The legal profession has long been plagued by high rates of mental health issues, in part due to attorneys’ early training and broader societal stereotypes — but developing one’s emotional intelligence is one way to foster positive change, collectively and individually, says attorney Esperanza Franco.

  • To Make Your Legal Writing Clear, Emulate A Master Chef

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    To deliver clear and effective written advocacy, lawyers should follow the model of a fine dining chef — seasoning a foundation of pure facts with punchy descriptors, spicing it up with analogies, refining the recipe and trimming the fat — thus catering to a sophisticated audience of decision-makers, says Reuben Guttman at Guttman Buschner.

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