Understand Your Rights. Solve Your Legal Problems
For some time now, many conversations have been about signatures and how they have changed modern businesses. Now, business organizations can skip the long hours of back and forth, especially when they want documents signed.
People can now conveniently attach signatures to documents and collaborate effectively without unnecessary back-and-forth.
Today, they can use an electronic signature generator to draw out their signatures, append their initials, and even insert plain text.
Even with all the good attributes of e-signatures mentioned already, can they truly change the future of work? Keep reading to learn how to digitally sign a PDF and how this simple act can revolutionize business operations and make the customer experience worthwhile.
One beautiful way e-signature revolutionizes business operations is that staff members can skip the signing of documents as they electronically sign PDF documents.
Instead of emailing documents to be printed, signed, scanned, and re-sent to appropriate departments, they can quickly sign the documents online using a PDF editor like Lumin and send them to the recipient in a minute.
Workers are more satisfied and productive when they can work on more projects rather than mundane, repetitive ones.
Sending an electronic link allows for lightning-fast document turnaround time, eliminating the need to arrange for in-person signatures or back-and-forth postal delivery.
Platforms for electronic signatures, such as Lumin, are user-friendly and convenient, even for those without technical expertise.
You do not need to be a tech guru to figure your way around the e-signature tool because the user interface is friendly and suitable for people of all knowledge, no matter how basic your computer knowledge is.
The methods of submitting and receiving signatures are simple and easy to understand. Even though you might not know how to sign a PDF, electronic signatures are as simple as emailing and clicking a few buttons.
Hence, workers and customers can sign whenever they want. Everyone can sign their documents from any internet-enabled device, whether Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, or macOS.
In that same light, the negotiation process has sped up, and salespeople can conveniently close deals without hassles.
The frustrating part about pen and paper signatures is printing, signing, and faxing or scanning the document to the recipient. It is also expensive, as you need a large amount of paper and costly printer ink due to the need to print and scan the document many times.
Fortunately, the advent of signatures has helped organizations cut costs immensely. They don't need to buy as many office supplies as before. An electronic signature may be appended to a proposal or contract in seconds and returned.
Also, the good part of using the e-signature tool is that you don't need any prior education on how to electronically sign a PDF before you can use the tools. All features on the e-signature generator are self-explanatory.
Organizations can conveniently increase their return on investment with the right electronic signature generator like Lumin.
Companies that use e-signature systems to sign PDF files may reduce their document handling expenses and focus the saved money on other projects.
Streamlining procedures and enabling almost instantaneous document signing and return reduces expenditures and boosts productivity by speeding up corporate operations.
Electronic signatures add an extra layer of protection against fraud and illegal alterations because they have built-in encryption, decryption, and an audit trail that shows all the changes made to the document.
Thanks to the built-in authentication and encryption features, using an electronic signature leaves less room for fraud and mistakes.
Countries are also introducing more laws about electronic signatures. With the rise in e-signatures, governments knew that there would be cases where clients would become skeptical about how to sign a PDF file while retaining confidentiality and authenticity. So, the EU created the eIDAS regulation, an electronic identification, authentication, and trust services system, while the ESIGN Act, an electronic signature law, was enacted in the US.
An electronic signature generator addresses the compliance aspects of signing a PDF electronically while still retaining its accuracy.
Keeping track of paper documents to ensure compliance might be problematic in the event of an audit. However, ensuring that papers are undamaged and not tampered with is vital to prevent litigation and penalties.
Electronic signature encryption ensures document security and adherence to federal and state regulations as you digitally sign PDF files. Your team can rest easy while gathering signatures on important papers since electronic signatures are legally binding.
Often, people wonder how to sign a PDF document. Fortunately, electronic signatures (eSignatures) allow you to expedite processes and improve communication with clients, customers, and workers by allowing signatures on several documents from various individuals.
Businesses that care about the environment have been focused on environmentally friendly practices and going green by moving towards paperless, cloud-based solutions for some time now.
So, a business concerned about the environment can join the bandwagon by adopting an e-signature system that can be used to sign a PDF online.
Electronic signatures help businesses reduce paper, ink, and cumbersome printing and faxing equipment that is challenging to repair and recycle.
Sometimes, the big problem of “how to sign a PDF” and get it back to the office in time for processing to be processed in time can be challenging.
However, with an e-signature generator, customers and prospective hires may see how much you value their experience using electronic signatures. Giving customers the option to sign online alleviates the burden of the paperwork that often accompanies these agreements.
Electronic signature fields allow clients to sign papers from any device, whether a mobile phone or a desktop computer. This feature adds another level of efficiency and speeds up the process.
Also, it is easier for businesses to get all of their documentation and proposals reviewed in one location instead of sending them back and forth.
This article has covered eight ways e-signatures can revolutionize business operations. Electronic signatures are becoming more than a cool new technology; they are a significant shift that improves customer satisfaction, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency in corporate processes.
Also, organizations may reduce their environmental impact and save money on office supplies by eliminating the need for tangible papers, which aligns with sustainable business practices.
E-signatures are an intelligent step towards modernizing corporate processes in a time when digital interactions and remote work are increasingly the norm. By adopting this technology, businesses may improve accuracy, communicate better, and provide consumers and workers with a seamless experience.
Attorney-client privilege is one of the single most important protections in the U.S. legal system. It lets you talk honestly with a lawyer without fear your words will be used against you. But it’s not a magic shield that covers everything — and recent cases and rules make the boundaries worth checking before you spill everything. Below is a practical, easy-to-scan breakdown so you can understand what’s protected, what’s not, and how to keep your conversations safe.
Most private communications with your lawyer are protected, but the privilege is governed by common law and federal/state rules — not one single statute.
Four conditions usually have to be met: (1) a communication, (2) made in confidence, (3) between privileged persons (you + your lawyer or their agents), and (4) for the purpose of getting legal advice.
Work product is a separate protection that blocks discovery of materials prepared for litigation. It's different from privilege and protects attorneys’ mental impressions and trial strategy.
Major exceptions: crime-fraud (if you sought advice to commit or conceal a crime), waiver by sharing with third parties, and certain disclosure rules around testifying experts.
Federal courts apply a flexible body of privilege law under Federal Rule of Evidence 501, while state courts often follow state privilege law — so the exact contours vary by location and context. In corporate contexts, courts have long recognized privilege can cover communications between employees and corporate counsel when the communications are for legal advice. The Supreme Court’s Upjohn decision remains the leading authority on that point.
Protected communications can be:
Verbal conversations (in person, over the phone, video calls),
Written messages (emails, texts, letters, instant messages),
Documents you send to your attorney (drafts, notes), and
Meetings and interviews arranged to obtain legal advice.
But context matters. Sending a public report, press release, or a document that’s already publicly available doesn’t magically become privileged just because you email it to your lawyer — courts look at whether you had a reasonable expectation of privacy and whether the material was shared for legal advice. If it’s public, it’s harder to argue confidentiality. (Work-product protection might still apply to drafts and attorney notes prepared in anticipation of litigation.)
To be safe, test your communication against these four practical questions:
Is this a communication (not just a public record)?
Was it made in confidence? (Were you alone or with only those needed to help the lawyer?)
Was it to or from a privileged person? (Your lawyer, or someone the lawyer needs like a paralegal or investigator.)
Was it for legal advice or legal services? (Not for business strategy alone.)
If you can answer “yes” to all four, you’re likely protected — but see the exceptions below.
People often mix these two up. Short version:
Attorney-client privilege protects confidential communications between client and lawyer.
Work product protects materials prepared in anticipation of litigation (lawyers’ notes, strategies, drafts). The work-product rule is codified in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(b)(3) and related Civil Rule amendments limit discovery of certain expert communications.
Work product can be harder to pierce than privilege because courts shield the lawyer’s mental impressions. But both protections can be lost if you share documents widely or use them publicly.
Crime-fraud exception. If you used legal advice to plan or hide a crime or fraud, the privilege doesn’t apply. Courts may do an in-camera (private) review to decide this. Key cases and rules support this exception.
Waiver by disclosure. If you share privileged communications with third parties (friends, on social media, or employer-monitored work email), you may waive the privilege. Employer monitoring policies and shared devices can be pitfalls.
Presence of third parties. A conversation overheard or attended by outsiders usually loses privilege — unless those third parties are agents of the lawyer (interpreter, investigator) and necessary for the legal advice. Spouses are not automatically safe third parties.
Communications with testifying experts. Recent Civil Rule changes protect some attorney-expert communications, but experts’ factual materials, drafts, or compensation details can be discoverable. Courts distinguish retained, testifying experts from consulting experts.
When a company hires counsel, communications with that counsel may be privileged — but courts look for intent: were the communications made to get legal advice, or were they purely business instructions? The Supreme Court’s Upjohn decision made clear that communications from employees to corporate counsel can be privileged when they were requested to secure legal advice for the corporation. That said, recent litigation shows courts still scrutinize internal investigation records and their dual legal/business uses.
Short answer: Maybe — but be careful.
Use personal, secure accounts and avoid employer-monitored systems for lawyer conversations.
If you use shared or company devices, courts have found privilege can be weakened or lost.
For highly sensitive matters, ask your lawyer about encrypted messaging or secure client portals.
Make the purpose clear. When you send a message, label it “For legal advice — privileged and confidential.” It’s not foolproof, but it helps.
Limit the audience. Only include people who need to be there (lawyer, interpreter, necessary assistant).
Avoid public or monitored channels. Don’t use work email, group chats, or social media to discuss confidential matters.
Ask for an Upjohn warning (corporate cases). If you’re an employee speaking to corporate counsel, ask whether counsel represents you or only the company (this protects your expectations).
Preserve documents carefully. If litigation is possible, preserve relevant documents and consult your lawyer about privilege logs and redactions.
You text your lawyer from your personal phone about a criminal charge: usually privileged.
You post details of your legal problem on Facebook and then email your lawyer the post: likely waived.
A company’s internal investigation report sent to outside counsel: may be privileged if done to get legal advice — but courts will test whether the primary purpose was legal, not business. Recent appellate rulings have revisited these lines.
Q: Are texts with my lawyer confidential?
A: Generally yes — if sent privately and for legal advice — but not if sent via an employer-monitored phone or forwarded to others.
Q: Can my lawyer be forced to testify against me?
A: Usually no — privilege prevents compelled testimony about confidential communications — except under exceptions like crime-fraud or waiver.
Q: If I email a public document to my lawyer, is the email privileged?
A: The communication about that document may be, but the public document itself isn’t confidential simply by attaching it.
Q: Does my spouse’s presence break privilege?
A: Sometimes. A spouse who’s only there as a translator or necessary participant may not destroy confidentiality — but it’s fact-specific.
Q: What happens if privilege is disputed?
A: Courts can review documents privately (in camera) to decide if the crime-fraud exception applies or if communications are truly privileged.
PPC and SEO are two excellent marketing tools for lawyers. Both aim to attract prospective clients; therefore, there are a lot of similarities between them. There are two primary ways to promote oneself online using digital marketing strategies. Online advertising and search engine optimization are these. Below, we'll take a closer look at each one:
When you optimize your website for search engines, you target local and organic results. You receive these free clicks from Google. Google's free clicks occur in organic search results, maps, three packs, and local packs. Your company can obtain new customers for free via organic search engine optimization (SEO) if you rank here for keywords related to your practice areas or services.
Any strategy to raise a website's organic search engine rankings, particularly on Google, is called search engine optimization (SEO). According to some estimates, Google manages more than 60% of all web traffic. Google, Bing, and Yahoo! are the three largest search engines, controlling roughly 70 percent of all Internet traffic. Having your website appear in Google's search results is crucial to your online presence.
You can see organic search results in the middle of Google's website. In the legal sector, organic search results are much more valuable to the typical reader.
People put much more faith in organic results than sponsored ads.
Paid placement in organic search results is not possible. The main search engines' internal algorithms can only decide where you land in organic search results.
They rank your material according to how well they believe it relates to your selected keywords and subjects. Since we are discussing the legal field in particular, any information you provide must be relevant to your expertise. Adding regionalization to your material could also be useful.
Your ranking can be improved in several ways. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, reviewing the strategies listed below will help you get the most out of Google and the other big search engines regarding organic exposure. Search engines that focus on certain niches can also benefit from these strategies.
With Google Ads, you can choose between pay-per-click (PPC) and pay-per-lead (PPL) models. In most cases, the main issue with this kind of advertising for lawyers is the expensive cost. To illustrate the point, even without a new case, a simple internet visit—like clicking on the term "Car Accident Lawyer"—could cost several hundred dollars. You can see how this can become a scalability problem for businesses that need a large volume of leads or cases.
"Click" in the context of a term paper means you save money by not paying for each impression. If your ad appears in front of a user's eyes when searching on a major search engine, it's called an impression. You will only pay for that listing if the person does a "clickthrough. When people see your ad and click on your provided link, it will direct them to your website.
You will only pay for the impression when the user clicks through to your website. The level of competition for that particular phrase and area will determine the price you spend. Bidding on certain keywords is necessary to ensure that your ad is seen. The bid price will be greater in an area with high levels of competition than in one with low levels of competition. More legal firms will often pay for more popular keywords.
You will need to outbid your rivals to get your listing to appear higher in search results here.
Of course, this necessitates caution when selecting keywords. Unlike organic search results, things can shift quickly with PPC campaigns. Competitors may start bidding on the same keywords once they notice your success, potentially outbidding you and overtaking your visibility. This is why search engine optimization is often considered a stronger long-term strategy compared to pay-per-click advertising. However, by working with a results-driven PPC ad agency, you can apply smart tactics to maximise the impact of your PPC campaigns and stay ahead of the competition.
Paid search advertising and search engine optimization are best used in conjunction. As shown before, Seo is a method with a longer time horizon. Most legal companies consider pay-per-click advertising a short-term strategy despite its greater flexibility. You can utilize the two tactics in tandem to maximize their effectiveness.
Search engine optimization (SEO) for attorneys is the process of enhancing a legal firm's web presence to raise its ranking in SERPs. SEO seeks to entice organic (non-paid) visitors to a website by optimizing content, keywords, meta tags, and backlinks.
Search engine rankings are directly related to a website's quality. If you want your law practice to rank well on Google and get serious visitors, search engine optimization (SEO) must be a top priority. If you're a lawyer interested in Local Service Ads but need help knowing where to start or want to improve your current campaigns, contact an agency that does SEO for attorneys.
If you're considering refinancing your home to get better interest rates, this could be the guide you can follow.
However, you want to ensure that you do it by way of legal needs, especially when you want to avoid as many pitfalls and challenges as possible. We'll show you the five essential tips that allow you to refinance your home correctly with legal advice.
Once you get the ball rolling, you will be able to refinance your home without issue. Let's get started now with what you need to know.
The first thing you want to do before you decide to refinance your home is look at your current mortgage terms. You want to find your contract that outlines your mortgage and review it thoroughly.
Look for any terms that include prepayment penalties or even clauses that might affect your refinancing decision adversely. Prepayment penalties could significantly impact the cost-effectiveness of your goal. This is because they charge fees for paying off your existing loan as early as possible.
If you're looking for more information on how to do this, try to find mortgage services experts who can get you the best interest rates when you refinance your house. You could find yourself saving more money without the unnecessary fees.
Next, you want to determine your home's equity. This will be critical when refinancing your home so you can tell the difference between your home's market value and the outstanding balance currently on your mortgage. If your equity is higher, you can get favourable refinancing terms. In addition, you want to ensure that you get an accurate home appraisal done to get the best equity possible.
Knowing your home's equity value will help influence the loan approval process and ensure that you get the best interest rates. While there are no guarantees in life, it's always a good idea to secure the best interest rates that will be more in your favour than the lenders'.
Your credit score will also be critical in determining the interest rate. You want to obtain a copy of this and ensure it is the most accurate possible. If you notice any issues that could affect your credit score, fix them as soon as possible. The higher your credit score, the better your chances of getting favourable refinancing terms and lower interest rates.
It’s important to know what is considered legal in terms of the data credit agencies have access to. Especially when it comes to providing you with the most accurate information possible about your credit.
You need to keep in mind that various refinancing options will be available to you. These include, but are not limited to, streamline, cash-out, and rate and term refinancing. Keep in mind that each option will have implications regarding the legal and financial aspects.
A cash-out refinance will ensure that you access your home's equity; however, it can come with higher interest rates and fees.
Understanding these options and any legal aspects pertaining to them will help you make a more informed decision. From there, you can decide which refinancing option will be best for you, considering your financial situation and other factors.
Finally, it's always a good idea to consult with a real estate attorney if you seek legal advice regarding your refinancing intentions. They can help you navigate the complexities of refinancing and review any documents you may have while providing information on your legal rights. They will help you avoid any pitfalls that could occur as you are attempting to refinance your home.
They will look out for your best interest and review the contractual terms to determine whether or not they are clear and in line with set interests, primarily when successfully refinancing your home.
With these five essential legal tips at your disposal, it will be easier for you to refinance your home.
However, you must consult a real estate attorney before doing anything that might hinder the process. You will be sure to have the proper documentation in place and consult with your attorney and your mortgage company throughout the process, both of which will be able to help you out so you can get a more favourable result in the end.
Understanding what goes into a wrongful death case is vital in the wake of a tragedy. In a wrongful death case, the party whose negligence or intentional misconduct caused the victim's death may be sued by the victim's family or by the victim's estate.
The term "wrongful death" is complicated since it covers so many different kinds of cases. There are a lot of potential causes, including aggressive and negligent actions as well as vehicle accidents. In each of these instances, unique legal questions arise. A wrongful death lawsuit's outcome is highly dependent on the specifics of the occurrence, and every case is unique.
A complex network of laws and regulations may make wrongful death litigation more or less challenging, depending on your state and the specifics of your case. Legal counsel is crucial because dealing with this process's emotional and legal intricacies may be difficult for those without expertise. Now, let us proceed to understand the concepts of wrongful death and more.
Being careless means being less careful than someone reasonably cautious in a comparable circumstance. Disregarding basic safety measures, including reckless driving, medical mistakes, and hazardous property situations, takes many forms.
In a case of wrongful death, the presence or absence of intent to hurt is irrelevant; what matters is that carelessness is sufficient to prove guilt. Aggravated assault and other intentional harms may also be used as proof of carelessness since they show complete disdain for the victim's safety.
At issue in wrongful death lawsuits is the untimely and preventable demise of an individual as a result of another party's conduct. Members of the victim's family or legal guardians of the estate bring these cases to hold the offender accountable.
Moreover, it is crucial to establish that the demise was caused by carelessness or malicious injury rather than by accident alone. Such a case often develops when an individual's carelessness results in disastrous consequences, such as automobile accidents, medical malpractice, or hazardous workplaces.
To establish causation in a wrongful death case, it is necessary to show that the defendant's carelessness had an obvious and significant connection to the decedent's death. Hence, it is up to the plaintiff to prove that the defendant's acts were the direct cause of the decedent's death.
For example, to prove that a car's refusal to stop at a red light caused a pedestrian's death, the driver must have been negligent. Also, accident records, footage from traffic cameras, and expert testimony are usually needed to prove a causal relationship between the negligent act and the fatality.
If the victim's loved ones want to sue for wrongful death, they'll have to prove that the victim's death caused them unimaginable pain. Missed pay and burial costs are economic losses, but emotional pain and loneliness are examples of non-economic damages.
Moreover, courts often consider the deceased's social standing, economic prospects, and the impact on surviving family members when making decisions. A combination of financial data, expert opinions, and first-hand accounts allows us to quantify these losses and draw attention to the short- and long-term effects on the family's prospects.
The circumstances of the deceased's death and the laws of the state where the decedent resides determine the extent to which a wrongful death claim may be pursued. The representative's duties sometimes also include acting as the estate's executor. Beneath, we have bulleted who can file a case of wrongful death for the deceased.
Settlements are a common outcome in cases involving personal harm, including wrongful death. Service of claim notice, preparation and distribution of demand letters, and negotiation with insurance companies are all aspects of the settlement process consistent with other cases.
Moreover, paying off any outstanding medical or otherwise liens is crucial to the settlement process. However, different jurisdictions may apply different settlement conditions because wrongful death claims are created by statute.
Specifically, the court may need to approve the settlement to complete it. If any survivors are less than 18 years old, this is likely to occur. Also, the court will often appoint a guardian to oversee a minor's settlement money until the child becomes an adult or the assets are depleted.
Also, no matter how close you get to a settlement in a wrongful death case, you must have legal counsel. Moreover, you will cause a delay in the settlement's approval and payment distribution if you do this. However, in the worst-case scenario, you must make more money to cover your bills.
It can be tough to plan the next steps in a wrongful death lawsuit when you are still mourning, but it is a must. So, protect your rights, gather evidence that will be critical in your case, and overcome obstacles with the assistance of Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath, a Wrongful Death Lawyer firm.
For Your Rights will stick by your side throughout the legal process until you get justice!
Trail has acquired a group of companies in the Mixed Martial Arts sector to create a single group, Ares MMA via its SLAM fund.
The acquired groups includes, Ares Fighting Championship, Management Factory, FBC Production and Fight Management which have all detected, trained and produced multiple combat sport athletes recognised in the sector.
This will encourage development for the new group in Europe, The Middle East and Africa due to SLAM’s expertise in geographic growth and operational performance. This will also benefit the crossing of sectors, sport, luxury, art and music to offer innovative experiences.
Trail was advised by CPC & Associés throughout this acquisition with Arnaud Péricard, Edouard Bouffannais and Jean-Baptiste Bertrand.
“We are very excited to have been retained and selected by Trail Private Equity to provide legal transactional services with the newly formed SLAM Fund, the 1st ever PE fund dedicated to sports in France”.
Through its SLAM private equity fund, created in December 2023, TRAIL invests in the sports, luxury goods, art and music sectors. As part of its development strategy, the fund has decided to acquire the AresMMA group.
Backed by our experience and expertise in sports law, we have advised the SLAM fund since its inception. In this capacity, we were involved throughout the acquisition process, from due diligence to the drafting of all contractual documentation as well as all strategic options and moves on the project.
My team and I specialize in sports law, and sports law is unique in that it covers a number of different law matters, including corporate law, contract law, labour law, tax law, etc. Our team, in addition to its mastery of sports law, has a specialist in each of these matters, so it is complementary.
Each member of the team, with his or her specific skills, is able to study and analyse the documents sent by the target independently. This independence becomes a source of complementarity, as it enables us to raise all the legal issues applicable to the target and to address to our client all the points of vigilance required during due diligence. This complementarity also applies to the drafting of contractual documents for the acquisition.
In addition to these legal skills, such an acquisition requires patience and rigor. And our team's great availability, both to the client and to each other, enabled us to maintain the momentum needed to finalize the acquisition on schedule.
Depending on the timetable set by the client, we need to set up a due diligence process quickly. As soon as a target is identified by the client, it's up to us to identify its sector of activity, as well as its specific features. Once this work has been carried out, we draw up a document list, adapted to the target and our client's needs, of the documents and elements required for our review, so that we can then issue a report. Sports law in France is also very much driven by public and administrative law and we have strong expertise in these matters within our firm.
To ensure that our review is complete, and to enable us to write the most accurate report possible, a classic Q&A system is put in place.
For this acquisition, we chose to issue an initial red flag report targeting our points of particular attention, thus enabling the client to get a first idea of the target and any difficulties he might encounter. Then, in line with the defined timetable, and after further discussions with the target, we issued our final report.
This two-stage process enables the client to confirm, or deny, his interest. The red flag report adds further time for reflection.
This process proved particularly well-suited to the situation. In fact, certain issues not envisaged by the client were revealed, enabling him to adapt, and direct differently, his discussions with the target.
This acquisition followed a classic pattern, i.e. the setting up of a data room, enabling a due diligence report to be drawn up, followed by an investment protocol with signing and closing.
To ensure that Trail had all the information it needed to make its decision, regular general meetings (at least 2 per week, throughout the acquisition) were initiated by our firm.
Then each member individually, for the documentation he was specifically responsible for drafting, had to regularly draft and send a progress report (at least 1 per week) to the client, informing him in real time of the latest changes affecting him.
It was through the implementation of such a process that the team was able to keep to the schedule agreed between the client and the target.
Trail's SLAM fund is endowed with 200 million euros, and adopts a novel approach that combines TRAIL's investment experience with the know-how of international athletes, such as Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly, and leading sports experts and entrepreneurs.
For this acquisition, SLAM has teamed up with fighter Ciryl Gane and aims to expand internationally, notably by creating a European combat sports championship.
The CPC & Associés team supports Trail in the development of Ares MMA. In particular, the team is assisting Trail with the legal structuring of Ares MMA from both a corporate and employment law perspective.
The team also advises on contractual and sports law, and reviews all fighter, sponsorship and event organization contracts (most recently ARES 22).
In addition to this short-term support, Trail and the CPC law firm are looking further ahead and starting to work on the structure's international development.
Dealing with the death of a loved one is never simple. Even more so when the fatality was the result of another person's carelessness. There are hundreds of preventable fatalities every year due to things like medical mistakes, falls, and car accidents.
Legal recourse may be available to you or a family member in the event of a wrongful death. No amount of money will reimburse for the loss of a loved one, but pursuing justice may help alleviate some of the suffering.
Get a wrongful death attorney before taking things into your own hands or launching a lawsuit. Thanks to their extensive training and expertise, these experts will see your case from beginning to end. Allow the professionals to attend to the details of your case while you cope with your recent sorrow.
Here are five reasons why you should retain the services of a wrongful death lawyer to seek justice for your family member.
We hope this is the last time you have to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Conversely, wrongful death lawyers have years of expertise in various instances. They will examine your circumstances to determine the most appropriate claim type.
It takes a lot of time and energy to file a lawsuit. The fact that many laws vary from one state to another further adds to the complexity. When you're still grieving the loss of a loved one, this becomes much more apparent.
The expertise and resources of a wrongful death attorney may help you file a claim quickly and effectively. In this way, the settlement procedure is safeguarded against mistakes and delays.
After a wrongful death, it's normal to feel disoriented. You're bewildered and heartbroken. Finding your bearings and figuring out what to do next are challenges. A wrongful death lawyer may be an invaluable resource in this situation. To make sure your case goes off without a hitch, they will tell you what to do next. Maximizing the benefits of your claim is another responsibility of your attorney. Speaking or doing anything incorrect might jeopardize your case, depending on the situation. There may be legal ramifications to whatever action you take, from contacting a relative's insurance company to settling their estate. Follow the lead of a seasoned wrongful death attorney.
Filing papers, contacting others, and handling court processes are the last things you want to consider while mourning. You may rest easy knowing that you have legal representation and sound counsel when you retain the services of a wrongful death attorney.
The mental and physical toll of losing a loved one is immense. You are now obligated to make the last preparations, settle their estate, and fulfil their last desires. You may relax since your lawyer is looking out for your best interests. Instead of worrying about your legal rights, a wrongful death lawyer can help you recover.
No amount of money can compensate for the loss of a loved one, but you have the right to seek redress when another person's carelessness leads to their demise. Experts in wrongful death cases know your claim's value and rights.
Payments for wrongful death vary widely, and a heavy burden of evidence is often required. An expert lawyer can put together the strongest evidence of your loved one's suffering before their death. Additionally, they will emphasize how much your family was affected by their loss. Specialized lawyers are well-versed in dealing with insurance companies. Responsible parties attempting to evade a settlement are no match for their expertise. You risk settling for less than you are rightfully due if you don't have a skilled attorney. To prevent a drawn-out trial, your lawyer will devote significant time to attempting to reach a reasonable settlement. Out-of-court settlements are the norm in wrongful death lawsuits. Wrongful death lawyers, on the other hand, are well-versed in trial procedure and ready to represent you in any courtroom.
The expense is a deterrent for some individuals who might otherwise seek a lawyer. Medical and funeral costs may be rather high. It can seem pointless to shell out more cash for a wrongful death lawyer.
You will wind up saving money if you hire a competent attorney. On top of making sure the guilty party doesn't take advantage of you, they'll fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. Another point to consider is that most lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis. This means they only get paid when a settlement is reached rather than upfront. You should also value your time.
This is particularly true when one is mourning the death of a loved one. Prosecuting instances of wrongful death may be time-consuming and tedious. Do not worry yourself silly about collecting proof, filling out insurance claims, or collecting paperwork. The total amount of work you have to do will be far less, but you still may have to go to meetings and respond to inquiries from attorneys.
When you lose a loved one, there is no way to fill the emptiness you feel emotionally. Although the loss of a loved one is never easy, the pain of a death brought about by another person's carelessness or misconduct may be especially crushing.
Hiring a wrongful death lawyer is about more than just receiving legal counsel. In addition to sound advice and years of expertise in the field, you will also get emotional support. Important steps must be taken while claiming wrongful death. A settlement might be at stake if you make a single mistake.
Trust us to fight for the rightful compensation and justice you deserve. While you concentrate on getting well, the West Palm Beach wrongful death attorneys at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath firm will take care of the details of your wrongful death lawsuit.
For a consultation, contact us now.
Julian Assange’s case has been in debate at the UK High Court and the US department of Justice for some time now. Finally, with an agreement in principle with the DoJ, Assange has began his journey home to Australia.
Assange has been fighting extradition to the US and finally he has been allowed to move on with his life, the journalistic freedoms being debated since his arrest.
Julia Assange has served 5 years in a UK prison and this time will be credited excusing him from spending any extra time in a US prison. He will plead guilty to one charge, in relation to violating the Espionage act.
Assange was flown to Bangkok where the aircraft refuelled before beginning the journey to the Mariana Islands where a judge will sign off on the agreement.
Assange has distrust with the US and would not voluntarily return to the continental USA, explaining the choice for the Mariana Island, a US territory in the south Pacific.
When the agreement has been signed off they expect Julian Assange to return home to Australia where his wife and two children currently reside.
Syndicat des Eaux d’Ile-de-France (SEDIF) has completed the procedure for awarding the new concession contract relating to the management of the public drinking water service in Ile-de-France.
The contract will last 12 years and is worth around EUR 4.3bn to cover the supply of drinking water to over 4 million people for over EUR1 billion in investments to produce clean, limescale and chlorine free water.
Lacourte Raquin Tatar supported SEDIF at all stages and defended their interest in the context of disputes which proceeded the signing of the contract and under the terms of which the Paris administrative court and the Council of the state validated in all respects of awarding the concession.
The team was led by Benoit Neveu and composed of Xavier de Lesquen, Marine Hue, Romain Meresse, Claire McDonagh and Arthur Pierre.
For SEDIF, this project has significant economic, technical, environmental but also legal implications, considering the complexity of the contract and the high risks of litigation.
Our goal has always been to provide high-level legal advice to meet those challenges, with precision, availability, and adaptability. I was personally involved on a daily basis, leading the team and the relation with the client, which was made easier as SEDIF also set up a tight and efficient dedicated team, with a limited number of highly committed contacts.
The success of the project greatly relies on the planification of tasks and the anticipation of challenges, but also on the team’s capacity to adapt, daily, to the client’s needs. Emergencies and last-minute changes are quintessential for this type of project, and our team knows exactly how to deal with them.
We set up a dedicated team, highly experienced in public contract law and composed of lawyers who have great knowledge of water public services, the economic operators that can provide them as well as the specific legal issues of this sector. We used our experience working on previous concession contracts for the supply of drinking water, notably in Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lyon, Lille or Marseille.
For this project, we have continuously taken advantage of our strong litigation practice in public contract law, which has allowed us to anticipate criticism of the award process and provide tailored advice, even when the law was silent. We also benefited from the invaluable support of my partner Xavier de Lesquen, a former administrative magistrate. Our expertise has been particularly valuable in preventing conflicts of interests, advising the client on the information to be communicated to the economic operators, and more generally throughout the negotiations.
In many cases, there are no obvious nor absolute answers to the questions which bring clients to their lawyer. For this reason, beyond the mere analysis of the current state of the law, our dedicated team of lawyers on this project has systematically looked for, found, and sometimes even designed the most appropriate solutions to meet the needs of our client, always keeping legal security as a priority.
Finally, this type of projects requires helping the client to take decisions while taking into account numerous parameters and to reconcile various point of views. I believe that my experience as a mediator helped our client in the management of the project, especially as communication is a key factor of success, as is listening to the client and reformulating their needs to answer them as best as possible.
There was an incident which changed the parameters of the final stages of the concession award procedure. As a result of an IT issue, part of an economic operator’s bid was disclosed to a competitor. This breach of confidentiality has led SEDIF to stop the negotiations and award the contract based on intermediate bids submitted before the IT issue. This decision was not an easy one to take, and we worked closely with SEDIF on all the possible solutions available to identify and evaluate the risks of each solution.
The decision to attribute the contract on the basis of intermediate bids has been challenged by one of the economic operators through a precontractual remedy, before the award of the contract. We successfully represented SEDIF before the Paris Administrative Court, which ruled that SEDIF’s decision was compliant with the French concession contract rules, and especially with the principle of equal treatment between the candidates. This ruling was confirmed by the French Council of State, which ruled that SEDIF had taken the best decision in the specific circumstances of the case. We are proud to have successfully advised SEDIF and defended this solution, even considering the pressure surrounding it.
Once the decision to continue the procedure on the basis of the intermediate bids was confirmed, we advised SEDIF on the analysis of these bids and on the adjustments of the concession contract, which was particularly challenging as it was impossible to continue discussions with the economic operators. A considerable amount of work was therefore required before SEDIF could issue the decision to select the concessionaire.
This choice was followed by another precontractual remedy, through which the unsuccessful economic operator tried to dispute the concession award procedure on multiple grounds. However, the Administrative Court rejected the claims and fully confirmed the legality of all aspects of the concession award procedure. Considering our involvement at every stage of this procedure, we received this decision with great satisfaction.
Following this litigation, the contract was finally signed, but not without a long series of obstacles and several long months of constant mobilisation on our part.
The SEDIF project is an ambitious one which perfectly matches the type of cases that our firm is keen on, for at least three reasons.
The first reason is that this project required strong legal engineering, and the provision of legal advice with high added value, which perfectly matches the type of services that we make a priority to provide to our clients. Indeed, we always strive to bring a creative and tailored outlook to every situation, to obtain the best possible results. In the case of the SEDIF project, we have had to reflect a lot on the remuneration mechanisms as well as on the financing arrangements of investments, particularly on the billion-euro construction works for new installations aiming to produce “clean, limescale and chlorine-free water”.
The second reason is that the SEDIF project meets social and environmental preoccupations which naturally matter greatly to our firm: sustainable preservation of natural resources, adaptation to climate change, engaging actions favouring the transition to green energies, guaranteeing free access to safe water for all. Beyond the internal guidelines and processes that Lacourte Raquin Tatar has developed in its daily activity, we strive to always prioritise cases with favourable impacts on social and environmental issues.
The third reason is that providing legal advice on such a project necessarily implies working with a team composed of lawyers who are complementary to each other, but also sufficiently responsible and autonomous. This is the very type of project in which associates work directly with partners and clients, and are therefore quickly confronted to situations that enable them to give their best.
Overall, this project has been a great opportunity to demonstrate our capacity to work as a team, and our capacity to adopt a global and strategic vision.
Our firm continues to advise SEDIF during the performance of the concession. This contract will come into full effect on January 1st, 2025 and we have plenty preparatory actions to take, considering the issues that a contract of this scale (more than 9000 pages in total…) raises once the performance starts.
We therefore answer all the client’s questions and even participate in the training of SEDIF members, who will now have to implement this concession contract, both in terms of carrying out the investment works and operating the public service, but also in terms of monitoring the concessionaire.
LACOURTE RAQUIN TATAR business law firm is a leader in its areas of expertise: mergers and acquisitions, real estate and taxation. In addition to these areas of expertise, he has recognized skills in public law, urban planning, financing, financial regulation and asset management, and litigation.
With 85 lawyers, including 23 partners and 4 counsels, the firm is committed to provide his clients with solutions, and promote ethics and long-term collaborations.
LACOURTE RAQUIN TATAR advises and litigates in the various fields of public law, mainly in the areas of urban planning, public contracts and environment. The firm's public law team acts on behalf of investors, developers, industrialists, professional federations, as well as organizing authorities and public service operators for the regulatory, operational and financial implementation of their projects. The lawyers in the team have recognized experience, particularly in the real estate, urban development, renewable energy, local public services and infrastructure sectors.
Benoit Neveu has been a lawyer in public business law for 20 years.
Benoit Neveu holds a DEA in Public Economic Law (University of Paris II - Panthéon Assas), a DESS in Public Law Litigation (University of Paris I - Panthéon Sorbonne), and a diploma from the Institut des Hautes Etudes Internationales (University of Paris II - Panthéon Assas). He has focused his practice on public contracts and public services law, as well as, more generally, on the law of local authorities, both in terms of advice and litigation.
His experience in auditing, awarding and negotiating public contracts (delegation of public services, complex public contracts, partnership contracts, etc.) as well as in the organization of public services (creation of structures such as local public companies, drafting of rules of governance, definition of personnel status, etc.) and management of the domain of public entities has led him to intervene in the context of project management assistance missions for public entities in most economic sectors.
In addition, Benoit NEVEU is a certified mediator (University Diploma of Mediator - IFOMENE).
Energy SpA has now finalised the negotiation and structuring of a temporary business association contract (German: ARGE for Arbeitsgemeinschaft) with Koenigskreuz, a specialist company based in Austria working in photovoltaic technologies.
Energy SpA is active in the offer of integrated electricity storage systems on Euronext Growth Milan. The value of this supply of storage system and services is EUR 25.7 million.
Rechtsanwalt Dr Andreas Eustacchio, LL.M. (LSE) has provided legal advice to ARGE Energy Königskreuz on their first business cooperation on the Austrian Market.
“With our advice, we have made a significant contribution to putting the Italian-Austrian cooperation between Energy and Königskreuz on a solid legal footing for the successful delivery of battery storage systems and associated services worth 25.7 million euros for ASFINAG in Austria.”
A pivotal challenge of the legal advice was the timely drafting and negotiation of the business association contract, which clearly defines the single tasks and responsibilities of Energy S.p.A. and Königskreuz GmbH within the framework of the joint venture.
With our advice, we have made a significant contribution to putting the Italian-Austrian cooperation between Energy and Königskreuz on a solid legal footing for the successful delivery of battery storage systems and associated services worth 25.7 million euros for ASFINAG. For ASFINAG this involves achieving three goals: complete energy autonomy by 2030, energy resilience to protect data (an extremely topical issue), and motorway fast charging supported by energy from renewable sources.
The joint venture with Energy SpA as the leading part has won an important tender from ASFINAG Autobahn Service GmbH, a motorway concessionaire in Austria, and prevailed against other industrial entities. The successful collaboration will now enable the production and delivery of the battery storage systems and associated services worth 25.7 million euros for ASFINAG over the next 18 months.
It is particularly noteworthy that the energy storage systems are produced by Energy S.p.A. in Italy and therefore come from European production.
Foremost it was necessary to have an in-depth knowledge of the Italian and Austrian markets as well as experience with industrial companies and the energy sector. I have been advising Italian clients in Austria and vice versa for more than 20 years now. With my expertise in the Austrian and Italian markets and knowing about the strength of the Italian industry I was able to set the legal course for success in Austria together with Studio Legale Macchion & Resoli on the Italian side.
The agreement had to ensure that all legal and technical provisions of the Austrian energy sector were complied with. To this end, it was first also necessary to clarify which legal requirements had to be met for the Austrian market.
Commercial and legal success is about understanding the client and the culture of their country. As I acted as legal advisor for both the Italian Energy S.p.A. and the Austrian Königskreuz GmbH, my role was also to act as a mediator to resolve any differences that arose during the contract negotiations, both from a legal point of view and in relation to various business and technical aspects. This was also done under time pressure and strict time constraints due to the tender.
The key to success was ‘trust’ in me as a person and my team as well as in my work as a legal advisor. It was thus very important that the dialogue between the two parties did not break down, even during the period in which contractual sticking points had to be overcome. It was therefore important for us to repeatedly discuss with the two partners legally sensible and economically viable points and to immediately submit proposals so to ensure that the collaboration between the two partners would be a successful one in the future.
If only one of the two partners had not trusted me 100% during these phases, we would not have been able to achieve this success.
The tender is the first of its kind won by Energy S.p.A., as a partner of the ARGE Energy S.p.A. Königskreuz GmbH and is international recognition of Energy S.p.A.'s strategy, which confirms its leading position in the renewable energy sector. The Company is at the forefront of the transition to a sustainable energy future, constantly investing in research to develop increasingly efficient and sustainable products, thus confirming its influence in the European energy storage market.
We will now continue providing legal assistance on the joint venture on the individual implementation steps necessary in Austria and to satisfy ASFINAG according to the tender agreement with the ARGE.
The most important goal for us must continue to be to put our customers and their needs at the centre. Only joint success strengthens both.
