Understanding a New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act (CFA) Claim: Strengths, Limits, and Common Misconceptions
The New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act (CFA) offers powerful remedies, including treble damages and potential attorney’s fees, but those remedies are not automatic. This article explains how CFA claims actually work in practice, what must be proven in litigation, and why contingency-fee representation is not always appropriate despite the statute’s strength.
Minority Shareholder Oppression in NYC: When Majority Owners Cross the Line
Minority shareholder oppression occurs when majority owners in closely held New York businesses abuse control to exclude minority shareholders from the economic benefits of ownership. Common issues include freeze‑outs, withheld distributions, lack of transparency, and self‑dealing. New York courts offer remedies ranging from damages to buy‑outs and dissolution, making early legal guidance critical.
Commercial Litigation in NYC: Strategies for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses
Commercial litigation in NYC affects small and mid‑sized businesses across industries. Common disputes include contract breaches, internal ownership conflicts, and commercial lease issues. Early case assessment, evidence preservation, and strategic decision‑making are essential to managing risk and controlling costs in New York’s demanding litigation environment.
Breach of Fiduciary Duty in NYC: What Business Owners Need to Know
Breach of fiduciary duty claims in New York City commonly arise in closely held businesses, LLCs, partnerships, and nonprofits. Directors, officers, managers, and controlling owners owe duties of care and loyalty, and violations can result in serious legal and financial consequences. Understanding common risk areas—such as self-dealing, conflicts of interest, and misuse of assets—can help business owners avoid disputes and protect their organizations.
Corporate Governance in New York & New Jersey: How Bylaws and Operating Agreements Interact With State Law
This article explains how internal governance documents—bylaws, operating agreements, and certificates—interact with state laws in New York and New Jersey. It highlights how default and mandatory statutes affect corporations, LLCs, and nonprofits, and why clear, up-to-date governance documents are essential for avoiding disputes and ensuring effective management.
Demand Letters and Pre-Litigation Strategy in NYC
A well-written demand letter can settle a dispute before a lawsuit even starts. Learn how NYC businesses can use pre-litigation strategy to protect their rights and reduce legal costs.
Partnership and Shareholder Disputes in NYC: How to Protect Your Business and Your Rights
Disagreements between partners or shareholders can quickly disrupt even the strongest business. Learn how New York law handles internal business disputes — and how to resolve them strategically.
Breach of Contract Litigation in NYC: What Small Businesses Should Know
When a business deal breaks down, breach of contract litigation can decide whether your company survives the dispute. Here’s what NYC businesses should know before heading to court.
Using Declaratory Judgment Actions to Take Control of a Dispute
When business disputes loom, the party that files first often controls the narrative and venue.
Through a declaratory judgment action, a company can ask a court to resolve a legal question before being sued — clarifying rights, limiting exposure, or pre-empting an opponent’s tactics.
This article explains when declaratory actions make strategic sense and how they can reshape litigation outcomes.
Strategic Use of Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) and Preliminary Injunctions in Business Disputes
When a competitor misuses trade secrets, a partner breaches a non-compete, or a transaction threatens to destroy value, waiting for a full trial can be fatal.
In such cases, U.S. courts allow Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) and Preliminary Injunctions — emergency remedies that preserve the status quo until the dispute is resolved.
This article explains how these tools work, the strategic factors courts consider, and how business owners can use them effectively and ethically.
Letters Rogatory and Depositions in Korea: Navigating International Evidence Requests
When a U.S. party needs evidence or witness testimony from South Korea, traditional discovery methods like subpoenas don’t apply.
Because South Korea restricts foreign lawyers from taking depositions locally, U.S. litigants must rely on Letters Rogatory and the Hague Evidence Convention.
This article explains how to properly obtain testimony, documents, or statements from Korean witnesses while complying with international law.
How to Serve a Korean Defendant Under the Hague Convention
When a U.S. plaintiff needs to serve a defendant in South Korea, ordinary mail or private process service will not suffice.
Because both the U.S. and Korea are parties to the Hague Service Convention, service must follow its prescribed procedures through Korea’s designated Central Authority.
This article explains the steps, timelines, translation requirements, and strategic considerations to ensure that service abroad is valid and enforceable.
How to Respond When Served With a Subpoena: A Step-by-Step Guide for Businesses and Third Parties
Receiving a subpoena can be disruptive—especially when your company isn’t part of the lawsuit.
This guide explains how to respond quickly and strategically: identifying the type of subpoena, preserving data, negotiating scope, protecting confidentiality, and avoiding costly mistakes.
Good Pine P.C. helps businesses manage subpoenas with efficiency, professionalism, and minimal operational impact.
Litigation Strategy for Business Owners: Knowing When to Settle and When to Fight
Every business faces legal disputes sooner or later.
The challenge is not simply “winning” but knowing when to fight and when to settle.
This article explains how business owners can make clear-eyed decisions by weighing cost, risk, timing, reputation, and long-term objectives — and how strategic litigation management protects the enterprise beyond any single case.
Understanding Discovery and eDiscovery in U.S. Litigation
Discovery is the longest and most expensive phase of U.S. litigation. For Korean companies, it can also be the most unfamiliar. This guide explains how the American discovery system works — from depositions and interrogatories to electronic data collection — and offers practical steps to manage risk, cost, and compliance before disputes arise.
Understanding the U.S. Litigation Lifecycle: From Demand Letter to Final Judgment
When business disputes escalate, understanding how the U.S. litigation process unfolds can save companies time, money, and leverage. This article explains every stage of a commercial lawsuit—from the first demand letter to final judgment—and why a well-drafted demand letter can protect your rights long before you ever enter the courtroom.
State Charitable Registration Requirements: N.Y. Attorney General Charities Bureau vs. N.J. Division of Consumer Affairs
Nonprofits must register before soliciting donations in both New York and New Jersey.
This guide from Good Pine P.C. explains how to register with the N.Y. Attorney General’s Charities Bureau and the N.J. Division of Consumer Affairs, outlines key filing differences, and offers compliance tips for organizations fundraising in both states.
Conflicts of Interest Policies Under N.Y. N-PCL § 715-A and New Jersey Best Practices
New York’s N-PCL § 715-A requires every nonprofit to adopt a written Conflict of Interest Policy, with annual disclosures and documented recusals.
New Jersey law does not mandate such a policy but strongly encourages it under best practices.
This guide from Good Pine P.C. explains each state’s expectations and how to build a compliant policy that protects your organization and its board.
Membership vs. Board Governance: Choosing the Right Structure for Your Nonprofit
Every nonprofit must decide whether it will be membership-governed or board-governed. In membership nonprofits, voting members elect the board and influence key decisions. In board-governed organizations, the board holds all authority. This guide from Good Pine P.C. explains the legal distinctions, pros and cons, and governance considerations under New York and New Jersey law to help you choose the right model.
Officer vs. Director Roles: Clarifying Titles and Authority in Nonprofit Structures
Many nonprofit organizations confuse the roles of officers and directors, even though the law draws a clear line between them. Directors (or trustees) govern — setting mission, policy, and oversight — while officers manage the organization’s daily operations. This guide from Good Pine P.C. explains the legal distinctions, fiduciary duties, and best practices for defining authority within nonprofit structures in New York and New Jersey.