Sterlington

Brian Slater and Greg Sephton, Co-Heads of Sterlington’s Intellectual Property practice, are heading to San Francisco for Life Sciences IP Review’s LSPN North America Fall 2024 conference on October 15-16.   This year’s Fall event brings together over 150 IP decision-makers and in-house patent counsel from the top pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Connect with Brian or Greg for a meetup while you’re there.   Sterlington is also proud to be a bronze sponsor of #LSPN2024, supporting innovation and collaboration in the life sciences industry.   See you there!   #LifeSciences #IP #IntellectualProperty #Innovation

🏆RANKINGS | We’re proud to announce that Brian Slater, Partner, and Co-Head of Sterlington’s Intellectual Property practice, has been recognized as a Patent Star in the latest IPSTARS rankings for 2024/25.    Brian’s expertise and leadership in high-stakes patent litigation, particularly in the life sciences, have earned him this well-deserved recognition.  Congrats on this achievement, Brian!    🔗 https://lnkd.in/dwRAnsWZ     #IPStars #IntellectualProperty #Patents #Biotechnology #LifeSciences #Pharmaceuticals

📢 The October 2024 GRAT “Hurdle Rate” Is the Lowest It’s Been in Over a Year! Are you a high net worth individual seeking to pass appreciating assets to loved ones, minimizing estate or gift taxes? Our partner, Mary Messihi's latest article provides insights on Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs). GRATs allow you to transfer assets, receive annuity payments, and pass remaining assets tax-free to beneficiaries if structured correctly. They freeze asset values, remove future appreciation from your taxable estate, and offer the potential for zero-taxable gifts. Read the full article to learn about the setup process, tax implications, and a real-life use case. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dM3C7QFi #GRATs #EstatePlanning #WealthTransfer #TaxEfficiency

We are delighted to welcome Paul Jebely as Partner and Vice Chair, International, who will be splitting his time between Asia, the Middle East, and North America. Paul is a globally renowned aviation attorney and has served as lead counsel on aircraft transactions totaling nearly $23 billion. Paul has held senior leadership roles at several leading international law firms, consistently leading these firms to new milestones in aviation law practice. He is also the founder and chair of The Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation (CAA). He has received numerous accolades and awards, including “Aviation Trailblazer of the Year”, “Private Aviation & Yacht Lawyer of the Year”, and “Private Wealth Lawyer of the Year”, as well as a longstanding Band 1 ranking (HNW – Private Aircraft) in Chambers. He holds a J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School and completed Stanford University’s Senior Executive Leadership Program. Commenting on Paul’s appointment, Christopher S. Harrison, founding partner and CEO of Sterlington, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Paul to Sterlington as we continue to build our global aviation and private wealth practices. His expertise and leadership in aviation law will further enhance our ability to serve our clients at the highest level.” Read our blog post for more information about Paul: https://lnkd.in/dh8Gtdp8 #NewPartner #VP #SterlingtonTeam #Aviation #MergersAndAquisitions

🚨 Estate Planning Alert: With the 2025 sunset of elevated estate and gift tax exemptions fast approaching, many high-net-worth couples are turning to Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs) to safeguard their wealth. SLATs can provide significant tax and creditor protection while offering unique benefits for your spouse and future generations. However, they come with complexities and risks, like the Reciprocal Trust Doctrine, that you need to navigate carefully. That said, if you’re looking to explore SLATs as a strategy for your estate planning, read our latest article for insights from our partner, Mary Dunleavy-Messihi. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dDd2VcnR #EstatePlanning #SLATs #SpousalLifetimeAccessTrust #TaxStrategy #WealthManagement 

💼📚 Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are often the starting point for potential partnerships, but they are rarely the only agreement between parties. When other contracts come into play, as Mari Bonthuis explains in this blog, understanding which agreement takes precedence can make or break your legal standing. Read more about this essential legal lesson: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gnUzysKd #NDAs #Contracts #Partnerships #TradeSecrets #BusinessLaw

🚨 The Hidden Power of Forum Selection in NDAs The "forum selection clause" in your NDA might seem like a minor detail, but it can have major consequences. A poorly chosen forum can lead to costly delays and unexpected venue changes. This highlights why selecting the right forum isn't just a legal formality—it's a strategic move that can save you time, money, and headaches. 👉 Read the full article from partner Mari Bonthuis for more insights: https://lnkd.in/dc8_44dC #NDAs #NDADrafting #M&A #MergersAndAcquisitions #NDAOutsourcing

📢 We're proud to share that Todd McClelland has again been selected for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for his outstanding work in: • Information Technology Law • IT Outsourcing Law • Privacy and Data Security Law • Technology Law This acknowledgment reflects Todd's outstanding skills and commitment to his clients. As a partner at Sterlington, Todd advises companies on issues related to cybersecurity breaches, compliance, AI, and technology transactions. His experience in global cybersecurity incidents and data privacy compliance, coupled with his litigation work, has supported a diverse client base. Congrats on this well-deserved recognition, Todd! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dx6G5cKQ #BestLawyers2025 #ExcellenceInLaw #InformationTechnology #Privacy #DataSecurityLaw #TechnologyLaw

📃🖊 Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are the backbone of protecting sensitive business information. However, having an NDA is just the beginning—mastering compliance is where the real work begins. In our latest article, 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑁𝐷𝐴 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 – 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐶𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑃𝑖𝑡𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑠, Camilo A. López Campagnoli explores the common challenges companies face as the volume of NDAs grows and how to overcome them. From meticulous information tracking to staying on top of key dates and restrictive covenants, we share actionable insights to keep your compliance airtight. Don't let NDA missteps put your business at risk. Read the full blog to ensure your NDA compliance is as strong as the agreements themselves. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dkqfudMb #NDAs #NDACompliance #NDAOutsourcing #ContractManagement

Sterlington partner, Jennifer Czeisler (Kraus), recently attended the invitation-only second Class of Our Own Women's Summit in Nashville. The summit celebrated women in class action litigation, offered insights into complex litigation and created a space for meaningful dialogue. Sterlington was pleased to have supported Jen's participation in this exclusive event. Special thanks also to the hosts Morgan & Morgan, P.A., Epiq, and The Hyman Law Firm, P.A. and their teams for putting together this exceptional event. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dTQ9NUz4 #EpiqSummit #WomenInLaw #ClassOfOurOwn2024 #ComplexLitigation #MassTorts #ClassActionlitigation