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Track: Law

New Year, New Goals: Advance Medical Directive

Posted on by Compass Advocacy

Compass Law has an easy check off your New Years’ Resolutions List:
Advance Medical Directives

January 1st rolls around and a new year’s resolution seems like a great idea. New Year, New You, right? But what happens when the winter drones on in March and you just want to nestle back into the couch with some cookies and cocoa. New You isn’t so exciting anymore…
But what if you could set a new year’s resolution that is an attainable goal from the beginning!?
The Resolution: Complete Your Advance Medical Directive.

Compass Law now has an EASY way to help you check this new year’s resolution box!

But first, what is it?
An Advance Medical Directive (AMD) is a legal document that allows you to designate a Medical Agent to make medical decisions for you in the event you are unable to make decisions for yourself. An AMD also allows you to express some medical treatment and end of life care preferences in the event you become unable to make or communicate those decisions yourself. This document is an important part of healthcare planning and is vital to have in place in preparation for situations where a person is incapacitated due to illness, injury, or cognitive decline.

Who is my Medical Agent?
Your Medical Agent, sometimes referred to as Healthcare Proxy, is the Primary Person(s) or Alternative Person(s) you designate to handle your medical decisions if you are unable to yourself. The alternative person(s) you designate steps into the role if your primary agent is unable or unwilling to act. A second alternative is preferred, but optional. It is important that you communicate your desires to your Medical Agent and Alternative Person(s).

How it works
Click the link below to fill out the Advance Medical Directive Form. This secure form will then be sent to our team at Compass Law via DocuSign. Once our team conducts a brief conflict check, an invoice will be sent and a consultation scheduled with our team of estate planning attorneys.

Our AMD service is billed as a flat rate!
Click here to get started!

Get Your Annual Business Physical Now to Ensure Good Corporate Health

Posted on by Rob Garagiola

Just like your personal health, your business requires regular checkups to ensure it’s operating in optimal condition and facing minimal risks.

Consider the following essential questions:

  • Have you held the required annual corporate meeting or prepared an annual resolution?
  • Have you updated your Employee Handbook?
    • Certain provisions can mitigate business liability.
  • Do you have an operating or stockholder agreement?
    • Has it been reviewed/updated for recent changes in law?
  • Does your business use Employee Agreements?
    • When were they last reviewed?
    • There have been federal/state law changes concerning non-competes & other restrictive covenants.
  • When was the last time your client contracts were reviewed?

Schedule your annual business physical today by reaching out to your local business law attorney, Rob Garagiola at RGaragiola@Compass-Law.com.

 

Ensure the Longevity of Your Business –Read More

Time To Revisit Employee Handbooks, Policies, & Agreements

Posted on by Rob Garagiola

There has recently been a slew of changes and new trends in Maryland employment law that require all businesses to revisit their employee handbooks, policies, and agreements. Below, we discuss recent labor law developments and how Compass Advocacy’s employment attorneys can help. 

  • Paid Family Medical Leave is coming to Maryland: The state is expected to announce employer/employee contribution rates to the system this October and contributions will be required 1-year later with benefits set to begin on January 1, 2026.
  • The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: A federal law, this act took effect less than 2 months ago and requires certain businesses to provide “reasonable accommodations” to a worker’s known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
  • Federal and State Governments are Moving to Ban Non-Competes: The Federal Trade Commission has proposed regulations curtailing non-competes and the National Labor Relations Board published a memo taking the position that non-compete agreements violate federal law in certain circumstances. In addition, many states, including Maryland and DC, have taken recent actions limiting non-compete agreements.

With these and other changes in employment law, and to limit potential liability, now is the time to revise your policies. Compass Law Partners’ Rob Garagiola (RGaragiola@Compass-Law.com) specializes in employment law and can help you navigate these policy changes and update your employee handbooks and agreements. Contact our employment and labor lawyers today. 

http://mailchi.mp/compassadvocacy/compass-law-navigator-august-2023-9085056

New Laws Require Business Tune Up

Posted on by Rob Garagiola

New laws in Maryland will:

  • Accelerate minimum wage increases to $15/hour;
  • Establish employer/employee contributions to Maryland’s soon-to-be implemented Paid Family Medical Leave Act; and
  • Prohibit non-compete clauses in certain circumstances.

In addition, the Federal Trade Commission is proposing regulations to ban non-compete clauses.

The bottom line: It’s critically important for all businesses to review their business and employment policies, including employee handbooks and employment agreements.

Business owners – even single-member owners – should also review their operating/buy-sell agreements at least every 3-5 years.

Compass Law can help update your employment and business agreements to meet your needs as laws continue to change. Reach out now for a consultation.

 

May 2023 Law Navigator

2023 Employment & Business Legislation To Affect Your Business

Posted on by Rob Garagiola

More than 2,200 bills have been introduced in the Maryland General Assembly and 150 bills have been introduced before the Delaware Legislature. In Maryland, legislation has been introduced to:

  • Accelerate minimum wage increases;
  • Modify a law that will require most businesses to make contributions to a paid family leave insurance program; and
  • Prohibit non-compete clauses in certain circumstances.

In addition, the District of Columbia has made recent changes in laws affecting restrictive covenants. Now it’s more important than ever review your business and employment policies, including employee handbooks and employment agreements. Compass Law can help. Reach out now for a consultation.

 

March 2023 Law Navigator

Posted in Law

Chelsea Trotter

Chelsea works as the Executive Assistant to Rob Garagiola and second key Principals with scheduling and client intake. Chelsea is a member of the Finance Committee and assists the Controller with invoicing, accounts receivable for all businesses, and employee reimbursement processing.

Chelsea received her B.A. in Modern Language and Community Service Studies from DePaul University in Chicago, IL. She brings years of administrative support to the Compass Team from professional experiences throughout the United States and abroad.

Originally from the British Virgin Islands and a dual citizen, Chelsea enjoys visiting family on both sides of the Atlantic and the Caribbean with her husband and son.

New Year, New Business

Posted on by Rob Garagiola

Whether formalizing a consulting gig, protecting assets, or owning rental property, the New Year is a good time to set up that LLC – limited liability company.

In setting up an LLC, there is more than just filing online.

  • Have you decided how to be taxed?
  • Have you prepared an initial organizing resolution?
  • Have you prepared an operating agreement?
  • Are you doing business in other states?

Even if you are the sole owner of your LLC, you should do all of the above to protect your personal assets and the assets of the LLC.And if you are doing business in multiple states, you may need to file foreign registrations with such states.

Make it your New Year’s Resolution to consult with Compass Law Partners to properly set up and maintain your business, as well as handle other business legal matters.

Posted in Law

Robert J. Garagiola

A triple threat for Compass, former Maryland state Senate Majority Leader Rob Garagiola serves as a Principal of Compass Government Relations and as the President of Compass Public Relations and Compass Law. With over 30 years of legislative, lobbying, and advocacy experience at the federal, state, and local levels of government, and nearly 25 years practicing law in D.C. and MD, Rob plays a leading role in managing the Compass leadership team and nurturing the firm’s enterprise growth and innovation.

Government Relations

As a former state Senator who served on the energy and health committees, including as Chairman of the Health Subcommittee and as Chair of the Joint Committee on Healthcare Delivery and Financing, Rob is an expert on energy, tax, healthcare, business regulation, and procurement matters, Rob lobbies for clients in Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. As a former elected official, he understands the inner workings of government. Prior to becoming a state Senator, he spent close to a decade on Capitol Hill – both as a lobbyist and senior staffer for U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., who is now the top Democrat on the Energy & Commerce Committee.

Law Practice 

Rob is a business attorney and a business owner. He uses his legal and practical experiences to benefit his corporate clients and has represented clients on business law matters in nearly every sector, ranging from accounting firms to physician practices and restaurants to consulting firms, as well as trade associations and nonprofits. Rob advises clients on general business, employment, and commercial leasing matters, helping them form and grow companies, draft corporate governance documents, and provide counsel on various contract issues. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer since 2016.

Public Relations

Having run for office at the state and federal levels, Rob has extensive media and communications experience. For over a decade, he has helped clients with various grassroots advocacy efforts to affect and shape public opinion on a range of issues. Rob has also worked with clients to develop innovative strategies to convey their message before traditional media, digital media, and other venues.

Additional Background

Rob served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1995 to 2003 and received his jump wings in 2000. He is a member of various nonprofit boards, including those with a focus on the arts, healthcare, renewable energy, and public safety. He is married to Hannah Powers Garagiola, the founder of Compass Advocacy, and has five children and a Jack Russell Terrier named Boom. In his spare time, he enjoys boating, traveling, reading, and cooking.

Practice Areas

Government Relations

  • Business Regulation
  • Energy
  • Healthcare
  • Procurement
  • Taxation & Fees

Public Relations

  • Communications
  • Grassroots & Political Campaign Strategy
  • Public Affairs & Coalition Building

Law

  • Business Law
  • Contracts & Commercial Leases
  • Employment/Labor Law

Phishing Scams

Posted on by Compass Advocacy

Phishing scams have been on the rise over the past few years.  Phishing is the act of sending an email to an individual or business purporting to be a vendor/creditor and notifying of a recent account change. Frequently, the fraudulent emails so closely resemble previous emails from the actual vendor/creditor that it is extremely easy to become a victim.  While individuals are also victims of phishing scams, businesses seem to fall prey to these scams at a much higher rate.

If you become the victim of a phishing scam, you should notify your bank immediately upon learning of the scam.  Your bank will then notify the bank that received the funds. At times, there may be some funds remaining in the account that will be reimbursed to you. You should also notify the FBI and complete a report. The FBI is dealing with this every day and they will let you know that you are unlikely to recover the funds.

The final step you should take is to set up a consultation with an attorney at Compass Law Partners.  During that consultation, you will discuss the options available and the potential of successfully recovering some or all the lost funds.  While these types of recovery are difficult, they are not impossible.

Posted in Law

Family Medical Leave

Posted on by Rob Garagiola

The Maryland General Assembly has passed legislation that will establish a new family and medical leave insurance program that will be applicable to businesses with 15 or more employees. While the bill is still awaiting final enactment, it is nearly certain that it will become law and take effect on June 1, 2022.

Under the program, both employers and employees would have to contribute to a new fund that would establish a state family and medical leave insurance program. The new program will likely get underway after the Maryland Department of Labor promulgates regulations, which are anticipated in June 2023.

As this is going to eventually affect most Maryland businesses, it will be important to have an employment law attorney to ensure proper compliance. Compass Law can help you navigate this new family and medical leave insurance program as well as other laws affecting businesses.

Posted in Law
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