UPDATE: The Maryland Office of Shumaker Williams, P.C. Remains Open under Maryland Law. Dear Valued Clients: The Maryland office of Shumaker Williams, P.C., remains physically open in Towson, Maryland. The Executive Order issued by the Governor of Maryland on March 23, 2020, closing all non-essential Maryland businesses, does not include law firms. Our other offices

This is a challenging time. The Covid-19 virus has created local, national and international concerns about the effect on business operation and commercial transactions. Court and arbitration systems have limited access to litigants, postponed most trials and hearing dates, or offer hearings by electronic means only. Our chief priority remains the safety and well-being of

On March 18, 2020, the President Trump signed the “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” into law. The law becomes effective no later than 15 days after enactment. It is not clear when the law will actually go into effect, but that information should be forthcoming from the Department of Labor. It is safe to assume

Enforcement of the anti-business referral provisions of the federal Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act1 has certainly had its ups and downs over the years. Originally enacted in 1974, RESPA provides the following prohibition against payment or receipt of anything of value in exchange for the referral of settlement service business in connection with a federally-related

On Tuesday, August 29, 2017, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it is changing the requirements for its reverse mortgage program. The changes are expected to help protect taxpayers while still pursuing the mission of the program. The purpose underlying the changes is to protect other programs in place that are

By: Marty B. Ellis On June 1, 2015, in two consolidated cases (Bank of America, N. A. v. Caulkett and Bank of America, N. A. v. Toledo-Cardona), the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that in a bankruptcy liquidation Chapter 7 proceeding, the debtor cannot void a second mortgage when the value of the

On January 13, 2015, the United States Supreme Court issued an opinion in a case captioned Jesinoski et ux v. Countrywide Home Loans, et al., (October term, 2014 – No. 13-684) interpreting the rescission provisions applicable to mortgage loans under the Truth-in-Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1601 et seq. and Regulation Z, 12 C.F.R. Part

Shumaker Williams, P.C. Securities Law Practice Group By Jane G. Davis Companies, including bank holding companies, looking to raise capital through the sale of securities, must either register the securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or rely on an exemption from registration.  In some instances, the securities laws of the states in

Shumaker Williams, P.C. Financial Services Practice Group  By Paul A. Adams* The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) has recently published two bulletins, OCC 2013-33 and OCC 2013-39 on risk management of third party vendors.  The first is generalized guidance for assessing and managing risks associated with third party relationships which replaces its

By Jane G. Davis Shumaker Williams, P.C. The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the “JOBS Act”) enacted in April 2012 provides for a new method of raising capital without requiring registration of the offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  The securities offered will also be exempt from state registration requirements and, in