Non-compete agreements have been the subject of a tremendous amount of litigation for many years. In New York, they have always been enforceable, but with specific limitations and restrictions. Now, the New York State Legislature has passed a bill (S3100A) that would ban non-compete agreements in New York State. Pursuant to the bill, an individual...Read More

An operating agreement is a contract entered into by the members of a limited liability company, and within the agreement, various terms are defined and described, such as: The name and purpose of the company The duration of the company The management of the company – manager managed or member-managed The maintenance of books and...Read More

Legal disputes can be emotionally and financially draining for all parties involved. When parties decide to resolve their differences through a settlement, it’s crucial that the parties have a clear understanding of the provisions that make up this legally binding document. Settlement agreements are carefully crafted to address various aspects of the dispute and protect...Read More

The importance of communication is something Amy and I have learned first-hand throughout our careers. We have learned lessons about the importance of communication with clients, but we have also learned the importance of communication in the context of other business relationships, including partnerships and the employer-employee relationship. These lessons have been learned through our...Read More

One of our main areas of practice at Catina & Mara, PLLC is civil litigation and dispute resolution. Having almost a combined total of 30 years of litigation experience between Laura and I alone, we would like to first going to describe the litigation services that we have provided to our clients. Oftentimes, our litigation...Read More

The sale or purchase of real property is, quite often, the most expensive, complex transaction any single individual undertakes during his or her life.  With high stakes involved, including money, time, location for perhaps a growing family, and all the dreams these individuals have for planting their roots in a new home, it is fascinating...Read More

In today’s interconnected world, where information spreads rapidly, reputation is a valuable asset. Defamation laws play a crucial role in balancing the right to free speech with the protection of an individual’s reputation. New York’s defamation laws, like those in many jurisdictions, aim to strike a delicate balance between these competing interests. In this blog...Read More

Recently, I was asked by a colleague to troubleshoot a contract dispute that my colleague’s client has with his contractor, which has resulted in the contractor’s filing of a mechanic’s lien. The mechanic’s lien was filed last spring, but the contractor has not commenced an action to foreclose on the mechanic’s lien.  To make matters...Read More

There are many regulations that New York employers must comply with and one of them is that there are certain posters and notices that employers must post in the workplace. The following are some of the requirements, which you can view on the Department of Labor’s web site at https://dol.ny.gov/posting-requirements. There are many others that...Read More

In 1958, President Eisenhower established Law Day as a day of national dedication to the principles of government under law, and in 1961, Congress designated May 1st as the official date for celebrating Law Day.   This year’s theme is the “Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration.”  Every year, our local bar association prepares a...Read More